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Update: Shadow of War does not require internet connection to play
- Thread starter Alexander DeLarge
- Start date
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
Because they make money? In popular games like CoD, Halo, Gears, CS:Go etc they make so much money that the developers feel comfortable abandoning the sale of traditional DLC things like map packs. Warner Brothers have always been only slightly behind whatever the current state of the art is for shitty practices, so the inclusion of Loot Boxes isn't entirely surprising. It's not the first game to include them in a single player mode, although I think it might be the first to include them in a single player only game - not that there's much difference between those two things.
shanafan
Member
I dunno, I think it's cool to get new skins and other extras just for playing the game.
The answer is "If you want to play the game and aren't bothered by this sort of thing." aka the vast majority of the industry, like it or not.
Not defending the practice, it's just reality.
It all depends how the loot box aspect is integrated to the core game design.
If the game is designed so you're supposed to make use of the in game store to buy loot boxes then the game basically requires a internet connection to be played the way it was designed.
If the loot box system is purely an extra, something that will give you more items that make the game easier, like a cheat then I guess it's not quite as bad.
If I can receive a loot box by just playing the game and then have to go online to open it that's also basically making the game online only.
Either way this loot infestation of very game on the planet (I'm exaggerating here) has to stop. A game like Diablo is designed around loot, a lot of other games that now have loot are not, like Transformers Devastation for instance which had a horrible horrible loot system that just cluttered up the game.
If the game is designed so you're supposed to make use of the in game store to buy loot boxes then the game basically requires a internet connection to be played the way it was designed.
If the loot box system is purely an extra, something that will give you more items that make the game easier, like a cheat then I guess it's not quite as bad.
If I can receive a loot box by just playing the game and then have to go online to open it that's also basically making the game online only.
Either way this loot infestation of very game on the planet (I'm exaggerating here) has to stop. A game like Diablo is designed around loot, a lot of other games that now have loot are not, like Transformers Devastation for instance which had a horrible horrible loot system that just cluttered up the game.
Soul of the Beast
Member
I would laugh my ass off if the sales number didn't meet expectation.
This ''Because most people don't care, so it's okay to piss off the minority that care.'' defense is the worst.
It may or may not, but the internet bubble that hates these practices are hardly a good indicator of the greater market.
And it's not defending the practice, the reality is most people really don't care. No one LIKES this stuff but the vast majority aren't bothered enough for it to really matter. Most of the industry's biggest games have something like this. No amount of crying on the internet will change it.
Gamezone
Gold Member
"At the moment". Don't indicate you might try something else.
BouncyFrag
Member
Lol
Soul of the Beast
Member
Which is why most people find Evolve's failure so satisfying and deserved. Microtransaction in a full price $60 game is unacceptable.
Right now you might be right, but that doesn't mean the general market doesn't care at all, they are just silent for now.
I don't know, but they are not getting my money that's for sure.
I will never give my hard earned money to greedy people like that.
Head.spawn
Junior Member
Too much to sift through, is this verified?
theonerayman
Member
The devs say at this moment yes. Whatever that means when you break it down, but yes.
...could also indicate that it could have gone away before we all figured it was offline too. Works both ways.
lifeexpectancy
Member
Dat #ConsoleWarriorPost
NullPointer
Member
To buy and to earn.
From what I can tell you only earn Gold from community events and online activities. I don't think you need to be online to open them, and can stash them away for use when playing offline.
Peroroncino
Member
'At the moment' - probably meaning that after review scores drop you suddenly won't be able to play offline.
Soul of the Beast
Member
''At this moment'' means they want you to shut the hell up for now so it won't blow up and damage potential sales.
I really wouldn't be surprised if the game turns out to be online only after launch.
Head.spawn
Junior Member
Ok, so this thread should be gutted and restarted or something. I see the thread title changed but all the posts are about it being required; maybe wcctech could've reached out for a comment to be absolutely sure before making a news article over this.
If it's the case that it needs a connection to connect to the online-market, that seems like completely obvious point. OP should reflect as much or else you risk it being a source of fud and confusion going forward with wrong information being argued.
If you read the OP, someone in the thread said that it was thought that particular quote was supposed to be a response to someone asking whether or not they could "you access and buy chests without connection to the Internet".
NullPointer
Member
Yeah, that is some unfortunate phrasing. Never hedge on clarifications and confirmations like this - it'll just keep people guessing until they say something straightforward and official. Just makes it seem like its still being determined, which at this late stage would be pretty nuts.
But gold isn't the only currency. Can you really not earn the other currency without being online?
If the gameplay of SoM wasn't enough then I doubt microtransactions will be either.
I've actually never encountered, nor have any idea what a lootbox is. Other than what the name suggests. They're mobile-like Micro transactions I assume.
slightconfuse
Banned
Loot boxes in a single player game
Plz stop
Plz stop
Head.spawn
Junior Member
His quote doesn't make much sense now because the thread title was changed without the OP content and posts being washed.
Original title was: "Middle Earth: Shadow of War requires an internet connection to play" and thats what the first 5 pages of comments are based around.
Carl-Sagan
Member
Damn straight.
That one appears to straight up be an online service title: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1396831
NullPointer
Member
Conciliator
Banned
this thing is gonna be monetized, franchised, and focus-grouped dry. I've seen how this works, man! If this thing is a hit get ready for yearly installments.
Soul of the Beast
Member
Deep down I kinda wish more devs would do shady stuff like this without giving a single fuck how players think, to a point where everyone is tired of their shit and the game industry crashed again. Maybe those shameless greedy bastards will learn their lesson by then.
I don't actually want it happen though, but let's admit it would be a little satisfying to see wouldn't it?
Ken Levine once said "We can kill the industry with cynicism", I don't doubt that at all. It makes you wonder why game companies keep doing stuff that would make gamer cynical.
Does the outcry that always happens when news like this come out about a game actually affect the sales in a meaningful way? You'd think publishers would have learned by now.
Kilau
Member
Or it was an always online xbox joke, some of you guys take things so personally.
Anyway, glad this looks like it's not going to be always online required.
Look at the most purchased and played games each year. The industry is only doing what players allow to be done
ScaryShark
Banned
It's really weird how people on GAF think these things exist for some reason other than that they are massively lucrative to these games.
How is a loot box system 'shady' other than you personally not liking it?
WarMacheen
Member
Went from hype, to loot box meh, to loot box & required connections nope.
When has this ever happened?
people finding it not "shady" is the reason publishers are forcing them on single player games, you know whats not shady? cheats, they used to be pretty common but now they sell them, and for some reason that i do not understand there are a few people defending this, not to mention that lootboxes are a form of gambling, do you consider gambling good too?
Admiral Woofington
Member
RANGEEEEEEEEEEEEE'
DO YOU LIKE THIS HELMET?
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR IT ME THINKS
DO YOU LIKE THIS HELMET?
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR IT ME THINKS
You don't understand why they sell them? Because people buy them. Loot boxes are in singleplayer games because people buy them.
Zurick
Banned
Not really an excuse anymore. While I'm sorry you may not have access to the internet, but if this is a thing then it's not a matter of getting Random Game Dev/Publisher to fix it. It's a deeper issue with your location that needs resolving and that's likely above the realm of EA.
Always forward.
Edit: No longer can a lack of internet access be tolerated in the US and beyond.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Guess I won't be buying this until its $19.99 on gamestop.
i understand very well why they sell it, what i do not understand is why consumers are defending this behavior.