Jimquisition - Free to Wait

MetalSoup

MetalSoup

There's a GIF for that
Jim Sterling discusses Dungeon Keeper Mobile and other "free to wait" games and the terrible business model.

Link (sorry, can't embed their videos).

I'm really unhappy with what EA has done with the Dungeon Keeper name, and I hope the more high profile journalist make a fuss over it.

The topic came up on BBC News as well.
 
Personally I don't like the model either. I play these short games to kill time and then I need another game to kill time while I'm killing time here.

What I also can't stand though is that in game currency that I can only use in that game for something I will never really get any benefit for. The game becomes a money pit solely there only to tempt you with golden sheep and cute wallpaper. Previously I justified an in game purchase like a DLC because I got an asset for future gameplay, here my purchase becomes an expense since if I waited I would be in the same position.
 
Typical EA though, just cashing in on a name.
I don't play any of these f2p games that require you to spend tons of cash to get anywhere in game.
As in the video there are quite a few good f2p games available, games like Loadout which is utterly brilliant.
 
Am I really the only one around here that doesn't have a problem with this game and EA's free to wait model?
 
Iam3G said:
Am I really the only one around here that doesn't have a problem with this game and EA's free to wait model?
Click to expand...

Free game, pay whatever you want to get further or wait it out. Seems fair to me. On the other hand, I'd rather pay for the game and forego the transactions. PvZ 2 however is virtually impossible if you don't dock up for power ups.
The only problem I have with the new DK is that all it does is crash (on my phone at least)
 
Murph said:
Free game, pay whatever you want to get further or wait it out. Seems fair to me. On the other hand, I'd rather pay for the game and forego the transactions. PvZ 2 however is virtually impossible if you don't dock up for power ups.
The only problem I have with the new DK is that all it does is crash (on my phone at least)
Click to expand...

What phone are you running it on? I Have it on my S3 and no issues so far. And just 2 more gems away from my 3rd IMP!
 
Eugene said:
No, unfortunately you are not, and that's the problem. Too many people who are happy to bend over and take it.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more.

I don't get why people are so content to burn money.

Sure, it's your money and you're welcome to do with it whatever you like but, ethically speaking, it's repulsive (both to develop these free-to-wait abominations and to support them).
 
Eugene said:
No, unfortunately you are not, and that's the problem. Too many people who are happy to bend over and take it.
Click to expand...

I respect your opinion guy. Its just, for me specifically, the model works. I don't always have time to be on it constantly, so when I can 'do something' in-game that takes some time to complete, it works. But the time I'm done with what I had to do, that's done. And I can go on.

With that said, I have never played the previous Dungeon Keepers, so I don't know much about the franchise. But I would be happy to try it out 1 day.

- - - - - - - - - - Double Post Merged - - - - - - - - - -

Lycanthrope said:
I don't get why people are so content to burn money.
Click to expand...

Are you referring to people who actually download the game and do the micro-transactions?
 
Am I also an asshole that's ruining games for the universe if I don't spend money but rather wait?
 
I think these free to wait games work well when they are bolted onto another application.
For example, the free to wait stuff on social sites allows the user to go read/chat/hashtag all their things during the wait.
It could also work vice versa, creating a fun distraction from all the pages of reposts/chain mails/cat pictures.

Unfortunately, the F2W doesn't really bode that well as a standalone game. The purpose of playing a standalone game is to, well, play that game! I doubt anyone here alt-tabs to mygaming during Tomb Raider while you wait for her to skin a deer. :p
People become frustrated when they wait (traffic jam ftw), so naturally, they do what ever in their power to avoid it.
In this case, money does trick.

To call it terrible may be true, but one sided. If the business is raking in money, how is it terrible for them?
For long standing companies, it may ruin their reputation, affecting future sales. But for small companies, it's the perfect score and run opportunity. :rolleyes:

Basically boils down to the eternal argument on ethics. "whistling:
 
chan0o said:
I think these free to wait games work well when they are bolted onto another application.
For example, the free to wait stuff on social sites allows the user to go read/chat/hashtag all their things during the wait.
It could also work vice versa, creating a fun distraction from all the pages of reposts/chain mails/cat pictures.

Unfortunately, the F2W doesn't really bode that well as a standalone game. The purpose of playing a standalone game is to, well, play that game! I doubt anyone here alt-tabs to mygaming during Tomb Raider while you wait for her to skin a deer. :p
People become frustrated when they wait (traffic jam ftw), so naturally, they do what ever in their power to avoid it.
In this case, money does trick.
Click to expand...

Agreed, to many companies are taking a model that works on one platform and crossing platforms to one that doesn't. Then again the industry loves to take one system that works and flood the market with, whether it works or not.
 
Not that it matters much, but I'm sure you guys know of the feature in the game where you can slap your IMPS where it virtually reduces the waiting in half.

Started a 5 hour process about an hour ago, and its got about 2 or so hours remaining.
 
I don't think it's all bad if the game is free, and it's actually playable and entertaining without having to pay in. Developers need to get income somehow. But it is getting more and more that you have to pay a lot to be able to really be able to do anything, and even that doesn't really accomplish all that much, just gives you more to wait for.

I honestly don't like the way things are heading
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top