Microtransactions and the Video Game

source:
http://www.gamesradar.com/call-duty-black-ops-2-gets-microtransactions/,
http://techland.time.com/2013/02/28/why-eas-video-game-microtransactions-do-and-dont-bother-me/

Call of Duty doesn't interest me at all. Never mind the fact that I'm utter crap at FPS games, the Call of Duty franchise has simple grown stale over the years. What did catch my attention was that recently Activision announced that it will add microtransactions into Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Initially available for the XBox 360, the purchases will range from $1 to $5 and provide upgrades like weapon skins and the like.

Frankly, I'm not bothered by microtransactions. It's when the small purchases make or break a game that bother me. "Freemium" and "Pay-to-win" games are the big culprit of this. I've actually been tricked so many times by this tactic that it's a wonder why I even pay for games anymore. But if you think about it logically, haven't we been paying for microtransactions since the beginning of the video game era? The method might be different, trading tokens and quarters at arcades for online money on your favourite free-to-play MMO, but essentially it is the same.

Balance and proper implementation is the key to microtransactions. Game developers should not make it the be all/end all of their games. That being said, it should also fit well into the game if it is to be implemented, enhancing the game experience and not destroy it. This of course is very subjective. In the end, all we can do is continue to tolerate the microtransaction. Especially if companies like EA and Activision have their way, it'll be here to stay.

-RJ Benavidez