When Free To Play Really Isn’t – In-Game Purchases The New DLC Concept

For those who don’t know what DLC is is it means Downloadable Content, basically a way to add new content to a game such as new maps, new weapons, new missions and more. You basically buy a game, play the game as is and eventually the game makers will throw in some added content thru a DLC you purchase to add to the game to extend it’s lifespan and prevent the game from becoming boring and repetitive.

I recently posted about a PC World article that spoke of a kickstarter project called Ouya, an Android powered, open sourced game console and how the writer of the article had no idea what he was talking about. One of his points about how this kickstarter project might be a bad idea was how piracy would be a big problem for a console made with open sourced software. How it would be easy for people to simply look for a paid app on the net, download it and play it on a console specially made to be hacked. Of course the genius failed to notice how the project stated it was aiming at a Free To Play platform in essence eliminating the whole piracy issue because who pirates free stuff after all?

However, in keeping up to date with tech and gaming current events I discovered that there may be a possibility to make the games this console free to play and still turn a profit while avoiding piracy. The key could be the extras the developers can add to the games as add-ons that can be purchased thru the game. Take Call Of Duty for example. Currently there is a free to play Call Of Duty online version that will be released in Asia soon where the key to the profits will be in the weapons and such that you will be able to purchase within the game. Basically anyone with access to the game will be able to play it for free, but if you want that cool Golden Deagle, that fiery Flamethrower (if they have one) or that kick ass claymore, you gonna have to cough up some cash to buy it in the game. Otherwise you gonna be stuck with the stuck weapons in the game.

In essence the same concept could be applied to the games made for this console. The developers can make them free to play but if you want the extras you gonna have to pay thru the game to get them. Now granted I am not well versed in how the whole buying thru the app concept works and it’s possible even this could be hacked but I have to believe it can work. I mean, it works for other games like Call Of Duty and any other game that gas either DLC or in-game purchases.

Of course one can only hope this is not the case and developers will not seek to make a profit from this one way or another but sometimes money makes people do crazy things. What do you think? Could in-game purchasing be the key to making a profit from an Android based, open source gaming console with a free to play platform? Would you prefer to pay for add-ons from within the free-to-play game as oppose to pay for the game and future versions?

Please post comments on the Google+ post for this article found here. Thank you.

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Oversensitivity vs Consideration – Who needs to be the better person?

If you’re a gamer like me you may have notice how hard it is to play a game without having someone consistently curse and say stupid things in their mic or thru in-game msg. Some people simply ignore them, others mute them but there are those who get offended by some of the words used when cursing and insulting others either because they died “unfairly” or they killed you and want to brag about it.

This argument has 2 sides and each, I believe, makes a good point. But which one is right?
On the one hand we have the oversensitive people. the ones who get offended to easy even from the silliest of insults, comments and cursing. While it’s understandable to be upset if you are called something like gay or stupid; is it necessary for them to actually listen to it? Is it necessary for them to take the comments so seriously? You do have the ability to mute the person’s mic and you can always leave the game or you can always ignore them and move on. There are times it seemed silly that some people would get offended even from something as stupid as “I nailed you” considering this can imply a sexual action and can also give the impression of being gay. Of course this is taking it to the extreme but some actually do this.

On the other hand we have those who are inconsiderate, they actually mean to be insulting and sometimes actually mean the words they use. I can understand the adrenaline rush that comes with playing FPS games like Call Of Duty and the frustration of thinking you have the upper hand only to get killed due to so dumb luck move or lame team mates that you either bash the other players because you kicked their asses or because you lost. Is it really necessary for them to be so abusive either way? Do they ever consider the people playing with them such as younger children who may not be fully aware of the definition of some of these words like raped, fucked, tea bagged and mother fucker. Children who start thinking it’s ok to say it because everyone else online does. Sure, the parents should pay more attention and perhaps should not even allow them to play, that doesn’t take away ones responsibility to be careful what what comes out of our mouth.

So we have to wonder. Who’s right or wrong here? The one who is too sensitive or the one who is inconsiderate? What do you think?

Please post comments on the Google+ post for this article found here. Thank you.

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Lollipop Chainsaw – Not your typical zombie game

I have seen some strange games such as Lemmings, Happy Wheels and the strange snail game hidden inside the Sega Master System, but this one takes the cake.

When I first heard about Lollipop Chainsaw I had no idea what to expect, when I found out what the game was about and how it’s being created I could not figure out how the name would ever give anyone the idea of what this game is. In essence this is a zombie game. Yes, a zombie game. Even crazier? The characters are high school cheerleaders. Yes your heard right, high school cheerleaders, Japanese high school cheerleaders to be more precise since their wear those awesome little school uniforms. You know, the ones where they may as well not be wearing a skit at all. :+)

So, although you can see it in the video below the game is in essence a mix of Street Fighter like combo attacks, Left 4 Dead 2 zombie killing, a little bit of Barbie cuteness and some Sims 3 special effects. I know, it sounds like a strange game to play, or even own. I seriously doubt people will be standing in line overnight to wait for the midnight release of this game. But it does make me curious enough to want to try it out. I mean, who can resist watching all the upskirt camera views every time you attack a zombie? Zombies and mini skirts, all we need is chilli cheese fries and a milk shake and this is a dream come true.

I look forward to trying this game out and giving my review although this will not be on PC apparently and i can’t imagine why not. I am not much of a console person but I will bare the annoyance to try this game out.

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Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3, will it make a big splash or will it suffer from the disgrace of it’s previous versions?

So I hear Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is out today. I’m curious to see how many people will actually by this game. I have own pretty much every previous PC version of this game (also the Wii version of Call Of Duty 3) and have loved every version before COD MW2. I was very disappointed with MW2 as Activision decided to be stupid and take away the dedicated server feature of the game making it not only impossible to change the game to make new maps and ways to play it but to have the ability to get rid of unwanted players. This game became a home for all kinds of hackers even to the point of some people having their accounts locked just for playing in a hacked server the damn system dropped them in because we did not have the ability to pick and choose where to play.

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