Microtransaction-Based Portal 2 Store Raises Eyebrows, Sells Them
Microtransaction-Based Portal 2 Store Raises Eyebrows, Sells Them
Posted 04/19/2011 at 4:12pm
| by Nathan Grayson
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Valve's generally incredible at keeping secrets (we think they may actually be removing knowledge of Half-Life from our brains at this point), but we thought we had Portal 2's main feature set pretty well figured out. Single-player, co-op, custom levels. Yep, that about covers it. Turns out, we were wrong. There's more. In this case, though, it's not necessarily a pleasant surprise.
Shortly after installing the game and bounding through its menus like frenzied, frothy mouthed wolves, many players happened across an option titled “Robot Enrichment.” One click spirited them away to an in-game store that housed all manner of microtransaction-based cosmetic upgrades for co-op mode's cybernetic co-stars, Atlas and P-Body. Thing is, some of those microtransactions aren't so “micro.” Skins, for instance, will run you $4.99 a piece, and hats will set you back $2.49. Emotes, meanwhile, break the piggy bank slightly less at $1.99.
Apparently, each item becomes tradeable to other players after “a few” days, though how exactly that works is currently untestable for obvious reasons. Also, some items can be unlocked via achievements, but early reports seem to indicate that such a method will leave your hat rack barren and your skin rack... wait. Skin rack? We really hope that's not a thing. And if it is, please don't tell us. We'll keep our innocence, thanks.
So, to review, purely cosmetic digital objects that one could solidly argue are a teensy bit over-priced. Is it time throw down your portal gun and pick up a pitchfork? Well, not quite. After all, these items are completely optional. No one's forcing you to spend money – except via the ever-powerful Jedi Mind Trick that is peer pressure. However, we're also not entirely sure how we feel about Valve's less-than-subtle nickle-and-diming here. Everyone needs to make money, yeah, but we don't get the impression of coin-cup-rattling desperation from Gabe Newell and co. Also, let's not forget TF2's strange obsession with hats. Depending on your point of view, the possibility of a similar situation here could be cause for celebration or months of mourning. So yes, it's a very sticky situation. What do you think?
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mikeart03a
April 20, 2011 at 5:40pm
I'll bite, I don't see why people are bitching and moaning about a little store. Sure, it's a little in your face at the start, but there's a nice little button you click on to close it.
Let's face it, there are people who are willing to pay a little money to 'pretty' up their online avatars or buy a little extras. Hell MS got that ball rolling with the Xbox Live Avatars and 'upgrades' I don't know how many people I see who actually spent 'points' to get some 'cool' clothing for their avatars. I know someone who has a whole freaking wardrobe for his! Sure, I don't mind spending a couple bucks for an expansion/DLC or two if it'll provide me some decent content in a way, but I'd be a little more than annoyed if all it did was deliver minor character upgrades (ie. armor. clothing, etc.) and not something substantial like a sub-story of sorts.
But in the end, you're not being forced to buy the junk and you can easily mouse past it like the rest of us.
And for you trolls out there: I AM CANADIAN! So stuff that up your caboose! (Sorry Caboose, had to get that in there)
Caboose
April 21, 2011 at 8:24am
"Sorry Caboose, had to get that in there"
That's alright. I know you didn't mean it as an insult towards me.
nmanguy
April 20, 2011 at 1:34pm
I don't really care if Valve wants to put in an item store. The items are purely cosmetic, so if they can make some extra money, and a customer can get extra enjoyment, then there isn't anything bad about this.
Caboose
April 20, 2011 at 1:39pm
Finally, someone with a couple of brain cells working to realize that there is nothing making anyone buy anything from the store!
nmanguy
April 20, 2011 at 5:22pm
Wait... I just realized this isn't a preview. Man, it's out already? I chose a bad time to spend two weeks RMAing my video card.
Caboose
April 21, 2011 at 8:24am
You're really missing out. I'm only about half-way though the game, and it is soo good. Some very interesting twists in the story as well!
I'm debating trying co-op now or once I finish the campain...
bobrmc
April 20, 2011 at 11:58am
This is the way all games are headed now. I'm suprised they aren't charging for playing multiplayer on Steam yet. Soon all gaming companies will join the Microsoft bandwagon. If I feel that I require a virtual hat at $5 for my video game character, they should charge me $10, and call it a "Stupid Tax".
Please stop buying this stuff. Map packs are not worth paying for. Let me create my own, and get working on the next game already!
Ghok
April 20, 2011 at 10:17am
I showed my girlfriend this robot screen and she was pretty excited. Then I told her she'd have to pay for the items, and well, that was the end of that. It would have been a cool feature, especially as Portal is very appealing to people who aren't normally gamers (my girlfriend couldn't FPS her way out of a paperbag) and I'd wager they generally love this kind of stuff.
I don't have any problem with the idea of DLC, but developers need to realize that there are plenty of us who won't pay for it and will probably leave just a little bit of resentment (or in some cases here, a lot). Honestly though, I was more miffed that I started playing a commercial in the Extras section, without knowing it was a commercial. Just was kind of lame, I thought it was Portal related and was disapointed, heh.
I've bought DLC maybe twice? Level packs for games that were really worth it. Normally I quit a game before finishing it, but if I actually finish a game, and it was well worth what I paid for it, I'm happy to buy more stuff. It just rarely happens.
I've only played the first few levels of Portal 2, but so far so good. I sadly won't be playing the co-op portion, as I only have one gaming PC in the house and don't have much interest in playing with strangers. A shame, because it looked awesome in the trailers.
seinjunkie
April 20, 2011 at 8:11am
It should be required to listen to the Gabe Newell SteamCast interview before commenting on the Portal 2 DLC. IMO, it shows the thought and culture behind all of the decisions Valve makes, particularly with microtransactions.
No evil plan, just experimentation. If you don't want to participate, no harm, no foul.
sfltrack
April 20, 2011 at 6:16am
I think it would be best for all concerned that we pass a Micro transaction fairness Tax of 80% to help offset the Obama massive spending program. We should punish the innovative capitalists, these add-ons are like the cigarettes of the game world so they should also get a warning label in the opening credits of each game.
Caboose
April 20, 2011 at 7:40am
Fuck off with your political bullshit! This is a discussion about DLC for Portal 2. You want to bitch about US politics, go create a thread in the forums and do it there!
Pissant!
little_mikey
April 20, 2011 at 11:29am
sfltrack brings up a pretty good point. With the sucess that Valve has had, what will the US gov't do to cripple them. The Gov't is only there to help the unsuccessful and hurt the successful. How long before the Gov't convense a special committee to study the affects of Micro transaction on the current enomic climate?
So to you good sir, I say got stick your hand in the sand and what for the gov't to shove it up your Caboose
Caboose
April 20, 2011 at 12:54pm
*facepalm*
First, I'm not an American, and I'm actually glad I'm not right now as a lot of the Americans that seem to be the loudest are also some of the most moronic. I understand that they do not represent all of Americans, and that a large portion of Americans are actually quite sane and normal.
Second, what the hell are you talking about? Your last statement made NO sense what so ever. What government and what with sand and your hand? What are you on? Might I suggest having your head examined? I believe that medical professionals might be able to assist you with what is currently affecting your thought process.
phroderick
April 20, 2011 at 5:03pm
I think the diagnosis you're referring to would be "fecal cephalus".
Danthrax66
April 20, 2011 at 12:09pm
WHAT? You do realize that corporations have had a tax holiday for the past 10 or so years. They need to pay more because they are't creating jobs they are simply making profits and moving overseas. The middle class is the only group of people that pay taxes.
mmmstew
April 20, 2011 at 3:43am
Most people miss a point. Gamestop and EBgames have become the main reason these policies exist. The secondary market cost video game companies. They blame piracy which is a problem , but they never mention Gamestop or other used games stores.
The secondary market is a huge profit lose. So they make a game that requires a online activation fee , or bonus items through micro transactions. It's not a pathetic way to make money or steal your cash , it is optional. The companies want you to keep playing their products and enjoy hats. Gamestop stole from them now they sell hats.
m31337
April 20, 2011 at 6:08am
Gamestop & C also do a ton to promote new games. Every time you go they ask if you want to reserve your copy of {insert title} that is comming out. when COD: Black Ops came out I know of 4-5 guys from my office that reserved it at the gamestop close by so they could pick it up on the way home.
logicmaster2003
April 20, 2011 at 1:42am
blame the console gaming for the DLC which sparks the microtransaction money-suckers (I think).
WHats next on these scumbag's agenda ? perhaps they'll charge you if you want to adjust your in-game video / audio settings ! or perhaps the functionality to [save] or [load] a game, or re-assigning keyboard control.. will cost you money !
skirge01
April 20, 2011 at 6:07am
I don't think it will get as drastic as some are playing this out, but I do see this becoming "the norm" and very, very bad for the industry (from a gamer's perspective, of course). It starts out as little things like this. All things we can safely ignore with just the smallest measure of will power. Then, maybe there will be a certain weapon you need to finish the game, but you have to buy it. "Hey, you got to play the entire game, except for that little ending. What's the big deal? You didn't get your money's worth now?" Or, you can only be female in a game. If you want to play as a male, you have to cough up a couple bucks. It's still a choice, right? Not something you're being FORCED to do. Then, only the fighter/warrior class will be accessible. If you want to play as a mage or orc, you have to pay a little more. Again, you're still able to play the game.
Emgtek
April 20, 2011 at 4:30am
I Agree.
I remember the good ole days when you could jump in a Half Life server with your custom made skin and and other players would have their's and it was all free,Custom maps all free! full conversion mods all free!. now there is this stupid thing call DLC which should stand for Did Like Consoles!
I hope they get back to giving us the mod tools with the game like 3D Realm and ID software use to.
bobrmc
April 21, 2011 at 10:42am
Maybe we could convince them to release mod tools as DLC. Maps and add-ons for games created by dedicated fans, are sometimes better than what comes with the game. It could even extend the "Half-Life" of a game, along with it's other DLC sales.
(Take notes, all you corporate drones)
aarcane
April 19, 2011 at 9:44pm
I hope there's an option for custom artists to create and sell their own custom addon content, like second life.
smashingpumpin
April 19, 2011 at 8:51pm
BAHAHA now all of a sudden DLC mappacks arent so bad after all. I'd say buy the game but don't spend a frickin penny on that stupid "Robot Enrichment ala Hat Fortress 2" unless you want other Game devs to mimic them.
(Vomit) I for one, hope these "skin/anims only" transactions won't make it into HL3 and L4D3.
Now picture other Game devs following suit like for instance, Epic charging you for its taunts on Unreal and Treyarch/Activision would do the same just for skins like face paints, gun camos and clan guntags.
Don't get me wrong though, I'm a huge fan of Valve games and Portal in itself but if this game ends up shorter than the first one I'll surely be pissed! Summing up all those negative comments I've red seemed to point it that way and the "microtransaction thing" is just an add-in complaint.
If most of the puzzles in SP and Co-op are way too easy compared to Portal 1's "challenge" maps, I'll also surely be pissed as I spent more time on those challenge maps than Portal 1's really short campaign.
Time to buy the game and I hope I'm wrong in thinking way ahead that Valve spent more time making Portal themed-indie potato sack game DLC's, game Ads and that damn "Super 8" than the entire Portal 2 gameplay itself.
Fecal Face
April 19, 2011 at 5:15pm
Think of it this way; You pay $50 to get into an amusement park. You look to your left and see a kiosk full of different coloured balloons for sale.
You can either:
- Walk past; screw balloons, you have better things to do.
- Buy a balloon, because you like the shiny red one.
- Rage, and vow to never return to said amusement park. How dare they sell balloons for their own profit!
All I see is people picking the third option, and it's just baffling.
Danthrax66
April 19, 2011 at 8:18pm
It's not the same thing. I paid for a game and now they are forcing me to pay to unlock things that have been part of the game the entire time? It's bullshit that there is "first day" DLC. Include it you fucks, I paid $50 for this game.
Caboose
April 19, 2011 at 10:31pm
Really? You're being forced to buy them? For all you know, its a seperate download. Something so small that in the time it takes for the order to process, the data is downloaded to your profile.
So, how exactly are you being FORCED to buy these items? I'm still trying to figure that out...
Danthrax66
April 20, 2011 at 12:12pm
Because they aren't included but were clearly developed and ready for the games launch. What we need is to go back to the days of a game being released that gets quality support and updates then in a few months a large expansion comes out, not 5 maps, or a bunch of hats.
Caboose
April 20, 2011 at 12:54pm
Ok, so you're still not answering my question. How is it that you are being FORCED to buy something from the store? Where does it state that you cannot play a co-op game unless you purchase stuff from the store? I'm unable to find anything stating that you are REQUIRED to purchase something in order to play a co-op game.
Friend of Beer
April 19, 2011 at 4:59pm
It's brilliant.
I am grown man who does love playing with his "digital form of Barbie dolls." I openly admit that my adoption and immersion increase when the character looks like I want them to. Should I have to pay "extra" for some artist to design, some devolper to create, and some QA engineer to test this extra piece of content? Darn skippy I should.
flo21
April 19, 2011 at 4:57pm
You know you're getting old when you can remember buying a full complete game for under $50 and you didn't miss out on any content. One or two expansion packs were pretty reliably released a few months later.
I don't mind them doing microtransactions for cosmetic stuff, but I do agree that there should always be a way of getting it without paying for it, even if it involves a lot of work like in TF2. I also think the prices are pretty ridiculous, I wouldn't consider paying over a $1 for any of these.
Panick
April 19, 2011 at 4:42pm
Who really cares? If you don't want to pay for the add-on content no one is forcing you to (there isn't any gameplay advantage to any of it). If other fools want to waste their money playing a digital form of Barbie dolls, let them. It's called capitalism people. Look it up.
Fecal Face
April 19, 2011 at 5:08pm
Exactly. I don't understand why people are getting so worked up about this.
Don't like paying for extra / completely cosmetic content? Then don't buy the content. It's pretty damn easy to figure out.
Danthrax66
April 19, 2011 at 8:19pm
Because if you don;t make a big deal about this next thing you know the orange portal will cost $25 to "unlock"
Ghok
April 19, 2011 at 8:50pm
That's a gross exageration. No one would think that's acceptable, whereas plenty of us don't care about hats. I get your point, and your thought is right, but there's no need for such hyperbole, it only hurts your point.
Danthrax66
April 20, 2011 at 12:14pm
It only hurts my point until it becomes true. If I would have told you after CoD4 came out that the next one wouldn't have dedicated servers you would call me crazy but it did in fact come true.
Caboose
April 20, 2011 at 12:38pm
Ok, but there is a difference between non dedicated servers, and having to pay for sound, or the ability to control your character, etc.
Way to fear monger!
I Jedi
April 19, 2011 at 4:51pm
Sorry, but did we all forget that Valve is foremost a company and a gaming studio second? I don't see why you guys are all "uppity" about Valve doing this?
"Pretty weak of Valve to spring this on loyal customers IMNHO. I won't be pre-ordering any future games from them until I see what it is I'm really getting." - TommM
You're seriously going to let a microtransaction store stop you from honestly pre-purchasing games from Valve, or any other publisher who isn't upfront about a microsotransaction store? If you hate microtransactions, you're going to dread what E.A. has planned for PC gaming.
Finally, before any of you get the idea to call me a Valve cocksucker, I would just like to say I'm not. I just don't see why Valve, or others, cannot profit from such things. They're not forcing the customer to buy these things to enjoy the game itself. (At least with the case of Portal 2 itself; I don't know enough about other types of games with microtransactions to risk making the assumption there all the same)
TommM
April 19, 2011 at 5:12pm
My comment also stems from a series of recent dud releases. Dragon Age 2 was a crappy console port. Crysis 2 was a crappy console port. Portal 2 is a good, but short game - especially for the $50 asking fee - that along with that fee the game almost immediately hits you up for micro-transactions. Now granted it isn't anything one needs and is just Barbie doll dressing, but they couldn't wait a couple of weeks to try and ween more money from players?? I mean give us a moment to breathe before you start zeroing in on our wallet again.
Seriously - I pre-purchased all three of these games, having trusted the developers as they had previously put out quality products. But now it appears that we're being taken of advantage of because of that trust. I don't need to be the first kid on the block to own a game any longer with this going on. I can wait and let other people shell out the big bucks only to find out they bought into the hype and ended up with a dud.
Danthrax66
April 20, 2011 at 12:15pm
Crysis 2 wasn't a crappy port it definitely looks better than other PC games and plays well without graphical glitches. It will also be getting a dx11 patch.
TheMurph
April 19, 2011 at 4:40pm
It's brilliant. Why should Valve not profit from people who really want to spend $5 to outfit their co-op character with a silly hat? The market creates the demand: If a lot of people feel it's worth it to pay money for digital items, then why blame the publisher that gives them that opportunity? It's not like Valve is going all EA out there and demanding, say, an extra $10 for multiplayer access...
don2041
April 19, 2011 at 4:38pm
Here is the future of gaming. First you buy the game for $59.95 Then load the game BUT you can,t play the game untill you go to the upgrade store and buy a weapon, forward & back movement,or mabey left right movement, all for the low price of $4.99 per item. If there is a way to dollar & dime you into poverty, these companys will find it
don2041
April 19, 2011 at 4:49pm
The companys think like this. If gamers are willing to pay for useless crap what can we charge for stuff they really need
I Jedi
April 19, 2011 at 5:00pm
I sincerely doubt a scenario, as you put it, would ever play out, as there would be a public backlash to the publisher who did such a thing. Hell, with Valve doing the ARG scheme to get gamers to unlock Portal 2 early, gamers quickly turned on Valve this past weekend for what they saw as a "dirty" tactic to get gamers to buy these indie games at the hope of an early release. So, just imagine the backlash that would happen if you paid $60 bucks, but only to find out that you had to pay an additional $20 just to use the movement keys (S, W, A, D)
And yes, I know that gamers who collected the most "potatoes" got Portal 2 unlocked early, but many games, myself included, expected a weekend release. A lot of hearts were broken this past weekend.
stradric
April 20, 2011 at 7:14am
Yes. Damn Valve for supporting indie developers. How dare they! The nerve of them!
TommM
April 19, 2011 at 4:28pm
What do I think? I think it blows that one of the first things you encounter is pay-for DLC to "dress up your doll." For the asking price of the game $50 - and considering how short the campaign portion of the game is (maybe 6-8 hours), this stuff should have been included to begin with.
Pretty weak of Valve to spring this on loyal customers IMNHO. I won't be pre-ordering any future games from them until I see what it is I'm really getting.
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