Microtransactions, lootboxes, and you

[Mab]

i've spent money on games i was really into at the time (mainly tf2) but i'm pretty much out of that phase now and havent engaged in any kinda microtransactions in years. i do think it's ridiculous that they've become accepted in full priced games though - tf2 is free to play and all the rewards are cosmetic or side-grades (not objectively better/worse). anything beyond that is way unethical imo

 

[Sheep]

this is long gone and I spend my money on more reasonable things, like the amazing microtransactions in FFXIV lmao, but they're arguably worth it. I think that's the only game I actually spend money on now!

i wish the mog station mounts weren't so expensive though! :( i mean, 25-30 bucks for an account-wide mount? goodness

 

[Firebolt]

I'm not even going to lie, I can't bring myself to enjoy console games any more than once or twice a month, when the fancy passes me. My purchases towards new games has dropped to zero while I steadily got deeper and deeper into gacha whale territory (mostly Fate/Grand Order). Mobile games are very easy to pick up and put down whenever I need to, and if I'm already spending so much time on them, why not splurge a little? My other hobbies don't cost me anything and my luck even makes my much more heavily-invested friends feel a little salty (to the point where I just keep things to myself now so I don't unintentionally upset people). All just a bunch of JPEGs at the end of the day, but I like to think of it as therapy shopping without the hassle of buying physical stuff I don't need and have it collect dust. Definitely not something for everyone though, and the predatory trap of it all is very, very easy to fall into, which makes me wish that governments would stop sitting on their hands and pass some actual regulations for MTX and lootboxes (more than the 'pity' system these types of games tend to have, 'guaranteeing' a roll after $1000s or more is spent).