NICKEL AND DIMING (State of Video Gaming Developers)

For quite some time now, the title of this post says it all when speaking about the worth of a video game today. I have noticed this to be on several of my friends minds and they have started voicing their displeasure over this issue which encouraged me to write this.

Once upon a time, in this land we call home, video game developers used to create an entire story with all that you would ever need in the game-play and sell it to you for a set price. We desperately need to return to those days.

Now-a-days, developers are breaking the game into pieces of Story, side missions, extra gear, extra weapons, multiple DLCs (downloadable content) and the ability to have an online presence in the mix like a pvp mode (player vs. player). And after they break the game into these pieces they re-assemble them into "Bundles" they deem appropriate to sell to us at whatever price seems fair.

Hey developers, WHY NOT GIVE US THE WHOLE PACKAGE AND LET US DECIDE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO USE AT THE TIME? I believe I can safely deduce that the majority of those purchasing the games to begin with are Adults who will be making adult decisions about what to do with their money. Take my word and many others like me, if you cannot find a way to "Bundle Everything" together and give me a final price then I will find somebody who can and/or just stop investing in your product. And if enough of us feel the same way Mr. Developer - you will be hurting.

I acknowledge there are developers out there that build their games around having these "extras" plugged into the program or series as the game progresses. It is a way to continually morph/grow the game while keep and gain additional followers. BUT for those who are not geared from the get-go for this strategy, the effort is more akin to making some vital parts of a game and other additional parts only accessible by purchasing through special bundles or separately - otherwise known as Nickel And Diming.

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