IAP - thread for complaining about in app purchases.

[Nobunaga]

Exactly what the thread says. Rather than complaining about IAP in every single game's thread I thought I'd offer the alternative of posting complaints here. So many threads get derailed by the debate of IAP's. Not as they pertain to the mechanics of the game itself. Just about whether or not people can accept the in general.

[Royce]

Discussing IAP present in a game is not derailing a thread. It's exactly what the thread is there for. Discussing the game. Sometimes the debate veers off about IAP in general, not specific to the game, but this thread is frivolous, inflammatory and unnecessary.

[Greyskull]

Originally Posted by Royce

Discussing IAP present in a game is not derailing a thread. It's exactly what the thread is there for. Discussing the game. Sometimes the debate veers off about IAP in general, not specific to the game, but this thread is frivolous, inflammatory and unnecessary.

Exactly. If we don't know what we're paying for, how can we be informed consumers?

[Nobunaga]

You have your opinion. That this thread is frivolous, inflammatory and all.
I could easily find a good amount of examples of threads where the thread has been entirely derailed by this argument though.
The most recent being apocalypse max. There are pages of discussion on the thread about IAP in general and the new gameloft game in specific.
Do you really believe that people come here to see an argument not even about the game that the thread is about. Personally I don't. I get tired of having to search through pages of useless banter to find an impression of a game.
That discussion of that sort doesn't belong in game threads except when it directly relates to the game in question.
That's my opinion.
I'm not looking to call anybody out in specific. Didn't really mean to offend you. Just throwing the idea out there.

[Nobunaga]

Originally Posted by Greyskull

Exactly. If we don't know what we're paying for, how can we be informed consumers?

I'm not saying not to discuss how IAP in "x" game effect the balance and gameplay in the thread for "x" game.
I'm asking not to run on for pages about how you hate IAP and won't buy the game because they are in it and ..........
It makes it impossible to actually find any usefull information on the specific game.

[ninjackid]

Sounds like this thread is getting derailed from disussing IAPs to discussing the discussion of IAPs.

[iJoashFoo]

Oh not ANOTHER thread on iAPs.. Honestly as long as the iAP system in the game is unobtrusive and absolutely not needed (not Zynga) I'm okay with it. iAPs which unlock more content (eg Where's My Water/Perry) are much more welcomed and I'll gladly buy it.

Come on, developers need to make a living too. For them to sell at hellishly low price points they'd need something that'll enable them to carry on developing more great games.

[Human X]

Games that require IAP's to make reasonable progress are immediately spoiled. I agree that purchaseable level packs are acceptable as well, providing the game has a decent amount of free levels. I can't imagine how people spend hundreds of dollars on smurfberries though.

[pavarotti2007]

This place is getting ridiculous. If we post about price etc in a thread the posts are moved. Now that this thread has started it won't be long before we can't mention IAP in a game's thread. (Unless it is a positive comment of course )

[awp69]

The problem is that you really can't discuss IAPs in a vacuum. There's so many differences in the way the games implement them and the need for them. I really do think it's fair game to bring up in each thread whether IAPs are required/needed as it is information pertinent to whether you want to buy the game.

That said, here are my general ideas on when IAPs are acceptable:

1. Shortcuts - eliminating need to grind or have to play the game more to get an item.
2. One-time unlock - Game is free, but can be completely unlocked with a one-time IAP.
3. Expanded content - new level packs, etc.

Anything else is either borderline or just plain bad. I like to know how much a game is really going to cost before I get it. That's really the center of the issue is that games once upon a time were purchased and you had no restrictions to the game's content. With the IAPs introduced into the picture, except for the reasons listed above, there's often no way to know how much the game is going to cost you in the long run.

My 2 cents, anyway.