Valve have updated the developer guidelines for releasing a game on Steam, making it clear that the scourge of mobile gaming advertising-based business models are not going to work on Steam.
  • Zacryon@feddit.orgEnglish
    1·
    14 days ago

    Some options you could consider include […] making your game free to play with optional upgrades sold via Microtransactions or Downloadable Content (DLC).

    I am not sure this is better. I hate microtransactions usually more than ads.

    Ads don’t cost you money, just time, and sometimes some screen space. They are annyoing and that sucks. But leveraging dark patterns as stuff like FOMO and other psychological tricks to nudge people towards microtransactions can cost you a lot. A business model, which relies on techniques from the gambling industry – also by catching some whales – is imo way worse than ads.
    Such games aren’t made for all players, just for some who don’t have control over their expenses (or can really afford it).

    I can live with DLCs as long as there aren’t so many that it becomes increasingly indistinguishable to microtransactions. But in the end I don’t want to buy a fucking lego set, where I have to constantly buy new stuff.

    That’s why I prefer single purchase games. I am also ok with paying more for them if that means the devs get the proftis to keep the development of games I like going. Buy once – have it all. Keeping games at a comparably equal price over decades is imo not meaningful anyways due to factors like inflation. But the gaming community can be really unforgiving in this regard. That’s why ad-based or microtransaction-based games are taking off. A majority of gamers are uncritical enough that this works. And then they are surprised when it bites them in the ass…

    • smeg@feddit.ukEnglish
      0·
      16 days ago

      I just deny most mobile games the network permission, though obviously this doesn’t work if you actually need any internet access (and I don’t think all devices give you control over that permission)

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        16 days ago

        I just don’t play games that have ads (most of the games on my phone are from F-Droid).

        • JigglySackles@lemmy.worldEnglish
          0·
          15 days ago

          I’ve had a hard time finding quality games in there. Outside of Shattered Pixel Dungeon they are few and far between. I still agree with your take though, because fuuuuck mainstream mobile games.

          I made a rare dip into the play store recently and tried to just get the hill climb racing game or a similar one. I played them as web games years ago and liked them and wanted to play them again. All of them are so riddled with ad garbage they are unplayable. Even the lego one was stuffed with “buy gems or your progress is nonexistent” and other garbage tactics.

          Every game I get in there is a disappointment. The Netflix games started out solid but I feel like they are going to change to more standard mobile junk eventually.