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My Life as a King...where I pay for microtransactions? What? photo

As aforementioned by Nazi-in-Chief Nick Chester in his previous post about Wiiware and how Game|Life's Chris Kohler has it and we do not (grumble), it seems that Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King has a feature we hadn't previously heard much about: microtransactions. There's something decidedly unkingly about paying for a game's extra features, but nonetheless, that's the story here. Royalty ain't all it's cracked up to be, folks.

In games like Mass Effect, DLC is very much optional: you can still enjoy the full game even if you never notice the extra content exists. With My Life as a King, it's a little more extreme. It seems that of the four playable races (Clavats, Yukes, Lilties, and Selkies,) you can only play one with the regular purchase of the game. The other three can only be obtained by spending Wii points to purchase buildings for them. Additonal costumes will also be available for purchase later in the game.

Plain and simple, I have a problem with this. The kind of DLC you get for a game like Rock Band can be well worth the price, especially if you are a fan of the songs and can invite your friends over for new jams. Although I can't make a final judgment until I play the title, I can say I am already turned off by knowing that 3 out of 4 in-game races won't be available to me until I put out dinero. I hate to ask it, but I'm going to anyway: How can you possibly need any more money, Square?

Does this bother any of you, or are microtransations becoming...ugh...the norm?

[Via Siliconera, Thanks Jonathan]


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93 comments | showing # 1 to 50

MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 03/25/2008 14:34
Wow. That's really stupid of Square.
Brass's Avatar
Brass at 03/25/2008 14:34
This justifies my initial fear with microtransactions. Like a lot of people, I was worried companies would ship a hollow game that could only be filled with nickels and dimes.

This is really disappointing to see Square.
DaedHead8's Avatar
DaedHead8 at 03/25/2008 14:36
Micro-Transactions are taking over gaming and it's pissing me off. I don't mind downloading extra tracks in rockband but when I have to buy character classes like in Marvel Ultimate Alliance and now FF:CC I draw the line. I was on the fence for this title and now I am firmly in the "will not purchase" camp.
MiOdd's Avatar
MiOdd at 03/25/2008 14:37
I think it's absurd. I don't like any type of payable DLC. If a company wants me to play a game they better put enough quality content in the box before trying to sell it to me.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 03/25/2008 14:39
Put me in the "will not purchase" camp as well.
Cataract's Avatar
Cataract at 03/25/2008 14:39
Wow, thats bullshit. Guess I won't be buying this after all.
Mr Bas's Avatar
Mr Bas at 03/25/2008 14:40
100-300 points is just too much but I won't buy it anyways. Additional clothes make sense in MMOs where everyone can see you but what's the use in FFCC?
Nessie's Avatar
Nessie at 03/25/2008 14:45
I can understand the Cash Shops in MMOs - but whats the point in a game like this?

But people will probably sink their money in anyway. :/
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 03/25/2008 14:47
This is horrible.
robestyles's Avatar
robestyles at 03/25/2008 14:48
I blame the jews.......oh and EA.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 03/25/2008 14:48
This is bullshit. Total, complete bullshit. Do not want.
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar
DinnertimeNinja at 03/25/2008 14:48
So let me get this straight...

You're paying once to download the wii-ware title and THEN they're charging you MORE money if you want the other 3/4 of the game?

The hell?

Am I missing something here? Is this game completely free to download and then you can pay for extra stuff? Like all those Korean online games?

If you have to pay for it to begin with though, this is utterly stupid and an instant strike against the game and wii-ware titles in general.

I mean, there's already a lot of bullshit going on with XBox Live and PSN downloads but at least you get full games to start with. Nintendo really doesn't have the first clue about online services, do they?

They keep postponing any sort of online for their systems meaning when they finally DO decide to do something online and they make beginners mistakes (which are inevitable), they seem THAT much more retarded in comparison to the dozens of other services that have been running relatively smoothly for years.

*sigh*
CALkulon's Avatar
CALkulon at 03/25/2008 14:49
Well, unless it's a ridiculously good game there's no way I'll be buying this now, after initially being quite excited.

Way to go, Square.
Madame Deficit's Avatar
Madame Deficit at 03/25/2008 14:50
wow...
that picture pisses me off so much.
I don't exactally know why but it does.
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 03/25/2008 14:50
I have heed the warning... This is what DLC is leading too. This is why people should not accept DLC to (supposedly) full single player games.

But you cant stop the inevitable...
Pixel Blue's Avatar
Pixel Blue at 03/25/2008 14:51
I think I'll avoid this one just on principle. This is a bad habit and shouldn't be encouraged.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 03/25/2008 14:51
Rock Band and Mass Effect = good microtransactions.

This = absolutely wrong bullshit. Unforgivable.
SteppinRazor's Avatar
SteppinRazor at 03/25/2008 14:52
Weaker than shit. Microtransactions can rot.

I love 'real' DLC, like song packs in Rockband, the 'not-horsearmor' extra quests in Oblivion, and (while I haven't played it yet) the extra content in Mass Effect.

This retail-plus approach to what ought to be normal game features, stuff already on the disc, and tiny cosmetic changes is dreadful.
broonor's Avatar
broonor at 03/25/2008 14:53
Thanks, Microsoft, for making microtransactions acceptable instead of evil.
SteppinRazor's Avatar
SteppinRazor at 03/25/2008 14:54
Heh, Nintendo/Square fuck up and its MS's fault. Love it.
B-Radicate's Avatar
B-Radicate at 03/25/2008 14:54
There's an easy solution to all of this bullshit... don't buy it.

I don't even buy Rock Band or GH3 content. Shit should be included for my wallet rape that devs already put me through.

You'd think that games would still cost $50 because they make up the money on DLC sales, but no... we were told from day one to suck it up and pay $60 and we did. Now we're sucking it up and paying for shit like this every day. It's our own fault.
Mr Bas's Avatar
Mr Bas at 03/25/2008 14:55
Uh, the game is FULL, you'll only have to pay for houses to "raise" other races. It's not like the game's going to be completely unplayable without the DLC.
nilcam's Avatar
nilcam at 03/25/2008 15:00
So, FFCC: My Life as a King is the most expensive of the WiiWare games at $15 and then they want to nickel and dime you to death to buy the rest of the game. Sounds like large-scale failure to me. And I thought their $40 pricing on DS games was unreasonable.

Dear Square,
Your games are generally good but not that good. Thanks, but no thanks.
that1dood's Avatar
that1dood at 03/25/2008 15:02
Wow, is it just me or is Nintendo shooting itself in the foot with all of this bullshit they're doing online. Granted this may not be Nintendo's fault, per se. But they're allowing it to happen and frankly, this is just ridiculous.

I will NOT be purchasing this game unless it's changed.
Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 03/25/2008 15:04
*psssst.* King's Story (formerly Project O), looks better anyways, without all the overused junk and transactions that Square is bringing to the table.

youtube'd.

Demtor's Avatar
Demtor at 03/25/2008 15:09
I loved the golden era of PC gaming. Where if a game came out, depending on how good the game was, people took and created their own maps, mods, models and various custom stuff to download for free because it was fan made for fans. Back when gaming companies would actually release modding tools for their fans. Quake, Warcraft 2, Doom, Morrowind, Half-Life, Thief 2, etc etc.

I remember first hearing about people paying for DLC on their consoles when it first came out and I cringed at what kind of trend it could start. Stuff like this, just seems wrong. But, thankfully, I won't play a game like this. Maybe people that love this kind of game will buy it without much a problem, but something about the whole concept seems kind of, I dunno... lame. It comes off as "money grubbing." Not a very kind way to treat your fans.
Knives's Avatar
Knives at 03/25/2008 15:09
The game is supposedly gonna cost like $15 (1500 wii points) right? Would it be better if they released it "complete" for like $30-$40 bucks?

Considering the supposed $15 dollar price tag, if it ends up costing me (without the costumes, since i doubt I would be interested in that) around the same as a DS game ($30-$40), and it gives me the same or a better experience, then I don't see it as "OMG DLC RAPE".

@B-Radicate
I don't think all the Rock Band DLC that has been released would've fitted on the disc. Really, I think it's above 2 gigs now.
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 03/25/2008 15:16
I think this is just a test by Square, one of the higher-up managers must've said something like "All our fans would even pay for costumes if we asked them, defenetly if we do it on the Wii!" and then ordered some of his codemonkeys to do his bidding... and voila, the result....
JamnOnTheOne's Avatar
JamnOnTheOne at 03/25/2008 15:19
Apparently no one has played any Korean developed MMO's where you get the basic stuff for free and have to pay for each sword and costume?

I don't understand what the problem is...No one is holding a gun to your head and demanding you to pay for the content, it's optional. PC gaming has been this way for some time on a large number of titles. I don't like the trend, but I can't say I'm surprised it's working its way onto consoles.
Eno chan's Avatar
Eno chan at 03/25/2008 15:21
To be honest, can you blame them for trying? I mean some MMO's you pay monthly, and that's after dropping the 60 bucks to get the game. Then DLC content is added onto games like GH III, Rock Band, and Mass Effect, and people buy it. Some people justify it, but what's the difference? We are still paying for something that could have been included in the game to begin with. (Granted this may not always be the case.)

Instead of blaming the company, why don't we blame ourselves?
deanhatescoffee's Avatar
deanhatescoffee at 03/25/2008 15:21
I didn't enjoy the first FF:CC game, so I can't see me paying for this one (let alone microtransactions).
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 03/25/2008 15:22
Boooooo Square. Boooooo!
ajay42's Avatar
ajay42 at 03/25/2008 15:22
Rock Band DLC makes complete sense as it actually allows you to tailor the experience beyond the game to your preferences (and Grateful Dead and Metallica fans don't have to curse each other's existence on a daily basis.) But micro-transactions in general seem to be a complete rip-off (even more so in those supposed 'free' games where actually you need to pay to get any weapon (or whatever) above a pea shooter.)

That said, how exactly is this DLC different from the Mass Effect one? From what I've read the original $15 gets you the full game start to finish, and the DLC are expansion packs that give you new missions tailored to new races moving into your city. Sounds like pretty much the same thing... except on Wii. Oh, I answered my own question!

Anyway, I'm still curious about this game in general... we'll see.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 03/25/2008 15:26
Bullshit. Fuck Square and fuck Nintendo for letting this happen.
C4 Bankson's Avatar
C4 Bankson at 03/25/2008 15:30
Knives nails it, if a game is cheaper than the typical $50-$60 retail I am all for microtransactions. If I buy it and only play it a little, I only spent 15 dollars. If I really love it, I can spend 5-10 more to get even more out of the game.
Bulrog's Avatar
Bulrog at 03/25/2008 15:31
Wow what a load of bullshit.
that1dood's Avatar
that1dood at 03/25/2008 15:34
This may actually merit it's only C-Blog post, but maybe it's not just that it's cheaper than your typical game. It's more the very idea of releasing an incomplete game and then having to take the time to buy the rest of it that is so repulsive.

Or maybe it's the idea of having to buy multiple things that frustrates people. I know that I, personally, would rather pay $30 straight up instead of paying $15 dollars and then an extra dollar for each additional thing. It's just stupid and frustrating.
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 03/25/2008 15:40
Will this be the straw that breaks the fanboys back? I mean, boycotting a huge Nintendo release is unheard of.

:p fuck you square, and the Wii you rode in on.
Yumplumbum's Avatar
Yumplumbum at 03/25/2008 15:43
I saw this coming back when MS first announced their streamlined microstransaction system. I remember how many gamers/sheep were raving about how they would great it was and all I could think about was how this was probably going to turn into a nickle-and-dimed-to-death scenario seeing as how the industry had decided that games would suddenly start costing $60. Fast forward three or four years and here we are with games that want you to pay $10 just to unlock stuff that would have been in the game from the start 3 years ago.

I can understand having to pay for new maps, levels, missions, etc. but paying for things like cheats and weapons is absurd, especially when the game ships like that. Thank god GTHD never got released or else it probably would have set a precedent of charging your customers for every item in the game.

All I ask people is that no one buy games that pull this kind of crap or at the very least do not buy the DLC.
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 03/25/2008 15:44
This is bothersome, but at the same time before I completely call shenanigans, I want to know how much it would cost to unlock the other races? Is it a flat fee, or cost per race? Do we get to pick what the one race is we start with? If I only want to unlock two of the races and I get to pick which race I start with, then it's not a huge deal to pay 1-3 extra dollars.

If they make it more complicated and force you to spend more money, then that's another story. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because Square-Enix knows they can rape their fans money-wise and a lot of them will take it.
Etelmik's Avatar
Etelmik at 03/25/2008 15:45
I seriously wonder if it's Nintendo Japan that's making all these decisions. They're totally owning over there and it seems like they can get away with the pay-to-play and DLC bullshit that's going on.

If this really continues, we may have country divisions, with Nintendo being Japan's thing and Microsoft being the U.S.'s thing. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 03/25/2008 15:45
So then, Colette, will you not get this game now that you know it will be essentially gimped without paying extra?

I won't.
Chocobo Knight's Avatar
Chocobo Knight at 03/25/2008 15:50
Umm, like hell I'll buy this if you have to pay extra for parts that should already be included in the original price!

Who thought this was a grand idea?!
Kaspar's Avatar
Kaspar at 03/25/2008 15:50
And remember - the Wii only has a memory of 500 MB, so you will have to delete the game if you want to DL a new one anyways.
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 03/25/2008 15:51
Fucking lame
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 03/25/2008 15:55
No thank you. I like my money in my wallet, not Square's.
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 03/25/2008 16:04
This shit is ridiculous. I urge all of you to boycott this game.
Klytus's Avatar
Klytus at 03/25/2008 16:12
Little Lord Fauntleroy will take your lunch money.
AgentMOO's Avatar
AgentMOO at 03/25/2008 16:12
It's a me, Mario! Bend a over, Now!
tincow's Avatar
tincow at 03/25/2008 16:14
Eh, I think you've just fooled yourself into thinking that Rock Band DLC is a good deal, honestly. Because, when you get tired of the 50+ songs included, but are addicted, what choice do you have?

Two bucks per song as an expansion to a game you likely plopped down nearly 200 bucks for is about as good a deal as getting soaked by Square, IMO.

Not sure how it's Nintendo's fault...Square has such an inexplicable fanboy following that any of the big three would go along with just about anything they wanted, amirite?
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