State of the Eververse (Destiny)

by Kermit , Raleigh, NC, Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 08:29 (1867 days ago) @ someotherguy
edited by Kermit, Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 08:34

I just don't buy the negative gloss you're painting with. I don't categorize limited availability as shady, tricky, or psychological manipulation.

Arguments can be made that limited availability of physical goods is unavoidable for all sorts of manufacturing and supply reasons. Sometimes it's also for manipulative reasons, but a lot of the time iId like to hope it's a case of "we can only make so many of these".

But for digital goods? There's literally zero reason for it except to manipulate.

If that's the case the whole game can be rejected to the extent it follows the living world model.

Other games and MMOs do "Living World" just fine without "seasonal" goods.

I disapprove of a lot of Square Enix's business practices but at least their startlingly overpriced cosmetic store stands on it own without any gimmicks or tricks.

Real scarcity is rarely an issue in industrialized first-world countries. Beyond those involving rare minerals, there are few goods that can't be produced to the point of oversupply.

Again, I don't accept your terminology--gimmicks and tricks. Rarity by design has always been baked into the Destiny cake. You couldn't just buy fatebringer or God rolls (most of the time). Yeah, they could just give everyone fatebringer, but you're taking away part of the fun of the game for many people (and frustration, too--I get that, and no one is making anyone play. I take issue with people saying "I don't enjoy RNG therefore it's evil, and anyone who enjoys it is in denial--they are actually a victim").

One of my favorite Shakespeare passages is Hal's soliloquy (and yes, I know I've quoted this before):

If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work,
But when they seldom come, they wished-for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.

I know some want Destiny to be like Halo, a game in which everyone has access to exactly the same tools, etc. I get that, but it's not that, and it's never been that, and I guarantee you that a great number of people wouldn't enjoy it so much if it was that.

The irony is that Bungie has taken a lot of randomness away (I'd like them to take away random rolls, too, but that's just me). Most weapons have a clear path to acquire now. If you really want a cosmetic, you can buy it. Yeah, that requires real money and a visit to the vendor at a certain point in time, but if you miss that window there's still a good chance you can get the thing--probably a better chance than getting that god roll. And it can't be overstated--we're talking about the gaming equivalent of sprinkles on a cupcake (to return to cakes). Maybe of less value game-wise--the equivalent of decorative non-edible cupcake toppers.