‘My normative opinion is objective’ really underlines the problem.
As does calling an argument reductive before reducing it to ‘it is bad.’
And then focusing on the word “addictive” when the actual argument is, this entire business model is fucking nonsense that sells literally worthless things for real money, in a way that is fundamentally unethical specifically because tricking people into valuing arbitrary garbage is what games are for. That’s what makes them games! I’ve only mentioned addiction as an example of the manipulation used to gouge people as hard as possible in spite of their better judgement. It is a how. The problem is why.
If that sounds like ‘well I just don’t like it,’ fuck off.
As does calling an argument reductive before reducing it to ‘it is bad.’
I did that intentionally to show how ridiculous reductive logic is.
worthless things
It’s obviously not worthless to the people who buy it, otherwise they wouldn’t buy it. Value is almost entirely subjective, and frequently based on what others think.
That’s the same for MTX. People often buy MTX to show off, and that has value to them. It’s the digital equivalent of wearing designer jeans or carrying a designer wallet.
manipulation used to gouge people
You’ve just described the entire field of advertising.
And there are good parts to MTX as well, it’s the free market solution to “take from the rich and give to the poor” since it makes games available for free and largely funded by wealthier people. A handful of people feeling superior to others funds development of a game available for free to everyone else.
I still don’t like it because I think the end product is worse than charging everyone for admission, but there’s an solid argument there that the net effect for the majority is more games available for free (most people don’t buy MTX).
‘My hypocrisy was a clever ruse except when I meant it, and this mostly-subjective thing is objectively–’ yeah okay I think we’re done. Even circling right back to where you came in: advertising, that totally ethical field with nothing to condemn or curtail. What you want is awful and why you want it is awful and dealing with how you choose to write it is draining.
And there are good parts to MTX as well, it’s the free market solution to “take from the rich and give to the poor”
… I am dumber for having suffered this conversation. This is a wallet siphon you think is targeted at children, and-- no.
‘My normative opinion is objective’ really underlines the problem.
As does calling an argument reductive before reducing it to ‘it is bad.’
And then focusing on the word “addictive” when the actual argument is, this entire business model is fucking nonsense that sells literally worthless things for real money, in a way that is fundamentally unethical specifically because tricking people into valuing arbitrary garbage is what games are for. That’s what makes them games! I’ve only mentioned addiction as an example of the manipulation used to gouge people as hard as possible in spite of their better judgement. It is a how. The problem is why.
If that sounds like ‘well I just don’t like it,’ fuck off.
I did that intentionally to show how ridiculous reductive logic is.
It’s obviously not worthless to the people who buy it, otherwise they wouldn’t buy it. Value is almost entirely subjective, and frequently based on what others think.
That’s the same for MTX. People often buy MTX to show off, and that has value to them. It’s the digital equivalent of wearing designer jeans or carrying a designer wallet.
You’ve just described the entire field of advertising.
And there are good parts to MTX as well, it’s the free market solution to “take from the rich and give to the poor” since it makes games available for free and largely funded by wealthier people. A handful of people feeling superior to others funds development of a game available for free to everyone else.
I still don’t like it because I think the end product is worse than charging everyone for admission, but there’s an solid argument there that the net effect for the majority is more games available for free (most people don’t buy MTX).
‘My hypocrisy was a clever ruse except when I meant it, and this mostly-subjective thing is objectively–’ yeah okay I think we’re done. Even circling right back to where you came in: advertising, that totally ethical field with nothing to condemn or curtail. What you want is awful and why you want it is awful and dealing with how you choose to write it is draining.
… I am dumber for having suffered this conversation. This is a wallet siphon you think is targeted at children, and-- no.
I’m out.