10 Crucial Improvements The Gaming Industry Must Make In 2015

4. Micro-Transactions

As much as you'd assume the idea of paying additional amounts for content that in the past used to be on a disc would be insulting, the nature of micro-transactions seems to divide fans right down the middle. For everyone screaming out that the product you buy on shelves should be the 100% finished experience, there's always an equal number defending the idea of bolstering your in-game experience with additional - and more importantly, optional - things like weapons, ammunition, clothing etc. The issue with these is it reeks of Joss Whedon's comment from Morgan Spurlock's documentary on Comic-Con, where remarking on how business-minded individuals see a group of passionate, dedicated fans (such as gamers) they notice that "Inside love, is money [...] so let's mine the love and get the money out". Providing micro-transactions stay completely non-invasive and truly optional - like character clothing or something equally unobtrusive to the core experience, this can stay on the side of 'If you don't like it, then don't buy it'. But if like in Forza and Mass Effect 3 (to name but two) there's a distinct advantage given to players who actively buy better upgrades for themselves when facing off against other less financially-equipped players, that's a real problem for the core enjoyment of gaming as a competitive pastime.