9. Microtransactions and Downloadable Content
In teetering and inconsistent economies and job markets, we all want to have that reassurance of getting the most out of our purchases. In the end, we buy games for entertainment, and when you're dropping about $60 on each entertainment fix, you're probably expecting to get the whole package in that one purchase. Well, now developers have come up with two more ways for you to throw money at their products: microtransactions and downloadable content. These basically function as incremental purchases that add to your experience with the game. Maybe an extra level here or there, or a slightly more useful ability, or possibly a cool looking weapon with flashy destructive capabilities. However, there's a dark side to most things in this business, and sadly this is no exception. For example, developers for games like Final Fantasy XIII-2 implement DLC by charging players for things that should have been within the game in the first place, such as important narrative. Also, you must throw a few extra dollars, (which soon turns into a mass of dollars) just to obtain random things that don't really serve a purpose outside of cosmetic value, such as extra costumes. So if you're one of those people who has to see everything in their game...well, throw your wallet on the table.