1. Metal Gear Solid V's Post-Launch Reliance On Microtransactions
How To Kill A Franchise, by Konami. They could write that book with this one, as although the launch day version of MGS V didn't feature the 'insurance' feature, now it comes as standard. Basically, in Phantom Pain you're tasked with building up a base to thwart other private military companies around the world from doing the same. We all exist in the same shared universe online, so I can invade your base and you mine, etc. Konami noticed how popular this was after launch though, and how much people were complaining about having all their stuff stolen - so they implemented insurance, where you can pay real-world cash to get them to reimburse you for anything taken while you're offline. In theory, this could be something you just opt out of - except they've created a nefarious little gameplay loop that means if you want to unlock the top-tier equipment, you'll have to get more soldiers and more resources, which means building more bases and making sure they stay stocked up with security gear. Now, how do you make sure you've got enough coins to do this? With real cash microtransations, to the tune of up to $50. And how do you make sure each one of your bases stays protected, even if another player manages to infiltrate and sabotage all your gear? Insurance! It's genius, really. We're all doomed. Let us know your own worst gaming moments in the comments below, and please create an account if you'd like to write for the site yourself!
