Banana's Blog and Journal

Live Service Games is Torturing Us!

02 June 2024

Originally, this blog will be titled Fortnite is Torturing Me (And You). As i got that title idea, i realize this problem isn't exclusively happened on Fortnite, but almost every live service game like Call of Duty, Overwatch, Destiny 2, Apex:Legend, Valorant and many more. Basically, most of modern multiplayer games that still up and running until now. So here it is, time to rant about live service games and its problem.

But first, how's everyone day? Enjoying any multiplayer games so far? Or did you just felt exhausted after grinding hour to hour to get those item you desired on battlepasses, instead of playing the game for the sake of having fun?

I hope you do, because i do felt tired grinding for battlepass in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3, oh boy. Did you know that they have Fallout set on the battlepass? Yes, no joke. I want it, and you have to unlock it as your level reaching 54 or more. I can't wait to gritting my teeth everytime a scumbag killed me in the middle of finishing the damn quest or i have to do other stuff and not leveling up for couple hours or even days.

I don't care what's your opinion on current season of Fortnite, i do enjoyed it. Epic decided to turn average battle royale sessionand mixed it up with  Twisted Metal and Vigilante 8 twist to it, the lobby now filled with lots of player running and killing with vehicle they ride, and as fan of Vigilante 8, especially 2nd Offense. I really do enjoying current season, which is why really remind me of that vehicular combat games. I want to say thank you to Epic for turning Fortnite into vehicular manslaughter simulator.

Seriously. Epic, i think you should add vehicular combat mode or Twisted Metal/Vigilante 8 clone in Fortnite, i'm sure it will increase your playerbase and maybe, maybe bringing more people, especially fan of vehicular combat genre, and i'm sure these people will buy those car skin that you desperately struggle to sell in the item shop.

Alright, i actually want to talk about more about current Fortnite like the player number are plummeted (But not that crazy though) and how people said this is the most toxic season just like Season X, but the focus i want to talk about right now is live service game in general.

Be honest, we all do feel tired after playing those live service multiplayer games, we all not having fun, we only playing for grinding to get that one item we desired on battlepasses, once certain times passed. The battlepasses will be expired and you won't get it back, you felt ashamed and blaming yourself for not investing your time to the game for item that later down to road you don't care.

Yes, that's one of the problem when it comes to the modern multiplayer games right now. It's plaguing on every corner of live service games. The big gaming corpo wanted you to just play only that live service games and not using your time to do daily stuff, studying or even sleeping. They want you to keep playing their live service games and not bothered to play other title, including singleplayer games. You either don't feel anything throughout playing live service slop because your brain has be turned off or you eventually felt bored then blackpilled with current state of video games industry and decided to make a statement (Or a video) about how video games isn't fun anymore. Goodness, i dislike that kind of video but it also spark a discussion about the state of modern video games, which actually really good way to encourage gamer to play older and indie titles.

The monetization is another issue with current live service game, the other words. Microtransaction, i know most of it are just skins that doesn't give you an advantage. But it's still predatory not only towards adult player but also kids player, imagine the horror of parents that they found out that their credit card connected to the games that their children play and there's lot of number you need to pay at the end of the month. Parents, make sure your card isn't connected to any games that your children playing.

The big gaming corpo want you to look good in-game, that's why they pushing you so hard to buy something from their item store. Not convinced enough? Don't worry, lootboxes here to gave you more than one item with single purchases! (Some of it just has single item however) But if you want to get more rare items from that lootboxes, buy more! So you can increase the chance to get that rare item you wish for. We will push you to keep buying and buying, while you busy opening the lootboxes to get the item you wish for, we will busy getting money showering into the big gaming corpo wallet!

Till this day, live service game still played by million players regardless which one the games is, but i'm so glad there's pushback from gaming community that they reject the live service slop because obviously they tired of it, even me! Everyone sick and tired of live service slop. The big gaming corpo might not care right now, but when the money dried and the most loyal gamers from that live service game leaving them. They might be reconsider to not make other live service slop, or was it?

At the end of the day, big gaming corpo won't be moving from this type of cash cow strategy, they still gonna make other live service slop and expecting you to invest and sacrifice your time to keep playing those live service slop. They want you to glued yourself to the screen while mindlessly playing those game and open your wallet to buy cooler items on the item shop just to flex your appearance but never your skill. (I doubt skill is something to be overlooked in live service game unless you speaking on competitive aspect of those game)

There's another Overwatch clone on the way, two of them from different company. Deadlock from Valve (Damn you, Valve! Fix Team Fortress 2 already!) and Concord from Firewalk Studio for Playstation, but there's already pushback against Concord for obvious reason beside being another live service slop with full price.

We currently seeing Suicide Squad:Kill the Justice League struggling to maintain its player. So far only more than 100+ players playing that game according to steam chart, the other chart i don't know, possibly even lower. I'm so glad these type of game got rejected harder, not only the story is awful and Sweet Baby Inc involved on the creation of the game, but it's another live service slop that these big gaming corpo expect you to keep playing and use your credit card to buy some items.

Gamers, let's keep rejecting live service slop from big gaming corpo together! Your time isn't only to invest to keep playing that game! You have other things to do! Don't let they suck your time to play their worthless live service slop! Your time can be used as well to play other game you wish to play! Indie and older title is the answer! Don't hesitate to pick them up an don't be shy to play it on your fancy gaming PC!

Remember, gaming is still fun too. You just get bored over same title and franchise!