this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2024
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Technology
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Even "games as a service" aren't very service forward. No real reason they couldn't be hosted locally for the game part other than the developer does not give the user access to the server software to host your own games. The actual "service" is having a store with constant, small content additions, and not being able to play in servers outside the developer/publisher's control. MMO's fall into this category, too. Plenty of defunct ones that have been revived through user created server emulation show even a regular player could technically host these games and still play them without the need for using the developer's servers.
Absolutely true. The reason why so many games have cut down on standalonge games and player hosting options is that it allows them to control and sell microtransactions better. Who would buy skins if there's modding? Who would buy lootboxes if you can use a couple commands to have all the abilities and the best equipment in the game? They need to restrict player control so that only they can sell extras and power-ups.
Our ownership is undermined so that we can be fleeced on top of that.
The utter meaninglessness of "buying", or even worse, "gambling" for a single instance of an in-game item that is stored in a server we have no control over really appalls me. They managed to completely mix up the players' perception of value to the point they can't tell apart what is additional content from what is an insignificant fictional gameplay element. Say, producing infinite gold coins costs nothing for the developers.