Kazunori Yamauchi Responds to Gran Turismo 7 Fan Outrage

[Phaceless_Ph]

100% agree -- particularly when it comes to kids -- PD should do more to address this issue...but that's why I say, the lack of refinement here suggests to me that these guys are unaware of what decisions they are making...I don't think they are intentionally out to lose their player base.

Microtransaction ARE targeted towards children and people who are vulnerable to compulsive spending habits similar to gambling addiction, the data that games publishers used to first formulate the microtransaction model + the "target demo" came via a gambing company that is now part of Ladbrokes Coral Group in 2011-13. They know what they're doing and they know exactly who they're targeting, it's predatory.

Also, Sony know that they only need 5-20% of the player base to bite on microtransactions to produce a certain amount of revenue, they will have simulated this in what's known as "conversion funnels" when they were planning this model. So they don't really care if they burn off a load of their fanbase because they know that the 5-20% is all they need.

 

[Fusion]

100% agree -- particularly when it comes to kids -- PD should do more to address this issue...but that's why I say, the lack of refinement here suggests to me that these guys are unaware of what decisions they are making...I don't think they are intentionally out to lose their player base.

I actually feel the same way. Maybe we're both naïve but I still feel like Sony are the ones mainly pushing microtransactions. At the end of the day I don't care who it is and I don't need them to not be a thing anymore, just; make them reasonably priced, design your game so the vast majority of content can be obtained by just playing normally in a reasonable amount of time, give us an option to turn off any mention of microtransaction anywhere in or out of the game at a system/user level.

 

[JoaoSilva]

Here's a refresher for those that forgot this atrocious mechanic:

Image courtesy of @AutumnalGlow

Everything in this game is designed to make you give in and buy those sweet sweet microtransactions.

 

[dabz343]

Maybe not the console dev team themselves. These monetisation decisions come from the board at the publisher, which is Sony. They're the ones that need to take responsibility in regards to targeting vulnerable people with monetisation. And guess who is part of that Sony board? It's Kaz.

Yes ur right. It's not just PD...but if you start to enlarge the circle to include Sony, then you have to also acknowledge that Sony is in competition with Microsoft...and they are in comp with other businesses that want people's eyeball on their products...in the end, it's economics and everyone is trying to max profits...and people do shady things to achieve that.

Microtransaction ARE targeted towards children and people who are vulnerable to compulsive spending habits similar to gambling addiction, the data that games publishers used to first formulate the microtransaction model + the "target demo" came via a gambing company that is now part of Ladbrokes Coral Group in 2011-13. They know what they're doing and they know exactly who they're targeting, it's predatory.

Yea kind of ...I'm half way there with you, but you are making some serious claims here...one could propose that MT are there for affluent adults that don't mind paying to cut in line...it's not that malicious in my view.

make them reasonably priced, design your game so the vast majority of content can be obtained by just playing normally in a reasonable amount of time, give us an option to turn off any mention of microtransaction anywhere in or out of the game at a system/user level.

Can't argue with that.

 

[ScottPuss20]

PD are equipped to deal with it in their game, they chose not to.

So what, are PD supposed to be psychologists now?

 

[CodeRedR51]

but the new generation of PS players are different

Yes, they want to beat games in 2 days and have everything NOW.

 

[Northstar]

I am not a psychologist so I am not able to help those people. I say it's their problem in that it's something that they need to get help dealing with. I am not equipped to do it. It is not victim blaming, it's the truth.

I find it odd that someone that has had to deal with physical handicaps would be so unsympathetic towards others solely because their issue is mental...

Imagine if people took this sort of view towards those in wheelchairs, I mean, why should buildings be handicap accessible, my legs work just fine?

 

[dabz343]

Yes, they want to beat games in 2 days and have everything NOW.

I get it...but don't be surprised if others desire something different. It's fine to have your want, just have the capacity to allow others to get theirs...this is democratic after all.

 

[Lukanyon]

In order to better reflect the real world, we've added the "Auction House" section at the map, where you can place your bets on extremely rare cars. Aren't you excited to pay 40 million credits for a Ferrari 250 GTO?

 

[JoaoSilva]

Yes, they want to beat games in 2 days and have everything NOW.

The strawman arguments for the millionth time? Literally nobody said that here except you.

 

[ScottPuss20]

I find it odd that someone that has had to deal with physical handicaps would be so unsympathetic towards others solely because their issue is mental...

Imagine if people took this sort of view towards those in wheelchairs, I mean, why should buildings be handicap accessible, my legs work just fine?

No that's not what I'm saying. Everyone has problems but not everyone needs to know about them and not everyone can help. If a building isn't accessible, that is a problem for me and not those who are able. If you do have a mental health condition, that is a problem for you and a psychologist to solve, not a video game.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Made all the more irritating with the 20,000,000 cr cap, so you can't even just continue to grind whilst waiting for them to become available again and have the funds in reserve.

I think that was the thing that tipped me off that they were going full scumbag on micro transactions. I don't think they should be in the game, but I could ignore them. But then to have all the credit screens remind you to top off on PSN store and then have that reminder that your earned credits are capped at $20M, but paid credits have no limit - it just doesn't make for a good impression, whatever they say.

 

[Fusion]

Yes ur right. It's not just PD...but if you start to enlarge the circle to include Sony, then you have to also acknowledge that Sony is in competition with Microsoft...and they are in comp with other businesses that want people's eyeball on their products...in the end, it's economics and everyone is trying to max profits...and people do shady things to achieve that.

Yeah and in the process ruin my hobby/past time. So I'll express my displeasure when it spreads to/infects my hobby.

I actively avoid gambling in my life. I've never had a problem with it, but I hate the industry and everything it stands for both on the surface and underneath. I know this isn't gambling but what they play on in peoples minds is the exact same. When gameplay is worsened so that the MTX are more enticing it effects everyone.

 

[Samus]

So what, are PD supposed to be psychologists now?

No, I literally said all the need to do is not include these mechanics in their game. It's not hard is it? We know they're FOMO inducing, they know they are. We know the MTs are there to cater to those who can't help being caught up in FOMO, they know they are.

 

[mrPetros]

I'm not pissed off, I'm not bitter and I'm not going to throw dirt around and make stupid conspiracies about how Sony is "pushing" everybody into these microtransactions. What I'm going to say will probably anger a lot of people, potentially resulting in labels such as "tone deaf" and "insensitive". Nobody is forcing you to buy credits, nobody is forcing you to buy ultra-expensive cars and nobody is forcing you to grind. The decision to "grind" is only influenced by your desire to acquire cars that are expensive. If you don't have a desire for this, you won't feel the need to waste hours of your time repeating the same race. There is no point going to town accusing the developers of neglect when they've probably worked tirelessly to get the game to where it is. GT was in a hole, I was in a hole, not knowing whether PD had it in them to make something DECENT after soo many missteps. GT7 has given me more hope than ever before and I know that things will get even better with the promised updates. I know that many will want to get their pitchforks out and burn PD at the stake but what good is that going to do? You may be happy doing this in the short term but GT7 is game that will stick around for quite a while so we can't ignore it. No point giving it a bad name now or the people who genuinely enjoy the game, like me, will suffer. I want PD to overcome this situation, learn from it and deliver more content. GT7 is a great package; don't write it off.

here's one thing: I paid 100euros for the anniversary edition.
and I dropped another 20 for turismo-bucks

instead of feeling FULL and HAPPY, I feel like I'm playing a bad free2play game that has me "working" overtime for its FOMO while not providing adequate pleasure back.

and here's another thing: Do you know what these corporations language is? it's "money"


so if I can help another person not go through what I feel after spending 120euros, AND pass a message to a corporation,
I think its going to do "good" in both angles

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Here's a refresher for those that forgot this atrocious mechanic:

View attachment 1126159

Image courtesy of @AutumnalGlow

Everything in this game is designed to make you give in and buy those sweet sweet microtransactions.

Yeah, that was also a nice touch - "free" credits.

 

[JoaoSilva]

Yeah, that was also a nice touch - "free" credits.

It's like they're doing us peasants a favour by letting us earn "free" credits.

 

[buickgnx88]

No, I literally said all the need to do is not include these mechanics in their game. It's not hard is it? We know they're FOMO inducing, they know they are. We know the MTs are there to cater to those who can't help being caught up in FOMO, they know they are.

PD seems to have no issue with not including other things, so I wonder why they failed here? /s

 

[dabz343]

Yeah and in the process ruin my hobby/past time. So I'll express my displeasure when it spreads to/infects my hobby.

I actively avoid gambling in my life. I've never had a problem with it, but I hate the industry and everything it stands for both on the surface and underneath. I know this isn't gambling but what they play on in peoples minds is the exact same. When gameplay is worsened so that the MTX are more enticing it effects everyone.

My approach is to be stoic to those that offer things that cause anger...when I saw the roulette ticket for the first time, my thought was, here's PD trying to game me...and I laughed it off. Enjoy what you like and pay no mind to those things that get in the way.

 

[Northstar]

No that's not what I'm saying. Everyone has problems but not everyone needs to know about them and not everyone can help.

1) Sure everyone doesn't need to know about every problem you're having, but at the same time the more people talk (as in legitimately talk, not hate-speech or jokes) about a certain topic that may be taboo the less stigma surrounds it which makes it easier for those that are dealing with that particular issue to seek help.

2) As a matter of fact everyone can help, even if it's just offering a word or two of support. Saying "not my problem" is the exact opposite of helping.

If a building isn't accessible, that is a problem for me and not those who are able. If you do have a mental health condition, that is a problem for you and a psychologist to solve, not a video game.

But it is my problem, because we live in a society, buildings should be accessible to everyone and companies shouldn't prey on people with mental weaknesses by creating a product that is geared towards getting them to spend more money than should be required.

 

[dabz343]

instead of feeling FULL and HAPPY, I feel like I'm playing a bad free2play game that has me "working" overtime for its FOMO while not providing adequate pleasure back.

LIsten to this PD.

 

[Samus]

No that's not what I'm saying. Everyone has problems but not everyone needs to know about them and not everyone can help. If a building isn't accessible, that is a problem for me and not those who are able. If you do have a mental health condition, that is a problem for you and a psychologist to solve, not a video game.

Again, nobody is saying the video game has to solve that persons issues. That's obviously silly. We're just saying the video game doesn't purposely need to induce and encourage it.

Alcoholics aren't going to recover by playing a video game but I think you'd agree that a game which kept flashing alcohol advertising all the time isn't going to help them at all. So, the simple solution for the game to help that person is to no do that. Same principle here.

 

[whadafock]

LMAO, you should have come out with more contents so we don't have to grind the same course over and over again BEFORE you slashed the rewards by more than half.

Who knows how long the new contents will take to come out?

 

[Fusion]

My approach is to be stoic to those that offer things that cause anger...when I saw the roulette ticket for the first time, my thought was, here's PD trying to game me...and I laughed it off. Enjoy what you like and pay no mind to those things that get in the way.

I'm not angry, just concerned. If it continues down this path, I'll be sad and in turn somewhat angry.

I laugh at the roulette wheels too, not as much as Forza Horizon - but that's the thing, even if it's not as bad as the competition in one way, I'm still going to express my displeasure with it. I'm not even militantly against these mechanics being there at all. I just want them to properly consider what effect they have on people, good and the bad, and balance them accordingly so that the game is still fun without resorting to new ways to manipulate and potentially exploit people.

 

[JakeMR2]

I've been looking at everyone's point of view on this for quite a while, at least the more negative side of the balancing that they done with a lot of the races. Also, about people wanting the cars in the first week, that is by far not what anyone is really asking they want the economy improved so the game is at least enjoyable and you don't have to do the same events each time. Of course people will grind the event that has the best payouts but that's how it is in Gran Turismo. Even in past titles you had money areas where people would at least grind but it wasn't at all tedious. Though, you had tons of events that every car had a chance to be in and used.

The economy right now as is will not suffice and waiting on it for a long while to be fixed will make the players slowly not want to play the game however long it will be until then, as no one really knows if that'll be addressed. The more events the better, as it is it can be a chore to go through, and I want the game to be fun not some job that you have to do to get the cars you really do want to collect. However, there are solutions like the Daily Bonuses and the Seasonals of the past, which hopefully Polyphony will at least consider as it was fun trying to beat my own friends time and earning a car or money on top of it. That's what made GT5/6 online so special in that regard and in the social aspects of both.

I get it if it sounds like loud complaints but a lot of it is pretty valid criticisms that at least need to be heard. With people denying such things it won't push things further, at most cause more chaos and add to the flames of the fire on both sides from what I see and many people are doing so here. We are just not gonna get anywhere by arguing and all that just isn't the right thing to do.

That's the best I can word it, but that's my viewpoint over the whole situation here.

 

[dabz343]

We're just saying the video game doesn't purposely need to induce and encourage it.

Listen to this PD.

I'm not angry, just concerned.

Mybad

 

[MenocidiX]

I was so hyped for this game for months. I was hyped through the 2 days I was completing it. Hype vanished, I still had fun grinding a bit and buying some cars I wanted and customize/tune them.

Now the game is kinda dead for me. Economy doesn't motivate to do anything. I only do the daily workout to grab my 5,000 Cr.

From 1,500 km per day to 50 in two weeks, never happened before. It's sad and so am I.
I know it will get better someday, but the first two patches doing nothing more than worsening the game was not what I expected.

 

[ScottPuss20]

1) Sure everyone doesn't need to know about every problem you're having, but at the same time the more people talk (as in legitimately talk, not hate-speech or jokes) about a certain topic that may be taboo the less stigma surrounds it which makes it easier for those that are dealing with that particular issue to seek help.

2) As a matter of fact everyone can help, even if it's just offering a word or two of support. Saying "not my problem" is the exact opposite of helping.


But it is my problem, because we live in a society, buildings should be accessible to everyone and companies shouldn't prey on people with mental weaknesses by creating a product that is geared towards getting them to spend more money than should be required.

Again, nobody is saying the video game has to solve that persons issues. That's obviously silly. We're just saying the video game doesn't purposely need to induce and encourage it.

Alcoholics aren't going to recover by playing a video game but I think you'd agree that a game which kept flashing alcohol advertising all the time isn't going to help them at all. So, the simple solution for the game to help that person is to no do that. Same principle here.

Let me know whether you agree with this statement: If someone is unable to recognise their problem and deny any help, they deserve to suffer. If people cannot help themselves and realise that there is a problem, the game has succeeded at "gaming" them.

 

[whadafock]

no matter how you spin it, GT has become a series that's all about milking old time fans and car lovers with all the possible shady ways from a F2P game.

Trying to make your game like GTA with MTX? Well, too bad there's way more things to do in GTA other than driving.

 

[Rotax2020]

Even in GT Sport, there are so many expensive cars, i can never efford, this playing MP for years.

250 GTO for example, would like to have, but way to expensive