Destiny 2 Goes F2P
I bought Destiny 2 shortly after it originally launched in October 2017, mainly due to the positive word of mouth comments of friends and colleagues. I got a good deal at the time from an online CD key vendor. As I have enjoyed FPS titles in the past and Destiny 2 also has elements of the MMORPG genre, I spent some time in-game levelling my character. Certainly I had no complaints about the nuts and bolts of the game. The graphics are good and the games systems appropriate and responsive. Combat is fast and dynamic and there is always something to do if you just wanted to jump into some action. But after some time my interest in the game waned. The central story wasn’t exactly compelling and as I was playing solo, there wasn’t any strong social aspect keeping me logging in. So after a few months I stopped playing and moved on to something else.
I bought Destiny 2 shortly after it originally launched in October 2017, mainly due to the positive word of mouth comments of friends and colleagues. I got a good deal at the time from an online CD key vendor. As I have enjoyed FPS titles in the past and Destiny 2 also has elements of the MMORPG genre, I spent some time in-game levelling my character. Certainly I had no complaints about the nuts and bolts of the game. The graphics are good and the games systems appropriate and responsive. Combat is fast and dynamic and there is always something to do if you just wanted to jump into some action. But after some time my interest in the game waned. The central story wasn’t exactly compelling and as I was playing solo, there wasn’t any strong social aspect keeping me logging in. So after a few months I stopped playing and moved on to something else.
Because I try to keep up with the ongoing tsunami that is daily gaming news, it recently came to my attention that developer’s Bungie has ended its relationship with Activision and the game was no longer going to be available on the Battle.Net game launcher. I was therefore curious to see which platform the game migrated to. I even briefly harboured thoughts of trying the game again. However, my initial good humour upon learning that the game was to be available via Steam was quickly dispelled when I learned that Destiny 2 was also going “Free to Play”. I know it’s illogical and I am fully conversant with the “sunk cost fallacy” but I always get the feeling that I’m getting rooked when a game that I own goes F2P. Perhaps on some psychological leveI, I resent the fact that some bastard is getting something free that I had to pay for. On a more serious note, F2P transitions always come with issues.
If like me, you have previously bought Destiny 2 and wish to transfer your existing characters and paraphernalia, this can be done via your existing Bungie account. You simply have to link to your Steam account and then the game will appear in your library. However, at the time of doing this (mid-afternoon UK time on Tuesday October 1st), the system was under a great deal of strain due to the volume of players availing themselves of the service. It took me about three or four attempts before I got anything vaguely resembling a confirmation message. The game finally appeared in my Steam library about an hour later. At some point I’ll look into what sort of status my account has in the revised, post F2P hierarchy of Destiny 2. Will I be deemed a premium player or a VIP? Or does my previous custom count for nowt and for me to be a “good citizen” Bungie now expect me to buy the new Shadowkeep expansion?
Because of my age, I experienced the early days of PC gaming and the business model of those times. You bought a product and owned it. Sometimes you’d get some additional free DLC. But any significant additional content was chargeable, however not at the same price of the base game. I fully realise that times change and we now live in the era of games “as a service”. You don’t just buy something anymore. Content is gated behind pay walls and games are built from the ground up with monetisation determining their structure and form. Yet despite comprehending these things and realising that I can vote with both my wallet and my feet if I don’t like something, deep down on an emotional level, such changes really don’t sit well with me. I have an irrational resentment that someone is getting something free of charge, that I had to pay for. It’s an odd state of affairs. I don’t even play Destiny 2 anymore and have no strong attachment to the game. Yet I moved my account today and the only reason for doing this boils down to “I paid for this”. It can be odd at times being human.
A Year in Gaming
As 2017 draws to a close, it is time once again time to reflect upon the subject of gaming as it has remained a primary form of entertainment for me over the last twelve months. I have enjoyed most of the new titles that I’ve bought this year but not all of them. There’s been some that have failed to please and others that have proven to be flawed. Then there has been my ongoing relationship with the MMO genre as I still have a handful of these games installed on my PC. Let it suffice to say that only one of these titles has managed to maintain my interest. I suspect that the MMO genre per se is in for a year of change in 2018. As for the wider aspects of gaming, I wouldn’t say it has been an especially edifying year for the game industry or the associated fan culture. The “goodwill” based band-aid that has remained in place for the last few years was finally torn off in 2017, exposing a festering self-inflicted wound.
As 2017 draws to a close, it is time once again time to reflect upon the subject of gaming as it has remained a primary form of entertainment for me over the last twelve months. I have enjoyed most of the new titles that I’ve bought this year but not all of them. There’s been some that have failed to please and others that have proven to be flawed. Then there has been my ongoing relationship with the MMO genre as I still have a handful of these games installed on my PC. Let it suffice to say that only one of these titles has managed to maintain my interest. I suspect that the MMO genre per se is in for a year of change in 2018. As for the wider aspects of gaming, I wouldn’t say it has been an especially edifying year for the game industry or the associated fan culture. The “goodwill” based band-aid that has remained in place for the last few years was finally torn off in 2017, exposing a festering self-inflicted wound.
I started off the year by purchasing The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition, as I fancied spending time in an MMO. Sadly, the game failed to grab my attention. This was mainly due to having spent so much time playing Skyrim and being somewhat burned out on the entire Elder Scrolls vibe. I also found the requirement for mods somewhat troubling, feeling that a game should have adequate UI facilities present. It’s also a very solo friendly MMO, which in some way negates its multiplayer status. Why not just play a fully customised version of one of the earlier games in the franchise? I also tried in 2017 to make a sustained return to LOTRO. Northern Ithilien held my interest but once the game moved onto the Black Gates it soon waned. Mordor is a great zone on paper but its grindy requirements and relentlessly dour environment killed my passion. STO remains a casual friendly experience and due to there being regular events throughout the year, it facilitates setting goals and achievements. I also jumped on the Destiny 2 bandwagon and was surprised how agreeable it is. Its genre spanning nature scratched several of my gaming itches.
My single player experience was also varied in 2017. For Honor proved to be exactly as I expected; gripping in principle but beyond my personal skillset to play to any degree of success. However, Sniper Elite 4 proved to be a sound buy. The main game and DLC were well conceived and their extensive game maps allow for multiple and varied play throughs. I also dabbled with co-operative play which proved a very interesting experience. Overall this was rewarding purchase as I clocked up over 91 hours in-game. Thanks to discount key sites, I managed to purchase several titles at low prices. I bought Mafia III after it was reduced by 75% and enjoyed the games central story. I also pre-ordered the Gold Edition of Middle-earth: Shadow of War and secured a discount. Although the structure of that game has been compromised to accommodate microtransactions, I still liked the gameplay and the preposterous lore-breaking narrative. 2017 also included some minor surprises. I was not expecting further DLC for Two Worlds II but Topware released both new single player and co-op content. I was also intrigued by the recent update to Star Trek: Bridge Crew, allowing the game to be played in conventional desktop mode, rather than VR.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a year in gaming without some sort of controversy and man did 2017 have one. The blight that is microtransactions which has been slowly spreading from mobile gaming to the so-called Triple A scene, reached a head November. Star Wars: Battlefront II received such a backlash from its customer base that the story even appeared in mainstream news. Disney eventually intervened and ensured that EA suspended the real money loot boxes in the game. It would appear that the genie is finally out of the bottle and loot box culture is now coming under the scrutiny of legislative bodies all over the world. Apple has recently waded into the debate as it wants loot box odds to be fully disclosed. What happens next is anyone guess but I think that game developers may have to rethink the monetisation of their games. I also think that the tide is slowly turning with regard to early access and games that launch in a patently broken state. I avoided buying Friday the 13th: The Game until six months after it’s problematic release and I still feel that it is very much a work in progress. Several high-profile gaming commentators are loudly advocating a boycott of this trend and I think it may be getting some traction. Time will tell.
2017 once again validated my position of distancing myself from parts of the gaming community. The past twelve months have shown that a substantial number of gamers remain unreconstructed, self-centred, emotionally illiterate man-children. Developers, journalists and You Tube personalities are still regularly threatened and abused if something that is vaguely controversial is said. Outdated and blinkered views about gaming and its culture still abound. You only have to see how Jim Sterling’s Commentocracy has raised the hackles of the usual suspects, to recognise that gaming culture is still far from united. However, I believe this stems from a broader malady that seems to be permeating all aspects of modern life. But the hate, bile and stupidity are not the total picture and there are still many bloggers, streamers and content creators that celebrate and promote the positive side of gaming. I intend to make such individuals my focus in 2018. I’m not one for making predictions but I have a feeling that 2018 may be a milestone year for gaming. Potentially it presents an opportunity for the industry to either get on track or alternatively implode and suffer a slow long death. Perhaps next year’s review will have the answer.
Destiny 2: Level 20
I bought Destiny 2 on a whim and have so far enjoyed playing through the campaign. My approach to the game has been somewhat casual, so I’ve equipped gear based upon common sense, rather than an in-depth knowledge of the games mechanics. This approach has proven adequate until today, when I finally hit level 20. Now I find moving forward through the game that I feel somewhat under powered and that combat is more taxing. I don’t feel that I’m doing sufficient damage to enemies. That subsequently has an impact upon my enjoyment of the game because I always find that there’s very fine line to tread when it comes to combat. If you can one shot everything then it quickly becomes quite dull. However, if it takes too long to grind down a target the game tips over into becoming a chore. It’s difficult to ascertain exactly where the sweat spot is, and it may vary from gamer to gamer. However, I distinctly feel that I’ve been struggling so today I decided to remedy the problem.
I bought Destiny 2 on a whim and have so far enjoyed playing through the campaign. My approach to the game has been somewhat casual, so I’ve equipped gear based upon common sense, rather than an in-depth knowledge of the games mechanics. This approach has proven adequate until today, when I finally hit level 20. Now I find moving forward through the game that I feel somewhat under powered and that combat is more taxing. I don’t feel that I’m doing sufficient damage to enemies. That subsequently has an impact upon my enjoyment of the game because I always find that there’s very fine line to tread when it comes to combat. If you can one shot everything then it quickly becomes quite dull. However, if it takes too long to grind down a target the game tips over into becoming a chore. It’s difficult to ascertain exactly where the sweat spot is, and it may vary from gamer to gamer. However, I distinctly feel that I’ve been struggling so today I decided to remedy the problem.
It is at this point in the proceedings that the “git gud” brigade will smugly point to the wealth of information there is available for Destiny 2 and “cordially extend an invitation” to read it. So that’s what I’ve been doing this afternoon and this is what I’ve learnt. Destiny 2 is based upon the acquisition of loot. It’s a classic gear grind which is not such a bad thing. There are worse game mechanics. However, getting new gear is based heavily on chance. You may get lucky and pick up a rare blue engram only to find it’s below your current level. Or you may finally get a new legendary purple weapon to find there’s no significant increase in stats. It’s all somewhat of a lottery, yet you have to live with it as it’s the only means to increase your power once you hit level cap. For me this is a minor nuisance. I get that Bungie has to have a carrot on the end of the stick to keep players engaged but I don’t like “luck” based systems. I prefer to know what criteria needs to be met for a specific goal and then work towards it. The chance of getting zero return on my “time investment” does not excite me.
Then there are the benefits associated with being in a clan. Destiny 2 is a social game and there are perks to be gained through these organisations. However, although I have friends playing Destiny 2, many are based in the US or tied to different platforms. So, finding a suitable group is not as easy as it first appears. I tend not to join guilds in any game unless I know at least one member within their ranks. I am too old and impatient to risk finding myself in a toxic community. Also, my casual approach and laissez-faire attitude tends not to endear me to the more dedicated gamer. So, bearing all this in mind, I suspect my progress within the game may now slow. However, if I get lucky with loot drops, perhaps my current under powered status may improve. Depending on how I progress, I may or may not buy the season pass. Fortunately, if things do not work out, I have plenty of alternative games to focus upon. I guess if I write another post about Destiny 2, it will mean things have worked out favourably, which would be nice as I do enjoy what the game fundamentally offers.
Destiny 2
I bought Destiny 2 on a whim this week. I did not play the first instalment but many of my friends and colleagues gave the game positive feedback. They continued to extol the virtues of the franchise with the recent launch of the sequel, so I decided to give it a try. I’ve always enjoyed the FPS genre and the fact that this title is a pseudo MMO, piqued my interest. So, I shopped around as usual and bought the base game for £42.79, which isn’t a bad price. I didn’t commit to the season pass in case the overall game wasn’t to my liking. However, so far things have been both enjoyable and interesting. I’ve only played for about five or six hours, so haven’t got that far into the game but overall Destiny 2 seems to be a wise investment.
I bought Destiny 2 on a whim this week. I did not play the first instalment but many of my friends and colleagues gave the game positive feedback. They continued to extol the virtues of the franchise with the recent launch of the sequel, so I decided to give it a try. I’ve always enjoyed the FPS genre and the fact that this title is a pseudo MMO, piqued my interest. So, I shopped around as usual and bought the base game for £42.79, which isn’t a bad price. I didn’t commit to the season pass in case the overall game wasn’t to my liking. However, so far things have been both enjoyable and interesting. I’ve only played for about five or six hours, so haven’t got that far into the game but overall Destiny 2 seems to be a wise investment.
Before, I start on what I like about the game, let me voice one criticism. At present it is my only one I have. I was expecting Destiny 2 to start with a specific tutorial, as you would find in an MMO. Something that would introduce all the game systems and provide you with an overview of managing my character and their gear. I appreciate that tutorials are not universally loved. Some players hate the way they slow you down, but I feel it would be beneficial to the game. I’d even settle for highlighted tooltips. Yet both options are conspicuously absent. I therefore had to muddle through the best I could initially and when I encountered something I wasn’t sure about, such as replacing gear or seeking a quest log, I had to tab out of the game and Google it. I always feel that it is a fundamental flaw in any game if you have to temporarily leave it to seek information.
However, the tutorial issue aside, there is much that I like about Destiny 2. Firstly, it looks devilishly saucy. I make no bones about the fact that I like my game to be visually attractive and Destiny 2 makes my graphics card “sing”. Then there’s the actual combat itself, which is very fluid and requires a lot of situational awareness. The mobs are not confined to linear movement and therefore you have to fire very selectively if you wish to conserve ammunition and maintain accuracy. I like the fact that combat is not a cakewalk and that you have to understand your enemy, pick the right weapon and fight tactically. I also enjoy the public events, having become a big fan of this game mechanic in Guild Wars 2. The player interaction has been better than I expected so far, with people banding together and broadly supporting each other.
I found out that I won’t be getting a Sparrow until endgame but frankly that’s fine with me. This is an open world game and wondering about is part of the appeal. From what I’ve seen, having transport would certainly cut down the length of the central campaign and possibly afford to much of an opportunity to miss the out on the game’s striking environment. As an intermediate player who doesn’t always ways feel social, I like the way that all the usual voice chat and text options are turned off by default. I may well have had other players cursing me for my ineptitude in the last few days but I haven’t had to listen to such garrulous inanities. Overall, I think that Destiny 2 is going to scratch an itch I’ve had for a while. I won’t be buying Call of Duty: World War II as a result and the only immediate competition this game has at present is the imminent release of Star Wars Battlefront II.