Star Cards | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 31 Jan 2018 14:37:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Star Cards | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Star Wars: Battlefront 2 did not meet lofty sales targets, microtransactions returning within a few months https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/star-wars-battlefront-2-did-not-meet-lofty-sales-targets-microtransactions-returning-within-a-few-months/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/star-wars-battlefront-2-did-not-meet-lofty-sales-targets-microtransactions-returning-within-a-few-months/#comments Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:42:33 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=362492 Last week we learned that DICE would finally be revamping Star Wars Battlefront II's progression system in the wake of last year's massive loot box controversy. We don't have exact details yet, but many are hoping for the removal of Star Cards, which have been a point of contention since the first alpha tests for …

The post Star Wars: Battlefront 2 did not meet lofty sales targets, microtransactions returning within a few months first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Last week we learned that DICE would finally be revamping Star Wars Battlefront II's progression system in the wake of last year's massive loot box controversy. We don't have exact details yet, but many are hoping for the removal of Star Cards, which have been a point of contention since the first alpha tests for the game. While progression may be getting changes, microtransactions will still remain, with EA's CFO confirming that they will return ‘within the next few months'.

Speaking with the Wall Street Journal this week, EA CFO, Blake Jorgensen, said that in-game monetisation will return when the publisher thinks it's ready. He indicated to reporters that this would be “in the next few months”, lining up with DICE's proposed March update for Battlefront II's progression system.

The reasoning behind this is clear, Star Wars: Battlefront II did not meet EA's lofty sales targets. Initially, the company planned to sell 10 million copies of the game during its first three months on sale, but it only managed to sell 7 million across multiple platforms. By comparison, the original Star Wars: Battlefront sold 13 million copies.

Seven million copies is still better than what most would have guessed, after all, there were plenty of reports surrounding Battlefront II's retail struggles during its first weeks on sale. Either way, it seems that multi-million sales just aren't enough to keep EA happy, and as a result, microtransactions will be returning ‘soon'.

KitGuru Says: There was always the possibility that microtransactions would return to Battlefront II. At this point, we can only hope that they will be cosmetic instead of game-changing Star Cards. We'll learn more in March, when DICE issues another update on the state of the game.

The post Star Wars: Battlefront 2 did not meet lofty sales targets, microtransactions returning within a few months first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/star-wars-battlefront-2-did-not-meet-lofty-sales-targets-microtransactions-returning-within-a-few-months/feed/ 2
DICE is revamping Battlefront II’s progression system but we won’t see it for a while https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dice-is-revamping-battlefront-iis-progression-system-but-we-wont-see-it-for-a-while/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dice-is-revamping-battlefront-iis-progression-system-but-we-wont-see-it-for-a-while/#respond Thu, 25 Jan 2018 11:00:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=361932 It has been two months since EA and DICE launched Star Wars Battlefront II and during that time, the publisher and developers have been very quiet on the subject. Microtransactions have remained switched off but issues with the progression system still remain. Now this week, we finally got an update, with DICE announcing that it …

The post DICE is revamping Battlefront II’s progression system but we won’t see it for a while first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It has been two months since EA and DICE launched Star Wars Battlefront II and during that time, the publisher and developers have been very quiet on the subject. Microtransactions have remained switched off but issues with the progression system still remain. Now this week, we finally got an update, with DICE announcing that it will be completely reworking Battlefront II's progression system.

In a January news update for the game, DICE wrote: “We're working on a revamped progression system. Your feedback has been essential here, and we are preparing significant changes to progression that will address many of the things we've seen players asking for.”

The bad news is that we still don't have concrete details, or know how these changes will affect microtransactions. However, DICE will be “sharing more details about these changes in March”, almost four months after the game's initial release.

On the plus side, if you do happen to be playing and enjoying Battlefront II, then there is some content you can look forward to in the meantime. For starters, a limited time game mode called ‘Jetpack Cargo' is coming next month, which will put two teams of eight players against each other, all equipped with jetpacks. A new season of content is also coming, so expect a new map and potentially some new hero characters too.

KitGuru Says: While it might be too late to completely redeem Battlefront II in the public eye, it's nice to see that DICE is going to try. However, it all depends on what changes are made. Given that it is taking this long, I imagine there will be a substantial revamp, hopefully without Star Cards.

The post DICE is revamping Battlefront II’s progression system but we won’t see it for a while first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dice-is-revamping-battlefront-iis-progression-system-but-we-wont-see-it-for-a-while/feed/ 0
Last night’s Battlefront II AMA left us with few answers https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/last-nights-battlefront-ii-ama-left-us-with-few-answers/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/last-nights-battlefront-ii-ama-left-us-with-few-answers/#comments Thu, 16 Nov 2017 10:30:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=354541 This has not been a great week for the folks over at DICE. Star Wars Battlefront II has been dragged through the mud online due to its controversial monetisation and progression system. As a result, some folks from EA and DICE organized a Battlefront II AMA on Reddit last night, but unfortunately, few questions were …

The post Last night’s Battlefront II AMA left us with few answers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
This has not been a great week for the folks over at DICE. Star Wars Battlefront II has been dragged through the mud online due to its controversial monetisation and progression system. As a result, some folks from EA and DICE organized a Battlefront II AMA on Reddit last night, but unfortunately, few questions were actually answered.

Hundreds of questions were posted to the AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit last night, around 30 of them were responded to. Many answers seem to boil down to ‘just keep playing, and we'll make changes as you go'.

When asked about the time required to unlock new content, executive producer John Wasilczyk said that while EA has “seen the speculation”, it's internal numbers indicate that unlocks should be happening much faster than what's being reported. Those internal statistics weren't shared,

Aside from that, the developers expressed that they are “committed to making progression a fun experience” for all players and that “nothing should feel unattainable”. As for the current daily credit cap on ‘Arcade Mode', DICE seems to be preparing to ensure that “players can continue to progress without daily limits”.

In one of the more honest responses throughout the AMA, one member of the DICE team touched on the concerns surrounding Battlefront II's loot box system:

“As for concerns surrounding loot boxes, I think crates can be a fun addition as long as you don't feel forced to engage with them in order to progress. I feel that's where the issue is with our game right now and that's where we'll look to solve as quickly as we can.”

No specific steps have been laid out to address community concerns, but if you were hoping for Star Cards to be removed from the game, it doesn't seem like that is going to happen. Instead, EA and DICE seem determined to “continue adjusting values” to make progression and unlocks feel like less of a grind.

KitGuru Says: If Star Cards could just be replaced by cosmetics, then most of Battlefront II's issues would be solved. Gameplay affecting microtransactions were always going to be a tough sell, regardless of whether or not they can be unlocked without spending real world cash. At this point though, it seems like it might be a tad too late for any major changes, particularly given that the game's launch needs to tie in with The Last Jedi's theatrical release.

The post Last night’s Battlefront II AMA left us with few answers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/last-nights-battlefront-ii-ama-left-us-with-few-answers/feed/ 6
DICE addresses Battlefront II loot boxes, aims to strike a fair balance https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dice-addresses-battlefront-ii-loot-boxes-aims-to-strike-a-fair-balance/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dice-addresses-battlefront-ii-loot-boxes-aims-to-strike-a-fair-balance/#comments Fri, 13 Oct 2017 14:23:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=350341 Over the last few months, there have been some growing concerns surrounding Star Wars: Battlefront and its in-game microtransaction system. This came to a head last weekend when the open beta kicked off. Fans didn't get the best impression of the loot crate system, so today, DICE has spoken out about some of the changes …

The post DICE addresses Battlefront II loot boxes, aims to strike a fair balance first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Over the last few months, there have been some growing concerns surrounding Star Wars: Battlefront and its in-game microtransaction system. This came to a head last weekend when the open beta kicked off. Fans didn't get the best impression of the loot crate system, so today, DICE has spoken out about some of the changes it is going to make.

In Star Wars Battlefront II, players can earn credits to open loot crates. These will then give you ‘Star Cards', containing various power ups and buffs that you can use in multiplayer games. These credits can also be purchased with real money, giving those with the coin to spend a distinct advantage over other players.

To try and combat any pay-to-win concerns, DICE has set a balance goal for itself. Right now, the studio is working to implement a system where the most powerful Star Cards in the game are only earnable via in-game means, such as achievements. Throughout the levelling process in-game, DICE will also be giving players crates which will include a mix of Star Cards, Emotes, Victory Poses and Outfits.

Star Cards are the main issue here as they directly affect Battlefront II's PvP modes. To try and keep things fair, DICE is going to lock upgrades and more powerful weapons behind a level-gate, that way you can only unlock specific abilities once you have reached a high enough rank. This should stop players from being able to jump into low-ranked games armed with power-ups unobtainable by anyone else in the match. However, it does also mean that should you end up in a game with a high ranked player, you will be at a distinct disadvantage.

DICE is continuing to monitor feedback on the system and will “work to make sure the system is balanced both for players who want to earn everything, as well as for players who are short on time and would like to move faster in their progress”.

KitGuru Says: I have had some concerns about the Star Card system since it was first unveiled in Battlefront II's alpha. Unfortunately, the beta didn't give me much confidence in it. However, it seems that DICE is now paying attention to these concerns, so hopefully it can strike a decent balance to keep everyone happy. Did any of you try out the Battlefront II beta? Do you think the Star Card system needs balancing, or is it doomed to fail? 

The post DICE addresses Battlefront II loot boxes, aims to strike a fair balance first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dice-addresses-battlefront-ii-loot-boxes-aims-to-strike-a-fair-balance/feed/ 5
Star Wars Battlefront 2’s loot box system sounds pretty bad https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/star-wars-battlefront-2s-loot-box-system-sounds-pretty-bad/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/star-wars-battlefront-2s-loot-box-system-sounds-pretty-bad/#comments Fri, 30 Jun 2017 17:07:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=339367 Over the years, publishers like EA have experimented with microtransactions in Triple A games quite a bit. Over time though, game makers have found more forgivable ways to include them, for instance, most people seem to be willing to accept loot boxes. However, those loot box systems are usually confined to cosmetic items. With Star …

The post Star Wars Battlefront 2’s loot box system sounds pretty bad first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Over the years, publishers like EA have experimented with microtransactions in Triple A games quite a bit. Over time though, game makers have found more forgivable ways to include them, for instance, most people seem to be willing to accept loot boxes. However, those loot box systems are usually confined to cosmetic items. With Star Wars Battlefront 2, EA will be doing loot boxes differently, by offering gameplay-affecting power-ups in the form of ‘Star Cards'.

Star Cards are similar in some ways to ‘Burn Cards' in Titanfall. These are cards you can collect and activate during a multiplayer game to give yourself a stat boost. Unfortunately, the similarities seem to stop there. While Burn Cards are one-time use, Star Cards are permanent and come in different rarities. So if you spend enough cash opening loot boxes, you may manage to heavily increase base damage of one of your classes, or have Darth Maul recover a bigger chunk of health every time you get a kill.

In the video above from BattlefrontUpdates, you can see some of these exclusive crates being opened up. Early on in the video, you can see an ‘Epic' Darth Maul card, which boosts the character's Spin Attack by 60 percent. Later on you can see a Star Card that boosts the game's Heavy class, giving you the ability to earn up to 15 score each time you take damage or a shield absorbs damage. Other cards allow you to boost the blast radius of grenades and affect the damage of other weapons.

You will get some of these loot boxes for free just by launching the game daily or earning in-game currency via matches. You will also be able to use ‘Star Parts' to craft specific power-ups you want. It's a slippery slope though, depending on how the whole thing is balanced, those with expendable funds may be able to buy their way into a multiplayer advantage. This is certainly enough to spark ‘pay to win' concerns amongst the player base.

KitGuru Says: This Star Card system doesn't sound particularly appealing to me, especially since the power-ups are permanent and vary in rarity to encourage you to buy more. That said, I have not played Battlefront 2 yet, perhaps DICE will manage to balance the game in such a way that ‘pay to win' doesn't end up becoming an issue. Still, purchasable multiplayer power ups never really sit right with me. How do you guys feel about Battlefront 2's loot system? 

The post Star Wars Battlefront 2’s loot box system sounds pretty bad first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/star-wars-battlefront-2s-loot-box-system-sounds-pretty-bad/feed/ 6