Why do people like boosters so much?

Tooterfish · 2012-06-29, 08:35 AM

I'm not asking rhetorically here, I'm genuinely curious as to why Boosters are considered to improve the game-play experience by so many people. I may be going out on a limb here in assuming as such, but I've rarely seen any real complaint toward it.

In my opinion, boosters only inhibit the overall experience. The grind, the well-deserved rank, the all around effort that is associated with leveling and progressing. I recognize the need to include appealing incentives for a premium membership or micro-transaction worth real cash, but how could shortening and ultimately devaluing your in-game status be rewarding to anybody? Psychologically speaking, it is reasonable to assume that a reward will be more meaningful when it is earned through hard work which, I might add, would seem more relatable, and appreciated, if achieved on an equal, un-tamperable scale (if that makes any sense at all). If all it took to become a millionaire was a few minutes of your time, then who would be impressed by a million bucks any more?

I'm probably looking at this all wrong, so I'm all ears here. Fix me please.

ChipMHazard · 2012-06-29, 08:37 AM

Not everyone has the time to "grind" so they might choose to pay for a boost of some sort or an unlock.

SergeantNubins · 2012-06-29, 08:38 AM

The booster is actually just making the game work how it was intended. Its sold as an improvement but thats because its easier to say its an upgrade than say the non boosted free version of the game is a downgrade.

They are a harmless way of obtaining funds, if someone refuses to pay for a game then they have to spend longer to get the different toys to play with, it doesnt change their gameplay effectiveness so its perfect for the F2P model.

AThreatToYou · 2012-06-29, 08:38 AM

I never buy boosters because they aren't worth paying for in the first place.

Why? All of the above, plus more. They time-out, are disproportionately expensive, and aren't guaranteed to get you anything...

Chowley · 2012-06-29, 08:42 AM

I would generally agree with the OP. Never bought a booster for LoL but I felt that it wasnt much of a grind anyway, also if you advance in level a lot faster you will be around players with more experience and knowledge than you and you will be below par (although debatable).

But then you have games such as Tribes Ascend, which are incredibly grindy! You get +50% xp permanently for any purchase as well as possible double xp boosters for whatever amount of €. While I havent purchased anything for the game yet, I actually feel really compelled to do so.

So basically ya, I will see how things work out with PS2 before deciding on the values of boosters, if it is incredibly grindy and restrictive, that will sour the game for me a bit, but I will buy a booster (although if the game is good enough it wouldnt be a huge issue, such as with Tribes).
But in general ya I think theyre crap

Vanath · 2012-06-29, 08:49 AM

Some people don't have as much time to devote to grinding but still want access to the better gear. Others just want to get through the grind as quickly as possible.

Kyros · 2012-06-29, 08:50 AM

Grinding sucks and it's just a pain in the ass. I don't care about impressing anyone or feeling good about my "accomplishment." I just want the gear so I can mold my character the way I wanted him to be in the first place. THAT is when the real fun begins in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Tooterfish

If all it took to become a millionaire was a few minutes of your time, then who would be impressed by a million bucks any more? .

Who cares! I'D BE RICH.

Stew · 2012-06-29, 08:51 AM

they dont have the time to play or they are XP whore lol

but most people have just like 2 days to play and they still want to be able to follow their friends so their 2 days with booster will be like they have play 4 day in a week wich is not thats bad !

ThermalReaper · 2012-06-29, 08:55 AM

My version is that for the people who just want to pay their way out of the grind. Or ease it.

Snipefrag · 2012-06-29, 08:58 AM

My view on this is that some people don't have a lot of time to play (like me) because they have demanding jobs, boosters enable them to trade money to have a chance of keeping up with the slackers in the outfit that play games 24/7

! Along the same lines as the offline cert learning stuff.

Tooterfish · 2012-06-29, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Snipefrag

My view on this is that some people don't have a lot of time to play (like me) because they have demanding jobs, boosters enable them to trade money to have a chance of keeping up with the slackers in the outfit that play games 24/7

! Along the same lines as the offline cert learning stuff.

I agree with this completely, in most games. Thing is, and I think it is really important to point out, I have always been behind my friends on level and certs from PS1, but I never had a problem finding something useful to do in the game.

Snipefrag · 2012-06-29, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Tooterfish

I agree with this completely, in most games. Thing is, and I think it is really important to point out, I have always been behind my friends on level and certs from PS1, but I never had a problem finding something useful to do in the game.

True, it doesn't affect you as much as it would in say.. WoW, falling behind in BR isn't as detrimental to your play. But its still going to limit what you can do, limit how quickly you can customize and style your character to how you want which cant be discounted.

Reefpirate · 2012-06-29, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Kyros

Who cares! I'D BE RICH.

That's not how economics works...

Kyros · 2012-06-29, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Reefpirate

That's not how economics works...

It is if I'm the only one who gets to do it.

But anyway in regards to boosters, they wont help you catch up to your friends if your friends also buy boosters. Personally I'd prefer they not be in the game at all but I'll still use them if they are.

Baneblade · 2012-06-29, 09:09 AM

In many F2P games... Perfect World International for example, the default grind is so ridiculous that you need boosters just to get a somewhat normal xp/hr. And even then you still take months or even years to get anywhere meaningful.

Games like those make you feel like boosters are necessary, even if the really aren't.

Boosters also help casuals keep up, in their heads at least, since the 'hardcore' tend to pop boosters like they are candy.

Bottom line, it is a psychological need to be accomplished and boosters make it happen faster... same reason people use steroids and 'natural male enhancement'.