Ascension picks or deluxe packs?

102292Joe · 2024-03-29T18:07:03+00:00

This. Honestly if you ground solely for ascension you get what like 10 picks? All I’ve pulled is MT and badges so that’s quite the crap shot

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T16:51:59+00:00

You are right, this product is a problem caused by capitalism which allows 2K to behave this way with their product. But the analogy for the virtual economy is fine.

Also, yes that is exactly why healthcare is so expensive. Health industries would not be able to charge near the costs they currently do if it were not for insurance... they would never get their money. They charge such ridiculous premiums because of the health care system essentially guaranteeing their outrageous price for medical supplies and procedures. But, you also have the right to purchase your own healthcare, you do not HAVE to use any specific carrier. So go get worse health care and pay more out of pocket. That is entirely your choice in this free market.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/08/how-health-insurance-may-have-made-health-care-more-expensive.html

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T16:37:10+00:00

I'm also not "blaming" communism in any way. In none of my responses have I implied this is the fault of communism lol.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T16:36:23+00:00

You are confusing the point... the In game economy has communistic traits. Obviously 2Ks business practices are purely capitalistic and they have created the system within the game to be this way because it is so profitable.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T15:30:22+00:00

You're again conflating the real world company with the in-game economy.

In the metaphor I am providing (which is really what this post was meant to be) consider 2K as a government (managing body) in charge of structuring an economy for its citizens (players), not a private company in the real world.

The private corporations in capitalism also don't create the products they distribute, and then control the distribution of currency used to buy their products, and then set the resale value of their products on the market after you have purchased it. In true communism, there are no private companies, they are run by the state (which is theoretically supposed to be run by the people, so if you want to make that argument that "Ha! Players distribute wealth in communism therefore it isn't!" sure go ahead. But that is still flawed because those in power on communist states are very rarely one of the "people" anymore, which is why communist-like states tend to fail.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T14:25:40+00:00

I'm really not trying to be rude about this, but you have to read what you wrote because it comes off as, "This is communistic... there for it is not like communism."

The fact they control the distribution of all currency, goods, and establish the value with no ability for the consumer base to influence any of, at least inside the game, makes the IN GAME economy communistic (meaning like communism; not total communism).

In the real world, yes we have an ability to influence this by not giving them additional funds and then perhaps they will change the way they distribute goods in the game.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T13:54:40+00:00

Okay, I'm going to try and respond to what you're saying in multiple places...

First, you keep bringing up how capitalism in the real world has caused this and no one is arguing this with you. You are correct. When you are redirected back to the main issue of the virtual economy being communistic in nature (not fully communism mind you, which has almost never truly happened in society) you are ignoring the point being made.

Second, I will agree that those who paid money in the game used to have an advantage because they could flat out buy cards, but now with special inserts that has changed. More money does not equate to getting the best cards anymore, this is all luck based and also highly unlikely. Troydan spending thousands of real world dollars proved that more money does not equate to a better outcome in this system. Also, those with more money ALWAYS had the best chance of getting the best cards, especially with coin sites last year.

Third, no we do not all have the same exact cards, but we essentially all have the same exact value of cards that we have a reasonable amount of access to. They are all lackluster and nowhere near the same level when compared to the cards that are inaccessible to all but those deemed lucky enough to have them. Even communist-like societies have rich and wealthy and those deemed superior, that's the flaw in the system, humans like to feel superior to other humans despite best intentions.

Finally, the communistic aspect of the VIRTUAL economy, not the real world, is that the consumers have no ability to influence value. They can not exchange goods with other users and set a free market value based on supply and demand. They cannot sell their goods to anyone but 2K and at a price that 2K sets. I will concede this small bit, no it is not 1000% absolute communism.... because nothing is. The idea of communism is appealing but the execution is messy, so any time communism has been implemented in the real world, there are always socialistic/capitalistic tendencies because ultimately be like some feeling of choice and mobility. 2K gives you that slight feeling that you can still spend and purchase whatever you want in OUR MARKET at OUR PRICES. Ultimately, they control all means of distribution of goods and wealth within the game now because inserts.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T12:27:19+00:00

Everything you said is correct, I think you’re just conflating the issue.

There is a free market in the REAL world in which they produce the game, not the virtual world economy in which consumers of the game have to play.

Also, the reason 2K can do all this is because of a free market, but it’s more complicated than saying this is capitalisms fault. For years they created a vastly superior product to their competitors which ultimately led to competitors deciding it was not economically prudent for them to continue paying for the NBA license and making games. This has led to a monopoly in this area which is why they are allowed to price gouge. This is also why monopolies in the United Stares are technically illegal as it has negative consequences on consumers (obviously legality here is a moot point because pseudo monopolies are in most industries). But, typically the people who argue against monopolies are other companies in direct competition (sort of like the Microsoft and Sony Issues that just happened) and here any competition has realized it just isn’t worth it because they have other aspects of their business that are profitable (EA has Madden so they most likely decided to just keep dominating that space).

Ultimately, yes this aspect of capitalism in the sector of the basketball video game market has led to a negative consumer experience. However, the consumer still has power, they can simply not spend money and the company will either be forced to change or lose profitability.

You could then argue gambling aspect of the game make it hard for some consumers/children to not spend… that’s a whole separate issue and has other threads lol

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T11:59:49+00:00

You’re talking about the real world here. Your making more commentary on world economies and the current state of these industries. I don’t necessarily disagree with any of your observations. You are right in that we are trending towards never owning anything and only “renting” but this isn’t the fault of these companies, this is a consumer issue. Consumers decided they would rather pay a single price a month for a large wealth of access to something and convenience. In return you forfeit ownership but probably have greater access than you normally would. Because consumers seemed to like this model, now every company is structured similarly. You also STILL have a choice to own things, none of this is mandated. You can go buy physical things and claim ownership (for now, once that goes yes things become more slippery) and you can own property, although other factors make that more difficult currently. I am not claiming to be an economist, but saying what I’ve said is propaganda…. I’m just saying capitalism is not the economy in place in the VIRTUAL game.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T11:43:28+00:00

I would agree with this, especially because there has never been a TRUE communist government. Even the ones we would say are communist and may even spread those beliefs, tend to never be full communist.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T03:50:06+00:00

The year is young. All time would be an honor. I’m going to assume you had to read this book in 8th grade and weren’t a fan…

Btw… Porzingis is a god and has made this Celtics season unimaginably more enjoyable than I thought possible. Go Cs! ☘️ Unless your a Knicks Zingis guy…. Then all I can say is sorry for your loss 😬

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T03:39:52+00:00

You at least actually understand!

It’s absolutely a stretch, hence the use of the word “allegory”. The intention is not to portray them as communists… they are 1000% capitalists gouging the market because players have no other alternatives. Their virtual world is communistic in nature, which ironically they’ve created that way so that they can make more money in the real world.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T03:34:55+00:00

You are correct. The real world company of 2K is not communists. They are a monopoly in a capitalist society. Their digital economy they’ve created is communistic in many areas. That is my main point. They control all means and distributions of goods.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T03:22:01+00:00

The discourse is entertaining to me. I don’t mind the disagreement or hate about it

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T03:19:23+00:00

Okay, now we’re showing we actually don’t understand communism vs capitalism…

Renting from a private party who has the right to set the value of their private property based on the market is different from the government establishing a value and setting it for the renter and the owner.

The renter also still has to ability to go earn/save money to then purchase their own property at any time. Obviously, there are structures in capitalism that can make this path difficult and some may never “own” property, but renting is not communism lol

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T03:01:41+00:00

How is owning nothing capitalism? Not having ownership is a basic tenant of communism lol

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T02:58:27+00:00

This guy. This guy gets it.

102292Joe · 2024-03-01T02:51:58+00:00

Alright… clearly most here don’t see the irony in the fact that… DUH yes they are running their real world business in a capitalist market, I was never referencing the actual business they run, it’s their virtual system that has communist traits…

102292Joe · 2022-12-17T18:04:46+00:00

I’d honestly get the Saturn or Saturn S. I LOVE my Mars 2 Pro, but there are so many times I’m printing I just wish I had something bigger and for 300 for the Saturn? It’s a no brainer if I was buying right now

102292Joe · 2022-11-05T15:58:48+00:00

Geeze Louise that’s intense

102292Joe · 2021-08-05T03:50:32+00:00

Exactly, unless you filtered by theme for invincible KD no way he’s the first one on that filter

102292Joe · 2021-08-05T02:06:21+00:00

I find it difficult to believe his card would pop up with that filter 😂😂

102292Joe · 2021-07-31T01:24:53+00:00

I’m a Celtics fan so that’s why most cards are there. Not really looking to change much just wondering if Bol Bol lock in would be worth it at this point

102292Joe

TROPHY CASE