Am I totally crazy, or does this bug you too? (Destiny)

by CruelLEGACEY , Toronto, Wednesday, August 03, 2016, 15:46 (3127 days ago)

I mean, I know I'm crazy... just not sure if this falls into my usual crazy ;)

I was having a great conversation with Hedgemony on Twitter last night, and I'm curious what you all think about this.

Looking through all the new Rise of Iron info, I found myself pleasantly excited by most of the news. I'm definitely looking forward to playing the expansion in September. But there was 1 little screenshot that really annoyed me, and at first I couldn't understand why.

"Break seal".

Seeing this instantly made me roll my eyes. It annoyed the crap out of me. And I didn't understand why. Then Hedge said some things that helped crystalize my problem with it:

"Carrot and stick games. The more flashy elements become, the more shallow it actually is. It's pachinko gaming."

"The whimsy of newer animations conflicts with the mature UI. It's like the game stops for a commercial break."

That second quote in particular really hit home for me. I'm sure anyone who visits DBO regularly has seen my many posts about the RNG/Treadmill side of Destiny, and how much it bothers me. Where I enjoy Destiny the most is when I'm able to get absorbed into the combat and the setting and having fun with my friends without thinking about RNG or any of that junk. And in many ways, Bungie is getting better and better about working the loot into the in-game experience (I LOVE the fact that Year 3 Gjallarhorn and Thorn can be acquired through specific quests. Makes me very happy). But then on the flip side, the Live Team seems to be taking a very different approach with the elements they add to the game. We get record books that must be "opened" filled with check lists, Sterling Treasure boxes with their own flashy "opening" animations, tickets that must be purchased before participating in certain activities. It's like the Live Team is trying to actively remind us of how certain elements of Destiny feel like taking a trip to Las Vegas.

It's not a big deal to me, but it does bother me a little. On the one hand, I feel silly that such a tiny thing bothers me at all. I guess when I see little details like that, it makes me feel like Bungie is leaning into a side of the game that I had hoped they would move away from. I find these little elements go a long way towards breaking any chance of immersion in the world of Destiny, which is something I'd hoped I would be able to do by now.

Thoughts?