It's an invitation for the player to role play along and establish their "voice" even if it doesn't effect anything. Because sometimes characterization is more important than consequences.
Think about the movie Reservoir Dogs and the tipping scene. It's one of the most memorable moments of the movie, even if it doesn't amount to anything in where the movie goes from there. If there was a Reservoir Dogs: The Video Game, the decision whether or not to tip would be the most character-defining choice you could make in that setting. It wouldn't matter for shit as for actual consequences, but it would be the most debated choice online.
FAKE EDIT: Halfway through typing this, I thought "Wait, wasn't there actually a Reservoir Dogs game made?" Turns out, yes there has been! In fact, there have been two Reservoir games, and one came out in 2006, and the other in 2017! But then the latter got delisted after a few months?!? Fucking wild!
Now I need to know if either had a tipping mechanic.
Think about the movie Reservoir Dogs and the tipping scene. It's one of the most memorable moments of the movie, even if it doesn't amount to anything in where the movie goes from there. If there was a Reservoir Dogs: The Video Game, the decision whether or not to tip would be the most character-defining choice you could make in that setting. It wouldn't matter for shit as for actual consequences, but it would be the most debated choice online.
FAKE EDIT: Halfway through typing this, I thought "Wait, wasn't there actually a Reservoir Dogs game made?" Turns out, yes there has been! In fact, there have been two Reservoir games, and one came out in 2006, and the other in 2017! But then the latter got delisted after a few months?!? Fucking wild!
Now I need to know if either had a tipping mechanic.