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Why do players buy virtual currency?
Torak
Member Posts: 4,905
Hi all,
I am interested in a mature discussion on why someone would buy currency for the game they play. I'm sure there are all sorts of reasons.
I am really interested in the explaination from players who HAVE purchased currency. I am not interest in judging these players, I would like to know "why" from them. I really don't want this to turn into a blasting of anyone who does "admit" I am very interested in the individual motivation.
Maybe from people who have not purchased but have been tempted. Why where you tempted? What stopped you?
It is an interesting topic.
Personally I do not condone the use of currency companies but that is my personal choice. I am interested in why someone else would. Look at my post history, I am not looking to "flame" anyone. I do not "attack" other posters. (although I do have some strong oppinions, you know what they say about opinions.....
)
So please, keep it civil, don't judge and don't attack. Lets get to the "why?"
EDIT
Also, did you purchase currency from a 3rd party OR from an ingame service like SOE / EQII or other games that DO offer the ingame service. Does the game mechanic require it? What motivated you to purchase it? (thanks Pantastic)
Comments
One other thing that would be good to mention, did you buy your currency in an 'approved' or 'disapproved' way. EVE online, for example, allows currency sales (you buy a game time code for something around $20, which sells in-game for 100 million ISK or so), and SOE has servers set up for purchasing money and gear.
I have once through ebay to buy my epic mount in WoW.
Reason? I was simply too lazy to farm the gold myself and since time is not something I have a lot, I just went the short cut way.
How did I feel? Pretty good actually.. the epic mount was pretty awesome and since I have real money to spare, it wasnt that big of a deal.
How do I feel now? I regret it... sure it wasnt that much money, but it takes away something from the game. It's the same feeling if you use cheats in a single player game...
Suggestion? Dont buy virtual money. It's tempting but in the long run, it's not worth it.
Id say first and foremost.... Because they can!
Most of us like to take the easy road through anything in life however lets try and remember we are talking about games here.
The makers of MMOs seem to have forgotten this fact in the past few years and have gone to great lengths to change MMO's from games into a human version of a hamster wheel. The fact that some people would like to skip the wheel and move straigh to the food bowl and wood shavings is not surprisng really.
So Id say the real question is why would people want o avoid playing the game ?
The answer is pretty simple, the game is about as much fun as chewing broken glass (this applies to every MMO currently running IMHO), who wouldnt want to skip straight to the end.
No one who has read anything I have posted on this will be surprised when I say....
I blame the Devs...
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"MMOs, for people that like think chatting is like a skill or something, rotflol"
http://purepwnage.com
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"Far away across the field, the tolling of the iron bell, calls the faithful to their knees. To hear the softly spoken magic spell" Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon
People buy virtual curency for mmos simply because they are lazy or they do not have the time to earn the virtual curency.In most game people that buy virtual curency are the ones that kind of detiorate the gameplay,by buying ingame curency they support farmers/campers and exploiters.Wich in turn will camp places that you would like to visit or just need to kill/loot something to finish a quest,but you cant because of the farmers/campers.MMOs that permit players to buy ingame curency legaly are not effected that much by farmers and campers.
Personaly I would never buy ingame curency even if I had way too much cash (unless it was registered as legal by the devs of the game),because I would take part in ruining the gameplay.
a repeat buyer wouldnt admit it. you would be shocked how many people have done it and completely deny it and go so far as to throw currency buyers under the bus.
its pretty easy to tell who does it in game (within your guild or orginization what have you) and those that dont. if you learn how to pay attention its rather astonishing.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
It has nothing to do with players being lazy.
For years players have looked to gain an edge over other players. This can be in the form of hacks, bots, cheats, exploits etc
MMORPGS are increasily cracking down on players abilities to cheat, hack, exploit etc, so the next easy gain with very little risk is the ability to purchase financial gain or items via virtual seller sites.
By having large sums of virtual money, this gives players the buying power to purchase rare, unique items which increase their abilities and increases their sense of "being unique".
Just look at the cheats and hacks surrounding Counter Strike, why would people want to shoot and walk through walls? because it gives them an edge over other players, it makes their ability unique and they get the high kill stats at the end.
At the end of the day, games have always and will always be about winning and getting one over on your fellow players.
The answer is very simple:
Because it's easier to fork out $10 for 10000 plat or whatever the going rate is than to farm it yourself.
Personally I've never done it. I like the challenge of actually playing the game to get what I want/need. But having played MMO's and MUD's before them since my college years I can honestly say that it has crossed my mind on a couple occasions. But I'm a cheap SOB so I never did
As for how they feel? I dunno... I'm sure some get a nagging sense of guilt about it but I'm sure the vast majority don't think twice about it. After all, when all is said and done, all they did was 'bypass the grind'.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
i would buy it if it was legal and all werent scam sites too :P
-Hunt'n
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Past MMOs- Planetside, WoW.
Current MMO:
Current Games: L4D, Skyrim
Tried- ATITD, EQ2, SoR, Vanguard,SL,LOTRO,SotNW,SWTOR.
Anticipating- GW2, Planetside2
if you don't like grinding to earn your money fairly then you should go play guild wars or counterstrike
those of you that cheat are no better than the infamous marathon runner Rosie Ruiz who stole the glory from the legit winner by riding a cab most of the distance and then running across the finish line in the Boston Marathon...some...not all mmorpg are gaming's versions of triathlons or marathons...and i respect those that don't like grinding...but here's an idea...don't play these grinding types of games if you don't like it...there are plenty of options for you that do not enjoy this type of game
when you sign up you understand the rules...so why cheat other players?
if you play monopoly with someone...and bring your own stack of monopoly money to buy hotels and houses with...did you win the game or did you cheat?
the fact that so many people don't have any concept of fair play is evidence of how far our society has fallen...where cheating has become the rule rather than the exception...the only thing that will ever cure this disease is if the players themselves expose and condemn those that cheat all the time...but most of the time their reaction is "meh...who cares"...well if you spend a year of your life competing with people that are cheating all the time you should care...and if you don't, well i truly feel sorry for your stupidity
To non-gamers and people coming from a FPS background, games are about winning.
For many people who come from pencil and paper role-playing games it never been about "getting one over on your fellow players". Other things are important e.g. teamwork, explortation, creativity, having fun etc.
This is partly because it's much harder to measure success in such games. If I met a gamer from another area who boasted that he had a "+5 vorpal, holy avenger longsword", I wouldn't see him as very skillful - I'd just surmise that the person running his game gave out powerful items far too easily.
D&D Home Page - What Class Are You? - Build A Character - D&D Compendium
I personally feel already bad just for paying monthy fees, so i have never been tempted to pay for virtual currency.
Anyway, i can tell you that recent studies have prooved that the satisfaction of "getting" have less impact on the brains (some chemical issue i dont remember just now) than the thrill of "hoping".
Thats the reason why someone would spend hours looking for items that would give imperceptible improvements to his/her char. Its not the item, its the feeling of looking for it.
Whats the point of MMORPGs? The main diference from other games is that they are endless. This means there is always something to hope for or seek.
However, continous unsuccesful search can end up in frustration, as being supased by other character. in PVP.
So i think the main reason to buy currency online is to overcome frustration.
To non-gamers and people coming from a FPS background, games are about winning.
For many people who come from pencil and paper role-playing games it never been about "getting one over on your fellow players". Other things are important e.g. teamwork, explortation, creativity, having fun etc.
This is partly because it's much harder to measure success in such games. If I met a gamer from another area who boasted that he had a "+5 vorpal, holy avenger longsword", I wouldn't see him as very skillful - I'd just surmise that the person running his game gave out powerful items far too easily.
this is the problem is that people actually they believe they won something...
if you entered a regular slam dunk competition and you used a trampoline, while everyone else dunked legit...do you actually believe that you won something?...in games that are especially gear dependent...when you ebay money to get your gear...you are no different than had you bribed a gm to change your stats...you didn't win because you cheated...the fact that people cannot comprehend this is mindboggling
The main reason is, why spend 100 hours farming something boring as hell to buy an item when one can work for 1 hour at there job and buy it?
And honestly people who claim they "earned" there money and that people who buy it aren't skilled etc, need to realize that farming ISNT HARD. It's just time consuming. I could run around a zone one shotting mobs to earn gold in WoW with my rogue for hundreds of hours, that takes zero skill, or I could work at my job for 1 hour and use that money to save me the time and boredom. I mean I CAN go kill things for a hundred hours, but why? It's so boring! It gives no satisfaction in the end, just alot of boredom that makes me wanna quit the game. I enjoy actually playing, not farming.
I have bought currency, but legally through EVE's GTC system. Not from outside companies etc. I mean seriously, why spend 100 hours mining ore half afk to get 270 million isk when I could drop $30 for it? About an hours pay.
I for one work fulltime, so my playtime is limited to pretty much weekends (work from 4pm til 3am, sleep at about 4-4:30am after I get home, wake up and do house things / errands during day). On weekends I can play all day. But why spend a month of my weekends mining when I can the money I made during my coffee breaks to get by all that boring crap and have fun?
When MMO's actually start taking skill to play then people can say they worked hard for their money. Until then all they did was spent time doing boring shiat, games are to be fun, not to be work.
EDIT: Also games shouldnt be about competition, I dont care if some moron has better gear than me, I care that I am having fun, farming is NOT fun.
EDIT2: Also most good items in games are NODROP meaning you can't trade them, whoever looted them gets them, buying currency doesnt help you here. Al it helps is getting random toys / some gear, but not the best gear.
Some great replies..... I think we can all agree to some degree it is, in fact, a game design problem to some extent. At least to those who have NOT purchased a games currence viewpoint.
I really want to get to the "meat" of the subject and hear from a few that HAVE made a purchase. Even if it was from EQII or EVE or another game that sells it in-house.
I was hoping to get the perspective of a few more people who have actually made currency purchases. Thanks goes to the guy who did.
Again, please no attacks on anyone who does want to talk about it.
Now this is interesting, it breaks down all my theory on why ppl play MMORPG.
I assume that you would not play if you hadnt find it fun.
So, what part of the game you find funnier, JMoney? And why?
i understand that you might not think its fun...just like most people dont think long distance running is fun...but when you agree to play any game you agree to follow the rules...otherwise, what's the fucking point...
if you don't think a game is fun, you don't cheat to make it better for yourself...you just simply play a different game...otherwise what you accomplished in game was pointless
Now this is interesting, it breaks down all my theory on why ppl play MMORPG.
I assume that you would not play if you hadnt find it fun.
So, what part of the game you find funnier, JMoney? And why?
This is the exact point of the thread, why he bought it. Not interested in what he finds fun or not fun unless it relates to why. He did it because of time/boredom. Let it be
Now this is interesting, it breaks down all my theory on why ppl play MMORPG.
I assume that you would not play if you hadnt find it fun.
So, what part of the game you find funnier, JMoney? And why?
For instance in EvE, I enjoy running missions, the ship I use cost me about 30 million isk, plus mods. So instead of mining for weeks to get this ship, I buy a GTC and get it instantly. And go blow up some NPC ships.
Have you ever played EvE? Mining is retardedly boring. You click an asteroid then wait 60 seconds til you have a small amount of ore in your ship, continue til ship full. Doing nothing but staring at your ship and the little yellow laser hitting a big rock. Imagine doing that for hours.
I quit WoW long ago, but what I found fun was running instances, raiding, pvp. Farming for epic mount would take weeks, and take away from raiding, instances, pvp.
I play FFXI now, money isn't too hard to get here. But if I had to choose between going to a group and getting experience with other people or sitting a lower end zone and one shotting all the mobs just so I could afford some spell that I need (yes, there are spell in this that are NEEDED by classes at certain levels or you just dont get groups) I'd pick the group in a second.
Now this is interesting, it breaks down all my theory on why ppl play MMORPG.
I assume that you would not play if you hadnt find it fun.
So, what part of the game you find funnier, JMoney? And why?
This is the exact point of the thread, why he bought it. Not interested in what he finds fun or not fun unless it relates to why. He did it because of time/boredom. Let it be
Exactly. I can work 1 hour IRL, or work 100 hours in a game. I'll work my 1 hour IRL and play 99 in a game. If I didnt work full time or was broke constantly IRL I wouldnt buy it, but what is $30? That isn't exactly alot of money.
oh and I never regretted it. I dont play these games to be better than anyone, or to showoff whatever I have, I play for entertainment. I already spend enough of my time working.
I have bought ingame currency in Anarchy Online, Lineage 2 and Star Wars Galaxies when I played them.
My reason is that I dislike moneyfarming, tried it several times seriously but I was never able to farm together enough money within reasonable time limit (compared to other players).
Often other players have luck when it comes to loot and can sell it for alot of ingame currency, I've never have had much luck when it comes to loot...
In all other mmo's I have played I haven't bought any ingame currency due to couple of reason like;
).
was able to moneyfarm to a decent level (still far off compared to other players),
the developers don't approve of bought ingame currency and they take action against it (don't want a banned account
Now this is interesting, it breaks down all my theory on why ppl play MMORPG.
I assume that you would not play if you hadnt find it fun.
So, what part of the game you find funnier, JMoney? And why?
This is the exact point of the thread, why he bought it. Not interested in what he finds fun or not fun unless it relates to why. He did it because of time/boredom. Let it be
this is like saying...i think soccer's boring because there's not enough scoring...
so i'll pick up the ball with my hands and throw it in the goal...now it might be more fun for the player...but it's not following the rules of the game
if you don't like the game you don't cheat...you simply play another game
Now this is interesting, it breaks down all my theory on why ppl play MMORPG.
I assume that you would not play if you hadnt find it fun.
So, what part of the game you find funnier, JMoney? And why?
He clearly said he likes playing the game. What he said was he doesn't like having to camp or farm just to get an item. Having to farm for hours and hours to get the funds to buy an item is JUST AS BORING as sitting in the room for hours (in old EQ it was sometimes DAYS) hoping the mob would spawn and praying that it would spawn WITH the item. *shudders at memories of camping y'kesha's and silk sashes way back in the day in EQ* Sorry that was JUST NOT FUN.
I think JMoney summed it up nicely:
Camping for items or camping for cash is NOT fun. In AD&D at the old tabletop I never recall it coming up "hey lets go slaughter goblins for a few hours so we can buy new armor". It just wasn't an issue. The economy wasn't so crazy rediculous that you would have to do something like that. Things were affordable. In most MMO's the prices are so outrageous because MMO Developers have some insane fear that players will get the items too quickly and then get 'bored' and leave. So they would rather turn it into a money and/or item grind than make a game that is fun on it's own merits, regardless of what items you have.
Dunno if that made sense but, again, JMoney stated it very well:
Playing Game = Fun (Well if it's a good game anyway)
Camping for $$$ or Items != Fun
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
Now this is interesting, it breaks down all my theory on why ppl play MMORPG.
I assume that you would not play if you hadnt find it fun.
So, what part of the game you find funnier, JMoney? And why?
This is the exact point of the thread, why he bought it. Not interested in what he finds fun or not fun unless it relates to why. He did it because of time/boredom. Let it be
this is like saying...i think soccer's boring because there's not enough scoring...
so i'll pick up the ball with my hands and throw it in the goal...now it might be more fun for the player...but it's not following the rules of the game
if you don't like the game you don't cheat...you simply play another game
That doesnt apply, in your analogy I'm ruining the game for EVERYONE involved. In people buying currency it ruins it for NOONE.
It should be more like "I think playing soccer by myself is boring because I hate kicking, so I'll pick it up and throw it in the net"