MER Episode 17 Pre-Poll: Real-money transactions for in-game items
Posted by Brooks on April 27th, 2010 | 8 comments
We know it’s been quite a while since we’ve brought you a new episode, but we’re incredibly excited to put together episode 17 for you! The pre-poll for this week stems from the recent news about Blizzard’s new for-purchase Celestial Steed mount that netted the company about $2 million in the first four hours it was available. We want to know if this type of thing is something you feel is fitting the MMO space, and if Bioware were to include something similar, what are the limits on things that should be available for purchase.
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Look for the new episode to come out early next week.
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Comments
My only concern with items bought with real money is the requirement to buy them. For example, if the armor that you buy is the best out there, that becomes required to stay competitive. However, if it’s just a nicer-looking hat that doesn’t give an in-game bonus, there’s no requirement to buy that item, it’s just a luxury item.
That’s not to say I won’t buy any, I just don’t want to feel obligated.
I feel that when you sell useful in-game items, it comes down to more of the contents of your wallet than your in-game skill. And I’m not saying it will start there, but as we saw with WoW; its a slippery slope. If it starts with vanity pets, then moves to useful mounts, where does it end? “Heirloom” gear? Raid gear?
When I obtained my first piece of tier gear in WoW, an awesome mount, and those rare hard-to-get vanity pets, they all felt like achievements (long before the achievement system) and that making them obtainable from monetary means really takes away from the experience.
Again, that’s just me. I do understand the draw buying in-game items. I just feel that if you don’t work for it, you won’t appreciate it as much… nor will others care as much. (And isn’t that what its all really about? lol)
I’m against micro-transactions. Your real life bank account shouldn’t affect your virtual world in an mmo. It’s not fair for those who don’t have the cash irl compared to those who do. It creates a disadvantage for those either without the cash or those willing to spend more money on micro-transactions. No bueno.
If they Do include them, they should be purely cosmetic that will not affect your character in anyway other than looks. If any purchased Item creates a disadvantage to those who don’t pay, then it’s no bueno imo.
BTW, that WoW mount is the ugliest looking shit I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe people really bought that thing for $25 bucks.
It is an easy way for companies to make some extra money relatively easy, so I am not one to say “No, I don’t want it in my MMO.” However, I agree with the other comments, saying that it shouldn’t become a requirement in order to stay competitive. If there is some outfit that will fit your character perfectly, even from a Role Playing perspective, and you can afford it, you should be able to add that to your character – however, if it means you have to dish out $10 in order to be accepted into top groups, then it becomes damaging to the game.
I played an MMO where they introduced such transactions: it started with different hair styles and hair dyes; then became costumes; then scrolls that would instantly send you to certain cities or encounters; then items that prevented you from death penalties; then items that allowed you level up faster – soon, these items became more than a convenience and started becoming necessary in order to move in the game at the same pace as everyone else, and I feel that is when it causes problems.
As long as it extends only to items that don’t imbalance the game. I don’t want to lose to a guy in pvp because he spent $20 on the Uber Lightsaber of Much Awesomeness. If you limit it to pets, clothes, speeders that’s fine with me.
I’d prefer not to have it at all but, that stuff doesn’t affect the game so, it doesn’t bother me.
Alright, I really think that in-game items for real money is BS. Pocket Legends has it, (IPhone/IPod MMO) and I think it is such a waste that kids that pay like that are probably spoiled and have so much money that they don’t have to think without having a servant to help them.
In-game purchasable items must be limited to non-combat items. Vanity, transportation, etc. Anything else drops you into a vortex of gamebreaking decisions. It’s essentially a slippery slope of deciding not whether it will affect your game balance, but how far you’re willing to let it go before it simply becomes an additional fee to simply be comparable, let alone competitive.
Vanity/transportation = good/profitable
Combat/economy = gamebreaking.
In-game purchasable items must be limited to non-combat items. Vanity, transportation, etc. Anything else drops you into a vortex of gamebreaking decisions. It’s essentially a slippery slope of deciding not whether it will affect your game balance, but how far you’re willing to let it go before it simply becomes an additional fee to simply be comparable, let alone competitive.
Vanity/transportation = good/profitable
Combat/economy = gamebreaking.