Question of the Day, April 17, 2010

[The Random One]

I've bought items only on games like Kingdom of Loathing [http://www5.kingdomofloathing.com/], which are free to begin with and subsist entirely on donation. I see little point on doing so anywhere else. If the bought items can also be acquired through gameplay then I shall acquire then through gameplay. If not, it is a bad game and I don't want to play it. (Likewise, if the bought items can be acquired through gameplay but it's extremely boring, it's also a bad game and I don't want to play it either.)

 

[Mighty Lighty]

Do you mean with real-world money? If so than nothing. I think micro-transactions are tools of the Devil [ie: faceless, corporate mizer, with glowing red eyes, money-wallpaper and, a bathtub filled with children's tears]

I wouldn`t say that for all Dlc as the resi packs have apeared a good year and a bit after it was released which made people want to by the game again.


But yes the vs pack was a load of crap

 

[skcseth]

I've bought DLC worth like 15 dollars bought does that count as an in game item? If not i've bought crap for my avatar for 160 microsoft points.

That's what I was thinking. Wouldn't DLC and Xbox Avatar stuff count as in-game items? Or are we strictly talking WoW here?

 

[Baldr]

$25 is nothing for in-game WoW items, most of the WoW TCG in-game items go for $60-$1000.

 

[Nouw]

I'm assuming US Money so 1 to 10.

 

[Mana Fiend]

I voted for 'not worth it'. I'd prefer to save my money for something more bulky. I like what BioWare are doing... free weapons, other stuff is costly.

 

[Antari]

Why would I pay REAL money for something that ultimately doesn't exist, or atleast will cease to exist the second the company decides it should? For gametime to cover ongoing labor expenses and equipment maintenance sure. But an ingame item? If I'm even going to pay $5-$10 it better be a game changer, basically an expansion. I would never pay that for any sort of single vanity item. In the case of World of Warcraft's latest release.

 

[bassdrum]

Do map packs count? If so, then I've spent 10 bucks on those (still debating on the MW2 map pack: is it worth paying $15 for three new maps which I won't use all that often, except with friends?)

If you're just talking about things like individual weapons, skins, vehicles, clothes, etc., then I'm not quite so willing to fork over cash. I don't really need to have access to some shiny new assault rifle or top hat, because as awesome as they may be, they're not worth paying real cash for.

 

[Obrien Xp]

I bought some character slots for GW and then the War in Kryta costumes, I'm not likely going to buy costumes again unless they look really good but the char slots were worth the 10 bucks.

I'd say 10 bucks perhaps, usually I'd not buy anything. I don't mind how anet does it where items you buy have little to no in-game advantage and you can get most of it in game anyways. (other than more character slots).

 

[FoolKiller]

If it's an in-game item, I only want to spend in-game currency.

 

[Agayek]

Considering I've bought a spectral tiger, I can't really say anything about paying for such things, but I would only spend money on specific items. So far, all I've spent real money on in-game is that one spectral tiger, because it's a) exceedingly rare, b) it's the best looking mount in the game, even now, and c) I've wanted one since they came out. Anything else really isn't worth the money, IMO.

 

[CincoDeMayo]

I already bought the freaking games, paying extra money for stuff that no one actually really needs is BS.

 

[xyrafhoan]

I have regrettably spent a ton of money on microtransactions, especially when lottery is involved, so I had to answer $25+. It might not have been just one item but it all kind of racks up. It's not worth it but it's a case of get-what-you-want-or-don't, but I'd never spend my money on something that doesn't give me some sort of clear benefit.

Oh, and I spent money out the arse gambling to get a headgear I designed for that particular game. Random chance is just a void to throw your dollars into...

 

[solidstatemind]

Not to sound like an egotistical twat, but I think the answer to this question skews heavily along demographic lines.

$50 to me isn't even an hour's worth of work, but for the high-schooler still living at home, that's probably more than a few yards mowed or household chores.

Look, I'm not trying to brag here, I'm actually more pointing out that the 'gaming demographic' has ballooned beyond it's original sector, and therefore, dollar value probably isn't a very realistic way to measure value across those disparate categories.

 

[Contun]

Depends on the item...

A cool looking mount and a non-combat pet? I don't think so.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

-words-

I wouldn`t say that for all Dlc as the resi packs have apeared a good year and a bit after it was released which made people want to by the game again.


But yes the vs pack was a load of crap

The question of the day was about buying in-game items with real-world money [as I've come to understand it]. I didn't spend money on the armored horse in Oblivion however, Broken Steel was my favorite bit of DLC. If say, Final Fantasy XIII offered an item that kept trophies on but allowed you to get 1 gil and, 1 EXP per HP you knock off of any monster for $10 real-world-money, I would leave it right there and move on to the next page of new available DLC on my online store of choice. Not all DLC is evil but some of it is painfully, obviously, just an attempt to get money from people in exchange for something intangible.

 

[Lamorian]

Id only pay real money if it where for new levels or something like that. I cant really see the point forking out for a weapon or a steed.

 

[CastlyFTW]

This is making me think of the new bonus items for TF2. The Sam and Max ones.

 

[the_Butler]

My real life hard earned cash for pixels?

Ktxhbai

 

[thejoshualee]

DLC is an illusion. All money spent on video games is buying virtual in-game items. Is it worth it to buy a $25 mount on World of Warcraft? Is it worth it to buy $60 worth of shooting simulators?
Are games nickel and dimeing us to death? Some may be, but the market will root out what is worth it and what isn't. To pay for a core part of the game on top of the initial cost of the game is iffy, but to offer items that change up the cosmetics or entertaining factors, or to extend game play, is fine.

All value is relative anyway. Why is a Louie Vaton purse worth $5,000 and a nearly identical purse at Walmart worth $10?

As to the question of what I would pay. There are too many variables to answer honestly. I wouldn't pay two dollars to get my xbox avatar different glasses, but I would pay three dollars so he can have a broom like Mickey Mouse had. I wouldn't pay any amount of money to change my World of Warcraft avatar's race or gender, but I would pay $25 for a perma-mount.