Bigpoint Makes Big Bucks Off $1300 MMO Item

[shadowmagus]

...I need to make a F2P MMO and utterly screw the gamer culture for all it's worth. Obviously people are willing (stupid) enough to part with their money, may as well be me they are giving it to.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I'm not sure whether to applaud or cry. Or both.

agreed.

applaud for the company for realizing how much money they could soak up off those crack addicts, and cry for those who really have that much money laying around to afford that virtual item..

dear god, my whole steam library isn't even worth that one item, and i have TONS of AAA games (89 games and counting in my library.)

 

[Amnestic]

Assuming my assumptions are correct, of course.

They are correct. http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/bigpoint-says-game-publishers-should-sell-in-game-advantages

Urgh. I could not disagree more. At most games publishers should sell convenience (like increased exp gain or increased money looted, or whatever). Selling pure power is...I object. A lot.

 

[blalien]

Instead of buying a virtual item for an online game, you could have taken a girl on thirteen fancy dates. Just sayin'.

At most games publishers should sell convenience (like increased exp gain or increased money looted, or whatever). Selling pure power is...I object. A lot.

There is a way to obtain the drone without paying for it. No idea how much time it takes, though. You have to take the cost of the item, the time it would take to get it, and your hourly salary, and then see whether you're better off buying or earning it.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Wow, what a waste of money by idiot players in search of the best gear around.
"A fool and his money are soon parted"

 

[vivster]

really interesting
i really wonder now
are only really rich guys are playing the games to find a way to get rid of all the money they don't know where else to spend or are those some poor folks who are piling up some debt with those purchases?

 

[DEAD34345]

I don't get why so many people are upset by this.

If these people have ?1000 to spare for such an item, then it's their descision to make.
In straight up man hours people have spent far more on various games.

Do you look down those who speed tens of thousands of dollars on a rare car that hardly ever will be used?

Yes, yes I do look down on those people.

Spewing insults such as "I have lost fate in humanity" and other judgemental rethoric is just wrong.

You should not judge people you do not know just because they apparantly have some spending money.

Spending that much money on such a worthless item just seems wrong to me, as in morally wrong. I mean if all of these people had decided to give to a charity instead of buying that virtual combat drone imagine the good that could have been done. I don't judge these people because they have some spending money, I judge them because they spend it in such a frivolous way.

No-one is perfect, and everyone (including me) spends more on themselves and their family/friends than they give to others, but that just seems like it's been taken way too far to me.

 

[Kenjitsuka]

HOOOOOLY ****!!!! Really, you 2000 people have SO much disposable income?!!!
Next time, donate them 1000 euro's to a charity helping the disabled.... please!!!

 

[Aeshi]

I don't get why so many people are upset by this.

If these people have ?1000 to spare for such an item, then it's their descision to make.
In straight up man hours people have spent far more on various games.

Do you look down those who speed tens of thousands of dollars on a rare car that hardly ever will be used?

Spewing insults such as "I have lost fate in humanity" and other judgemental rethoric is just wrong.

You should not judge people you do not know just because they apparantly have some spending money.

That's the Escapist for you: People who have a need to come up with "reasons" to feel superior to people to try and forget how said people have more expendable income than them.

It's a Whine made from crushed Sour Grapes and liquified High Horse, nothing more.

 

[Spud of Doom]

More than 2000 Zeus drones were sold, adding up to nearly $2.7 million in revenue off a single item. In four days.

Sweet merciful crap... I'm glad I have free-to-play options nowadays that aren't pay to win. I'm also now glad I didn't get into that game when I saw it, because this would be reason to quit.

 

[-|-]

Lots of reactionary escapists around today.

What's wrong with others seeing value where you (or I for that matter) do not? The fact that people are happy to buy these kind of items means this company stays in business and can employ some people and many other gamers get to continue to play for free. Literally everyone involved wins.

 

[cahtush]

Where's that "Don't want to live on this planet anymore" image macro when I need it?

About one post above

 

[standokan]

And lets put on some music with that

"It's a maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad world"

 

[Demonicdan]

You could probably buy a real drone for that much, good day to be the boss of Bigpoint though I guess.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Only $1300? A hat in TF2 (Burning Team Captain) went for over $3000. And not only does it not have a positive effect on gameplay, it's actually detrimental to you. (Unusual hats are basically a huge 'HEY, SNIPER! OVER HERE!' sign.)

$1300 would get you about a mid-high tier Unusual hat. Seriously.

Edit: Actually, I think an Unusual Familiar Fez with a good effect for Spy goes for about $1,300.

 

[Twilight_guy]

I would have used that money to buy 200 new games instead...

I don't know how this could have happened. There must be some super-hardcore dudes I guess.

 

[Quellist]

I don't get why so many people are upset by this.

If these people have ?1000 to spare for such an item, then it's their descision to make.
In straight up man hours people have spent far more on various games.

Do you look down those who speed tens of thousands of dollars on a rare car that hardly ever will be used?

Spewing insults such as "I have lost fate in humanity" and other judgemental rethoric is just wrong.

You should not judge people you do not know just because they apparantly have some spending money.

I'm with you on the insults and looking down part. But remember those rare cars become the property of the buyer. In an MMO everything you have is still property of the games company and if they decide the game is over then buyers have lost their investment so IMO its not quite the same thing.

 

[fenrizz]

I don't get why so many people are upset by this.

If these people have ?1000 to spare for such an item, then it's their descision to make.
In straight up man hours people have spent far more on various games.

Do you look down those who speed tens of thousands of dollars on a rare car that hardly ever will be used?

Spewing insults such as "I have lost fate in humanity" and other judgemental rethoric is just wrong.

You should not judge people you do not know just because they apparantly have some spending money.

I'm with you on the insults and looking down part. But remember those rare cars become the property of the buyer. In an MMO everything you have is still property of the games company and if they decide the game is over then buyers have lost their investment so IMO its not quite the same thing.

You are of course right.

It was merley the best example I could come up with at the time.
Though I see that it is not the same.

What really bothers me is the fact that they are judging others by a single fact.
They know nothing about them, if they donate charity or voulener at the local soup kitchen.

It bothers me, to say the least.

 

[Jevgenij Stepanov]

Lots of reactionary escapists around today.

What's wrong with others seeing value where you (or I for that matter) do not? The fact that people are happy to buy these kind of items means this company stays in business and can employ some people and many other gamers get to continue to play for free. Literally everyone involved wins.

Yup, specially those that play the game but can't afford the OP drone