Gamer Whales

• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-11-01 13:47
  I just found this interesting article:
  
  http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/11/meet-the-whales/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Top+Stories%29
  
  It's about people who spend thousands on video games that game developers call whales :chin:
  
  These are the type of people Nexon is bagging on to play their game and why the free to play model works so well. Get a handful of people to whore out for gach, rebirths, premium service, and rack in the money.
  
  I admit, I'm a bit of a whale but it's been over the course of several years that I've spent $3k. No where near as intense as this guy. 6k in one night of drinking?! WTF?! How much money does this guy have?!
• Rin wrote on 2012-11-01 16:37

  Quote from Wired:

  Tonight, Lee’s iPad questioned him with a blue pop-up window: “Do you want to buy one Chest of Gems for $99.99?”
  
  Lee could use those gems to immediately fortify his army. He tapped “Yes,” almost without thinking. In less than a month of playing around two hours a day, he’d spent nearly a thousand dollars.

  
  
  I cringed reading that.
  
  Where do both consumers and developers draw the line in the microtransaction system? What would happen to this line in the future?
• RealityBreak wrote on 2012-11-01 16:41
  I'd prefer to go out drinking. Anyone else?
• RicochetOrange wrote on 2012-11-01 17:10
  And I thought spending around thirty bucks in Spiral Knights was a lot. o_o
• Sumpfkraut wrote on 2012-11-01 17:46
  I'd rather have repeated sex with a top-class escort.
  
  
  No wait, I'd rather save for a trip to St. Louis. But if not that, I'd rather save for sex with a top-class escort.
• Reptile wrote on 2012-11-01 17:56
  If I wanted to spend that much money on willy nilly things, I'd travel.
  Back when I was living with my aunt, I spent around $100 a week on NX and other virtual currency because I had no bills to pay.
  Now, I still have extra cash, but I'm thinking about things differently and I won't spend it so easily.
  I went to Fiji a few months ago and I promised that would be the last spending spree I'd have until my life was in order.
  That means when I have children and know my current income isn't going to drop spontaneously and leave me with nothing.
  I refuse to live in an expensive house for that reason, because, if for whatever reason I go out of business, I don't want to be stuck with a rent/mortgage that I can't pay.
  
  I applaud him for being more constructive with this money, but I think it's a waste.
• RebeccaBlack wrote on 2012-11-01 18:01
  Whatever makes them happy.
  
  Personally, I wouldn't even spend the money. I'd invest it to get more.
  
  Oh, this guy makes six figures and likely has for a very long time. 42 year old single businessman. If I was in his position I'd probably throw money around like this from time to time too, knowing I'd make far more than I'd spend from investments. I don't play these casual phone games, but I'd spend it on my own hobby at least.
• RealityBreak wrote on 2012-11-01 18:01

  Quote from Sumpfkraut;973724:

  I'd rather have repeated sex with a top-class escort.
  
  
  No wait, I'd rather save for a trip to St. Louis. But if not that, I'd rather save for sex with a top-class escort.

  
  
  :!!: Too far man, too far...
• Sumpfkraut wrote on 2012-11-01 18:04
  What?
• TLCBonaparte wrote on 2012-11-04 01:21
  People can do what they want, it's their money, and they purchased something they deem worthy of the trade off. In my opinion the trade is not worth it, but to them it is, if developers wish to cater their product to them then I will simply stop being one of their customers because the product is not intend for my demographic, there will always be plenty games for my part of market segment, so why worry about it?
• Kollin wrote on 2012-11-04 01:39

  Quote from Sumpfkraut;973741:

  What?

  
  
  Most people look down on prostitution. Give them a fancy title like "escort" if you want, it doesn't change the fact that they are a prostitute.
• RebeccaBlack wrote on 2012-11-04 01:51
  At the end of the day, there are more important things to worry about than what people think. It can't stand in the way of people living their lives and being themselves.
  
  Many of the ones in safer, higher paying positions love their job.
• Sumpfkraut wrote on 2012-11-04 08:28

  Quote from Kollin;974914:

  Most people look down on prostitution. Give them a fancy title like "escort" if you want, it doesn't change the fact that they are a prostitute.

  
  I admire it like any social service. I could of course call them whores, if you like. Or maybe harlots.
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-11-04 09:36
  Okay I can see where this is going if you guys keep on this tangent. Let's try to stay on topic and not go off on this "escort" tangent.
  
  I have no problem with whales myself as whales is what makes my company money too. I know I spend too much on gaming as well but it makes me happy and as long as people have the money to do so and are still saving for the future then that's fine (I currently put $100 in my savings account each month but thinking about vamping that up a bit).
  
  Plus if it's not harming anyone and is making them happy then by all means, they should be allowed to do so.
• Kenny? wrote on 2012-11-07 21:47
  Now that I think about it, I have not spent a single cent of my money on any game I've ever played.