buying gold for an MMO

[Malak]

I'm curious if anyone has ever purchased currency for an MMO. I've heard of some people do it and some who are quite against it. It seems to be a huge deal these days, with sites popping up all over the place selling currency. I just did a search for isk for EVE, dozens of places popped up. It's crazy, but it's also amazingly cheap. 100m isk for $18? That's the cost of the battleship I want... it's so tempting.

 

[Zugzwang152]

I've never bought, but I've sold a lot of in-game currency, items, and characters to one of the bigger and more popular companies. It's a nice way to "cash out" when you know you're done with a game for good.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

It's pretty much safe, as long as you don't do stupid things like send huge ass lump sums that'll raise red flags. My guild used to sell gold to raise real world cash for maitenence costs and afaik, they still do.

 

[Schadenfroh]

The day I pay real world money for in game money or for a chinese man to level up my character is the day I should kill myself.

 

[John]

I guess if you enjoy cheating at games then it's a good idea.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Buying gold in MMORPGs == Using AimBots and Wallhacks in FPSs

Lame.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Buying gold in MMORPGs == Using AimBots and Wallhacks in FPSs

Lame.

I'd have to agree on PvP servers, but on non-PvP servers, I can't see how it hurts anyone or anything. Sure, developers like to say it hurts the world "economy" in their game, but there's endless gold to be had anyway, so the arguement is pointless.

 

[fishbits]

Buying gold in MMORPGs == Using AimBots and Wallhacks in FPSs

Don't think I'd go that far. Maybe more like hiring a better honest FPSer to advance your rankings for you. Lame, yes, but not as lame as cheats.

Dunno where I'd draw the line. If we're talking about level-capped chars in a guild in WoW, and one has a busier schedule and just wants to keep at a gear level on par with his buddies so they can still go adventuring together, I don't think that's such a big sin. Not on the same league as trying to buy your way into WTFPWN PvPing.

Honestly though, it seems to me that the gear/wealth goals are part of what keeps people engaged with their character in an MMO, striving to reach that next plateau. The sooner you eliminate that factor because you can afford gold with cash, the sooner you might grow disenchanted with the experience.

Never done it myself, don't think I ever would, but am not as down on it as some are.

 

[Malak]

Let's take EVE for an example though. There is no possible way to power level or twink a character. Skills take real-time to learn, there is no way to exploit the system in a manner that allows for any sort of "power leveling". Also, since everything requires a skill to do, giving yourself a billion isk doesn't mean you can go buy a dreadnought and use it.

So in the case of EVE, is buying a small amount of isk really a bad idea? It would literally take years to learn every skill in the game, nobody has yet or ever will. The biggest chunk of money I've seen for sale doesn't come close to affording you really anything of particular mention anymore, since many things are being sold in the billions now. It's more of a boost, than a way to buy yourself in.

I can see in other games, like WoW for instance, it being pretty stupid. In a game like that you can just buy everything available... but when you do that, what's the point anymore? Seems like a waste. EVE is just not like other MMOs. I don't feel bad about buying 200 million isk at all. Not one bit. At least, not after being podded 3 times tonight. I swear I'm going to get every last one of those pirates.

 

[fishbits]

Interesting point brought up in Malak's case: In EVE, many things for sale are player-made, and they're not made to buy skill-ups (since you can't). So his money is going to profit a trader, who profited a manufacturer, who profited a gatherer. I know in theory a dynamic like that could happen in WoW, but in reality its not even close. Especially since in WoW there's less death penalty than in UT (at least you lose your gear).

Sorry 'bout your troubles btw

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

I've bought and sold gold in UO.

I quit and restarted the game a few times. I also hopped around servers when the game first came out, so I'd done the newbie strapped for cash thing a hlaf dozen times and wasn't inclined to do it again. Realistically, I didn't save myself that much time, but, still 20 hours is 20 hours when you're busy.

Honestly, I have no problem with it. Getting gold is generally rote and mundane and it's not like you can't do it (i.e. wallhack/cheating) but just that you don't have the time or find the activity boring.

I actually find that a flaw with every MMORPG to date. Buying and selling of gold or other items should be irrelevent. Seriously, somebody need to get design papers from me and build a game around it.

 

[fishbits]

I'll ask this, then TRY to refrain from spamming the thread further: How many people who are adamant that buying gold is wrong have played sugar-daddy to their own lowbie alt? You know, giving them gold/gear above what they've been able to earn for themselves at that stage in the game.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: fishbits
I'll ask this, then TRY to refrain from spamming the thread further: How many people who are adamant that buying gold is wrong have played sugar-daddy to their own lowbie alt? You know, giving them gold/gear above what they've been able to earn for themselves at that stage in the game.

yah i mean considering these games (WoW for sure) are all time sinks, the "zomg cheater mentality" can't be applied as easily. you're not good because of skill, you're good because you've put days and days of playtime in to smash people with your purples. purples you got with time. and we all know time = money. so. i don't need to do any more correlations, do i?

and besides, anyone who has got to the top knows gold or whatever currency have you, doesn't mean jack anymore. kudos if you sell it. if you buy it, well i'm glad you can afford it, god knows you've earned it to spend anyway you want.

 

[CKent]

If I found a magic lamp and a genie popped out & granted me only one wish... I wouldn't wish for the demise of GWB, I wouldn't wish for Jessica Alba naked in bed, I wouldn't wish for a billion dollars. No, I'd wish for everyone who's ever bought MMOG money to be unable to play MMOGs again, and for anyone who does it to instantly suffer this fate (I was initially thinking death, but hey, someone needs to serve me food at Wendy's, fill my gas tank on those cold winter days, etc... better to keep them around I guess). Perhaps the genre could once again be fun without these morons and the industry which has cropped up to feed them.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: RBachman
If I found a magic lamp and a genie popped out & granted me only one wish... I wouldn't wish for the demise of GWB, I wouldn't wish for Jessica Alba naked in bed, I wouldn't wish for a billion dollars. No, I'd wish for everyone who's ever bought MMOG money to be unable to play MMOGs again, and for anyone who does it to instantly suffer this fate (I was initially thinking death, but hey, someone needs to serve me food at Wendy's, fill my gas tank on those cold winter days, etc... better to keep them around I guess). Perhaps the genre could once again be fun without these morons and the industry which has cropped up to feed them.

Somehow I doubt anyone buying fake online currency will be working at menial jobs.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: makoto00

Originally posted by: RBachman
If I found a magic lamp and a genie popped out & granted me only one wish... I wouldn't wish for the demise of GWB, I wouldn't wish for Jessica Alba naked in bed, I wouldn't wish for a billion dollars. No, I'd wish for everyone who's ever bought MMOG money to be unable to play MMOGs again, and for anyone who does it to instantly suffer this fate (I was initially thinking death, but hey, someone needs to serve me food at Wendy's, fill my gas tank on those cold winter days, etc... better to keep them around I guess). Perhaps the genre could once again be fun without these morons and the industry which has cropped up to feed them.

Somehow I doubt anyone buying fake online currency will be working at menial jobs.

Who else would have the low mental capacity required?

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: RBachman

Originally posted by: makoto00

Originally posted by: RBachman
If I found a magic lamp and a genie popped out & granted me only one wish... I wouldn't wish for the demise of GWB, I wouldn't wish for Jessica Alba naked in bed, I wouldn't wish for a billion dollars. No, I'd wish for everyone who's ever bought MMOG money to be unable to play MMOGs again, and for anyone who does it to instantly suffer this fate (I was initially thinking death, but hey, someone needs to serve me food at Wendy's, fill my gas tank on those cold winter days, etc... better to keep them around I guess). Perhaps the genre could once again be fun without these morons and the industry which has cropped up to feed them.

Somehow I doubt anyone buying fake online currency will be working at menial jobs.

Who else would have the low mental capacity required?

generally speaking, I'd have to think that the people buying gold on ebay are the ones with full-time jobs who like to casually play an MMO but don't want to fall hopelessly behind their guildmates who don't work at all or work part-time and have the time to farm for gold for 5 hours/day.

I never bought gold for WoW because it's pretty easy to come by, but I'll admitt that I bought gold for FFXI... when you can use the real-world cash you make from an hour at work to buy gold that it would take 10-15 hours of playing to accumulate... yeah, it gets pretty tempting.

I eventually sold the FFXI account and even managed to make a profit after subscription costs plus the change I spent buying gold to help level my character.

 

[Chompman]

I really have had no problems getting enough in game money that this has been a worry for me.

I always find stuff that sells good and is easy to get.

Like in FFXI I kept rerolling different classes on my main to farm those light crystals I think one of the very low dungeons had and made tons doing that, EQ I had no worry since there was no AH yet but sold alot during the weekly bazaar, and in WoW plan runs has made me uber rich.

Just have to find your own little nitch and go with it.

 

[Looney]

Yep, i have. If i start an MMO that's been up for awhile already, or rejoin a game i've left years ago like EQ, i usually buy about $50 of gold, pp, or whatever to get the game started. No big deal, considering i've easily sold $10k worth of stuff in my years of playing.

As for considering it cheat, meh. You may consider these games as some sort of accomplishments to compensate what you failed in life, but to me, it's just a game. Instead of spending 10 hrs of my life grinding to get the item or gold, i may as well just spend what i make in an hr in real life to buy that instead. I don't see it as any different than buying a $1000 golf set to enjoy golf versus spending $100 on a golf set. Or paying for first class when there's coach.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: RBachman
If I found a magic lamp and a genie popped out & granted me only one wish... I wouldn't wish for the demise of GWB, I wouldn't wish for Jessica Alba naked in bed, I wouldn't wish for a billion dollars. No, I'd wish for everyone who's ever bought MMOG money to be unable to play MMOGs again, and for anyone who does it to instantly suffer this fate (I was initially thinking death, but hey, someone needs to serve me food at Wendy's, fill my gas tank on those cold winter days, etc... better to keep them around I guess). Perhaps the genre could once again be fun without these morons and the industry which has cropped up to feed them.

LOL looks like somebody has issues. You're the type of people that make me concern with MMO players. The people who take the game so seriously, who put so much of their identity into the game, that the accomplishments in the game seem so real to you. So if you see others who aren't doing the same accomplishments as you, you freak out. Case in point, you get to make a single wish to can change anything in this universe, and you choose it to affect a game?

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: RBachman
If I found a magic lamp and a genie popped out & granted me only one wish... I wouldn't wish for the demise of GWB, I wouldn't wish for Jessica Alba naked in bed, I wouldn't wish for a billion dollars. No, I'd wish for everyone who's ever bought MMOG money to be unable to play MMOGs again, and for anyone who does it to instantly suffer this fate (I was initially thinking death, but hey, someone needs to serve me food at Wendy's, fill my gas tank on those cold winter days, etc... better to keep them around I guess). Perhaps the genre could once again be fun without these morons and the industry which has cropped up to feed them.

wow. loser... because the people serving you food at wendy's can afford gold on ebay.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: RBachman

Originally posted by: makoto00

Originally posted by: RBachman
If I found a magic lamp and a genie popped out & granted me only one wish... I wouldn't wish for the demise of GWB, I wouldn't wish for Jessica Alba naked in bed, I wouldn't wish for a billion dollars. No, I'd wish for everyone who's ever bought MMOG money to be unable to play MMOGs again, and for anyone who does it to instantly suffer this fate (I was initially thinking death, but hey, someone needs to serve me food at Wendy's, fill my gas tank on those cold winter days, etc... better to keep them around I guess). Perhaps the genre could once again be fun without these morons and the industry which has cropped up to feed them.

Somehow I doubt anyone buying fake online currency will be working at menial jobs.

Who else would have the low mental capacity required?

most people i've encountered who have bought gold online (in wow at least) are people with jobs and lives who like to play but can't slave away all day in front of the pc trying to save up for some overpriced mount or whatever. they aren't losers who don't have a job and play the game 24/7 and then lord over the other players with their riches. so i guess you shouldn't share your feelings with any future boss you might have, it might end up with you working at wendy's serving him/her food.

 

[Busithoth]

I don't really see why this would be a bad thing.
Think of it like enhancing your in-game character with a recently dead uncle's trust fund.
do you deserve it? not really.
but it sounds like in Eve, if you get a ship outside your class, your skill deficiencies will endanger you losing that ship.
a fool and his isk are soon parted?

oh, and it's a game, fellas.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: RBachman
If I found a magic lamp and a genie popped out & granted me only one wish... I wouldn't wish for the demise of GWB, I wouldn't wish for Jessica Alba naked in bed, I wouldn't wish for a billion dollars. No, I'd wish for everyone who's ever bought MMOG money to be unable to play MMOGs again, and for anyone who does it to instantly suffer this fate (I was initially thinking death, but hey, someone needs to serve me food at Wendy's, fill my gas tank on those cold winter days, etc... better to keep them around I guess). Perhaps the genre could once again be fun without these morons and the industry which has cropped up to feed them.

Use the correlation of time=money like others have. For some players, they have 8 hours a day to waste away in a game, and will have all the phat lewt they want in a fraction of the time of a casual player. But a casual player usually is such because they have a real job. It's the 8 hour a day gamers that work at wendy's, the rest of us make real money. Since time=money, and we don't have any time, why not use money to get that phat lewt? I cannot buy everything in EVE, unless I really wanted to sink a couple thousand USD into it, which I won't. But I can give myself a boost to offset the lack of time I have so that I can keep up with the rest of my friends. Of course, some corp actually give out even battleships, but I feel I am more beneficial if I can supply one myself, no matter how. And nobody else cares. I have invested the time necessary to train the skill to fly the ship I am in now, I simply didn't have time to get the money for it.

I wouldn't go buy a 1000 gold in WoW, or pay for someone to powerlevel me, that just removes the point to the game. In my case specifically, I have no problem with it. I in fact get to enjoy the game more while I train my skills to get the next ship. And after that... the next ship. EVE is a game that requires years to get it all. This little boost just lets me enjoy that time more.

My next question is, how does this apply to a game like Project Entropia, where EVERYTHING is bought and sold with real money? People are investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into this game, and making money too. You can quit your day job if you do it right.

 

[CKent]

You're all entirely missing the point. It's the attitude that you simply can't survive without that Sword of Uberity that's the root of the problem; a sense of entitlement which didn't before exist in the genre but which the morons brought to it. You can do just fine with what's available to you at the amount of time you play and at the level of your character; in fact it lends to the sense of immersion, which happens to be one of the things I miss most about this now-dead genre. Further, if you have half a brain you can take 10 minutes a day to play the market for a small flow of money which will cover any costs you come across and maybe even buy you that Sword of Uberity you drool over so much if you're decent with prices.

Originally posted by: Looney
LOL looks like somebody has issues. You're the type of people that make me concern with MMO players. The people who take the game so seriously, who put so much of their identity into the game, that the accomplishments in the game seem so real to you. So if you see others who aren't doing the same accomplishments as you, you freak out. Case in point, you get to make a single wish to can change anything in this universe, and you choose it to affect a game?

"You take the game too seriously" coming from someone who has no problem dropping real cash on game money? :laugh:

You can't buy skill, by the way. I see a lot of obvious ebayers running around in this game without a clue what they're doing and just have to laugh at them, and kill them if they're opposing faction. As do most others who don't cheat.