Spending real money to play fake games?

[disneysteve]

I pay for a couple of add ins to Words with Friends. They cost less than $10 and greatly enhance the playing experience (one tells you which tiles are left; one computes the points of the word(s) you're going to play before you commit to them).

$10 is cheap enough to give me hours of entertainment.

I think that's fine. I paid $4.99 to get the full version of an iPhone game I really liked. Got rid of the ads and unlocked a lot of extra features. But I wasn't paying for something that I could get for free. That's what I was questioning. I think bjl584 nailed it. It is a lack of patience. It is the whole immediate gratification thing. Either pay real money for credits right now or just wait until tomorrow (or maybe just a few hours) to get more credits for free. The slot machine game I play gives more credits every 4 hours and occasionally (like today) does a special and does it every 3 hours). You can buy more credits, but why?

[Gailete]

I saw the name of this thread and thought about the one and only game I had ever wanted to play on the computer (other than Free Cell and a couple of other free card games). Back in the dinosaur age when PC's first came out for many of us, around 1995, Sim City was a big game. I was hearing about it everywhere. It didn't come with the built in games that came with my computer and I didn't want to buy a copy as it was too expensive. Somewhere along the line I got a computer that had one of the versions loaded. So I sat down to play this game that I had looked forward to playing for years where I would get to build a town to my own liking and started the game. I don't know what happened, but the game took over building and doing stuff at such a rapid pace I didn't have a clue what it was doing much else what I was supposed to do. I turned it off and deleted it from my computer and have never bought a game or spent money on one since. I also don't have a cell phone or I-pad type item, so no game apps for me. If I had to buy things to be able t play a game, I wouldn't. Last thing I need to spend my money on is to play games.

[Blessed]

I just paid a $1 to get extra moves to pass a level on candy Crush I have been stuck on for weeks. I swore I wouldn't do it but I did I wouldn't spend $ on a game on a regular basis just because I have other goals. I don't think there is anything wrong if one chooses too as long as it is in the budget. One of my kids pays for WOW. He doesn't even play it that much.

[disneysteve]

I turned it off and deleted it from my computer and have never bought a game or spent money on one since. I also don't have a cell phone or I-pad type item, so no game apps for me. If I had to buy things to be able t play a game, I wouldn't. Last thing I need to spend my money on is to play games.

Back in the pre-smartphone/tablet/internet days, I definitely spent money to purchase computer games dating back to my VIC-20 in the 80s. But those were one-time purchases. Once you owned the game, you were done. There weren't additional charges to play it or buy more credits or levels or add-ons.

Today, the games are free so I guess the trade-off is that the game developers need to make money somehow so they charge for extras, more lives, more credits, more levels, etc. When you think of it that way, I guess it really isn't such a big deal. Mentally, though, it is very different. Before, the only possible way to get the game was to buy it (or pirate it - not that we ever did that ). Now, though, you can get the game for free and there is no need to ever spend a penny.

[seen]

I think it just depends on the person. For some, paying a little extra cash for credits in a virtual slot machine when they lose could arguably be a much cheaper alternative to feeding cash into a real one. Since there is a demand for it, if it's included as part of one's entertainment budget I don't really see what the big deal is.

I agree, it's pretty dumb to spend real money buying virtual items.

Not necessarily. Some people do it as a form of virtual investment. Take bitcoins for example, or even this:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-04-04-entropia-universe-player-spends-USD2-5-million-on-virtual-real-estate

For reference, Entropia is a mass multiplayer online (MMO) game.

[disneysteve]

For some, paying a little extra cash for credits in a virtual slot machine when they lose could arguably be a much cheaper alternative to feeding cash into a real one.

True, though with the real slot machine, at least you have the potential to win real money. With the virtual game, you put in real money and don't get anything out (though those laws are gradually being chipped away - Nevada is about to get legal online gaming).

[seen]

True, though with the real slot machine, at least you have the potential to win real money. With the virtual game, you put in real money and don't get anything out (though those laws are gradually being chipped away - Nevada is about to get legal online gaming).

That's true too, but if your mindset (which it should be anyway) is that you'll ultimately lose when gambling, it's atleast debatable whether a virtual slot machine is worth the money for the enjoyment an individual gets out of it.

I think it really just comes down to personal preference. If they have set boundaries and X amount available to do activity Y without breaking the bank, I don't think there's any reason to question a choice that makes them happier.

[kv968]

Back in the pre-smartphone/tablet/internet days, I definitely spent money to purchase computer games dating back to my VIC-20 in the 80s. But those were one-time purchases. Once you owned the game, you were done. There weren't additional charges to play it or buy more credits or levels or add-ons.

The Commodore VIC-20?!? Come on Steve, now you're making me feel old.

And of course there weren't any additional charges to buy more levels or add-ons...no more would fit on the cassette tape that held the program

[shaggy]

Back in the pre-smartphone/tablet/internet days, I definitely spent money to purchase computer games dating back to my VIC-20 in the 80s. But those were one-time purchases. Once you owned the game, you were done. There weren't additional charges to play it or buy more credits or levels or add-ons.

Yep, marketing has definitely advanced since the good old days.

Now everything is designed to get more money from the customer.

[phantom]

Back in the pre-smartphone/tablet/internet days, I definitely spent money to purchase computer games dating back to my VIC-20 in the 80s. But those were one-time purchases. Once you owned the game, you were done. There weren't additional charges to play it or buy more credits or levels or add-ons.

Today, the games are free so I guess the trade-off is that the game developers need to make money somehow so they charge for extras, more lives, more credits, more levels, etc. When you think of it that way, I guess it really isn't such a big deal. Mentally, though, it is very different. Before, the only possible way to get the game was to buy it (or pirate it - not that we ever did that ). Now, though, you can get the game for free and there is no need to ever spend a penny.

It's funny how spending money on computers has evolved over the years. I remember when the internet first started to take off in the mid 90's that it really annoyed me. I was a teenager, so I wasn't spending my own money often. But, prior to the internet, if I wanted to be able to look up information on my computer, I just needed a one time purchase of Encarta (and maybe an update once every few years). That was easy to convince my parents to buy. But, if I wanted to use this new magical thing called the internet, my parents would have to come up with at least $20 EVERY month, more if we wanted to get online without tying up the phone! I thought the idea of having to pay repeatedly for computer use was insane.

Now my husband and I pay far more than $20/month for internet, and don't really think much of it. But, in becoming comfortable with paying a monthly fee for internet access, I lost my willingness to pay for software. There's so much great free content out there, it's hard to justify paying for anything.

[disneysteve]

It's funny how spending money on computers has evolved over the years. I remember when the internet first started to take off in the mid 90's that it really annoyed me. I was a teenager, so I wasn't spending my own money often. But, prior to the internet, if I wanted to be able to look up information on my computer, I just needed a one time purchase of Encarta (and maybe an update once every few years). That was easy to convince my parents to buy. But, if I wanted to use this new magical thing called the internet, my parents would have to come up with at least $20 EVERY month, more if we wanted to get online without tying up the phone! I thought the idea of having to pay repeatedly for computer use was insane.

Now my husband and I pay far more than $20/month for internet, and don't really think much of it. But, in becoming comfortable with paying a monthly fee for internet access, I lost my willingness to pay for software. There's so much great free content out there, it's hard to justify paying for anything.

I think today's internet is a far better value than the internet of 20 years ago. As you said, back then you were paying $20/month and you really couldn't do a whole lot other than send email and read some text-based sites. There was no such thing as streaming video or music, live chat, etc. Today, for $50/month I can watch virtually unlimited video entertainment, movies, tv shows, documentaries, news, weather, sports. I can make video phone calls to friends and family anywhere in the world. I can get free software of almost any application. I can share photos and videos with everyone in a snap. If times got tough, I think our internet service would be at the bottom of the list of things we'd cut right above food and housing.

[Gailete]

If times got tough, I think our internet service would be at the bottom of the list of things we'd cut right above food and housing

Isn't that the truth. I know it is the same for us, but instead of the entertainment value, we have been using the internet for over 10 years to sell goods on line that directly effects our bottom line. Prior to that my hubby had a website to help draw customers to his business. I remember my step-father who had severe rheumatoid arthritis over 30 years ago racking his brain and trying to find any way to bring in more income to our home, but without the internet, it just wasn't possible. Now with RA almost as bad as his but treated with newer and better drugs, I use the internet to sell on line which is both my occupational therapy and a way to bring in the added funds we need to survive. The nicest thing about using the internet was when sales got high enough to make it worth while to have satellite instead of slow (in the country) dial up which went down regularly due to critters chewing on the wires!

[disneysteve]

Isn't that the truth. I know it is the same for us, but instead of the entertainment value, we have been using the internet for over 10 years to sell goods on line that directly effects our bottom line.

Same here. The internet both earns us money and saves us money.

I do medical market research studies online and earned about 6% of our household income that way last year and the percentage should be even higher this year.

As for saving money, there are countless examples of how shopping online has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. When something is $20 at WalMart and $2 at Amazon, it's not hard to see how that adds up over time. Just last month, we bought my wife a new sewing machine. We got it used online for $700. The same machine new would have been over $2,000. We saved $3,000 on my wife's van buying it online instead of in person.

[maryadavies]

I don't like this either. It seems like a lot of companies are trying to nickle and dime us. Look at EA; they're the worst scumbags when it comes to this. Not to mention they have turned into a bad company, but let's..just not go there.

Now I don't mind paying for DLC once in a while, like a cute costume that is just that or another part to a game, or even paying monthly for a MMO if it's good (Within reason of course; I tend to only do one paid mmo at a time for budget reasons. I also am very careful about how much I buy; again money reasons.). But I really hate companies that make "free" mmos that are Pay2Win (read; you have to spend money to even get anywhere in the game. Give me a game where I don't have to do that lol) or your example disneysteve; of buying more credits for a game when you don't have to.

Not that I'm condoning that. Some do that all the time. But as for me; If something about "pay for this to play our game!" is stupid and you don't need to, sometimes it's better to Just Say No.

Also I wouldn't give up the net either; Lot of free or low cost entertainment if you know where to look. ^^ Not to mention ways of making money online; I make a little selling stuff. ^^

[annibe11e]

I view it as any other entertainment expense. People's idea of entertainment might be different. I personally don't pay for any extras in games, but I have bought a full version of one for $3. My son wanted extras in a game, so I bought him a $10 points card for his birthday. I now have a dedicated savings account (albeit, not well funded due to priorites) just for attending Monkees concerts. I passed up seeing Mike Nesmith reunited with them because I hit a deer and had to come up with an insurance deductible. I'm kicking myself for not finding a way to go. It's important to me. I think entertainment might be the most personal category of personal finances.