Comments on: Virtual Goods And How I Don’t Get Them http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/ My ideas on web analytics, marketing, and other scraps. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:28:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Thoughts From The Cake Scraps » Blog Archive » Why I Dislike iTunes And XBox Marketplace http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/comment-page-1/#comment-279 Thoughts From The Cake Scraps » Blog Archive » Why I Dislike iTunes And XBox Marketplace Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:16:39 +0000 http://thecakescraps.com/?p=215#comment-279 [...] are a hard sell for me; I need to get something not easily duplicated for my money.  After my first post Fantasy7 made the argument that people buy a Facebook gift for the experience.  They buy it for [...] [...] are a hard sell for me; I need to get something not easily duplicated for my money.  After my first post Fantasy7 made the argument that people buy a Facebook gift for the experience.  They buy it for [...]

]]> By: TheCakeScraps http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/comment-page-1/#comment-107 TheCakeScraps Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:09:44 +0000 http://thecakescraps.com/?p=215#comment-107 @Frank I have to admit that I am in the camp where, at my current point in life, it is difficult for me to justify to myself large expenditures on the things you listed (movies - see my Redbox post - sporting events, etc.) I think my larger issue is that when a person buys tickets to the event, they know they are buying it for the experience. I think that is a less clear distinction when buying something virtual, i.e. you buy an in game item for your character - you are buying it to experience better game play, but you will probably view it as an item (a good rather than event) you purchased for you character . @Frank I have to admit that I am in the camp where, at my current point in life, it is difficult for me to justify to myself large expenditures on the things you listed (movies – see my Redbox post – sporting events, etc.) I think my larger issue is that when a person buys tickets to the event, they know they are buying it for the experience. I think that is a less clear distinction when buying something virtual, i.e. you buy an in game item for your character – you are buying it to experience better game play, but you will probably view it as an item (a good rather than event) you purchased for you character .

]]> By: Frank http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Frank Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:57:49 +0000 http://thecakescraps.com/?p=215#comment-106 It completely depends on how much the experience is worth to you. The Facebook gifts do seem the most worthless, especially since all that's being done is a few database commands. But there are any hundred of "virtual goods" that we all pay for. They are just more common and worthwhile to most people. A few examples would be theater shows or movies, concerts, sporting events (viewing or playing), amusement parks, etc. I could think of a lot more. After you pay for it, nobody owns it. (Well, I guess for a show, you would be paying for a ticket) Essentially you paid for the experience. After the fact, all you own is a memory. Just how "virtual" is the virtual good you are buying? It completely depends on how much the experience is worth to you. The Facebook gifts do seem the most worthless, especially since all that’s being done is a few database commands. But there are any hundred of “virtual goods” that we all pay for. They are just more common and worthwhile to most people. A few examples would be theater shows or movies, concerts, sporting events (viewing or playing), amusement parks, etc. I could think of a lot more. After you pay for it, nobody owns it. (Well, I guess for a show, you would be paying for a ticket) Essentially you paid for the experience. After the fact, all you own is a memory. Just how “virtual” is the virtual good you are buying?

]]> By: Thoughts From The Cake Scraps » Blog Archive » Are Antiques Getting Less Common? http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Thoughts From The Cake Scraps » Blog Archive » Are Antiques Getting Less Common? Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:12:57 +0000 http://thecakescraps.com/?p=215#comment-91 [...] this post I return to the topic of virtual goods. I have previously written about virtual goods and how I don’t particularly get them. Clearly there are many reasons why a person would buy such a thing, but I thought that Fantasy7 [...] [...] this post I return to the topic of virtual goods. I have previously written about virtual goods and how I don’t particularly get them. Clearly there are many reasons why a person would buy such a thing, but I thought that Fantasy7 [...]

]]> By: Thoughts From The Cake Scraps » Blog Archive » Redbox Is For Me http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Thoughts From The Cake Scraps » Blog Archive » Redbox Is For Me Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:33:51 +0000 http://thecakescraps.com/?p=215#comment-87 [...] movies because I don’t like to pay for something that I don’t have afterwords.  See my post on virtual goods to see if you [...] [...] movies because I don’t like to pay for something that I don’t have afterwords.  See my post on virtual goods to see if you [...]

]]> By: thecakescraps http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/comment-page-1/#comment-79 thecakescraps Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:51:06 +0000 http://thecakescraps.com/?p=215#comment-79 @Fantasy7 If one looks at buying a gift on Facebook as an experience or as a way to provide an experience to others I can see how it may be worth the $1. I also understand your point about a video game. Sure, you want the good stuff now. And as long as you think that it is money well spent, I can't really argue with you. I will be doing a follow-up post on this topic. I think this post sets up that future post nicely - part of the reason I did it. Thanks for your thoughts! @Chris I do think the video games are where this makes the most sense. Get ahead in the game to save some time. If you have the money, and it is worth it to you, do it. @Fantasy7 If one looks at buying a gift on Facebook as an experience or as a way to provide an experience to others I can see how it may be worth the $1. I also understand your point about a video game. Sure, you want the good stuff now. And as long as you think that it is money well spent, I can’t really argue with you.

I will be doing a follow-up post on this topic. I think this post sets up that future post nicely – part of the reason I did it. Thanks for your thoughts!

@Chris I do think the video games are where this makes the most sense. Get ahead in the game to save some time. If you have the money, and it is worth it to you, do it.

]]> By: Fantasy7 http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Fantasy7 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:17:02 +0000 http://thecakescraps.com/?p=215#comment-74 The purchase of virtual goods in an online game can help a character who perhaps entered the game late and would otherwise be at an impossible disadvantage compared to players who have been with a game from the beginning. I personally believe games that are designed as such are flawed, but it seems like an effective way to get people to commit huge amounts of time to games (and to make tonz of money for Romanians). You're making your argument under the assumption that the games/companies could go under at any time and you would stand to lose something. Even if that were the case, however, people appreciate the short-term gains from their purchases (just as gambling doesn't exactly make sense, but can certainly be exhilarating, even if you have nothing to show for it in the end). The temporary joy a facebook user gets from sending a $1 "gift" and the resulting joy on the receiver's part justifies the expense, even if there is no good in play. If someone cared enough about me to spend a dollar on me, why, I suppose that would make me happy too. Granted, I'd prefer just getting the dollar, but dollars can't be sent over the internet and we all know actually seeing people is way too much work these days... The purchase of virtual goods in an online game can help a character who perhaps entered the game late and would otherwise be at an impossible disadvantage compared to players who have been with a game from the beginning. I personally believe games that are designed as such are flawed, but it seems like an effective way to get people to commit huge amounts of time to games (and to make tonz of money for Romanians).

You’re making your argument under the assumption that the games/companies could go under at any time and you would stand to lose something. Even if that were the case, however, people appreciate the short-term gains from their purchases (just as gambling doesn’t exactly make sense, but can certainly be exhilarating, even if you have nothing to show for it in the end). The temporary joy a facebook user gets from sending a $1 “gift” and the resulting joy on the receiver’s part justifies the expense, even if there is no good in play. If someone cared enough about me to spend a dollar on me, why, I suppose that would make me happy too. Granted, I’d prefer just getting the dollar, but dollars can’t be sent over the internet and we all know actually seeing people is way too much work these days…

]]> By: Chris http://thecakescraps.com/2008/11/04/virtual-goods-and-how-i-dont-get-them/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Chris Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:27:26 +0000 http://thecakescraps.com/?p=215#comment-73 I agree. It's pretty ridiculous. This can be found in online games, too. While it might make more sense there, like customizations to make your character unique, it still seems like a waste of money to me, especially when the stuff you buy expires. The one exception I made was for Kingdom of Loathing, and that was because I enjoyed their free game so much that I decided to support it and donate $10 to get a rare item. I agree. It’s pretty ridiculous. This can be found in online games, too. While it might make more sense there, like customizations to make your character unique, it still seems like a waste of money to me, especially when the stuff you buy expires.

The one exception I made was for Kingdom of Loathing, and that was because I enjoyed their free game so much that I decided to support it and donate $10 to get a rare item.

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