Good Day, Hive friends, DigitalDicast greets you in a new post for Hive Gaming!
Have you ever wondered if spending money on video games is right or wrong? The answer to this question is not as simple as it seems. While video games can be a fun and exciting way to pass the time, they can also be an expensive way to do it...
In this post, we'll look at the pros and cons of spending money on video games so you can make an informed decision about whether it's the kind of behavior you want to engage in. So, without further ado, let's get started with the post!
What Does It Mean To Spend Money On Video Games And On What Things Is It Spended On?
Spending money on video games means buying additional content for a game. Whether it be things like cosmetic items, character upgrades, coins, etc.
Screenshot taken from my PC | Screenshot taken from my PC
Most games also allow players to spend money to purchase levels or shortcuts to certain sections of the game. All this that I have explained is known as "in-game monetization" and it is something that is becoming more and more common among game developers.
Screenshot taken from my PC | Screenshot taken from my PC
Ok, so far so good, but does this have its advantages?
Advantages of Spending Money on Video Games
Yes, it has its advantages. For example, it can help you progress faster in a game. Because if you buy a special item or a level, you can save time, since you won't have to play to unlock it.
Screenshot taken from my phone | Screenshot taken from my phone
It can also help you upgrade your character or team to make it more competitive. This can be particularly useful in online multiplayer games, where players compete against each other.
Also, spending money on video games can be a fun way to show your support for game developers (mostly indie developers). If you enjoy a particular game, purchasing additional content is a great way to show the developer that you like their work and hope they continue to make quality games.
However, not everything is pretty, since it also brings its disadvantages.
The Cons of Spending Money on Video Games
While spending money on video games can have some advantages, there are also some cons. Because most AAA games cost money to buy, and spending more money on a game can make it hard to resist the temptation to spend too much (Example, spending money on a battle pass for a game, which you already bought and should have all of its content available to you). This can lead gamers to spend money on video games they can't afford, which is not good for their wallet.
In addition, spending money on video games can also create inequality among players. If some players have better characters or equipment because they have spent money on them, then players who have not spent money will not have a fair experience. This can lead to players feeling frustrated and discouraged, which can detract from the fun of the game. (In other words, the game automatically becomes a P2W game.)
Screenshot taken from my phone | Captura sacada de mi telefono
The Impact of Monetized Video Games
Monetized video games can also have an impact on how gamers experience games. Because if players feel that the game is designed to force them to spend money to progress, then they may lose interest in the game.
Screenshot offered by friend. | Screenshot offered by friend
This can be particularly true for online multiplayer games, where players must compete against each other. If players feel that the game is lopsided in favor of spending players, then they can stop playing.
Also, monetized video games can affect the way players view the game. If players see that the game is designed to maximize revenue above all else, then they may lose respect for the game. This can lead to players not taking the game seriously, which can affect the fun and quality of the game.
Screenshot taken from my PC | Screenshot taken from my PC
And with this in mind it goes to the next topic, which is:
Micro-predatory Transactions in Video Games
One of the most concerning issues with monetized video games is the use of predatory microtransactions. Those transactions where players are tricked into spending money on additional content. This can include things like deceptive offers, seemingly free offers that cost money, etc. These transactions can be particularly dangerous, since you cannot fully know what they are buying.
Screenshot offered by friend player of Free Fire. | Screenshot offered by a Free Fire player friend
Therefore, it is important that game developers are responsible when designing their monetization models. Game developers should try to provide a fun and exciting experience for players without abusing their microtransactions. Plus they need to be transparent about their monetization models so players know exactly what they're buying.
Because if not, it can be questioned if video games are actually becoming something very dangerous, that's right, video games of chance.
Are Video Games Becoming Gambling?
Another issue related to monetized video games is the issue of whether video games are turning into gambling. Because some video games allow players to purchase 'prize packs' that contain random content.
Screenshot taken from my PC | Screenshot taken from my PC
This can be particularly problematic if players purchase these packs thinking they contain useful content, only to find out that this is not the case. This can lead to players becoming frustrated and discouraged, which can be detrimental to the fun of the game.
With all this information in mind, you can come up with a question that can be useful for both gamers and game developers, which is, How could video games be monetized without ruining the player experience?
How To Monetize Video Games Without Ruining The Player Experience?
There are many ways to monetize a video game without having to resort to practices that are not against the consumer, one of them is, for example, the method that Fortnite uses to monetize, which is to sell the game as an experience in which you can play with many characters (Several of them collaborations) and that do not influence the gameplay in such a way that using such a character has an advantage or something similar. That is, to sell purely cosmetic objects that do not influence the playable experience.
Screenshot taken from my PC | Screenshot taken from my PC
Although it could be seen that it is something that only Fortnite would do, not really, because if the game is good enough (in such a way that it is not necessary to add dlc's, or season pass with in-game improvements, etc.) then this business model could be considered.
Another more viable option would be what Brawl Stars did with its recent update, in which it removed all traces of luck in the game that have to do with spending money.
Screenshot taken from my PC | Screenshot taken from my PC
This is due to a recent law given by the Ministry of Consumption of the Government of Spain in which the use of lootboxes in video games is prohibited to reduce gambling, so yes, games like Free Fire, Clash Royale and FIFA may not have public in Spain if they do not update their monetization method.
Conclusion
In conclusion, spending money on video games can be a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be an expensive way to spend time. Therefore, it is important for gamers to be responsible when spending their money and for game developers to be responsible when designing their monetization models.
Game developers should try to provide a fun and exciting experience for players without abusing their microtransactions. If game developers and gamers are responsible when spending money on video games, then video games can be a fun and safe way to spend time.
So yes, spending money on video games can be a controversial topic for some people, but if you really love video games, they're not taking valuable time out of your life and they're not eating into your wallet, spending money on something you're passionate about is fine, as long as you don't abuse it.
And you, do you think it's ok to spend money on video games? Have you ever done it to get an item, skin or something you liked? How was your experience? I read you and, without more to say, see you in the next post and happy new year to all of you!**
- Banners, dividers and subtitles made in canva by me
- Translated from DeepL
- Original and unpublished article first published in Hive
- Avatar (DigitalDicast) created on Picrew page, page to create OC (original characters) my avatar was created in Russa's avatar creator
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL
¡Muy buenas, amigos de Hive! ¡Les saluda DigitalDicast en un nuevo post para Hive Gaming!
¿Alguna vez te has preguntado si gastar dinero en videojuegos está bien o mal? La respuesta a esta pregunta no es tan sencilla como parece. Si bien los videojuegos pueden ser una forma divertida y emocionante de pasar el tiempo, también pueden ser una forma costosa de hacerlo…
En esta post, analizaremos los pros y los contras de gastar dinero en videojuegos para que así puedas tomar una decisión informada sobre si es el tipo de comportamiento que quieres tener. Así que, sin más que decir, ¡empecemos con el post!
¿Qué Significa Gastar Dinero en Videojuegos Y en Que Cosas Se Gasta?
Gastar dinero en videojuegos significa comprar contenido adicional para un juego. Ya sean cosas como artículos estéticos, mejoras de personajes, monedas, etc.
Screenshot taken from my PC | Captura sacada de mi PC
La mayoría de los juegos también permiten a los jugadores gastar dinero para comprar niveles o accesos directos a ciertas secciones del juego. Todo esto que he explicado se conoce como "monetización in-game" y es algo que cada vez es más común entre los desarrolladores de juegos.
Screenshot taken from my PC | Captura sacada de mi PC
Ok, hasta aquí todo bien, pero, ¿esto tiene sus ventajas?
Ventajas de Gastar Dinero en Videojuegos
Sí, tiene sus ventajas. Por ejemplo, puede ayudarte a progresar más rápido en un juego. Ya que si compras un objeto especial o un nivel, puedes ahorrar tiempo, pues no tendrás que jugar para desbloquearlo.
Screenshot taken from my phone | Captura sacada de mi telefono
También puede ayudarte a mejorar tu personaje o equipo para que sea más competitivo. Esto puede ser particularmente útil en los juegos multijugador en línea, donde los jugadores compiten entre sí.
Además, gastar dinero en videojuegos puede ser una forma divertida de mostrar tu apoyo a los desarrolladores de juegos (más que todo a las desarrolladoras indie). Si disfrutas de un juego en particular, comprar contenido adicional es una excelente forma de mostrarle al desarrollador que te gusta su trabajo y que esperas que sigan haciendo juegos de calidad.
Sin embargo, no todo es bonito, ya que también trae sus desventajas.
Los Contras de Gastar Dinero en Videojuegos
Aunque gastar dinero en videojuegos puede tener algunas ventajas, también hay algunos contras. Debido a que la mayoría de los juegos AAA cuestan dinero para comprar, y gastar más dinero en un juego puede hacer que sea difícil resistir la tentación de gastar demasiado (Ejemplo, gastar dinero en un pase de batalla de un juego, el cual ya compraste y debería tener todo su contenido disponible para ti). Esto puede llevar a los jugadores a gastar dinero en videojuegos que no pueden permitirse, lo cual no es bueno para su billetera.
Además, gastar dinero en videojuegos también puede crear una desigualdad entre los jugadores. Si algunos jugadores tienen mejores personajes o equipos debido a que han gastado dinero en ellos, entonces los jugadores que no han gastado dinero no tendrán una experiencia justa. Esto puede llevar a los jugadores a sentirse frustrados y desanimados, lo cual puede perjudicar la diversión del juego. (Es decir, el juego se convierte automáticamente en un P2W)
Screenshot taken from my phone | Captura sacada de mi telefono
El Impacto de Los Videojuegos Monetizados
verde.png (https://images.ecency.com/DQmWmeWjGkCLZYTxwReABcAvjqt4vgBToHS4NVVkweqWxsB/verde.png)
Los videojuegos monetizados también pueden tener un impacto en la forma en que los jugadores experimentan los juegos. Ya