Back in July, MOP reader Neowolf made an insightful comment about excessive monetization exploitation and MMO whaling – that is, MMOs targeting big-spenders with absurdly priced cash-shop items or tiers – and I think it’s worth some expanded discussion.
“I wonder to what extent whales, once they’ve been harpooned in one game, become resistant to being exploited again in a different game. I know this sort of effect has deadened me to many of the exploitative design elements of various MMOs, even if I’ve never been a whale.”
I wonder this too because I feel exactly as Neowolf does. The longer I play and cover MMOs, the more I see the tricks and scams, and the more I just feel like it’s so gross that I don’t want any part of those games or studios. I will never say we are immune to the tricks, and I’ll never be rich enough to be a whale, but certainly repeated exposure to the whole situation has made me more and more aware of the ongoing exploitation and what is surely an unsustainable model for both the business and the big fish.
Are you inured to MMO whaling and exploitative monetization? Are you OK with it, or are you just getting ever better at dodging it? And if you’ve ever been a whale yourself, does a whaling experience in one game make you more or less likely to be harpooned in the next?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
