Microtransactions - 7/1/15

First of all I'll say that my wrists are feeling significantly better. I went to the doctor and he essentially told me to chill the hell out with the typing and clicking which I have done quite a lot. My standing desk is going fantastically and I already feel fitter after using it. I'm going to keep it for as long as I can. I still need to keep icing my wrist and doing stretches every day, for the rest of my life even, but for now the pain is mainly gone, (mainly,) and I feel a lot better.

Buying keys to spin the wheel. (Jagex's Runescape)

So today I've decided to talk about micro transactions in games. I started thinking about it when I put in a few dollars on Runescape to get some "tickets" that you use to spin a wheel and get lucky in items and sometimes experience. Honestly, my belief is that games should NOT have micro transactions for anything that is not purely cosmetic. If this is the case, then why am I now spending money on micro transactions that aren't cosmetic? Is this okay? Obviously it is hypocritical but why would I do that.

Click a box! Not that it makes a difference... (Jagex's Runescape)

Well, after contemplating it for a while, it's simply because I feel like I am disadvantaging myself for not using micro transactions. It is simply easier to throw 20 dollars at the screen and watch my character benefit, as opposed to spending 10 hours earning whatever it is, particularly because most other players are doing it this way as well.

Isn't it fair if they're also doing it? Maybe. But that still doesn't make it okay. But I think this is besides the point, I don't think games should even have the option. Such dilemmas shouldn't exist in your players minds because if that is the most of their worries then it comes down to players with more money being the more well-off players. Do you really want an in-game economy based off of the real life economy, where people who are rich in real life are also rich in-game? I think that is fucked up. Excuse my language.

My clue scroll, treasure trail reward. (Jagex's Runescape)

In other news, last night I did a treasure trail and I received a fury amulet (t) which is worth 8 million gp which is probably the largest reward I've ever received from a treasure trail, so I'm pretty stoked about that. I went to bed with a grin on my face. I also beat the Regicide and Roving Elves quest which I had put off for far too long.

Rewards for Regicide. (Jagex's Runescape)

That felt good.

Thanks for reading!