As the gaming industry has progressed, it has looked for new ways to monetize its products. One of the ways this has been achieved is through microtransactions, which have received a mixed response from players. While some players don’t mind a few unobtrusive microtransactions, others see them as a symptom of corporate greed. Many players have shied away from microtransactions, but few have fully embraced them and are willing to spend huge amounts of money on them.
Players who splurge on in-game purchases are sometimes referred to as whales and have a somewhat controversial reputation. Some may pity whales and see them as exploited victims, although others argue that whales are bad sports that use money instead of skill, thus ruining the fun for everyone. Opinions about whales are divided, but as long as they are a reliable source of money, developers will continue to hunt them.
What Are Whales?
Microtransactions have been commonplace in games for some time now, and when implemented properly, they can benefit developers and players alike. Through microtransactions, players can purchase additional optional items to make their character, their vehicles or weapons stand out or to gain additional benefits. Developers can use microtransactions to support free-to-play games and to bring new content to games. Provided microtransactions aren’t too expensive or too invasive, they can exist quite harmoniously alongside content unlocked through regular gameplay.
When games attract a large audience, most gamers will not buy DLC no matter how attractive it is. However, there is a small percentage who will become so immersed in the game, that they will be willing to spend large sums of money for in-game currency, whether it is to splurge on cosmetics or to acquire perks that put them at a competitive advantage. Read also : Quarry proves that you can never predict the future of video games. Such players are called whales, and while they may be in the minority of any given player base, they are typically the players that provide developers with the majority of their profits. According to researchers, the top ten percent of players can account for as much as fifty percent of total revenue from in-app purchases.
What Games Have Whales?
Whales have been prevalent in gacha video games, which are games that entice players to spend in-game currency to obtain random in-game items. Games, especially mobile games, that use the gacha model grew in popularity in the 2010s before the rest of the world joined the craze. Famous examples of gacha games include Genshin Impact, Arknights, and Guardian Tales.
Despite the popularity of gacha games, they have been criticized, with many claiming that they are addictive and lure children into gambling habits. While some are grateful for whales in free-to-play games, believing that they leave things free for other players, others argue that whales are addicts who are being exploited. See the article : 5 Strongest Versions Of Loki In Video Games, Ranked. Furthermore, others claim that whales are ruining other people’s games by buying upgrades and perks that others work hard for. It can be impossible to follow the whales through the regular game when they can simply buy all the upgrades they need.
Whales aren’t limited to gacha games, and big spenders can be found in games like Grand Theft Auto: Online, Candy Crush Saga, and FIFA Mobile, where players have been known to spend thousands on in-game purchases. Despite the popularity of microtransactions and the profitability of whales, there were some titles, such as Hogwarts Legacy, that consciously avoided including any microtransactions. So while whales seem to have a permanent place in gaming, the gaming landscape remains large enough to accommodate all types of creators and players.
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