86 replies to this topic

[poopenshire]

my opinion, which is biased.....

>$400 a year minimum.

[Plastic Guru]

Cathy, on 18 August 2016 - 06:49 AM, said:

Personally I think calling people, that spend money on something they enjoy, a whale, is insulting to whales.
Whales seem to be a term that people use, to talk down about those that keep a game going, that they play for free or used to and have now 'seen the light'
I'd worry more about the people that use the term rather than what makes people qualify for it

Well...I thought I was a whale until I read what some of you guys have spent ....I'm around $400 but that was because I just started 2 months ago and wanted a nice stable to pick from. I'm both a nostalgia whale and a collector whale. God forbid we get an Urby Hero mech pack caused i'd snap it up in a minute. I love my Urby' s and Locusts. I buy the mechs that look fun to play...haven't been disappointed in most of the mechs and the game since I started.

Since I'm a noob to MWO and apparently don't have the cynical mindset of a lot of y'all. The 'whale' definition on MWO is the ONLY one I've seen used as a derogatory for SUPPORTING an FTP game. Even the crazy console players on COD who bought upwards of $4k USD to get a pipe wrench in a supply drop were only called crazy....not ridiculed for paying for a game to stay alive. I mean, it's like some of you are hoping this game burns to the ground and only then would you be happy . That whole "if I don't enjoy it no one else can" mentality This is not as bad as WoW was...I was there for that whole flame sword debacle.

just my perspective since I'm new....

Edited by Plastic Guru, 18 August 2016 - 08:16 AM.

[RussianWolf]

Cathy, on 18 August 2016 - 06:49 AM, said:

Personally I think calling people, that spend money on something they enjoy, a whale, is insulting to whales.

People spend according to enjoyment, and disposable income.

I also like sushi, I neither feel cannibalistic, or nervous when I walk into a Japanese restaurant.

Whales seem to be a term that people use, to talk down about those that keep a game going, that they play for free or used to and have now 'seen the light'

I'd worry more about the people that use the term rather than what makes people qualify for it

Whales aren't fish.... Whales are safe in sushi restaurants.

[Ibrandul Mike]

and my page 4 thanks! Btw...

Whales... safe... in a japanese restaurant?
I wouldn't bet on that!

[dervishx5]

Ibrandul Mike, on 18 August 2016 - 08:18 AM, said:

and my page 4 thanks! Btw...

Whales... safe... in a japanese restaurant?
I wouldn't bet on that!

House Kurita hunted the spaces whales to extinction.

[Roughneck45]

So many degrees of it.

I compare it to a retail game, so lets say $60 up front and $30 for DLC. So if you've spent $90 or more I'd say you are a whale.

This game though, its diabolical. The prices are high compared to other FTP games and PGI knows their audience. Old IP + table top origins = older fan base, more disposable income, and used to overpaying for little pieces of pewter.

Edited by Roughneck45, 18 August 2016 - 08:36 AM.

[xengk]

invernomuto, on 18 August 2016 - 04:14 AM, said:

Thanks for the technical explanation. Now I am eager to know how the target ARPU is calculated by a game publisher

To keep calculation simple.
Say my operating cost(rent, salary, utilities, etc) is $10,000 a month, I have 1 game with 10,000 active player.
Ideally the ARPU is $1, if every player give me $1.
But in the real world only a small percentage of player actually spend in the game, for example 10% or 1,000 spenders.
To cover my operation, the 1,000 spender needs to foot the $10,000 bill; $10,000/ 1,000 spender = $10 ARPU.
So target ARPU is $10 to breakeven.
Someone who spend $50 can be consider a whale in this scenario.

Depending on game genre, sales/promotion, game content, and luck; the spender % and actual spending can fluctuate each month to result in revenue or lost.

Edited by xengk, 19 August 2016 - 10:28 AM.

[InspectorG]

3xnihilo, on 17 August 2016 - 05:45 PM, said:

Yeah I have more "invested" in this game, than any other game I have ever played, and probably more than most of the hobbies I've had, but I fall far short of these guys Thanks for keeping the servers running for us cheapskates!

Yeah. This is the most I've ever spent on a video game.
Table top wargames...I have some of the whales here beat. I should have invested in games workshop back in the nineties, woulda recouped some of my hard earned high school and college money, lol.

[dervishx5]

InspectorG, on 18 August 2016 - 09:12 AM, said:

Yeah. This is the most I've ever spent on a video game.
Table top wargames...I have some of the whales here beat. I should have invested in games workshop back in the nineties, woulda recouped some of my hard earned high school and college money, lol.

Do you play World of Warships?

[SamsungNinja]

I'd probably qualify as a whale. I stopped keeping track after I passed the $1k mark.

But, to answer the notion that it's more money than sense that makes a whale, I'd respectfully disagree. You see, I evaluate the value of each offering and what it proposes in terms of uniqueness, time saved, and its dollar value. If I'm constantly grinding to get the 'mechs I want, then it's a second job. If the cost-per-mech is a good deal over the amount of hours it would take me to grind it, then it starts to move into territory that's now more cost-effective for me to exchange USD for 'mechs, vs. time for 'mechs.

Additionally, I understand the perspectives of players who judge Mechwarrior Online for what it isn't. However, (and this is probably due to the fact that I work for a major publisher/developer), I'm really used to seeing that type of feedback from players. It's nothing unique to MWO and so it's something my brain just trends away from. I evaluate games based on what they are, not what I wish they were. From there, I see a developer that bought out its publisher because it was concerned for the game, and despite the missteps of the past, has made significant strides in both transparency and hitting deadlines.

I want to support that, so it adds a tangential value to purchasing stuff. It saves me time, I get a greater value from my time:money ratio from the bonuses they toss in, and I get to support a small dev studio that I see doing some things very right. Some people might call me a white knight for that, but I'm not blind to the fact that PGI isn't perfect. I see missteps and things I think they could do better, balance issues, and UX elements that could be handled better. I see these things both as a player and a professional. Nevertheless, I think PGI is doing a good job with Mechwarrior Online, on the whole.

So, that's why I choose to be a whale. I see a lot of connected value to my expenditures, and I totally understand if another player doesn't see (or actively refuses to see, as is sometimes the case) the value that I do. That's cool--and it's actually a praise point for PGI. The fact that the game doesn't force you to spend a dime is great. A non-paying, highly active player can earn mechbays, MC for more mechbays, colors, etc. The person who got me into MWO has spent very, very little on the game ($50ish over 3 years), and that was on the Stormcrow a-la-carte, because it's his favorite 'mech and he felt that he'd received enough value from the game to pay a close-to-retail price.

His stable of 'mechs is impressive, with several chassis in each weight class across both factions, and he doesn't seem to hurt for space or c-bills. He just plays a lot. To me, that's a sign that something's very right with the way PGI handles the dichotomy inherent to being F2P. He saves up his MC from events and uses it to pad his mechbays and pick up the occasional color or pattern.

While I may be the whale, he's a core player--and that's a group that's just as hard to be a part of, and shares in receiving a similar derision. I'm a wallet-warrior, with more money than brains, who can't control myself in the cash shop (or so I'm told), and he's a poop-socking no-lifer with too much time on his hands.

There are a lot of reasons why I'd consider him just as much of a whale as me. I might support PGI more with USD, but in a PVP game, players are the content, and he's providing that in spades with his playtime.

I tried to keep it coherent. Thanks for reading, if you made it this far.

I'll see you all on the battlefield.

Edited by SamsungNinja, 18 August 2016 - 09:40 AM.

[Ragnar Darkmane]

I am the anti-whale. I bought the $15 Phoenix tier (best deal in MWO ever considering all the extra loyalty stuff I got for free in the following years - I wear my Talon badge proudly) and that first IS bundle in the $15 Firestarter tier (primarily because I thought I would get a load of free loyalty rewards and mechs again). I also spent $30 on MC for a hero mech (Misery) and mech bays and a House Kurita Holo. I've been playing since 2013. I never spend more than $80 on any F2P game as a rule (having spent 75€ on World of Tanks and 70€ on Armored Warfare (Founder pack, now I have 250 days of free Premium and other stuff thrown after me that I'll never have to buy anything for that game again ^^) - the only other two F2P games I spent more than €5-10 on).

I kinda pity the whales, at some point buying stuff just becomes compulsory and you end up with tons of digital goodies you will never need/won't use that you just bought for "that awesome value!!!" and that will all be gone forever when the servers finally shut down or or there are only 4 players and a dog left as playerbase.

Though I have to say that I don't know any other F2P developer that is as good at milking its playerbase as PGI is with MWO. No one is quite as good when it comes to offer people unresistable deals "with value that you can't beat" (every mech bundle ever) and motivating people to buy stuff over and over and over again to qualify for their loyalty programs. Considering how small but loyal the playerbase is they do one hell of a job of making money ^^.

Edited by Ragnar Darkmane, 18 August 2016 - 12:26 PM.

[C E Dwyer]

Ragnar Darkmane, on 18 August 2016 - 12:14 PM, said:

I am the anti-whale. I bought the $15 Phoenix tier (best deal in MWO ever considering all the extra loyalty stuff I got for free in the following years - I wear my Talon badge proudly) and that first IS bundle in the $15 Firestarter tier (primarily because I thought I would get a load of free loyalty rewards and mechs again). I also spent $30 on MC for a hero mech (Misery) and mech bays and a House Kurita Holo. I've been playing since 2013. I never spend more than $80 on any F2P game as a rule (having spent 75€ on World of Tanks and 70€ on Armored Warfare (Founder pack, now I have 250 days of free Premium and other stuff thrown after me that I'll never have to buy anything for that game again ^^) - the only other two F2P games I spent more than €5-10 on).

I kinda pity the whales, at some point buying stuff just becomes compulsory and you end up with tons of digital goodies you will never need/won't use that you just bought for "that awesome value!!!" and that will all be gone forever when the servers finally shut down or or there are only 4 players and a dog left as playerbase.

Why feel sorry, if people buy virtual goods thinking the game will last forever, then yes they are fools, but most buy them willingly knowing that.

In this case though my support of the game, or in some people minds Stupid blind impulse buying, has given rise to a situation where many of them and most of my Favourites will last forever, though HBS's stand alone game.

[Dredger]

Just my opinion, but to me a "Whale" is a player who, when you average out their money spent over a year, breaks down to roughly $100 or more per month.

Only reason I hold that particular amount is due to the fact that most AAA titles cost $60-$70 USD. If a player averages more than the sum of one triple-A game a month, that suggests some serious disposable income.

Also, just a fun little fact; the term "Whale" is originally from games of a gambling nature:

Quote

A whale, also referred to as high roller, is a player who wagers massive amounts of money. The term isn't specific to a single game – whether the gambler in question is playing Slots, Poker, Roulette, or Blackjack, he or she can still be considered a whale as long as the bets are sufficiently large.

[Ted Wayz]

There are different sized whales, from pilot to blue whale. Both are whales.

Spent over $3000 up until the point the surprise buttsecs PGI pulled in December. They go back to their roots and I will buy every top tier pack that I have skipped over since then, true story. Until then nada and in the mean time will be satisfied buying mechs for cbills.

[slide]

If your wife says, "you have spent too much on that stupid game", you are probably a whale.

[Green Mamba]

Imperius, on 17 August 2016 - 04:33 PM, said:

I used to buy all top tier packs, I bought 2 gold mechs, and I'm at about $2500 spent on MWO and 4 or 5 mech packs behind on support because reasons already well known.

I'd say if you've spent about $500 a year

things like this make me sad,when if this was a retail game(like all the old MW titles I played) everyone pays their $60 to $70 and we would have our game,Of course they were around $30 back then

[ilikerice]

Dredger, on 18 August 2016 - 01:30 PM, said:

Just my opinion, but to me a "Whale" is a player who, when you average out their money spent over a year, breaks down to roughly $100 or more per month.

Only reason I hold that particular amount is due to the fact that most AAA titles cost $60-$70 USD. If a player averages more than the sum of one triple-A game a month, that suggests some serious disposable income.

Also, just a fun little fact; the term "Whale" is originally from games of a gambling nature:

What's sad is, there really isn't a AAA title comming out each month, and if a AAA title can barely hold you over for a month I wouldn't consider it a AAA title...

When I was in grade school I had N64, Goldeneye and various others lasted me for 5+ years

When I bought my PS2 I got FFXI, and I continue to spend time on that game even today.

Besides all of PC and console games I buy, I have continued to purchase items for my other games, MTG for example, and I spend about $2000 on that a year.

I don't know what amount of money I have spent on MWO, but if I have time I will go through it tonight, but honestly whenever I've thought of a person being a whale, it was because they were buying "excessively stupid sh*t"

Whether it be in your means or not, if thats how the person views you thats what they are going to call you. A bloated whale overflowing with excessivity (not sure if thats a real word but you know what it means)

Edit* multiple commas and spelling errors.

Edited by ilikerice, 18 August 2016 - 07:49 PM.

[xX PUG Xx]

slide, on 18 August 2016 - 06:38 PM, said:

If your wife says, "you have spent too much on that stupid game", you are probably a whale.

If my wife saw how much I'd spent on this all I would hear is the dull thud of a frying pan colliding with my thick heid

[ilikerice]

I went through and this is probably 95% accurate, I know I purchased a couple more things but It was like less than $100 so whatever.

*NOTE I rounded up the MC purchases up 5 cents to make the formatting and math easier for myself.

This is what I've purchased for myself.

$60 Elite Founder (If I could Still Upgrade I would)
$80 Overlord Package
$30 Saber Reinforcements
$10 Sarah's Jenner
$240 Masakari Collection
$120 Man-O-War Collection
$120 Gladiator Collection
$80 Resistance (Wrath)
$80 Resistance II
$18 Clan Reinforcements WHK-C
$21 Clan Reinforcements DWF-S
$10 CATAPHRACT - CTF-0XP
$80 Origins Highlander IIC
$40 Urbanmech Collector Pack
$100 25,000 MechWarrior Credits
$40 Marauder Collector Pack
$15 Marauder Hero
$40 Warhammer Collector Pack
$15 Warhammer Hero
$40 Rifleman Collector Pack
$15 Rifleman Hero
$40 Archer Collector Pack
$15 Archer Hero
$40 Kodiak Collector Pack
$15 Kodiak Hero
$15 Kodiak Reinforcements
$85 PhoenixHawk Ultimate Pack
$70 Viper Ultimate Pack
$10 Tournament Support Pack
$70 Cyclops Ultimate Pack
$70 NightGyr Ultimate Pack
$70 Huntsman Ultimate Pack
$70 Linebacker Ultimate Pack
$70 MarauderIIC Ultimate Pack
$100 25,000 MechWarrior Credits

$2294 Total

This is what I've purchased and given away in the forums.


$400 CATAPHRACT - CTF-0XP (40)
$10 LOCUST - LCT-3V (5)
$27 GRIFFIN - GRF-2N (3)
$15 3,000 MechWarrior Credits
$20 Resistance II Wolfhound
$40 Origins Jenner IIC Pack (2)
$22 Hunchback Mastery Pack
$33 Cataphract Mastery Pack
$80 Origins Highlander IIC
$40 Urbanmech Collector Pack
$20 Rifleman Standard Pack
$100 Warhammer Standard Pack (5)
$40 Marauder Standard Pack (2)
$20 Archer Standard Pack
$480 PhoenixHawk Standard Pack (24)
$75 PhoenixHawk Hero (5)
$15 PhoenixHawk Reinforcements
$15 Kodiak Hero
$15 Kodiak Reinforcements
$40 Viper Standard Pack (2)
$20 NightGyr Standard Pack
$80 MarauderIIC Standard Pack (4)

$1607 Total (Crap, I could have totally repaired the AC in my car by now)

[Xetelian]

I'm in the anything above $100 is at the very least the start of whale territory for a free MMO crowd

I've put a few hundred into this game between inception and now

If I'm not a whale then I'm at-least a porpoise or tuna

I have friends that have spent much more than I have but hardly any of them play for various reasons mostly to do with other interesting games to play, I've played with people who have gold mechs but not IRL friends with anyone who has one, even my richest friends wouldn't put up that much for a skin, even if in total they've spent well over $500

Most wont even be logging in to see their new loyalty mechs


I just wish mechs were less expensive, this newer mech pack release standard is still too much when you are getting anything but a say a Heavy or Assault

$20 for 3 Heavies or Assaults? Hell yeah
$20 for an urbie? Hell naw