Do Cash Shops Imbalance Games?
We all know what a cash shop is in an MMORPG and I’m sure many of us have been tempted to or made a purchase in the past (I know I have); but with just a fraction of players actually spending money, do cash shops imbalance games? My answer: sometimes. There’s certainly a divide between those that spend money and those that don’t, but that doesn’t necessarily mean things are at all unfair or imbalanced. After all, when someone in MapleStory purchases a cool ‘outfit’ for themselves in the game’s cash shop which only affects their appearance, does that really place anyone else at a disadvantage? Certainly not. How about if that same someone purchases and uses a 2X EXP scroll in MapleStory? Does that make things imbalanced? Yes. Does it matter? No. The way I see it is simple. If someone else is leveling faster than I am, it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t affect me. Whether that person leveled 2x, 5x, or 50x faster than myself it just doesn’t mean anything to me because it doesn’t affect me. Heck, if anything, it benefits me when someone else spends money in a game’s cash shop because it ensures that the game I’m playing will not shut down. So when do cash shops really imbalance a game? In an MMO.
Maplestory – That Guy’s Haircut is Cooler than Mine :[
Unlike MMORPGs, MMOs pit players against each other. So, naturally, when one player benefits it adversely effects someone else. This is especially true for MMO shooters like Combat Arms and GunZ because cash shop items in these games are usually powerful weapons and accessories. In this case, cash shop items can create enormous imbalances that actually affect other players. Cash shops create imbalances in racing MMOs like Project Torque and Project Powder as well, because gamers who spend cash end up with gear that gives them a clear edge over users who don't pay. There's nothing wrong with buying cash shop items; if people didn't spend money on these games, they wouldn't exist. I just feel that game developers/publishers should try and create a system that benefits users who spend money without directly hurting those that don't. I think the folks behind Gunbound did an excellent job preventing cash shop items from imbalancing their game. In Gunbound, the game has both an 'avatar on' and 'avatar off' channel which essentially means 'items on' or 'items off'. Players could decide whether they wanted all items to be enabled or disabled - both cash shop and regular. This obviously wouldn't work in some MMOFPS games, but it worked well in Gunbound.
Combat Arms – NX Cash = Skill?
Well guys, what do you think? Is there even a problem that needs to be addressed? Do cash shop items imbalance things? Post your comments below!
By Omer Altay
February 8, 2010
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As someone who plays many MMO’s for many years and has only used a cash shop a few times. I would say that it’s good in some games but can hurt others. Maple Story is a great example of how a good balanced cash shop should work. They have a few items in there that effect stats instead of appearance, but almost no one would be offended if they used those.
Then there are games that should be balanced a bit. I’ll use my own example, Exteel. Exteel is a really fun game, with addictive gameplay, my friend and I use to play it a couple hours a day, and then we started to notice that it was getting a lot harder, and that people with Cash Shop items would beat us about 9 out of 10 time. A player with little to no skill in a game should not be able to win against 2 semi good players in 2v1. I’m not to worried about the cash shop balance in games like combat arms, because if I kill you then I get the gun you spent $3 on.
All and all some games need balance in there cash shop, or at least have a separate room for PVP so that people who use cash shop items fight against each other (maybe with something like a 5% exp bonus in the room). While those who can’t or don’t spend money on “free” 2 play games, can still enjoy playing with other people.
February 8, 2010
#1
I totally agree that it does, but thats what you get for playing a free MMO. You get what you pay.
February 8, 2010
#2
I think this “cash shops” are weird and that they don’t need to exist,because there are players who never used the cash shop and they got that level through “hard work” but they are beaten by players who have a smaller level but who used the cash shop for weapons ,clothes or pets.
February 8, 2010
#3
yeah, but, the thing is, some people can’t pay for pay to play games or for items at cash shops, that’s why the thing gets harder
February 8, 2010
#4
In PVP strong games it does. It can be balanced by having a strong PVE in the same game.
February 8, 2010
#5
it dose not have to be addressed.
but it is a problem in some games or in any game where you can buy something from a cash shop and normal item can never compare to it then yes it probably should be addressed it will make some players quit but for me i dont really care il play the game if i enjoy it
February 8, 2010
#6
yeah, it’s a problem, but not for all f2p games. Allods online have low imbalance. All shop items you can drop from a mobs.
February 10, 2010
#7
Personally, I’d like to see ALL cash shop items OBTAINABLE in game without spending money. The cash shop should make things easier, but it shouldn’t be forced down people’s throats.
February 12, 2010
#8
definatly, if the stuff in cash shop dropped in the game too i would definatly play a lot more, but when u have to spend 3 gold/dollars to get bigger bag space or health and spirit batteries just so u can play it is retarded…and a 10 dollar card gets u 10,000 zen…which gives u only 10 gold in the cash shop….. i dont want to spend 159 dollars on a in game mount, of $6.50 on a outfit. 2-4 dollars for health or spirt. i also do not want to by bigger bag ($3), and stash space($3)…and forget about the pet provisions bag….6 dollars!!
February 9, 2010
#9
It depends on the game in question and what exactly is offered. Anarchy Online, while not totally F2P, has from what I’ve seen, one of the better cash shop set ups. Their cash shop consists of vehicles(they function pretty much the same as the ones buyable for in game money, the only thing even close to an advantage is the requirements to use them are the same as the lowest level in game vehicles, which are pretty dang hard to find) and stuff that was formerly pre order only, but is just for show.
On the other hand, you have ones like Ragnarok Online(also not quite F2P). While some of their cash shop equipment is just for show, they also have stuff that’s better than the normal in game kind(better stats, usable by more classes, etc), items that boost exp rates, even for quests(which give normal exp when they do increased exp events mind you) and other stuff that ruins the game balance.
February 10, 2010
#10
I can’t say cash shops don’t effect MMORPGs akin to the way they effect other MMOs, especially after my experience with playing a PvP-oriented Realm-VS-Realm MMORPG like Shaiya. Cash items clearly spelled the difference between a large majority of the top PvPers and the ‘regular’ players (in said game). The most feared juggernaut PvPers and guilds were almost always cash shop abusers. Such players have proven more than once that using the right cash items in combination could and would make you practically invincible. Shaiya, in specific, had one of the MOST horrible ideas for a best-selling cash item — a potion that gave the player 95% critical hit success rate for up to three hours; essentially a super steroid that completely negated the Luck-based character stat builds. AND it could be used both in PvE and PvP with absolutely no limitations, which eventually led to two main things:
- in PvP, ridiculous one to three hit kills made possible only by 95% crit rate potions
- in PvP, daily castle/fortress camping by near-invincible teams from the opposing side
- in PvE, a mass increase in kill-stealing due to the equally massive spawn times to obtain decent equipment, resulting in the uncooperative nature of the communities on both sides; essentially making the game a battle between not only opposing forces, but also your own allies — then in turn, destroying any hope of cooperative & organized large-scale PvP in the PvP zones.
Basically, Shaiya is a free-to-play game with purchasable hacks of every variety. The core gameplay was actually quite enjoyable, but the ludicrously huge chasm between ‘premium’ and ‘regular’ players was far, far too large.
Bottom line? MMORPGs (and other MMOs too) that are based heavily in PvP should NOT supply items that grant ludicrous power boosts and create massive divides between paying and non-paying players. We understand that the servers don’t fund themselves, but that’s absolutely no excuse to warrant the sales of in-game hacks.
February 10, 2010
#11
Excellent point. I was thinking about how cash shops affected PvP heavy MMORPGs when I wrote the editorial and you’re spot on. Cash shops can destroy balance PvP in PvP heavy MMORPGs.
February 11, 2010
#12
For the most part, the only truth behind cash shops are so that a game is free other wise how else would the company get any income from it? If you don’t like the idea of the cash shop there are games with out them but those games are pay to play, so other wise basically learn to live with a disadvantage or pay to play a pay to play game only.
February 12, 2010
#13
lol u spend less on a pay to play then u do with a “free game ” with a cash shop
February 11, 2010
#14
I think that the DDO cash shop set up is so far one of the best I have seen, they make it possible to earn Turbine points (the cash shop currency) in game.
February 11, 2010
#15
Anytime any item bought causes or is used to be “better” “prettier” of even “faster” It obviously has an effect. We all know why the games have cash shops or even refuse to stop farming/resale sights. Its a simple matter of profit. Allowing such practices online simply causes social devide…period. And to that end why would anyone yearn to complicate social interaction? Posting only pro cash shop views like this sight makes one wonder in some kind of kickback happening here?
Envy caused from simply looks to down right uber stats is still purposely causing devision.You all know this..remember we are only human!
February 13, 2010
#16
Then you have games like conquer online. That has a game item shop and with the advent of Talismans the Fan and the Star Tower., A level 100 player can totally destroy a level 130 player with full sockets and dragon gems. Which has extremely imbalanced the game. Frankly isn’t fair to those of us who got our equipment and items through hours of grinding. Dont get me wrong I dont mind in game items mall. I just dont think that the items offered should be game breakers. Bonus xp etc aren’t bad things. It’s the items that make a low level player God at pvp that should never ever be offered.
June 17, 2010
#17
I don’t think you saw that cash items like pets can be used in avatar off in gunbound unless they changed that recently?
June 17, 2010
#18
Oh and there is PvP in Maplestory. It’s MC1 and MC2. Another area would be in kill stealing and cash shop abusers using power over noobs or people who are just as skilled, but are overpowered by other player who pays to play. (Exp effects alot more than you think) Boss ksing is big in maplestory as well. Please tell me you have played past 50 or 70…
June 3, 2011
#19
The key would be that the cash shops only sell aestethic items like League of Legends were you can buy skins for your champions. And not like Perfect World (I reached level50 and suddenly leave it) cause it forces the player to use cash shop (the profesions are almost imposible to raise without using cash cause the items you need to farm drop from lower level mobs than your profesion level, and in PF as greater the level difference lower is the item drop rate so…. ure almost forced to cash shop, yeh dirty).
Sorry for my broken english ^^
February 1, 2012
#20
I completely agree with the people that like the idea that games like LoL are doing….League of Legends gives u the option to either buy the players through in game currency or through riot points…it also give u the option to buy skins which can only be purchased from riot points but skins are only cosmetic which doesn’t affect me….but annually they give out free riot points for people who play fair and u can easily buy skin through that
April 22, 2012
#21
99% of games these days are going for cash shops. The developers are getting greedy and it shows. So many games went free to play because they pray on peoples addictions to gambling and competitiveness. If a cash shop has any item that gives them a stat boost that can make them stronger than a person who doesn’t have that item it is effectively a pay 2 win game and that sucks. Hence why people are losing interest. It is clear they don’t care if they make a good game they only want to make money and that is why indie games are becoming the peoples choice just look at what fail diablo 3 is but Torchlight 2 is everything we want.