How many golden whales are out there?

davey1107 · October 2017

In-game purchases of any type (so basically the entire crown store) are called “micro transactions” in the industry. MTs are relatively new. They are immensely profitable (Grand Theft Auto racked up $500 million in MTs off one game)

However, the customer feedback metrics on MTs are awful. Sales companies look at something called the regret ratio on products...what percent of customers feel the item was priced over its value and regret making the purchase? Stock analysts consider a 5% regret ratio to be a “red alert.” If 5% of customers think the imac they bought was a bad deal, analysts will start harping on Apple to reform. (In fairness, Apple has always maintained a ration under 0.05%).

Micro transactions in 2016 had a regret ratio of 52%. This is HORRIBLE. it means customers largely feel they are being ripped off by game companies. That’s not sustainable. What will ultimately happen is that prices need to fall, or offerings get better. What will likely be the catalyst for this...as it has in other industries...is that eventually a company will bank on MTs and customers will utterly reject the game, creating a massive flop. If this is severe enough to bankrupt or imperil the company...like a movie flop can bankrupt a studio...then other game companies will shape up.

In short, your observations are not misplaced. Actual data in the industry shows that customers feel the pricing is too high and that companies are ripping them off.

CaffeinatedMayhem · October 2017

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Seriously doubt that....not to be rude or short but do you own or buy real art?
$400 - $1000 is realistic for nice poster size originals done on certain textures with the frame included.

Digital items......$1-$5 each at best.

1k Crowns - $10.
Large Houses in ESO: 8-15k Crowns.

And no, I don't buy real art, I can't afford it. I play video games to feel rich, as I am most definitly not IRL. But now ZOS is just throwing it in our faces, that you must be rich IRLto do anything besides grind.

Yes yes I hear everyone "learn to liek grind! Learn to live without! *** you!" Yeah, I do that in the real world, this is a fantasy where I own 25 homes, not rent an apartment too small to have a desk to put a computer on.

Megabear · October 2017

Lyserus wrote: »

Mundue stone furniture cost 4k crown....EACH.
So each of them worth 2 dlc??

What kind of ppl are this rich to ignore the label and buy all those?? How many golden whales are out there to keep ZOS gives such pricing?

13 Mundus stones * 4K Crown = 52000 Crown
$39.99 per 5500 Crown
$23.99 per 5500 Crown during sale

$378.09 for all 13 Mundus stones w/ Crown not purchased during sale.
$226.81 for all 13 Mundus stones w/ Crown purchased during sale.

It's very expensive to be sure, but most definitely affordable for an average working individual. It's also a complete waste of money for most people and encourages bad development behavior.

Megabear · October 2017

geonsocal wrote: »

i wish someone would call me a golden whale...

You're a golden whale. Can I have some money.

Cpt_Teemo · October 2017

Only if people were to stop buying them at current prices they'll be forced to lower the prices dang.

MilwaukeeScott · October 2017

Lyserus wrote: »

Didn't know golden whale is rude tho, just some way to address the rich ppl

You do that with the words Sir and Ma'am

Acrolas · October 2017

If you're only playing one game, you're probably willing to spend a bit more money on it. If that one game is your overwhelmingly favorite entertainment, you're probably going to spend a lot more.

So those unique furnishings could have more entertainment value to that person than, say, a stack of $10 Steam games that get played through once and never touched again. Or a Lootcrate subscription. Or a MoviePass. Or a pub crawl.

I just like to remind people to keep in mind that when the server's gone the items are gone. As much as we like to think that we'll recall all the great memories we had when that happens, from personal experience the first thing you think is, *** my stuff is gone. And it's a weird feeling even if you technically did get more than your money's worth. It's not bashing people for spending. It's just a reflection on how digital purchasing is still a fairly new way of doing business.

Nestor · October 2017

geonsocal wrote: »

i wish someone would call me a golden whale...

I wish someone would give me the money so I can be a Golden Whale.....

Zypheran · October 2017

ClockworkCityBugs wrote: »

silvermistktralasub17_ESO wrote: »

it might be noted that our guild actually set up a paypal link on the guild website so that guild-members could donate toward the mundus stones we have. We now have all of those, as well as all of the tables (including the newest ones) and the transmutation station. But it was a guild effort, rather than a single person's effort. that's the best way to do things like this.

its against the rules, to post links for real money donations in game
i will report your guild

Before you report this person out of what I can only assume is pure spite, read what they said... the link for PayPal donations was on their "guild website". There was no mention of any links in game.
Plenty of people make real life money through donations on external websites... build a bridge!

Asardes · October 2017

Warrior - close to Voljar Meadery Wayshrine in Eastmarch
Apprentice - close to Dune Wayshrine in Reaper's March
Atronach - close to Hoarfrost Dawns in Rivensipire
Serpent - close to Loriasel Wayshrine in Shadowfen
Mage - close to the Soulshriven Wayshrine in Stormhaven

So why buy one?

Zypheran · October 2017

Asardes wrote: »

Warrior - close to Voljar Meadery Wayshrine in Eastmarch
Apprentice - close to Dune Wayshrine in Reaper's March
Atronach - close to Hoarfrost Dawns in Rivensipire
Serpent - close to Loriasel Wayshrine in Shadowfen
Mage - close to the Soulshriven Wayshrine in Stormhaven

So why buy one?

By that logic (and it is indeed logic) all crown store items are essentially cosmetic paraphernalia with no need to buy. Yet.....
Never underestimate the human desire to display one's plumage!!

Stormshaper · October 2017

Turelus wrote: »

Whales is a term used by the gaming industries sleaziest to describe players who spend a lot of money on their games.

Cadbury wrote: »

-shrug- I've only heard the term "whale" used. Not gold, silver, whatever. Maybe it's because I'm in the U.S.

The term 'whale' (not polite) is old, older than online gaming, older even than computer gaming itself. It started in the gambling industry (probably Las Vegas) and was borrowed by the gaming industry (it seems to apply perfectly really). In gambling, it's always been used as slang by the gambling houses to describe and categorize 'high rollers' (polite term).

kargen27 · October 2017

MasterSpatula wrote: »

I don't disagree that the Elk was stupid expensive. I'm just saying that even at $40 or so, they're going to have to sell.... oh, maybe 8 or so, before they make a profit.

After that, it's pure profit, though.

Well sure but then they gotta turn around and use that profit to pay bills.

CavalryPK · October 2017

Turelus wrote: »

Lyserus wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

Lyserus wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

I love how you insult everyone you want to answer your question.

hmm I'm not insulting those buyers, I just admire their wealth

Generally calling people "golden whales" isn't a nice way of addressing someone.

Also your thread seems to be aimed at finding out who the people are that pay prices you don't like and thus keeping them high by buying them, correct me if I am wrong but that's the tone/feeling I got from its wording.

hmmm english is not my first language so...

Try read my thread with a shocking voice, imagine the emotion I have when I discover the price of mundus stones, you will have a closer feeling

Didn't know golden whale is rude tho, just some way to address the rich ppl

Whales is a term used by the gaming industries sleaziest to describe players who spend a lot of money on their games.
The terms used a whales, dolphins and minnows and none of them are meant with affection for their players.

Apologies for my comments then as you were not aware, but yeah calling someone a golden whale is not a great way to ask an honest question about their spending habits.

Engrish is not my furst language too. When I read the term "Gold Whale" I literally thought he was referring to a big ars gold fish...

Cadbury · October 2017

Stormshaper wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

Whales is a term used by the gaming industries sleaziest to describe players who spend a lot of money on their games.

Cadbury wrote: »

-shrug- I've only heard the term "whale" used. Not gold, silver, whatever. Maybe it's because I'm in the U.S.

The term 'whale' (not polite) is old, older than online gaming, older even than computer gaming itself. It started in the gambling industry (probably Las Vegas) and was borrowed by the gaming industry (it seems to apply perfectly really). In gambling, it's always been used as slang by the gambling houses to describe and categorize 'high rollers' (polite term).

The fact remains that the correct term is "whale". Not "golden whale"

stevepdodson_ESO888 · October 2017

Feric51 wrote: »

PSA - If your wife/girlfriend goes spray tanning, do not refer to her as a "golden whale" unless you have a comfortable couch.

...unless she comes from Liverpool or Newcastle (UK), in which case she will take it as a complement

Acrolas · October 2017

Zypheran wrote: »

Before you report this person out of what I can only assume is pure spite, read what they said... the link for PayPal donations was on their "guild website". There was no mention of any links in game.
Plenty of people make real life money through donations on external websites... build a bridge!

This one's a bit tricky. Sending money to an account via PayPal Friends & Family (F&F) is fine here, as it's not being used for a transaction of tangible goods.

The PayPal donate button, however, was never intended for personal income. It's intended for verified nonprofits who are fundraising for a declared cause. It's probably a key reason why for-profit sites like Patreon emerged.

I wouldn't report them, but it's a beneficial distinction for individuals to make. PayPal reserves the right to investigate donations and they expect explanations if you make $10k or more from it. So I'd skip the Donate button entirely and just go guild gifts through F&F. For the people giving, it also makes the clear distinction that you're paying a person instead of the guild. And unlike a traditional donation, it's not tax deductible for the giver and it's taxable income for the receiver.

Megabear · October 2017

Asardes wrote: »

Warrior - close to Voljar Meadery Wayshrine in Eastmarch
Apprentice - close to Dune Wayshrine in Reaper's March
Atronach - close to Hoarfrost Dawns in Rivensipire
Serpent - close to Loriasel Wayshrine in Shadowfen
Mage - close to the Soulshriven Wayshrine in Stormhaven

So why buy one?

To show off purposes.

FrancisCrawford · October 2017

geonsocal wrote: »

FrancisCrawford wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

Lyserus wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

Lyserus wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

I love how you insult everyone you want to answer your question.

hmm I'm not insulting those buyers, I just admire their wealth

Generally calling people "golden whales" isn't a nice way of addressing someone.

Also your thread seems to be aimed at finding out who the people are that pay prices you don't like and thus keeping them high by buying them, correct me if I am wrong but that's the tone/feeling I got from its wording.

hmmm english is not my first language so...

Try read my thread with a shocking voice, imagine the emotion I have when I discover the price of mundus stones, you will have a closer feeling

Didn't know golden whale is rude tho, just some way to address the rich ppl

Whales is a term used by the gaming industries sleaziest to describe players who spend a lot of money on their games.
The terms used a whales, dolphins and minnows and none of them are meant with affection for their players.

Apologies for my comments then as you were not aware, but yeah calling someone a golden whale is not a great way to ask an honest question about their spending habits.

I don't wholly agree.

The term "whale" probably started in the casino industry. It has been adopted by the computer/mobile gaming industry. It describes customers from whom a lot of money can be extracted. The term may be fundamentally cynical, but beyond that it's neither insulting nor complementary.

That said, I do have a video supportive of your viewpoint -- Bob Fosse at his harshest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG3VfKlfDEk

man, what are you trying to do @FrancisCrawford - class up the joint

When I was a kid, I had a next-door neighbor who danced for Fosse. I think she's in that scene, although I don't recognize her clearly.

That said, there's an homage to that scene that's perhaps more relevant to ESO, since it's about a reptilian character rather than an airline:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7aShcmEksw

Stormshaper · October 2017

Cadbury wrote: »

-shrug- I've only heard the term "whale" used. Not gold, silver, whatever. Maybe it's because I'm in the U.S.
The fact remains that the correct term is "whale". Not "golden whale"

Indeed, this undisputed fact remains undisputed.

Turelus · October 2017

Gargath wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

Whales is a term used by the gaming industries sleaziest to describe players who spend a lot of money on their games.
The terms used a whales, dolphins and minnows and none of them are meant with affection for their players.

Apologies for my comments then as you were not aware, but yeah calling someone a golden whale is not a great way to ask an honest question about their spending habits.

Please mr Ambassador give a better examples how to describe players who spend a lot of money on microtransactions in their games . I also was thinking about these only as golden whales, thought from my point of view (English 2-nd language too) the meaning is much more cute and accurate than rude in any way. Maybe you are just a bit too sensitive .

Also IMHO 4k crowns for a single furniture is simply meeh. 9k crowns for 6 months subscription I got, means I could afford 2 furnitures .

@Gargath call them players or community members. Just because they're spending money doesn't make them any less of a player of community member than you or I. As an example this thread could simply have been "How Many People Purchased Mundas Stones?"

It's not our place to judge others on how they spend their money just because we don't like how the gaming industry exploits them. If you're unhappy with the games pricing then your beef is with those setting the prices, not those buying them.