So I've browsing my Steam inventory and I notice I have DotA 2 items that are sell-able. Since I never play DotA, I figure why not make a tiny amount of money off shit that's just gonna sit in my profile. And then when selling an item, I notice this:

People have payed $30+ for a goddamn LOADING SCREEN.

A couple years ago, you could sell a single piece of gear in Diablo 3 for $250. If people have money, they will find a way to spend it.

As you can see that's the only one sold, it's very likely that was used as a way of transferring funds between accounts as opposed to actually spending $30 on it.

CSGO knives though? Yeah the average price of those is $250 and some can go for a grand plus if the pattern is nice.

...you have no reference to judge those who do?

Your sound was muted because you were watching porn and didn't want anyone to hear it. Just admit it, we've all been there. I haven't actually, but everyone else has, especially you.

I think the part where they removed it for "lore reasons" is WAYYYY more insane than people paying several hundred dollars for the items.

If you check almost any item on the steam market there are a few sold for overpriced amounts, it's people transferring money or people paying for unmarketable items in trades.

Not surprising, everybody knows the steam marketplace is used for money laundering. [citation needed]

The point you're missing is that it isn't about the item being a loading screen, a hat or whatever. People are selling these items back and forth as commodities - with prices based on the perceived rarity of the particular item. It's just a money-making exercise and that isn't even a particularly crazy example of a dota item's value. There are couriers in the game worth anything from $10-40k.

The example loading screen you provided is extremely likely to be something nefarious rather than a legitimate representation of the market. That thing sells for like 3 cents normally, so I have to assume that it's some sort of money laundering deal or transferral of funds between multiple accounts.

It doesn't need to be Dota 2 for this to happen. If it was $30 all the time, then fair enough, they're insane but this is a spike which is likely a transfer of funds. I've seen the trading cards sell for even more than that so it's pretty obvious what's going on.

I'm kinda with you on this one. I feel like unless you're actually in direct control, you're rarely in a position to give a shit about what any hero is wearing. That and I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of DotA players don't give a shit about DotA's lore.

This. You see it happen with a bunch of CS:GO items as well. Some crap skin that usually sells for 3 or 4 cents will have random occurrences of it selling for orders of magnitude more. It's just a way of transferring money between accounts.

@joshwent: I wouldn't consider this judging--it's a legitimate question we all should ask; as a friend of a DotA addict, I am concerned for his mental wellness.

short answer: probably

but hey we all have passions we probably spend too much on.

That's not really a reason to judge is it? You know 1 guy who you claim is addicted to the game, doesn't mean the other 10 million are too.

@alexw00d: I'm not judging, I have no reason to judge anybody--I could care as much for DotA as I could for the next Prime Minister of South Africa. I'm saying it's valid to ask what effects DotA has on the human mind, which I think would be a fascinating study. Much more than the game, surely. :P

Edit: ask what*

In which case I agree with you, although I am somewhat interested in global politics lol. This game brings out the absolute arsehole in people :(

Nothing remotely positive could possibly come from a thread like this. Come on.