jellyelbows

@I_smell said:

I don't buy clothes to fit in OR be unique, I just buy them to look good :( "If I won the lottery tomorrow I would purchase the one TF2 hat I had always desired" is pretty hilarious.

Maybe so, but so far 26% of people have voted for that option...

Also, 'looking good' is based on a general consensus of what it is to look good, so by trying to look good you are trying to fit in with the people who look good.. (also there was a 'no opinion' option..)

Ahh I see @SerHulse - sorry, I wasn't arguing against you, I was trying to understand your point.. I understand now what you mean about Valve not selling progress.. and thank you for mentioning those other games- World of Tanks sounds like a really good game to compare TF2 to.. So would you say that WOT is still a popular game, despite the fact that it is so easy for people to buy their victory over you? And would you say that the people who are buying these new tanks etc are people who have not got the time to put in to progress to the level of other players, or people who are so into the game that they are willing to pour loads of money into it (or people who are filthy rich??!).

Perhaps then I need to analyse TF2 in terms of its weapons rather than cosmetic items, and just explore cosmetic items in 'games' such as Habbo Hotel...

Interesting point @Christoffer - there seems to be a mix of people who will only buy items if it enhances game play, and those who will not buy them if it enhances game play (as this has an unfair advantage). It also seems that there are those who feel that cosmetic items are useless, and those who feel it helps them fit in with other players (or make them stand out). Although the cosmetic value of items can be more directly linked to reasons for purchasing real items, it seems that the reasons for purchasing (or not purchasing) weapons etc are more to do with the virtual world alone.

I see @SerHulse - so if Valve to not appear to be selling progress, who in your opinion would you say is giving Valve all their money? The people who are interested in the cosmetic value of virtual items? Or those wanting to 'catch up' with the older players?

I'm not too familiar with EVE- is it, like most MMOs, a case of time put in= reward? Or by your comment, are you saying that there are a lot of items that you can buy to help you progress?

I understand that real items cannot be exactly compared to TF2 items... However there are people purchasing items in TF2, not just finding them. These are the people I am interested it, and perhaps they are purchasing certain items to help them fit in with the crowd and so that they have the latest items, just like they might purchase the latest iphone to fit in with the crowd and have the latest item (even though it does not directly better their game play, it might give them the appearance of it, by simply looking better than everybody else..)

Yes you're right, it does seem bizarre that people would spend money on fitting in, but it is a fact that people do this in the real world. Would you say that this is not the case in the virtual world, or are you simply saying that you think it is bizarre? In a way you could argue that purchasing video games is a means of fitting in with a crowd...

Thank you for posting the article @mnzy - I have read it, and it's very interesting! I got confused though- does that topic continue onto the next chapter/page?! I think it's important that I understand the financial process behind the games I am using as examples. It also explains why the majority of questionnaires I am getting back say they have never bought any virtual items, yet Valve are making so much profit.. somebody must be buying them!!

Interesting point @Three0neFive - although some people would argue that the trading/finding/purchasing of items is ALL that the game is about.. Perhaps this is where I am getting the discrepancies between people who purchase virtual items in TF2, and those who don't...

Thank you for you time @dudeglove - I realize that they are not the best written questions in the world, but I am only a graphic designer and do not want to go too far out of my depth with the questions! I was just hoping for some basic feedback that would help me with the theories I already have :)

Thank you @Mcfart - don't worry, I understand that just because you don't purchase virtual items, it doesn't mean you're opposed to them.

@WhyBeAre -thank you for your insight, you made a good point! Although I am making comparisons between purchasing real items and virtual items, the main difference is that most video games are a competition, therefore we progress to be BETTER than everybody else. (However there is still some element of TEAM-work in TEAM Fortress.. which explains why we might purchase TF2 items to help them fit in). You could also argue though that life is a game- you might purchase a nice shiney new car so that you are better than the rest of the street and so you can drive faster than those on your street..You're right, it doesn't seem that getting a 'nicer' product in real life would negatively affect anybody else, but it may create jealousy, low self-esteem etc in those who do not have such a nice item, and they are driven to buy a match (pretty much the workings of consumerism/capitalism). I agree though, it doesn't seem right that people should be able to buy an advantage in a competition, and perhaps that's why TF2 is so popular and respected. Out of interest, what WOULD drive you to purchase a virtual item in a video game?

Another question I'd like to ask- looking at the results so far, a lot of people are saying that they do not wish to purchase virtual items which better gameplay, as they feel that you should not have pay to progress. Do people all hold this view, despite the game initially being free? Also, how does this relate to your opinions on real items- would you not purchase the latest iphone, gadget etc because you do not feel that you should have to pay extra for something better? Or is it the opposite for real items?

Thank you for all your comments so far everyone- it's really interesting to see what people have to say, because people generally feel very strongly about this!

I am very surprised though- and @Beaudacious you are right, I did make assumptions. I thought that a large number of TF2 players regularly bought items, but most of the people I have spoken to so far have never/rarely purchase any.. Perhaps @Beaudacious you're right, I should look more at the psychological reasons preventing some individuals to purchase virtual goods/services, and perhaps the psychological reasons encouraging a minority to do so.. Thank you for all the other things you have said- it has helped me out a LOT, and has helped me understand what I need to tackle more.. I think I will collect more results for the questionnaire I have already created, and then create a second, more defined one.. You're right though, TF2 is a big subject! I chose it because I felt that it was most varied in terms of the types of items on offer and a more general audience played it, as opposed to WOW who has a very niche following (although that seems to be changing!). It seemed a game that people play because of the items, whereas in a lot of MMOs the items are just a bonus (second to gameplay, socializing etc..). That's an interesting point you made about physical video games being a service rather than a traditional good. There are a lot of things that fall into such a category (filsm, music etc). When I say 'traditional goods' though, I do mean physical clothing, electronics etc, rather than physical games.

So far everybody has said that they would spend £10 upwards on a real hat, yet most would spend less than £1 on a virtual hat.. I'd be interested to find out why that is the case!

Thank you for taking time to complete the questionnaire @Christoffer , just out of interest have you purchased virtual items in any video games?

Thank you also @Aus_azn - when you say since random drops were introduced, do you mean you enjoyed playing TF2 when virtual items were only purchasable? Is it the virtual items themselves that you do not like about the game, or the fact that they are often given away?

Thank you for filling it out @Force0401 - and thank you also for the heads up about the time frame! I should have picked up on that earlier, it is because I created a questionnaire for Habbo Hotel users and altered the questions for TF2.

Thank you @MistaSparkle - and an interesting point. You say you do not think the items currently have any effect on gameplay- would you say they have any other effects that may make people want to buy items (such as appearance, social etc..). Also, would you not say that Strange items effect gameplay (and can only really be purchased)? Or just that they may create jealousy?

Thank you so much to everyone so far for filling in the questionnaire and for your opinions- it is all helping massively to the writing of my essay and I look forward to hearing more opinions!

Jen

Hey there,

I'm currently in my final year studying Graphic Design, and to complete out degree we have to write a dissertation on a topic of our choice.

I chose "Virtual Consumerism within video games", and I basically want to discover whether the reasons for purchasing virtual items is the same as why we buy real items, and whether player immersion has any effect on this.

The games I have chosen to analyse are Habbo Hotel and Team Fortress. I have a questionnaire that will help me greatly in writing my essay, and I was hoping that all you fans of Team Fortress could spare a few minutes to answer it. It doesn't take long and it is completely anonymous.

Also, if anyone has any general views on this topic, I would massively appreciate it if you could comment here and I can see what YOUR views are, not just mine.

This is not spam- I am in no way shedding virtual consumerism in bad light (it is a non-biased debate), and the essay will only be viewed by myself and two tutors (unless anybody is interested and wants to read it when it's done!)

Here is the link, please pass it on to all you know who play TF2 : http://app.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/jen-w/virtual-consumerism-within-team-fortress-2/

Thank you so much for your time,

Jen

wow @dudeglove, that looks crazy! I'm not very good at reproducing extremely realistic looking things, but it's cool to see how much work goes into it!

That's cool @ShaunassNZ, you will really like Graphic Design! Web design is only a small area of it, but it's a very handy skill to have! People always want websites built...

Does anybody here work in a games design company? I have no idea what it's like...

@Kung_Fu_Viking: Cool- I don't just do animation..in fact I don't do much of that at all, it's more of a hobby, but I thought it would be the best of my skills which reflected my concept generation (not that you'll be interested, but this is my website (http://www.jenniferbows.com) and blog (http://www.jellyelbows.blogspot.com) if you wanted to see what else I do!). I completely agree that you'd have to have a background understanding of the workings of games- my boyfriend is studying Physics at university where he does a lot of programming, and he is mega into games (http://jonnyledgend.blogspot.com/) so I learn a bit from him!

So in the company you work for Kung_Fu_Viking, do you have a specific department for 'Texture creation', or is everything/everybody linked together? I think i would be more suitable for a position where I could get to grips with the concept of the game and then produce logos/signage etc for it, rather than working with interfaces that I wasn't overly familiar with the workings of...

Also this might sound crazy, but are there 'outside artists' who design the objects/furniture/character's clothing etc? Like even though it's not a 'real' world, it is still a world which needs the same attention to detail as our world (thus fashion designers/furniture designers etc!). I find it fascinating how much of the real world crosses over into the virtual world!

@Sitoxity: Thanks for the info- I've heard that Scotland is very good for art/design/creativity in general. I would be willing to move but would ideally be looking further south. At the minute though I am based in North-West England, so Glasgow is only an hour away! I may look into seeking out short placements in Scotland...

@Vegetable_Side_Dish: Ahh, Jelly bones! Haha that's a cool song- it should be my theme tune!

Thanks also for the tip about replying!! :)