Have you noticed the proliferation of the free games on the iStore or Android markets? Have you ever wondered how these guys can make so much money from games that are totally free and quite enjoyable to play? Well I will tell you how.
All these games have something in common and that is in-game purchases; you can spend a little money to make the game that little bit easier or to add something cool to the game. Most people don’t do this but a very small portion of gamers are classed as whales by the developers of these games as they put in a relative fortune to continue enjoying these “free” titles.
My wife is a whale
Yes my wife is a whale. I didn’t know this until this month but I’ve come to realise this is an undeniable fact. All her in-app purchases get invoiced by iTunes and all these invoices go to her Lazygamer email account that she never ever checks as we only set it up for iTunes.
Thus each of those mails comes to my inbox and I just delete them… I’ve literally never opened a single one until Tuesday this week when I clicked open instead of delete by mistake and noticed a few in-app purchases.So being the investigative journalist I am I decided to go back into the archived emails and pull up the invoices for July… and only July.
Prepare to be amused or shocked depending on how you feel about this.
Yes 10 invoices in July alone and we are only on the 18th of the month. Take out the 3 movie rentals and it comes to a total of $47.68 or R469.47 solely on cheap in app purchases. This is not a totally weird month; she can easily spend $50 a month on in app purchases which makes her a bigger contributor to the gaming industry than the majority of gamers out there who buy a new AAA every second month.
Oddly enough she isn’t the only whale in my family, according to the developers my mother is also a whale. Yet she’s an accidental whale.
An Accidental Whale?
My dad recently left on a trip and before he left he topped up my mom’s iPad with $100 in case she wanted some movies and books while he was away. Older generation struggling with topping up credit and all that.
Anyway she let my cousins play on her iPad and they managed to download a fashion game of some sort and within 30 minutes they had blown $98 on lipstick, outfits and shoes… R1000 on virtual fashion items which has made some developer out there very happy indeed. So these whales definitely exist; my wife is one and yet I still love her. I won’t show her how to buy iTunes vouchers on www.evopoints.co.za (our friends who have the best local website for point purchases) but yes I still love her.
So I’ve aired my dirty laundry in public now it’s your turn. How many whales do you know and do you think this new-found money pit is a good or bad thing for the future of the AAA titles which originally made the industry what it is today.
Last Updated: July 18, 2013
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 18, 2013 at 12:34
This is what is WRONG with gaming and apps these day!!!
Admiral Chief does NOT approve, at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trevor Davies
July 18, 2013 at 13:11
Don’t lie – I can see you eyeing that Lollypop Hammer 😉
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:11
Nor does Rincethis! I wouldn’t!
Argentil
July 18, 2013 at 13:15
Ja, I feel the same way.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 18, 2013 at 12:36
Hence the figures are all wrong, you think these guys get money because the games are doing so well?
HELL NO!
Its because of accidental clicks and so on. FILTH I tell ya, FILTH.
Look, if I download a game, and its fun (here is looking at you Puzzle Force) I will gladly support the devs.
CrasH
July 18, 2013 at 13:01
Pen and Paper adventure. Don’t even really play tablet games, but could not stop till i finished it.
OVG
July 18, 2013 at 12:36
Guess who is not getting supper tonight :p
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 18, 2013 at 12:39
Oh snap, or “dessert”
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 18, 2013 at 12:44
Couch time!!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 18, 2013 at 12:47
Forget the couch. It’s dog box time
HvR
July 18, 2013 at 12:48
I think Candy Crash has one for $2.99
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 18, 2013 at 12:49
lol
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 18, 2013 at 12:41
Good grief Gavin 0_o.
Kromas
July 18, 2013 at 12:41
My name is Kromas and I am a whale. This month I am doing really well though with only $11 spent. then again $120 went to steam for games I most likely won’t play.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 18, 2013 at 12:41
All I can say is, buy flowers now!……hell knows no fury like a wife scorned
But in terms of a topic, I know more accidental whales than actual whales, I for one think it’s horrible, I don’t like it, I wana buy a game and have a complete package. IAP for those type of games don’t mean anything to me as long as it just for those impatient people
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 18, 2013 at 12:56
I can understand the accidental whale in the case of above with the old people lending the device to the kids.
But I never understood how people can say they accidentally purchased something in game because let’s be honest. To do so you have to click the item, it then redirects you to your store (iTunes or Google Play) where you have to accept the purchase and provide a password. You can’t just “missclick”
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 18, 2013 at 12:58
exactly. “Oh man I accidentally clicked on the store icon, then I accidentally chose my item, then I accidentally accepted terms and conditions and I accidentally looked my download bar to complete”
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 18, 2013 at 12:59
But I do feel bad for the unsuspecting victims where they lend out the device only to find things have been bought 🙁
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 18, 2013 at 13:01
Happened to me a few times lol, understandable but man…..dat bills 🙁
Alex Hicks
July 18, 2013 at 13:09
I have twin boys. Just turned 5. I’ve got my google play account automatically linked to my credit card. I’m removing that now – since one of my boys really likes Angry birds – but less to play; and more to watch the game play itself.
Heck, I found him 6 pages deep in the Rovio developer’s pages on google play (you know the bit … Users who purchased this also purchased this … click).
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 18, 2013 at 13:14
LOL did you take identification off also (Entering your password)? that was my downfall 🙁 …. so when someone clicks pay it automatically goes through… I know that feel man
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:17
Actually, not if you are logged into your Xboxlive. If I have my account set up so that when I turn my console on it logs in, all I have to do is click ‘buy’ and it charges my credit card. I think it only asks twice as well.
Alex Hicks
July 18, 2013 at 13:19
Just tried to do a purchase on google play on the tablet. phew – asks for a password. *wipes brow*
Of course it has the checkbox “never ask me again” … if he guesses right 🙁
Gavin Mannion
July 18, 2013 at 13:07
lol my mom would kill you if she saw you calling her old 😉
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 18, 2013 at 13:12
I am so sorry! I did not mean anything nasty by it.
DOH. Remove right foot from mouth. Insert left foot.
Sir Twakkus
July 18, 2013 at 12:43
Man she really loves them Candy Crush.
jerriep
July 18, 2013 at 12:48
Gavin, I read an article a week or so back stating that something like 80% of the money being made in the iTunes store is from the in-app purchases of these “free” games. Unfortunately I cannot find the article right now, so I stand to be corrected on the exact percentage, but it was exceptionally high
ElimiNathan
July 18, 2013 at 12:57
Oh no she didn!!!!
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:12
Oh hell she DID!
ElimiNathan
July 18, 2013 at 13:15
That shits crazy yo!
Warren Ross
July 18, 2013 at 13:02
Interest’s sake: the term “whale” in this context was (I believe) coined by stock traders who refer to the big money players (and therefore the big commission targets) as “whales”.
Alex Hicks
July 18, 2013 at 13:06
Even more interestingly, I used to work for an online casino; and our big customers are also referred to as whales. I find it more than mere coincidence that the online gambling industry and the “pay-to-win” developers share the term, I feel they share the “lack of moral fibre” and “desire to fleece millions” too …
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:14
Damn, just saw this 🙂
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:14
Yeah, it’s also used in casinos for big players.
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:11
What!? No way man, this is shocking. I never realised one could spend this much on microtransaction shit! I literally just bought Xcom, Dishonoured and Hitman for less than this one statement! *Falls over in shock…
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:14
What I would like to see now, is Gavin’s transaction list… Or is this actually his? WIFE you say Gavin, REALLY? How do we know, HOW DO WE KNOW!
Gavin Mannion
July 18, 2013 at 13:30
My transaction list includes a couple $0.99 purchases to the train ticket in Candy Crush as I prefer not to FB spam.. and then new games and movies.
I don’t think I’ve ever paid for a micro transaction
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 18, 2013 at 13:33
And yet If you buy something random for yourself, you get into trouble, right?
Gavin Mannion
July 18, 2013 at 13:34
lol no.. I spend way too much on useless crap
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 18, 2013 at 13:39
Hahaha. ^^
OVG
July 18, 2013 at 13:51
good answer 😉
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:42
Nor I. I don’t think I will, ever. Not only because OVG will remove my skull and use it as a football should I ever. I buy games that are finished, as in, it’s all there. I don’t mind the occasional patch (still irks me to hell) or extra DLC ala Borderlands, but buying clothes or weapons in a game goes against the gaming I want.
Argentil
July 18, 2013 at 13:15
Wow, that’s pretty shocking. I mean, I might purchase R100 worth of keys in Dota 2 every couple of months as a treat, but that’s Dota 2. That game has infinitely more depth and investment than Candy Crush saga. I know you can’t quantify these things, but it’s a shocking perspective into the success of in-app purchases and the f2p model. If your wife were to realised how much money she spent monthly, she might even be surprised.
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:15
This is like Asura’s Wrath. @360Mirror:disqus bought it for R600 for my Bday, and after ‘finishing’ the thing, we realised actually, if you want to finish it, you need to bond your house, sell your car, live on one kidney, and then, JUST, you can see the final chapter.
OVG
July 18, 2013 at 13:49
Yip and they cut out the fight against RYU for future DLC.
But I suppose we did kind of get away with a good game that was not totally raped by CRAPCOM
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:53
Also very true. Awesome game! I wonder, was it Asura’s Wrath that created OVG RAGE?
OVG
July 18, 2013 at 14:00
ASURA has got nothing on me after I have read another article relating to my hobby getting but fondled by another GREEDY ASSHAT SUIT.
As for the Bone… do not go there.
Trevor Davies
July 18, 2013 at 13:16
It’s not really much different from buying vanity items in normal games. Like the Borderlands 2 skins I totally didn’t buy. Totally.
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:28
Me neither, you don’t need to. When they have a new dlc come out they often give them away for free. Recently they threw out mods for free too.
Trevor Davies
July 18, 2013 at 13:33
They’ve certainly hit on something with their shift codes.
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:39
I love them! I get all ‘it’s birthday time’ excited! But then again, this year’s birthday was totally cluster fu**ed with Aliens: Colonial Marines. I’ve decided I will never have a birthday again in protest…
Trevor Davies
July 18, 2013 at 13:43
http://orcz.com/Borderlands_2:_Golden_Key#SHiFT_Code_Alerts 😀
Trevor Davies
July 18, 2013 at 13:18
Where they catch you with these things is the price, because what’s $1 really? It seems small & insignificant, until you start adding up all the $$$.
Noodlez49
July 18, 2013 at 13:25
I for one am all for it. I’m going to relate to Kingdom Rush. It is by far my favorite Tower Defense game on my Ipad and I have bought more Heroes to either make the game easier or just to see how they are, not because I was forced but rather because I was more than happy to support the dev’s that created the game for my enjoyment. Same with Gavin’s Whale, she is clearly getting her daily fix of enjoyment from Candy Crush and supporting the dev’s.
With continued support the dev’s finally released a second edition of Kingdom Rush and as usual I supported them again and have clocked some hours on it again.
This just has to be self moderated and avoiding impulse buy’s are key, ohh and not completely sucking at gaming and having to continue to buy more lives in a game surely helps
loftie
July 18, 2013 at 13:26
My fiance forgot to keep tabs on her credit card and blew R20000 (the limit on the card) on coffee, simba chips and droewors and other crap over a 3-4 month period. Bank calls every few days asking for payment etc etc, she’s learned her lesson. Checks her account everyday now. heheh 🙂
CrasH
July 18, 2013 at 13:41
oO simpe solution, notification… can enable it on any account and get a sms when you spend cash and will tell you how much is left/owed?
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 18, 2013 at 13:32
Gav, you gotta crack that whip pal. That is FAAAR too much money on App purchases every month. Hot damn!
Was so funny, I just kept on scrolling and scrolling and got more shocked as I went along.
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
July 18, 2013 at 13:36
Wii U – R999
Nunchuk controller pack + Sensor bar – R999
Nintendoland – R400
Trine 2 – R99
ME3 – R300
New Super Mario Bros – R599
All in about a month :/
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 18, 2013 at 13:38
-_-
WHERE DO YOU ALL GET THE MONEY!! *runs off and cries in a corner
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
July 18, 2013 at 13:41
The console is going for cheap they said XD
Ultimo_Cleric N7
July 18, 2013 at 13:49
Hahahaa! Marketing hypnotism………ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL OF THIS BUDGET.
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:44
You see, if you own a console that is more powerful than a PC, we don’t need to upgrade, it saves us money man, you should try it! Toll level 9000 reached
Trevor Davies
July 18, 2013 at 13:45
Toll level indeed given how much you pay for games! *cough*
RinceWind
July 18, 2013 at 13:51
Lol! Agreed, R600 is a fortune. Did managed to get some nice ones recently for R129 a piece. Though I hate Xcom at the moment. It owned me last night. OWNED ME.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 19, 2013 at 07:41
Do tell?
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
July 18, 2013 at 13:58
Lmao!!!!!!!!
fred
July 18, 2013 at 14:05
mine
Wii U – 949
motionplus controller – 350
sensor bar – 189
New super mario U – 580
Nintendoland – 200
the last of Us – 569
Sonic Racing Transformed U – 180
Pilotwings resort 3DS – 99
Lego Lord Of the rings PS3 – 200
Resident Evil 6 – 200
also in about a month…..
Guest
July 18, 2013 at 13:53
I’ll just leave this here…
http://www.ijailbreaktool.com/images/ios6-jailbreak.jpg
Weanerdog
July 18, 2013 at 14:00
I bought a virtual tank once, a Chinese one for about 30 euro.
DrKiller
July 18, 2013 at 14:06
I think this is a sensitive subject for some Steam users 😉 Heard of a guy last night who spend over $450 on Steam specials
Brenz
July 19, 2013 at 07:53
I have a confession…
Craig Boonzaier
July 19, 2013 at 10:34
Sounds like what is happening to me on the Steam Summer sale.
“It’s only 2 dollars, that’s basically free”
Lots of 2 dollars later, they start to add up.
Then I founf out last night I can level up the badges, sigh….