what is up with the idea of downloading a virtual sweater for a game and actually paying real money for it? i came about knowing about this when i saw my sister play some sort of a virtual pet thing online and she was spending real money that you work for and paying for virtual goods for her pet. i know that these things have existed before especially in terms of rpgs in the past like diablo 2 but i could never figure out nor find the justification for having to pay real life money for a virtual item. i understand on the concept of paying for a virtual download game [such as those from wiiware or psn or live arcade] as there is entertainment value that you get from it, but what exactly do you get from downloading a virtual sweater or a virtual super sword using real money.
Its a strange concept, but the virtual items on the new games are a way for that company to make money and they found a niche in playing on peoples intrest of being diffrent (about the same lines of why people get tattoos and piercings) personally I think its a waste of money. its the same reason I will not play MMORPGs I cannot understand paying for the software and then paying again just to play it. On the mention of Diablo II I can remember ebay being flooded with all these characters that people put up with these rare items and shit, and people were actually buying them for hundreds of dollars..WTF!!? I bet looking back today they wished they hadn't Even seen people selling their on line accounts to EverQuest and even Ultima Online its crazy. Anyway all in all NO I don't understand it, and probably never will, but you have to admit its one hell of a concept!
As you said: For some people it adds to the entertainment value. In some of the RPGs you can buy supercharged weapons which make you better than players who don't pay. Some people have that as their justification. I wouldn't do it myself though.
