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Microtransactions: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
'''Microtransactions''', also called '''Micropayments''', are small transactions found in online games and services where a user pays a one-time fee for access to a piece of exclusive content (virtual goods). This could be pretty much
▲Microtransactions, also called Micropayments, are small transactions found in online games and services where a user pays a one-time fee for access to a piece of exclusive content (virtual goods). This could be pretty much anything--a cute new hat for your [[Virtual Paper Doll]], a cool new piece of armor, a temporary power-up, whatever. It could even just be a shortcut to content you could access for free--for example, you might pay real-world money for a cache of the in-game currency. The Virtual Goods can be bought directly, but it's also common for your real-world money to buy some amount of special in-game currency to spend in a special shop.
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▲<big>''[[Self-Demonstrating Article|You need more
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This is the most common form of [[Bribing Your Way to Victory]] because it generally allows you to pay as much as you like (although payments are often framed as "donations"), giving the richest players the ability to outpay everyone else. The most extreme cases can require players to pay to access vital game content, resulting in an [[Allegedly Free Game]]. However, it's entirely possible to have Micropayments without giving an unfair advantage to those who pay--for example, by making the exclusive content strictly cosmetic.▼
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▲This is the most common form of [[Bribing Your Way to Victory]] because it generally allows you to pay as much as you like (although payments are often framed as "donations"), giving the richest players the ability to outpay everyone else. The most extreme cases can require players to pay to access vital game content, resulting in an [[Allegedly Free Game]]. However, it's entirely possible to have Micropayments without giving an unfair advantage to those who
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[[Freemium]] is a [[Sister Trope]] that sometimes
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The difference between this trope and [[Real Money Trade]] is that Microtransactions are sanctioned and sold by the game itself, whereas [[Real Money Trade]] is done by third parties, without the involvement of and, usually, against the wishes of the game's publisher.
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{{examples}}
== [[LARP]]s ==
* ''[[NERO]]'', a [[LARP|live-action role-playing game]], lets you buy [[Experience Points]] for money.
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* ''[[Portal 2]]'''s multiplayer mode has its own shop where players can pay real-world money to unlock special emotes, accessories, and so on.
* ''[[War Of Legends]]'' has "WoLCash" used to purchase in-game items and bonuses.
* All of [[Zynga]]'s games, including ''[[
* ''[[Gaia Online]]'' has AutoCash.
* ''[[Bloodline Champions]]'' lets you spend real money to unlock characters. However, you can play your way to most of the things in the store, and nothing that can be bought with real money affects gameplay in any way.
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* [[Cyber Nations]] lets players get tech levels, infrastructure, land, and in-game cash in exchange for donations, but limits players to one donation per month. It's not essential, but it can lead to a nice boost in tax collections if timed right.
* In the Xbox 360 version of ''[[The Godfather (video game)|The Godfather]]: The Game'', players have the option of buying weapons and upgrades off of the Xbox Live Marketplace.
* ''[[Mabinogi Fantasy Life|Mabinogi]]'', as is typical for a Korean [[Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game|MMORPG]], has a good deal of this. Originally starting as an [[Allegedly Free Game]] by restricting storyline quests, [[Empathic Weapon
* To unlock cars early in ''[[Need for Speed]]: Carbon'', ''[[Pro Street]]'' or ''Undercover'', buy them for real money on XBox Live or PSN store.
* ''[[Sven Coop]]'', a mod for ''[[Half Life]]'', allows people to "donate" money to its creators for permanent weapon
* ''[[Tetris]] Online Japan''. You use TP to increase your stats, which affect how many piece previews you can see, how fast pieces move across the field when you hold left or right, the speed of the line clear animation, and so on. The higher the stat, the faster you can play. Of course, this can give quite an advantage. TP is earned by playing and winning games, at 10-34 TP per game depending on performance. It also takes a total of 9,700 TP to max out each stat of the 5 stats. But for 105 yen each, you can buy a "Point Scratch" that gives a random amount from 500-10,000 TP when used. "Premium" version subscribers paying 315 yen a month get another 300 TP per month.
* ''[[Zhengtu Online]]'', a Chinese MMORPG deliberately designed from the ground up for gold buyers. The game physically blocks you from advancing without buying experience and items for real world money.
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* [[Playfish]] games like ''[[Pet Society]]'' and ''[[Restaurant City]]'' have separate coins (generated in-game) and cash (real money) counters.
* ''[[Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice]]'' allows you to purchase and download additional sidequests during the post-game, almost all of which have new characters as rewards.
* ''[[
** ''Calamity Trigger'' lets you pay a small fee to unlock the "Unlimited" forms of some characters, instead of playing for them.
** ''[[
* ''[[League of Legends]]'' uses Micropayments as a shortcut for unlocking heroes. Micropayments are also the only way to buy character skins, which are entirely cosmetic.
* ''[[Lord Of Ultima]]''. Free to play, but one can purchase "diamonds" that in turn allow for the purchase of artifacts that give resources, build-time increases, etc. The game limits how frequently you can use them, though.
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* [[Rock Band]] has 300 or so songs found across the five released games, and a handful available on "track pack" discs. The other 2500 or so require individual purchase at $2 a pop, or in packs which cost a little less.
* [[Civilization]] V has DLC for civs, wonders, and map styles.
* [[
* Failed spectacularly in ''[[EVE Online]]'', when the release of $70, purely cosmetic monocles caused in-game riots.
* To unlock all the characters and power-ups in ''[[Temple Run]]'', you need coins. These coins can be gathered within the game, but for the impatient they are also available for real money.
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== [[Web Original]] ==
* ''[[Extra Credits]]'' [[Discussed]] the topic in detail in [https://web.archive.org/web/20110824053449/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/3689-Microtransactions one of its videos], calling it a useful tool that many games should embrace and offering some do's and don't's to any developers interested in adopting the model. (Build the content with the payment model in mind, give free players a way to earn paid currency without paying, avoid [[Bribing Your Way to Victory]], etc.)
* Many game apps on [[Facebook]] use Facebook coins, which are bought with money. Some use the direct method as well.
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[[Category:Self-Demonstrating Article]]
[[Category:The Newest Ones in the Book]]
[[Category:Currency Tropes]]
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