Microtransactions: Difference between revisions

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{{cleanup|Research a way to make this self-demonstrating article function properly. "Paid" paragraphs should be hidden by default.}}

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.

'''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.

''[[Self-Demonstrating Article|You need more All The Tropes Bucks to see the rest of this trope's definition. Please enter your credit card details to continue.]]''

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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.

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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[[Freemium]] is a [[Sister Trope]] that sometimes ~~overlaps--a~~ [[Freemium]] game that also uses Micropayments may offer them as an alternative to, in addition to, and/or as part of a Premium membership. Sometimes games will offer a one-time pack of credits for the Virtual Goods for free to give players a taste of power, in hopes that they'll come back to buy ~~more--this~~ is roughly analogous to a [[30-Day Free Trial]].

[[Freemium]] is a [[Sister Trope]] that sometimes overlaps—a [[Freemium]] game that also uses Micropayments may offer them as an alternative to, in addition to, and/or as part of a Premium membership. Sometimes games will offer a one-time pack of credits for the Virtual Goods for free to give players a taste of power, in hopes that they'll come back to buy more—this is roughly analogous to a [[30-Day Free Trial]].

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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 [[MMORPG]], has a good deal of this. Originally starting as an [[Allegedly Free Game]] by restricting storyline quests, [[Empathic Weapon~~|Empathic Weapons~~]], character rebirth (a vital game mechanic), and certain other content to paid subscribers only; the "Pioneers of Iria" expansion released all content to free players, including empathic weapons and free character rebirth. Despite this, there remain a considerable number of game-enhancing features that are only available in the premium cash shop, or to premium subscribers.

* ''[[Mabinogi Fantasy Life|Mabinogi]]'', as is typical for a Korean [[MMORPG]], has a good deal of this. Originally starting as an [[Allegedly Free Game]] by restricting storyline quests, [[Empathic Weapon]]s, character rebirth (a vital game mechanic), and certain other content to paid subscribers only; the "Pioneers of Iria" expansion released all content to free players, including empathic weapons and free character rebirth. Despite this, there remain a considerable number of game-enhancing features that are only available in the premium cash shop, or to premium subscribers.

* 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 ~~enhancements -- namely~~, their Uzis do double damage, and they can use armor to boost the damage on their melee weapon.

* ''[[Sven Coop]]'', a mod for ''[[Half Life]]'', allows people to "donate" money to its creators for permanent weapon enhancements—namely, their Uzis do double damage, and they can use armor to boost the damage on their melee 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.