A Too Long Treatise on GTAO's Micro-economy

[Forager]

No, this isn’t a Shark Card hate fest, or a whine about how expensive dollar sign wheels are, or a diatribe about R* “holding back” content. This is simply one perspective of how the GTAO “micro-economy” works, and the choices it gives players.

 

In order to “buy-in” to this view, you have to be able to answer “yes” to the following questions:

 

1. Was the original single-player version of the game worth the $60 you or your mom forked over last fall? If your answer is “no,” STOP READING NOW. You fu*ked up and bought a game you don’t like; it happens. I have a box full of titles I didn’t care for, and I never play them. You wasted your money; move on.

 

2. Do you consider your time spent video gaming to be recreational “leisure” time? If your answer is no, you’re probably a game tester, so you’re not part of my audience. Move along.

 

If you answered “yes” to both questions, you might find this perspective useful, or least semi-rational.

 

As we know, the Megalodon Shark Card is the most cost-effective way to purchase GTA$, at the rate of 8 million for $100 (U.S.). That’s an exchange rate of 80,000 to 1, or a multiplier of .0000125.

 

I’m assuming that earned-in-game GTA$ have the same value as Megalodon Shark Card GTA$, and obviously both must be spent in-game. This does not, however, account for the inflationary effects of glitchers, or the immediate depreciation of property and vehicles, all of which devalue the GTA$.

 

So let’s say you can complete Rooftop Rumble on hard difficulty 10 times in 60 minutes. Personally, I don’t think that’s possible given the loading screens and the inability to “replay” the mission, but I know someone on this forum is going to claim they can complete the job 20 times in an hour, so for the sake of illustration, let’s go with 10.

 

Ten RR missions will earn you $187,500 in GTA$. Using the Megalodon exchange rate multiplier above (.0000125), you’re earning $2.34 per hour - in real U.S. currency - for playing a video game!

 

Now, if you consider “grinding” or “farming” missions to be dull, boring and more work than fun, then you have to weigh the value of your leisure time, and this is where Shark Cards make sense for many people. Using the formula above, you would have to complete 10 RR missions every hour for more than 42 hours to equal one Megalodon Card’s GTA$ value. That’s a lot of grinding, but it is a viable choice for some players.

 

An Adder costs 1M GTA$, or $12.50 in U.S. currency (Megalodon rate), so you’ll have to grind on RR for at least 5-1/2 hours to earn that amount. Again, for the stereotypical unemployed slacker sitting in Mom’s basement, that may not be a problem.

 

In the end, you have the choice. Unlike the straight pay-per-DLC add-ons, GTAO’s micro-economy allows you to purchase or earn money. Sure, the earnings are relatively small given the cost of goods (just like in the real world), but presumably you’re enjoying your leisure time while accumulating them.

 

On the other hand, if you’re like me, you might clear 40k an hour playing a variety of missions, or stealing Ballers and selling them, or whatever. That’s about 50 cents an hour in real currency, which is better than nothing for playing a video game, but I place a much higher value on my gaming time. If having an instant 8 million GTA$ will significantly enhance my gaming experience and keep the game fresh for another six months, then I’ll buy the Megalodon Card.

 

It’s all about what Rockstar offers us, and whether or not the products they offer match the value we place on our time. It’s really not an evil system.

[Sugar Free Nos]

You forgot the part where I make 15 million appear out of thin air using a glitch then use it to buy what I want.

 

Point of view invalid.

 

 

Thanks for doing the math for me though.

[GranSnake]

I actually agree OP. Grind it or buy it, who cares what other people do with their time and money?

 

Frankly, I can afford to do either as I have time and money, so I do a bit of both. I enjoy what I am getting in exchange for my money, if you don't, don't buy shark cards.

 

If you hate the missions, races, deathmatchs, etc. and you don't think buying a shark card is worth it... you're bound to be poorer in game. Why complain about it?

[Governator]

The option to instantly get a certain amount of money in game is fine with me, as it isn't pay to win thanks to the level locks. However I do have a problem when Rockstar starts to shape the game in a way that pushes you to buy GTA $. The ridiculously overpriced paint jobs are an example of this.

[GranSnake]

Or, glitch it in. Frankly doesn't bother me either way one bit.

[Arya35]

You can also do money glitches, where you would easily make over 8 million an hour, saving you $100 in 1 hour. But compared to grinding the same boring mission over abd over, cash cards do look a lot better and easier, so I see your point there.

[Staten]

The option to instantly get a certain amount of money in game is fine with me, as it isn't pay to win thanks to the level locks. However I do have a problem when Rockstar starts to shape the game in a way that pushes you to buy GTA $. The ridiculously overpriced paint jobs are an example of this.

They shape the game so money has a value not just related to numbers, for example, to create exclusivity; to take your example, with high-priced paint jobs, people are less likely to try out paint jobs because of the expense; that means that the people who do experiment end up with a car that is more unique than it would otherwise be.

[waters]

the fact that rockstar is charging $12.50 for a pixel car in the first place says it all, greed at its best

[A Parked Car]

Jokes on you OP, I pretended my answer to question one was yes just so I could read on HAHAHA

[slippery slope]

What has happened to GTA...

[GranSnake]

the fact that rockstar is charging $12.50 for a pixel car in the first place says it all, greed at its best

That's called supply and demand. You don't NEED the car, you want it, or you don't.

[Staten]

What has happened to GTA...

Recently? The latest game in the series - GTA V - released last September, and the online portion - GTA Online - went live two weeks later. Both are fun, I'd say.

[Fraizer]

There is no reason to explain why you are buying a shark card. If you want to, do it. If you don't want to, don't do it. Simple as that.

Edited April 23, 2014 by FRA1Z3R

[Zee]

The GTA Money system sucks. I'd rather pay a monthly subscription than deal with this cash card bullsh*t.

[Staten]

The GTA Money system sucks. I'd rather pay a monthly subscription than deal with this cash card bullsh*t.

You don't have to deal with it, though. I haven't had to worry about cash cards for the last six months; all I've done is played the game normally.

[Commander S]

Thing I do appreciate about the GTAO micro-transaction system is that it really is completely optional - none of the DLC has been gated behind a paywall, requiring real money to access it.

Compare that to something like Mass Effect 3's multiplayer, where you could *technically* earn everything through in-game credits, yet the payouts were so meagre, odds were you'd be forced to spemd actual money on the randomised item cards just to get the decent weapons/characters. And even then, you'd more often than not wind up getting a rare item you'd already unlocked - which meant you'd just thrown real money into the ether on a wasted purchase.

Or, for a more egregious example, Dungeon Keeper Mobile (curiously enough, also published by EA), where the choices are: 1. Pay cash to earn in-game currency to actually be able to PLAY the game, or; 2. Wait up to 28 hours (yup - over a day in real-time) for a single action to be completed. In other words, if you don't fork up cash, you're better off putting your phone down and NOT PLAYING THE GAME. I wish I were making that up - see this video:

I've no problem with people buying cash cards if they've the money/lack of patience, but as someone who enjoys earning things over the long term, and playing game content to do so, I've never felt the need - and I've still managed to afford plenty of decent stuff for both my characters.

[KingBishop96__]

I agree with OP. Even though it is a video game nothing is handed to you and everybody cant offord to live a lavish lifestyle. Just like in real life your choices are fast money or make an honest living(as honest you can get in gta). When heists come along im sure itll help this problem but i doubt they will just be any and everybody succeed. Youll have to work as a team.