Once upon a time, I sat down with a calculator and counted the months I'd spent playing World of Warcraft, multiplied by $15, added in costs for game boxes and character transfers... and came to a sum, in the end, that shocked me. (Though, considering the hours of enjoyment I've gotten from the game thus far, perhaps it shouldn't.) And that number was without spending a dime on buying characters, gear, gold, or paying for leveling. Putting the ethics of RMT aside for the moment, I must say I'm glad of it, as it means I've never had the opportunity to loose even more cash to an MMO, as in yesterday's story of an EVE player who lost $19,000 buying ISK. (Yes, you read that number correctly. It's a one and a nine followed by three zeros. Count 'em: three!) While that certainly makes my financial losses seem practically frugal by comparison, The Daily Grind is all about getting your opinions. So today, I ask: how much have you spent feeding your MMO habit?
The Daily Grind: How much have you spent on your MMO habit?
by Elizabeth Harper 
on Dec 31st 2008 8:00AM
Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind
15
Once upon a time, I sat down with a calculator and counted the months I'd spent playing World of Warcraft, multiplied by $15, added in costs for game boxes and character transfers... and came to a sum, in the end, that shocked me. (Though, considering the hours of enjoyment I've gotten from the game thus far, perhaps it shouldn't.) And that number was without spending a dime on buying characters, gear, gold, or paying for leveling. Putting the ethics of RMT aside for the moment, I must say I'm glad of it, as it means I've never had the opportunity to loose even more cash to an MMO, as in yesterday's story of an EVE player who lost $19,000 buying ISK. (Yes, you read that number correctly. It's a one and a nine followed by three zeros. Count 'em: three!) While that certainly makes my financial losses seem practically frugal by comparison, The Daily Grind is all about getting your opinions. So today, I ask: how much have you spent feeding your MMO habit?
Reader Comments (15)
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 8:47AM Alarie said
I really don't want to know, it might scare me. Honestly I don't know, to many MMO's a month here and there, two MMO's at a time.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 9:05AM (Unverified) said
Now total up all the /played hours for all of your characters and find out your cost per hour. When my main turned level 60, I did the math and found out I paid less than THREE CENTS PER HOUR! That, my friends, is an incredible entertainment bargain.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 9:11AM (Unverified) said
Let's see here...I'm going to be scared:
-EQ - $40
-8 months of play - $80
-DAoC - $50
-24 months of play - $288
-FFXI - $50 (didn't go past free month)
-CoH - $50
-24 months of play $360
-WoW (vanilla) - $50
-50 months of play (and counting) - $750
- WoW (BC) - $40
- WoW (WotLK) - $40
- AoC - $50 (didn't go past free month)
- LotRO - $50
- 6 months of play - $90
- WAR - $50 (didn't go past free month)
Total: $2,038 in the last 6 or so years.
I'm sure I'm missing an xpac or two, and I didn't count any of the WoW t-shirts, trading cards, gifts for friends, keyboards, mice, headsets, video cards, new computer, etc. that went into playing these games.
My guess is the total ends up in the $4,000 range if you add all that. I'm now thoroughly surprised at my spending on this, but at the same time, I'm sure I would have blown a lot more on any other leisure activity. Hell, the beer money alone I've saved probably exceeds that ;)
-EQ - $40
-8 months of play - $80
-DAoC - $50
-24 months of play - $288
-FFXI - $50 (didn't go past free month)
-CoH - $50
-24 months of play $360
-WoW (vanilla) - $50
-50 months of play (and counting) - $750
- WoW (BC) - $40
- WoW (WotLK) - $40
- AoC - $50 (didn't go past free month)
- LotRO - $50
- 6 months of play - $90
- WAR - $50 (didn't go past free month)
Total: $2,038 in the last 6 or so years.
I'm sure I'm missing an xpac or two, and I didn't count any of the WoW t-shirts, trading cards, gifts for friends, keyboards, mice, headsets, video cards, new computer, etc. that went into playing these games.
My guess is the total ends up in the $4,000 range if you add all that. I'm now thoroughly surprised at my spending on this, but at the same time, I'm sure I would have blown a lot more on any other leisure activity. Hell, the beer money alone I've saved probably exceeds that ;)
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 9:27AM Idle said
Z-Board and keysets: $60
Saitek Game Pad: $30
Ever-breaking Headsets: $50
WoW Monthly Fees: $450
WoW + Expansions: $100
WoW Server Transfers: $40
WAR Monthly Fees: $60
WAR Game: $50
AoC Monthly Fees: $60
AoC Game: $40
Hellgate London Game: $50
Other Misc. MMO Forrays: $60
Buying Gold from Gold Sellers: $0
It looks like I've spent around $1,050 during the last 3+ years for my gaming habit. Not too shabby considering the amount of fun and entertainment I've gotten out of it. I'd consider it money well spent.
Hell, as a kid when arcades at the mall were the big thing, I spent a lot more of that one quarter at a time.
Saitek Game Pad: $30
Ever-breaking Headsets: $50
WoW Monthly Fees: $450
WoW + Expansions: $100
WoW Server Transfers: $40
WAR Monthly Fees: $60
WAR Game: $50
AoC Monthly Fees: $60
AoC Game: $40
Hellgate London Game: $50
Other Misc. MMO Forrays: $60
Buying Gold from Gold Sellers: $0
It looks like I've spent around $1,050 during the last 3+ years for my gaming habit. Not too shabby considering the amount of fun and entertainment I've gotten out of it. I'd consider it money well spent.
Hell, as a kid when arcades at the mall were the big thing, I spent a lot more of that one quarter at a time.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 10:16AM (Unverified) said
It's not really a big deal these days, as I'll play an MMO for 1 month and then not play for 3 months after ect, BUT
Nov 1999 - Asheron's Call ?$50? - 13 years old
24 months of play @ $10 a mo - $240
I mowed many a lawn for that game. It left me with the need to loot my kills in PVP too, something bad to have now.
Nov 1999 - Asheron's Call ?$50? - 13 years old
24 months of play @ $10 a mo - $240
I mowed many a lawn for that game. It left me with the need to loot my kills in PVP too, something bad to have now.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 10:19AM Mr Angry said
I'm rich as fuck, so the prices really doesn't bother me. I'm even considering employing a small staff to group with my character, and to grind when I'm not online.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 10:41AM (Unverified) said
Spent around $8000, most of it in RMT.
Earned back about $3000 when I quit the game and sold all of my virtual belongings.
All these figures were done in a 3 or 4 year period, btw.
There were people on my server and in my guilds who spent well over $20k over those 4 years.
One guy's wife left him after he charged $100k on their credit card over a 6 month period. It's a good thing he quit playing after that.
Earned back about $3000 when I quit the game and sold all of my virtual belongings.
All these figures were done in a 3 or 4 year period, btw.
There were people on my server and in my guilds who spent well over $20k over those 4 years.
One guy's wife left him after he charged $100k on their credit card over a 6 month period. It's a good thing he quit playing after that.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 11:31AM Softserve said
I don't think it's so bad. I've bought a few different MMORPGs, but the only one I've seriously subscribed to in the last couple of years has been LotRO... and I pay $30 for three months.
The enjoyment I get out of it makes up for it. $10 for a month of a game I like playing or $50+ for another new game? Most of the time I just stick with LotRO.
The enjoyment I get out of it makes up for it. $10 for a month of a game I like playing or $50+ for another new game? Most of the time I just stick with LotRO.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 12:15PM Gemi said
Personally I have spent very little on MMO's compared to the fun I've had.
Guild Wars w/ all expansions - ~100€
Guild Wars mule account - ~30€
Warhammer Online CE - ~80€
Warhammer 2 month sub - ~25€
Guild Wars is really cheap to play but I've had thousands of hours of fun with it. Warhammer has cost me almost as much in just a couple of months and I already decided to quit since it wasn't fun enough for me.
Guild Wars w/ all expansions - ~100€
Guild Wars mule account - ~30€
Warhammer Online CE - ~80€
Warhammer 2 month sub - ~25€
Guild Wars is really cheap to play but I've had thousands of hours of fun with it. Warhammer has cost me almost as much in just a couple of months and I already decided to quit since it wasn't fun enough for me.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 12:51PM (Unverified) said
Well this made me curious. Going back to May 2005, when I started back up with MMO's:
Guild Wars
account 1 = $180 (3 campaigns + eotn)
account 2 = $150 (3 campaigns)
total: $330
WoW
$60 (WoW, Burning Crusade)
$42*3 = $126 (subscription)
total: $186
LoTRO
account 1 = $260 (SoA, MoM, lifetime subscription)
account 2 = $260 (SoA, MoM, lifetime subscription)
misc = $30 (subscription fees before switching to lifetime)
total: $550
WAR
$50
didn't subscribe after the initial month
EVE Online
$20 (download)
$45 (subscription so far)
So that's ~$1200 over 3.5 years, not too bad! Of these, I no longer play WoW or WAR. GW and LOTRO have no subscription fee. EVE is the only game I pay monthly for, right now.
Guild Wars
account 1 = $180 (3 campaigns + eotn)
account 2 = $150 (3 campaigns)
total: $330
WoW
$60 (WoW, Burning Crusade)
$42*3 = $126 (subscription)
total: $186
LoTRO
account 1 = $260 (SoA, MoM, lifetime subscription)
account 2 = $260 (SoA, MoM, lifetime subscription)
misc = $30 (subscription fees before switching to lifetime)
total: $550
WAR
$50
didn't subscribe after the initial month
EVE Online
$20 (download)
$45 (subscription so far)
So that's ~$1200 over 3.5 years, not too bad! Of these, I no longer play WoW or WAR. GW and LOTRO have no subscription fee. EVE is the only game I pay monthly for, right now.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 4:30PM Jesspiper said
After everything I'd say at least a couple grand over 5 years. Which isn't bad considering how much some spend on booze, drugs, gambling and prostitutes.
Posted: Dec 31st 2008 9:45PM (Unverified) said
About ten cents per hour of playtime, I'd say.
Posted: Jan 1st 2009 8:07PM Joystiq Login Bugs SUCK said
SL
Purchase of four OpenSpace regions in SL, $1000
Rental on said regions over 24 months, $7,200
Various clothes and gadgets over 36 months for main and 5 Alts, $28,800
Assorted land deals on mainland, $2,000
Membership, $199
It would have kept going but Linden Lab screwed people with their OpenSpace price gouging and shocking customer care.
Now?
EQ2
2 months $29 and I am having more fun.
Purchase of four OpenSpace regions in SL, $1000
Rental on said regions over 24 months, $7,200
Various clothes and gadgets over 36 months for main and 5 Alts, $28,800
Assorted land deals on mainland, $2,000
Membership, $199
It would have kept going but Linden Lab screwed people with their OpenSpace price gouging and shocking customer care.
Now?
EQ2
2 months $29 and I am having more fun.
Posted: Jan 1st 2009 8:28PM T Newton said
well let's see.. back in my ffxi days i can say it didn't really cost much to support my addiction.
the largest investment was a new lappie (it was a $2.5k thinkpad t-series). that thing was intended for schoolwork and other stuff as well, but its specs were definitely intended for my enjoyment of the game.
also, there was an xbox 360 pro (a decent client if you don't use any 3rd pty apps, which no proper gamer does *ahem*), and long before all of this, the $100 ps2 ffxi starter.
then of course there's all the little accessories -- 2 usb keyboards, some extra wireless equipment.
and of course, there were all the monthly fees associated with supporting two accounts, along with perhaps half a dozen mules, for a little over a year.
all in all, i've spent more money on ffxi than on any other video game, but i have to say, during the time that i was playing, i spent less money in general. i spent less money on grooming (a haircut mbe every 2 months, as opposed to the self-suggested bi-weekly cut), less money spent on eating out, and hanging out in general. less money spent on other video games and systems. less money spent on new clothes.
i can definitely say that, unlike some other addictions, ffxi and games like it allow you to live with less cost, unless you consider the cost of saying goodbye to your social life and all your hopes and dreams. unless you RMT, which i abhor, sanctioned or not.
the largest investment was a new lappie (it was a $2.5k thinkpad t-series). that thing was intended for schoolwork and other stuff as well, but its specs were definitely intended for my enjoyment of the game.
also, there was an xbox 360 pro (a decent client if you don't use any 3rd pty apps, which no proper gamer does *ahem*), and long before all of this, the $100 ps2 ffxi starter.
then of course there's all the little accessories -- 2 usb keyboards, some extra wireless equipment.
and of course, there were all the monthly fees associated with supporting two accounts, along with perhaps half a dozen mules, for a little over a year.
all in all, i've spent more money on ffxi than on any other video game, but i have to say, during the time that i was playing, i spent less money in general. i spent less money on grooming (a haircut mbe every 2 months, as opposed to the self-suggested bi-weekly cut), less money spent on eating out, and hanging out in general. less money spent on other video games and systems. less money spent on new clothes.
i can definitely say that, unlike some other addictions, ffxi and games like it allow you to live with less cost, unless you consider the cost of saying goodbye to your social life and all your hopes and dreams. unless you RMT, which i abhor, sanctioned or not.
Posted: Jan 5th 2009 9:58PM (Unverified) said
All in my MMO expenses come to about $2700. But the connections I made led to $15000 in consulting over the past 18 months. A worthwhile investment by any measure.
