[MUD-Dev] Buying benefits

[Matt Mihaly]

On Sat, 9 Jun 2001, Marian Griffith wrote:
> In <URL:/archives/meow?group+local.muddev> on Fri 08 Jun, Matt Mihaly wrote:
 
>> There's no need unless you want to make money as effectively as
>> possible. The margins are huge on expensive equipment, useful
>> equipment. It's been my rather extensive experience that the
>> usefulness vector is worth _way_ more to players than the rarity
>> vector. I don't think anyone is going to be selling a piece of
>> virtual clothing for $600.
 
> This may perhaps be true for the current crop of game players, but
> I would hardly believe this is true for anything more than a
> minute minority of people around.  Look at how much people are
> willing to pay for an armani suit. It may be better quality, but
> that much? Or haute couture for an even more extreme example.
> Ever seen what is shown on the catwalks? Most of that stuff is
> hardly fit to wear not even if you do happen to have the
> proportions of a top model, and a total lack of embarassment...
> Some of those dresses are sold for a whole lot more than 600
> dollar.  How about adding a zero behind it, and putting at least a
> 1 in front of it...  A Gaultier, a Lagerfeld or a Misaki could
> very well exist in an online game for casual ga- mers.  Fashion
> avatar design :) There may not be a market for it at the moment,
> but as our life integrates more and more with virtual life as
> currently enjoyed in muds, it is almost inevitable.

Yeah, I have to take back what I said about the clothing
really. Clothing is useful after all. It's not the rarity of
clothing that makes it cost a lot. It is, however, a factor of its
usefulness. How useful is it for helping you look good? How long
will it last? How comfortable is it? A top suit looks stunning, will
last 20 years if cared for properly, and is very comfortable. A
cheap suit looks like a cheap suit, will not last long at all, and
may or may not be comfortable.

I've already sold clothing for more than $1000 actually, but it is
highly functional clothing. Current players don't place a high value
on how they look in MUDs. They don't derive enough usefulness from
looking good.

I'll make a prediction. Virtual clothing will not regularly sell for
more than $1000 until virtual sex is as or nearly is satisfying and
desirable as physical sex. The qualifier there is that the
clothing's only function is to make you more visually
attractive. (to avoid things like clothes that keep you warm, but
which possess the power to keep you so warm no cold damage can hurt
you, etc.)


--matt


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