MICROTRANSACTIONS, SAVING MONEY BY LIMITING ITS USE IN VIDEO GAMES

From Fortnite and other free-to-play video games, we talk about microtransactions, but what are they and how can these in-app purchases be managed. We have heard of microtransactions very often, especially in a critical and controversial way when crazy spending events occur in video games like Fortnite or as in the recent case of a group of kids who have practically emptied their parents’ bank account with in app purchases in games like FIFA 19 or NHL 21 by buying up fifa points or nhl coins and other game packs. A non-isolated story that has repeated itself on other occasions and has raised a real fuss. The perception of public opinion on this topic has generated a sense of helplessness of parents bled by this type of interaction with the videogame medium and the perception of having a generation of children who do not perceive the value of money. And the cause of all this is attributed to video games.

Although it is far from me the intention to minimize or extreme the problem, it is undeniable that also in this case the disinformation leads to the demonization of the object – video game – rather than to evaluate and modify the type of approach one has with it. The Videogame Leaflet has some useful advice to understand and on how to stem the abuse of microtransactions.

What are microtransactions?

The term microtransaction refers to any purchase within a video game (in-app purchases) that obtains objects or decorative elements. This can be done for the most part with real money converted to virtual currency in the game. These are relatively small amounts of (real) money but often become so frequent that they become risky. In many free-to-play with microtransactions you buy the so-called Battle Pass necessary to unlock more rewards of the game.

This type of transaction is mostly found in free games but recently microtransactions can also be found in some “paid” titles. To take a couple of famous examples, there is FIFA’s FUT mode with player packs to buy or NHL’s HUT mode where players can purchase not only packs but also other in-game items and in-game currency “nhl coins” for use in its auction house.

Often microtransactions do not represent real additional content, but only cosmetic kits that do not affect the game play. Often the in-game currency is used to reduce the waiting time for achieving a certain goal. In FIFA, for example, those who discard the most packs have a better chance of getting the best players to field and this encourages them to buy them rather than waiting to get them for free by playing.

Why are there microtransactions?

Microtransactions are basically the main source of income for free-to-play game developers . Rather than selling the game for a certain price, this marketing strategy offers the product initially for free by offsetting development costs through microtransactions. A system that allows you to keep the interest and popularity of the game alive over time and that has led many developers to obtain very high profits as well as the success of their product with the public.

This success and popularity of microtransactions has also teased the big publishers who have joined this business model (called freemium) – or replace in some cases – with DLC / additional content. The downside is that microtransactions have in some cases led to the aforementioned problems, with some users often having far more money than they would have invested in a “paid” game over and over.

Once again we clarify that the problem exists but not because microtransactions exist. The problem is because you lose the sense of proportion and many do not know the methods to stem any excesses in purchases. But the various consoles and even mobile devices provide systems to avoid the abuse of microtransactions.

How to limit the use of microtransactions on consoles and smart phones?

There are some simple tricks to avoid seeing your assets squandered with microtransactions. The first good rule is not to associate your credit card with game accounts or the various stores. Better to combine a simple prepaid card on which to load the money needed for purchases from time to time. It is an inconvenient and long passage that will make you spend a few Euros more for the passage of money, but it will certainly keep the urge to buy children or even their own ones in check.

The alternative is the parental control or parental controls. Consoles, PCs, and smart phones offer all the tools to limit in-app purchases. For the most part these are procedures that need attention to get everything set up in the best possible way, but only the first time. Each console has its own parental control system that allows you to manage game times and PEGI limitations in addition to in-app purchases and expenses in the console stores.

Only smart phones were missing. As for Android systems, the official Google website provides a series of guides to set the family filter and its limitation on purchases. This can be associated with the always useful creation of the family group. Similarly, even on Apple devices it is possible to set both usage and time limitations, in-app purchases and your child’s account. Again everything explained on the official Apple support site.