Quit Ruining The General Discussions

[RiyahArp]

Then, why can't people just say high spenders or people with more of a disposable income? .

Whales is game dev jargon for that. It dates back to 2011, from this site, although I think the term was used in casinos earlier:

http://www.gamesbrief.com/2011/11/wh...-to-play-game/

The term kind of works a bit better because it illustrates the impact of those players as "size" and games generally fish for players to obtain and retain. It showed a truth visually that not all players in a F2P game are equal. It's not derogatory in itself, any more than calling someone who barely shops a minnow is.

A lot of the bad blood for whales comes from players experience where high spenders get serious power boosts or benefit that other players can't match. Like Whales, those players are huge fish in the sea of your game and dominate it. F2P games in general tend to suffer tremendously in endgame because of it; the game dev and critic Ramin Shokirizade had a great analogy describing whale endgame as a high stakes poker game, where players ante up and keep "bidding" by spending money to win the server till they have to fold, and the losers often move to the next game.

Its jargon that I don't think is meant derogatorily orginally, as devs really chase whales. It kind of evolved that way, but whale captures f2p spenders pretty accurately as a concept.

A single LARGE megathread revolving around the topic that's up for discussion is a far more organized way of going about it. Honestly, this side of the community could stand to take notes from the Japan community when it comes to topic discussions. More focus on megathreads instead of a bunch of smallers ones that clutter the first page.

No, it's not better. Overwatch official forums often have megathreads, and they get just as ignored too. If people were honest, they'd say megathreads are better precisely because they are easily ignorable for people who don't want to see stuff.

[Sigma-Astra]

Whales is gave dev jargon for that. It dates back to 2011, from this site, although I think the term was used in casinos earlier:

http://www.gamesbrief.com/2011/11/wh...-to-play-game/

Just because one random person says it's okay to use, doesn't mean you should follow them. I know the internet allows a certain degree of transparency since you'll never meet or see the person on the other side of the screen, but regardless of who started it, it's rude and was never meant to be used to describe other people in a positive light. I don't care what bigshot started it. Enough with using it if you don't want to be insulted back either by the people you are labeling. No one likes being labeled.

Even the person in that article who wrote it doesn't like the unflattering connotations that the word itself portrays and doesn't like it being used to describe people and would prefer the idea of "true fans" or something else entirely.

When you're using the term "whale" to argue about people that are buying something that you want, but can't afford it outright or you're trying to pin all of the game's current problems onto them, then yes, it turns into a derogatory slang and insult. And people on the OF use it often enough as such...

Just call those people large spenders, you're saying the same thing without sounding so offensive or aggressive about it. Otherwise, you're opening yourself up towards the "whales" calling you unsavory terms as well, at least the more spiteful ones anyways.

/2cents

[Tiraelina]

Just because one random person says it's okay to use, doesn't mean you should follow them. I know the internet allows a certain degree of transparency since you'll never meet or see the person on the other side of the screen, but regardless of who started it, it's rude and was never meant to be used to describe other people in a positive light. I don't care what bigshot started it. Enough with using it if you don't want to be insulted back either by the people you are labeling. No one likes being labeled.

Even the person in that article who wrote it doesn't like the unflattering connotations that the word itself portrays and doesn't like it being used to describe people and would prefer the idea of "true fans" or something else entirely.

When you're using the term "whale" to argue about people that are buying something that you want, but can't afford it outright or you're trying to pin all of the game's current problems onto them, then yes, it turns into a derogatory slang and insult. And people on the OF use it often enough as such...

Just call those people large spenders, you're saying the same thing without sounding so offensive or aggressive about it. Otherwise, you're opening yourself up towards the "whales" calling you unsavory terms as well, at least the more spiteful ones anyways.

/2cents

It wasn't one random person saying it. It's the entire industry these cash shops are originating. This is why you shouldn't be sticking your neck out for a business. Just because the guy they put out front seems friendly enough doesn't mean the people in back see you as anything more than a source of revenue.

I will also point out that threads like this do nothing except add to the pollution. If the CM/Mods were doing more than cross-posting JP dev replies maybe all the extra threads would get moved/merged/locked. Maybe actually fish out a response... But they don't, so you have to live with it.

[KisaiTenshi]

Then, why can't people just say high spenders or people with more of a disposable income? Why do we need to use derogatory names to section off a portion of the playerbase that's capable of purchasing optional content just because a choice few cannot or will not? Should the people that you're calling "whales" start calling the other side as "entitled, whining children" for wanting it free in-game, cheaper, or not at all? Should that side start calling those people "cheapskates"?

The answer is no on both accounts. We need to stop the name-calling and insulting of other players just because they can spend money on something they want and you want at the same time, but you're not willing to pay for it at it's full price or don't want it there period.

"Whales" is literately what companies (the term was coined by Zynga I believe in F2P games, the Farmville people) call their highest spenders. And not every "whale" is in it for themselves, they will spend large amounts of money on their friends. The analogy to reality is the dude with the expensive home, who has lavish parties every weekend.

The term itself, earliest use on the internet I can find is from 2004-2006 for poker "extreme high rollers" of online poker. It's ALWAYS used pejoratively. "A gift from the casino gods" is essentially what they are.

[Squintina]

I used to be a forum moderator for a F2P game and if there's one thing I learned it's that forums are generally skewed negative because people don't typically make too many happy/neutral threads. It's a hard balance (one that I handled on that F2P by actually playing the game under a different name and interacting with players).

But it is annoying. Sometimes I stop going to the forums for a few weeks to make sure I get a break.
Besides, I still have so much to do that all this foruming is cutting into my game time. Maybe now's the time for another forum break...

[MageBlack]

Damnit.... The dark knight returns...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCiE2mch0Z8

[MageBlack]

Its been over 24 hours since V's last post! I think time may have finally expired, finally a small measure of peace.

[Avatre]

Its been over 24 hours since V's last post! I think time may have finally expired, finally a small measure of peace.

Sorry to burst your peace and quiet bubble...but this was this morning.

interesting, You didn't seem to be an SE apologist till now. I guess you just love defending the cash shop. If you where not blinded by this motive you would not be posting this to me. Its a bit high and mighty you sounded here and a bit rude. Has nothing to do with the cash shop itself, but with the prices and app and such, but you would of known that if you read a bit better.

[Tridus]

Its been over 24 hours since V's last post! I think time may have finally expired, finally a small measure of peace.

You just had to go and say it...

[Divinemights]

Its been over 24 hours since V's last post! I think time may have finally expired, finally a small measure of peace.

I think you jinx us.....