Has anyone noticed?

[Tybarious]

Lately how gaia is selling all the good and/or interesting items through its cash shop? Whatever happened to MCs being the items that everyone wanted and for the most part the items being somewhat affordable. Now its only cash shop items. I wouldn't mind so much if they weren't so expensive on the market. Its ridictualess pay for something that doesn't exist and serves no purpose other than to make a pixelated figure look better.

Whatever happened to gaia being a nonprofit?  

[purpleravenhawk]

Yes, it's uber-frustrating. stressed The admins are just obsessed with making money now. With all the ads, sponsorships, and cash shop stuff, they must be rolling in it. evil  

[xwhateverxdudex]

I wish they would concentrate on all the moneyless people.  

[Ikataru]

Gaia's a business. Business's can't function without money. *shrugs* sweatdrop *is a gaia making money supporter*  

[xwhateverxdudex]

Can't they do both at the same time?  

[purpleravenhawk]

But if you do the numbers, they're making waaaaaaay more money than is necessary to run the site, even after salaries for employees. Based on the number of new MCs and cash shop items that show up in the marketplace every month, plus the going rate for web advertising, they're making over $2 million per month, gross. And that's not counting the sponsorships. A friend of mine is good with numbers and ran the calculations just for fun. whee I don't have a problem with them making money, but the new focus on profit has altered the way the site operates and the way it feels for the average user. I don't mind change, if it's good. That's my two cents, anyway.  

[Tybarious]

purpleravenhawk

But if you do the numbers, they're making waaaaaaay more money than is necessary to run the site, even after salaries for employees. Based on the number of new MCs and cash shop items that show up in the marketplace every month, plus the going rate for web advertising, they're making over $2 million per month, gross. And that's not counting the sponsorships. A friend of mine is good with numbers and ran the calculations just for fun. whee I don't have a problem with them making money, but the new focus on profit has altered the way the site operates and the way it feels for the average user. I don't mind change, if it's good. That's my two cents, anyway.

agreed 3nodding  

[JanNut]

I agree. Profit at a nominal percentage is fine. But now.. 200% or more profit eek  

[Tybarious]

JanNut

I agree. Profit at a nominal percentage is fine. But now.. 200% or more profit eek

it takes all the fun out of creating a dream avi or even a good looking one.  

[xwhateverxdudex]

indeed  

[Ikataru]

♥ ZOMG alone cost them over 2 million dollars to create and run. O_o; Though, I think it was a failure....*shrugs* I hate MMO games anyway. mad d

They're going to continue to make money because people will continue to buy the product. Even if shitloads of people "boycott" the cash shop, there are still tons more that make up for the ones boycotting. sweatdrop I mean, I personally know two people who spend at least 100-150 a month buying cash cards.

Seems to me that Gaia's economy is no different from America's economy. Things get more expensive yet the people don't make any more money. xD!


If I ran Gaia, I'd do that same thing. What's the point in running a business if you're not going to profit from it.

®îñíÏkãtå®û

 

[Sweetkitty]

*nods* that's true. I hate that. New items from gaia cash me crazy.  

[xwhateverxdudex]

How true, how true...  

[purpleravenhawk]

I guess I just expected more from gaia's admins than I do from corporate America. *sigh* Another fantasy slaughtered.  

[xwhateverxdudex]

There is no difference between corporate america and any company.