I often speak at conferences on the topic of setting up and managing virtual economies in social games. After going through all of the legal restrictions, I am asked over and over: “Do people really spend money to play games?” My frequent answer is a reminder of childhood days spent in arcades. Spending a few dollars in a Facebook game is really no different than pumping quarters into Pac Man or Pole Position!
Today it really hit home for me. My 8 year old son (who guards his piggy bank savings) came to me with two 1 dollar bills in hand to purchase currency in the Icee Store app on his iPod Touch. He enjoyed the game and really wanted to make more Icee’s with different flavors. Remaining in character though, he did insist on his 2 cents change for the 99 cent purchases!
