Play to earn games can't sustain on whales buying into the game, because whales only buy to have some kind of advantage over others (cosmetic or gameplay affecting). In a free to play game, who cares, but in a play to earn game you've utterly changed the incentive set from "have fun" to "make money". Axir Infinity's economy crashed hard not too long ago because the net profit from playing fell below the Philippines minimum wage and people just stopped playing.
Also, you illustrated the pyramid scheme for me.
This has the benefit of increasing the player base, thus enticing more whales and sustaining the economy.
This is something Fortnite does. If you don't buy or get a skin, you get a randomized character model and gender, always wearing the same basic outfit. You're denied self-expression unless you buy into it. It's a super minor thing but it's an undeniable psychological trick games do: if you don't have a skin, you are less than the other players.
Okay but that doesn’t give the a disadvantage in the game. Which is where they earn currency in a play to earn game. Every player is on even footing. The only way to make more money is to play more. Not to buy power ups or items that give you an advantage over other players.
Play to earn games can't sustain on whales buying into the game, because whales only buy to have some kind of advantage over others (cosmetic or gameplay affecting). In a free to play game, who cares, but in a play to earn game you've utterly changed the incentive set from "have fun" to "make money". Axir Infinity's economy crashed hard not too long ago because the net profit from playing fell below the Philippines minimum wage and people just stopped playing.
Also, you illustrated the pyramid scheme for me.
How are cosmetics an advantage?
This is something Fortnite does. If you don't buy or get a skin, you get a randomized character model and gender, always wearing the same basic outfit. You're denied self-expression unless you buy into it. It's a super minor thing but it's an undeniable psychological trick games do: if you don't have a skin, you are less than the other players.
Okay but that doesn’t give the a disadvantage in the game. Which is where they earn currency in a play to earn game. Every player is on even footing. The only way to make more money is to play more. Not to buy power ups or items that give you an advantage over other players.
It’s only a pyramid insomuch as capitalism is a pyramid scheme.