Thursday 3 December 2009

Plasma inflation.

There has been lots of complaints about the sudden inflation with Plasma prices. I notice that now the cheapest price they're selling at is $740,000. I personally think Plasma is worth around $400,000-$500,000 at most.

Why is it inflating so much? It's doing this because the competition has increased in the game (which is a good thing). Players fighting over each other to get ahead, they would rather use any AP/Plasma they have rather than sell it.

BUT the inflation is down to YOU. If people are putting Plasma on at $700,000 and people are buying at $700,000 people will keep selling it at that  price, (and of course they'll always add a little extra on top each time they sell it). But if you could sell plasma at $700,000 why would you add some at $400,000? You'd be stupid too. So that's what's happening. If you want to stop the inflation, stop buying at high prices so sellers will be forced to drop the price. (Remember they lose 1% if they don't sell so they will rethink next time they add it).


Just thought I'd explain it, saves replying to many forum posts :)

Ash

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

supply and demand gotta love it

Anonymous said...

claps sadly i was thinking the same way. if people will buy it for 700k then why sell it for cheaper stop buying it stupids

Anonymous said...

I agree with what you stated, Ash. People would be smart to stop buying so high. I don't have real cash to buy plasma and the market is the only place I can get some, but I would go without, then pay those crazy prices.

SlayerXIII_Boudiccas_Line said...

Ah ... the lovely aspect of pur unadulterated greed. And then there's the bit on buying at outrageous prices. lmao Well stated Ash! :D

Anonymous said...

If I want plasma, I'll buy it from you Ash :P

Kashka Hades said...

RoB Economics. Gotta love it. -Giggles-

DarkAsh said...

Fine by me buttaphly0918 :P

Bender Bending Rodriguez said...

Economics lesson:

Since the money supply only goes up everyday, the buying power of money goes down relative to the goods on market. This is a little trait called "inflation". The elastic market response is reflecting the increase in playership, and subsequently, the amount of money generated out of thin air every moment. In other words, this is -supposed- to happen.

The three things that can affect a lower price on plasma?

1) Decrease the money supply
2) Increase the plasma supply
3) Affect a price fix on plasma (create a price ceiling, so that it cannot be sold for more than x amount)

Simply asking nicely will NOT affect change, even if the person asking is the one that created and runs the game.

DarkAsh said...

I know asking will not affect it. I'm just letting people know of why it's happening.

Theo DeathSpirit said...

Since people have found out that there will still be people who will give their butts to get an extra ap inflation will never stop but lol what can we simple vampires do about it? ;)

Mr Saturn said...

you can either pay or lump it, plasma from the market will hardly benefit you anyway loooool

get the old ccredit cards out

D3ath [Twizz] (59875) said...

I have also noticed a high in the AP market, which has benefited me. I look at the current sell price and drop it about 11% and get the money very quickly. I for one know I would want to buy AP at the current sell price: 170000. LAME! As a matter of fact I just sold some AP for $135000...
. A lot cheaper, yes. That may not really get me as much money but it makes a quick sell an I am okay with that.

lady lamedius said...

interesting....nobody admits to drinking it but demand is going up....ive bought it ...and will buy it again....please no nasty blood letters!

Blood Shard said...

Well,,I've bought it and sould it ,,not quit that high,,And yes I make a profit,,,,I have to earn money,,,,,

Greep said...

"Why is it inflating so much? It's doing this because the competition has increased in the game (which is a good thing). Players fighting over each other to get ahead, they would rather use any AP/Plasma they have rather than sell it."

Hum... I'd hate to spoil things but if i remember correctly the inflation started to be VERY serious when a certain Unknown Task implying posession of plasma appeared... Which is down to you dear Ash.

I'm not saying you're the only one to blame (ppl buying at a ridiculous price share a huge part of responsability) but you sure can't wash your hands so easily.

Perhaps you could identify quests which affter completion make you win plasma(s), it would be a start.

Anonymous said...

I would think that it helps the game creator, DarkAsh, that the plasma is harder to buy through game money, makes people buy with the rl money. And that money goes to him. So its stupid to ask him to fix the inflation :p

Mr Saturn said...

the above comment.
you are mistaken
the prices on the market are easily fundable for the majority of well grounded GAMERS. inflation by definition is not something that can be fixed either it is simply positive trends in prices over time. you cant draw much economics into this, and the majority posting are just using bar room economics. fact is if someone will buy at the price then they will be supplied at that price simply because of the nature of agents to maximise

Anonymous said...

i buy at the bar, takes money out of the game n helps to lower the price :)

Bender Bending Rodriguez said...

Saturn, the economics I used are not solely real-world examples... they work in ANY economy, tangible or imaginary like RoB's.

It's all because there's a lot more $ to go around than when those items sold for much less (more people X more interest/ people killing for $/ gravemarket investment/ etc...) all of which is creating new $ from thin air at a rate proportionally higher than AP and Plasma are created), the rich are getting richer and the poor getting less poor. The inflated prices are all relative to inflated money supply.

If the degree by which money supply goes up > degree by which game item supply goes up, then the buying power of the money itself goes down, and the price of the game items accordingly goes up to accommodate the market change.

The math is correct, and so is the applied economic theory. This "price gouging" is supposed to happen, in accordance with economic theory.

The 3 things I mentioned above are the ONLY things that can dictate a price drop, unless the entire (and I mean 100%) buying public/demand factor boycotts AP/Plasma. It's safe to say that this won't happen, given human nature... same reason cartels don't work - someone will always subvert the "cartel" (group aiming to dictate price through collaborative supply or demand fixing) to satisfy their own greed, which in this case would be desire to get ahead of the rest of the group.

tl;dr - Once again, it's a problem that won't go away unless money supply is severely reduced (i.e. taxes or less $ bonuses in-game) or Plasma/AP supply is vastly increased (i.e. more given away in-game, or real $ buys you more Plasma than it currently does, probably between 25-100% more).

/know-it-all-ness (sorry for the incessant rambling)

Bender again said...

SIDE NOTE: Anonymous' actions, i.e. buying at the bar to take $ out of the game, would serve to alleviate price as well, by doing two things: 1) reducing demand from the AP/Plasma market, 2) reducing money supply from the game's economy.

This is one thing Ash can adjust to fix the issue. If one can buy drinks at the bar for prices lower than the market dictates, it will drive market behaviour toward the same action Anon is taking.

Ash, I don't know if you see the price increase as a "problem", per se, but if you do want it changed, I'm sure by now you know how to make it happen.

Anonymous said...

In the game context, supply & demand is simple. Thank you Ash for pointing out something that could be helpful if people chose to take your advice.

shadow kissed said...

I know those prices are out of control... people really need to take a few weeks and not buy from the market... I drink and sell plasma... when younger players come in and kick you you know what it really doesnt leave you with much choice... But I do sell plasma for 500,000 or around there still so if any one needs some and I have some to sell ...

DarkAsh said...

I don't see it as a major problem. It's just a lot of people are complaining why the plasma prices are going up and I just needed to explain.

And of course, I'm trying to set the market prices to reflect on the current bar value.

The current bar value is $174,000. Using plasma to gain 3AP (I.E 3 stat points) costs $522,000. So why would you pay $700,000 for a plasma for the same result? (Unless you're getting VIP days but that is rare these days).

The idea is for people to become aware of the bar. Which does sink money out of the game and which is cheaper than buying plasma. I'm hoping slowly after people realise they can get stats cheaper at the bar, prices will drop a little.

Anonymous said...

I can't help but wonder if the real world economic collapses will happen here as well in RoB as well turning a blind eye to the problem and saying "it isn't my fault" will prove just as devastating. Once there is no more plasma and AP to purchase and it is coming to that point will people continue playing the game? Will there be an "economic collaspe" I guess we can only wait and see.

DarkAsh said...

There wont be an economic collapse. AP is always being generated through people leveling up, and plasma being bought into the game. So as long as there are people playing there will be AP to sell. Even if it gets stupidly expensive there will still be a demand for it due to the limits on what you can spend money on.

Mr Saturn said...

1)people rank up, not level, DarkAsh...
2)The only thing you can say is that as long as someone is willing to consume at the price then others will continue to supply

nothing more nothing less, the fact that there is very little to do with "money" does not help as this increases peoples ability to consume

now 95% of you lot are what i would say blaberin "bar-room economics" lets leave it to those that know, their are clerely one or two others above who are well aware.

its simple, dont like it, dont buy, i remmeber plasma for 100k and ap for as little as 20k.


shuutttt uppppp aboutttttt economicssssssssssssss

You wouldnt have me tellin' DarkAsh how to code,

Anonymous said...

This has been happening since the game started. Why raise it now?

DarkAsh said...

I'm not raising it now. As it states I am letting people know due to the floods of questions about it.

Anonymous said...

Ash, I was reading the NY Times when I got on your article talking about RoB's ecomony and your right. Lets make a OPA on these people who sell with high prices. People listen, dont buy any Plasma at this price. Dont give 700 000 for a plasma, it sucks!

Anonymous said...

I didn't want to buy plasma off the market when it was 400k and I wont do it now..I remember when plasma was 170-200k on the market.

Anonymous said...

I think that if someone starts selling for 400k then people will start buying from them, and less from people who want more for them.

deathwish said...

i just wanted to make a note about the coment ash made about useing plasma for ap to buy stats ....this is so freaking stupid hmm 1 plasma = 3 ap = 3 stats

2 1 plasma = 5 vip days = 2280 turns thats 22-66 stat points + up 60 k intrest a day if you have 6 mill in the bank to net you 300000k cash....almost enough to get anther plasma ...

so if you want to use the bar to get rid of cash and sell stats or life you have to drop the value dramaticly like to 20-30 k for the stat points and life which inturn will drop the ap and plasma markets which inturn will increase the number of vip members because they will buy the plasma for that purpose

the chaotic santa said...

huh im not taking it tht seriously

Anonymous said...

I have one single plasma from my first quest and that's all I need. :)

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