VC ratio is ridiculous.

[bda28]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

I'm 85 overall now, with my three point shot, medium shot, and layup all at the 90 level cap (92 for layup), about 25 games (give or take one two) into the first season. And no, I haven't paid any real money for a single VC (though I did get the free 10,000 code around xmas time, as well as the free 3,000 and 5,000 codes of late).

I think it's pretty easy to level up in this, myself. I don't think I ever cracked 70 overall on the last-gen version through 20 games... and I even made it as a starter in that, whereas I'm still riding the pine in the next-gen version (even though the next best SG on the team is 73 overal...and injured).

[VDusen04]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

I'm 85 overall now, with my three point shot, medium shot, and layup all at the 90 level cap (92 for layup), about 25 games (give or take one two) into the first season. And no, I haven't paid any real money for a single VC (though I did get the free 10,000 code around xmas time, as well as the free 3,000 and 5,000 codes of late).

I think it's pretty easy to level up in this, myself. I don't think I ever cracked 70 overall on the last-gen version through 20 games... and I even made it as a starter in that, whereas I'm still riding the pine in the next-gen version (even though the next best SG on the team is 73 overal...and injured).

I suppose the logical follow-up questions would be: how much do you play per day on average and, perhaps more importantly, have you used all of your VC on simply improving your MyPlayer's skill? Do you play MyGM, MyTeam, or purchase non-skill related aspects for your MyPlayer (clothing, shoes, signature dunks, jump shot alterations)?

I think the issue many people are having is they're not able to enjoy more than one mode because the golden coins are spread so thin. If they focus all their virtual currency on one aspect of one mode, they may be able to build it up a little bit through some grinding (like you did) but it'd be at the expense of many other aspects of the game. Many are left to decide whether to spend their hard-earned currency on skill for their MyPlayer, the ability to unlock shoes they created themselves, or attempting to level up their general manager so they can better negotiate with free agents. It doesn't seem as if it all can be equally afforded through a normal playing schedule (non-grinding, 4-7 hours of gaming per week).

[kadzier]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

Something that I just caught on to that blew my friggin' mind....

Not only do you have to use VC to buy accessories and gear, but you have to also use VC to buy DIFFERENT COLORS of the same gear. You don't just get to buy a headband and choose what color it is after the fact. You gotta buy a white headband and you can only wear a white headband. If you want a green one, you gotta buy that one too.

I mean, really, 2K?

Anyone remember how in the "old days" (really 2K12 but it seems so long ago) when you didn't have to grind or pay for any of this, and could actually customize your personal avatar to your liking? Where basic things every basketball player wears like headbands or arm sleeves weren't considered commodities to be "earned," but merely another aspect of personal customization?

Now it's wear the same pair of generic medium-length white socks forever or blow three games worth of VC just to give your player a little bit of personality. The direction this series seems to be heading with respect to microtransactions just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[poloelite]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

Yo, I took time to read this whole thread and I honestly have very limited issues with VC. Should you have to buy different color headbands? No. But other than that I don't see the real issues. The game is meant to last a full year and each mode has levels of progression. The fact that people want an 85 rated myPlayer with dunks and sig skills, while having gold players in myTeam and a GM with all the bells and whistles a little over a month after the game has been out is the ridiculous point to me. If you play the game, you will develop and earn VC. All it sounds like to me is people want to compete with the VC buyers online or they just don't want to play the game to develop.

The problem isn't VC, it's the answer. If they removed VC and the option to buy it and replaced it with SP and no option to buy, it would be the same game as now with the same progression and no option for you to alter it. I can't remember the last time I've seen an 85 overall rookie in real life. But if that's your choice you have an option to buy VC and get that, best of both worlds. If not, follow the story and progress as the game is intended. It sounds like all story modes should give us everything up front so we can play it as we want, not as intended. What you're really angry at is the level of progression, not VC. If they take out the option to buy it next year and call it XP and change nothing else, the exact same complaints will be here. The fact that they say, if you want to jump levels and acquire things on your own terms you can buy that option, seems fair to me.

We can't be stuck in the old ways, because honestly everything moves to new directions. But if you play a myGM season you get around 80-90K VC, enough to make moves. For the guys that sims seasons, this is apparently not how they intended the game to be played this year. It destroys the progression system they have in my mind, built by actually playing the game. I can feel the pain to a certain extent, but all the arguments I hear behind it scream "I want to cheese or be great right away and they won't let me with this progression system unless I buy VC". Or "I want my myPlayer to hit The Park decked out, but I don't make enough VC to do so". But none of that makes the game unplayable. No hate, just my two cents spend it on VC.

[LorenzoDC]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

I can feel the pain to a certain extent, but all the arguments I hear behind it scream "I want to cheese or be great right away and they won't let me with this progression system unless I buy VC". Or "I want my myPlayer to hit The Park decked out, but I don't make enough VC to do so".

This is just willfully dishonest or you lack basic reading comprehension skills. You write pretty well, so I'm going with dishonest.

Not everyone has the leisure time to play all those games through a season. Maybe you're wealthy and have the time, or maybe you're unemployed. Happy for you that you have the time. But since you feel no qualms about making up pure BS about what people are saying and maligning their motives, what are we to make of you and your blithe mendacity and straw man character attacks?

[poloelite]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

This is just willfully dishonest or you lack basic reading comprehension skills. You write pretty well, so I'm going with dishonest.

Not everyone has the leisure time to play all those games through a season. Maybe you're wealthy and have the time, or maybe you're unemployed. Happy for you that you have the time. But since you feel no qualms about making up pure BS about what people are saying and maligning their motives, what are we to make of you and your blithe mendacity and straw man character attacks?

My dude, my wealth has zero to do with this. I read the complaints here and stated my opinion. If you disagree, good for you. The game rewards you if you play it, if you don't have the time, then you can purchase progression. Should the game allow you to be a top 10 overall player in one year? Should the game let you simulate your way to progression? They decided no and I don't disagree. I can't simulate missions in GTA or buy the ending. I have to play the game. VC is an OPTION. AN OPTION. Anything you can do with VC you can do by playing the game. The problem here is the progression itself, not that you can buy VC. If they remove it right now and call is XP and you can't buy it, shoes would still be 7,500 XP and you would progress at the same rate. VC makes progression easier for those who choose to purchase it, but the real issue is 2K changed progression and people want to move faster along, or be able to simulate instead of playing as in years past and achieve their idea of success. So fall back off the insults my dude, it's just a game.

[VDusen04]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

My dude, my wealth has zero to do with this. I read the complaints here and stated my opinion. If you disagree, good for you. The game rewards you if you play it, if you don't have the time, then you can purchase progression. Should the game allow you to be a top 10 overall player in one year? Should the game let you simulate your way to progression? They decided no and I don't disagree. I can't simulate missions in GTA or buy the ending. I have to play the game. VC is an OPTION. AN OPTION. Anything you can do with VC you can do by playing the game. The problem here is the progression itself, not that you can buy VC. If they remove it right now and call is XP and you can't buy it, shoes would still be 7,500 XP and you would progress at the same rate. VC makes progression easier for those who choose to purchase it, but the real issue is 2K changed progression and people want to move faster along, or be able to simulate instead of playing as in years past and achieve their idea of success. So fall back off the insults my dude, it's just a game.

In this case, I think the question becomes, do consumers want a game that will require one full year of committed daily grinding just in hopes of being able to unlock portions of the game that were previously free and open? Do people want to have to play a bevy of games to merely unlock a pair of shoes with currency that's also expected to be used for everything from attributes, suits, rotation adjustments and RPG levels? The answer appears to be a resounding no.

Speaking of RPG levels, another question through all of this that I find worth discussing: in this simulation NBA basketball game, what is even remotely realistic about the current virtual currency system? Gamers are currently required to earn fictional golden coins that they can then spend in exchange for allowing their fake general manager (who doubles as an NBA basketball player) to earn the ability to speak better to his players. Wait, what?

All that said, I agree with your generalized premise that MyPlayers earning a 99 overall rating through just a couple weeks of play might not be too fun. However, I believe that is merely one small aspect of everyone's overarching issue with the VC system itself. As it turns out, I'm not sure many people like the idea of being charged (with in-game currency) for the right to alter rotations, adjust socks, or buy a new accessory color. There is absolutely no base in reality (or enjoyment) with these moves.

[doctorhay53]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

In this case, I think the question becomes, do consumers want a game that will require one full year of committed daily grinding just in hopes of being able to unlock portions of the game that were previously free and open? Do people want to have to play a bevy of games to merely unlock a pair of shoes with currency that's also expected to be used for everything from attributes, suits, rotation adjustments and RPG levels? The answer appears to be a resounding no.

Speaking of RPG levels, another question through all of this that I find worth discussing: in this simulation NBA basketball game, what is even remotely realistic about the current virtual currency system? Gamers are currently required to earn fictional golden coins that they can then spend in exchange for allowing their fake general manager (who doubles as an NBA basketball player) to earn the ability to speak better to his players. Wait, what?

All that said, I agree with your generalized premise that MyPlayers earning a 99 overall rating through just a couple weeks of play might not be too fun. However, I believe that is merely one small aspect of everyone's overarching issue with the VC system itself. As it turns out, I'm not sure many people like the idea of being charged (with in-game currency) for the right to alter rotations, adjust socks, or buy a new accessory color. There is absolutely no base in reality (or enjoyment) with these moves.

The worst for me is having to purchase the ability to hire/fire people as the GM.

I mean why would someone hire me as a GM when I literally start off with the ability to do almost absolutely nothing except trade and sign players? Makes no sense.

The problem for me and the reason I disagree with the poster above is my experience in MyTEAM. It's an absolutely unrealistic grind to get the trophies / achievements for MyTEAM. You can feel the "buy VC!!!" message just oozing off of everything.

My opinion is that a game should be tuned for the person who doesn't use microtransactions. Microtransactions can speed things up for people who are impatient or short on time. I agree with poloelite on that.

However in this particular game the game feels tuned such that you have to play this game and this game alone for the whole year it's out to even approach completing the trophies (without buying VC). My biggest complaint about VC is that it causes 2K to undertune playing the game naturally in order to make you want to buy VC. I have likened it to feeling like I'm being swindled by a used car salesman. Everything about this game screams capitalism at me. It dwarfs any potential feeling of "great, immersive, sports game experience" that 2K sports games have always given me.

The truth is I just can't get immersed into this game because of VC. And that's why I'm not buying the game until it's either gone or completely re-tooled.

[kadzier]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

In this case, I think the question becomes, do consumers want a game that will require one full year of committed daily grinding just in hopes of being able to unlock portions of the game that were previously free and open? Do people want to have to play a bevy of games to merely unlock a pair of shoes with currency that's also expected to be used for everything from attributes, suits, rotation adjustments and RPG levels? The answer appears to be a resounding no.

Speaking of RPG levels, another question through all of this that I find worth discussing: in this simulation NBA basketball game, what is even remotely realistic about the current virtual currency system? Gamers are currently required to earn fictional golden coins that they can then spend in exchange for allowing their fake general manager (who doubles as an NBA basketball player) to earn the ability to speak better to his players. Wait, what?

All that said, I agree with your generalized premise that MyPlayers earning a 99 overall rating through just a couple weeks of play might not be too fun. However, I believe that is merely one small aspect of everyone's overarching issue with the VC system itself. As it turns out, I'm not sure many people like the idea of being charged (with in-game currency) for the right to alter rotations, adjust socks, or buy a new accessory color. There is absolutely no base in reality (or enjoyment) with these moves.

Amen, brother! Couldn't have said it better myself.

Just for comparison, I actually searched youtube videos of NBA 2K12 to find an example of the type of customization we used to have in My Career / My Player, that used to be completely free. And it nearly made me gag to see how much has been stripped away in the past two years.

http://youtu.be/X3U2thl85YQ?t=4m53s

(starts at 4:53 if the timestamp doesn't work)

Look at that. Arm sleeves, undershirts, compression shorts, all fully customizable with selectable colors. You can even pick your model of shoes and choose their colorways, right in the player creation menu!

This is way closer to an actual simulation of what it's like to be a player in the NBA, not this fake 'earn golden coins to get one accessory' stuff.

[poloelite]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

In this case, I think the question becomes, do consumers want a game that will require one full year of committed daily grinding just in hopes of being able to unlock portions of the game that were previously free and open? Do people want to have to play a bevy of games to merely unlock a pair of shoes with currency that's also expected to be used for everything from attributes, suits, rotation adjustments and RPG levels? The answer appears to be a resounding no.

Speaking of RPG levels, another question through all of this that I find worth discussing: in this simulation NBA basketball game, what is even remotely realistic about the current virtual currency system? Gamers are currently required to earn fictional golden coins that they can then spend in exchange for allowing their fake general manager (who doubles as an NBA basketball player) to earn the ability to speak better to his players. Wait, what?

All that said, I agree with your generalized premise that MyPlayers earning a 99 overall rating through just a couple weeks of play might not be too fun. However, I believe that is merely one small aspect of everyone's overarching issue with the VC system itself. As it turns out, I'm not sure many people like the idea of being charged (with in-game currency) for the right to alter rotations, adjust socks, or buy a new accessory color. There is absolutely no base in reality (or enjoyment) with these moves.

I hear you man, but no one was upset when it was skill points instead. Skill points are just as realistic as VC, except you can't buy them. VC gives you the option of purchasing them and since the level of progression has changed people are upset. I'm not trying to beef with anybody, especially over a video game. I see a ton of opinions against VC and I'm a voice that is for it. I understand the concept of business and I don't mind a company including micro transactions to increase their bottom line as long as you can play the game without it.

I'm furious over the server issues and the online saves, those are game breaking issues. But this VC thing is far over blown to me. Each mode requires a level of natural progression in it and you receive VC to purchase items. In my opinion some are upset because they want to progress quicker and don't want to buy VC to do it. That's a progression issue in my eyes. If they got 3,000 VC a game and a headband was 10VC, shoes 150VC there would be no complaints. If they then went to myTeam and could buy gold packs after every game, no complaints either. As the title of the thread suggests it's just the ratio, not VC or XP or SP in itself. I've been a Forza player and have been buying things and earning in game currency for years, haven't heard any gripes about it.

And the rotation thing in myGM is personally confusing to me. You're a GM and in order to adjust a rotation, which is the coach's duty, you have to earn that upgrade by playing one game. Doesn't seem to crazy to me. I don't play myTeam, but if you took VC out and just had myTeam points would it require the same amount of play time to buy packs?

People losing their VC, game saves and all that will have me join the revolution against 2K if it's not addressed, but the VC argument won't even be a problem come March or April in my opinion when we're all rolling in it from just playing the game itself. Peace

[VDusen04]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

I hear you man, but no one was upset when it was skill points instead. Skill points are just as realistic as VC, except you can't buy them. VC gives you the option of purchasing them and since the level of progression has changed people are upset. I'm not trying to beef with anybody, especially over a video game. I see a ton of opinions against VC and I'm a voice that is for it. I understand the concept of business and I don't mind a company including micro transactions to increase their bottom line as long as you can play the game without it.

I'm furious over the server issues and the online saves, those are game breaking issues. But this VC thing is far over blown to me. Each mode requires a level of natural progression in it and you receive VC to purchase items. In my opinion some are upset because they want to progress quicker and don't want to buy VC to do it. That's a progression issue in my eyes. If they got 3,000 VC a game and a headband was 10VC, shoes 150VC there would be no complaints. If they then went to myTeam and could buy gold packs after every game, no complaints either. As the title of the thread suggests it's just the ratio, not VC or XP or SP in itself. I've been a Forza player and have been buying things and earning in game currency for years, haven't heard any gripes about it.

And the rotation thing in myGM is personally confusing to me. You're a GM and in order to adjust a rotation, which is the coach's duty, you have to earn that upgrade by playing one game. Doesn't seem to crazy to me. I don't play myTeam, but if you took VC out and just had myTeam points would it require the same amount of play time to buy packs?

People losing their VC, game saves and all that will have me join the revolution against 2K if it's not addressed, but the VC argument won't even be a problem come March or April in my opinion when we're all rolling in it from just playing the game itself. Peace

We may have more in common than initially suspected. I believe virtual currency can have a place in NBA 2K. However, I believe its current implementation is very much off base in many regards.

Specifically regarding MyGM, the mode's alterations for the next generation seem to have skewed wildly away from real life authenticity. To ask the question once more, why is a fictional general manager who doubles as an NBA basketball player required to "upgrade" by acquiring fake golden coins and choosing what employment freedom he wishes to gain? Why would an NBA simulation not allow a general manager to fire a coach until he pays enough pirate's booty? I think many folks believe the implementation of virtual currency may be a driving force behind this.

Some may be upset with virtual currency because it doesn't allow them to become 99 rated MyPlayers quick enough. I believe there are many, many more people who are more upset because virtual currency has seemed to play a significant role in 2K's direction change from off-the-court realism to off-the-court fantasy, all while removing many freedoms we were once afforded.

Regarding MyPlayer specifically, we went from a fantasy element (creating a player) being placed in a realistic mode (with D-League, Summer League, Training Camp, etc.) to now not even being able to wear non-generic shoes unless we pay for them by grinding through games, which bears little resemblance to anything even vaguely realistic. The people are saying they don't mind skill progression taking time. They are saying it's ridiculous for an NBA player to not be allowed to wear a wristband unless they barter with coins... the same coins they're expected to use for attributes, suits, shoes, MyGM, and MyTeam.

For many, VC has taken out a lot of the game's fun and replaced it with work. There's a balance to be struck, and it seems that balance has skewed too far in the wrong direction.

[memtndude]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

I personally dgaf about this VC uproar. I always spend $20-$40 dollars every year extra to purchase some VC and I spend it how I see fit. I mean, yes it sucks that you have to do that to fully enjoy the game but it doesn't really hurt my pockets.

But then again, I am employed full time and spending $80-$100 dollars a year on a game I fully enjoy for a good 10-12 months is good enough for me. My reasoning is that spending $80 to $100 a year on NBA 2k will in turn save me thousands by staying home and playing the game and not going out to the bar every other day to spend $100 dollars or so a night.

I can empathize with the rest of y'all but for me, this VC thing is almost a non issue. One way or another, everyone will soon have to accept that this is the new wave of gaming. It does suck but no matter how hard you guys cry and make noise about this, I just don't see any developers changing their stance on this. Micro-transactions is a very lucrative market and it's looking like that is where the future of gaming is going.

You have been proven wrong already. http://www.shacknews.com/article/823...dd-drag-racing

If people speak out, and stick together, the developers back off. They might not do away with it, but they'll definitely change pricing models. If everyone refuses to buy it next year, maybe people will get what they want. Hopefully they learned their lesson from MLB. If you're lazy and greedy for several years in a row, nobody will byy your game.

[poloelite]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

We may have more in common than initially suspected. I believe virtual currency can have a place in NBA 2K. However, I believe its current implementation is very much off base in many regards.

Specifically regarding MyGM, the mode's alterations for the next generation seem to have skewed wildly away from real life authenticity. To ask the question once more, why is a fictional general manager who doubles as an NBA basketball player required to "upgrade" by acquiring fake golden coins and choosing what employment freedom he wishes to gain? Why would an NBA simulation not allow a general manager to fire a coach until he pays enough pirate's booty? I think many folks believe the implementation of virtual currency may be a driving force behind this.

Some may be upset with virtual currency because it doesn't allow them to become 99 rated MyPlayers quick enough. I believe there are many, many more people who are more upset because virtual currency has seemed to play a significant role in 2K's direction change from off-the-court realism to off-the-court fantasy, all while removing many freedoms we were once afforded.

Regarding MyPlayer specifically, we went from a fantasy element (creating a player) being placed in a realistic mode (with D-League, Summer League, Training Camp, etc.) to now not even being able to wear non-generic shoes unless we pay for them by grinding through games, which bears little resemblance to anything even vaguely realistic. The people are saying they don't mind skill progression taking time. They are saying it's ridiculous for an NBA player to not be allowed to wear a wristband unless they barter with coins... the same coins they're expected to use for attributes, suits, shoes, MyGM, and MyTeam.

For many, VC has taken out a lot of the game's fun and replaced it with work. There's a balance to be struck, and it seems that balance has skewed too far in the wrong direction.

I hear you and you make a lot of valid points. I looked at myGM as you are a GM the owner doesn't trust, so you have to earn certain rights. I pictured the owner being like a Cuban or Jerry Jones type and hiring and firing is up to them until you acquire the trust and skill set. I didn't come into next gen with association expectations because they never mentioned it once as being in the game. So to have valid expectations for a mode that is just being created isn't to reasonable. MyGM isn't Association, that mode doesn't exist on next gen consoles. My main argument is in this new mode if they didn't call it VC and you couldn't buy it, would it be ok as XP you just earned from playing?

As far as myCareer goes I was a fan of the Summer League and D League versions of 2k10 and 11 I believe. But they've went in a different direction. The fact that you can literally get enough VC from the phone app in 3 days for a wristband and headband makes it a non issue to me. If it's an issue to others, I understand. Is any of this how the real NBA works? No. But to take the NBA and simulate it in a video game I agree there has to be a progression system. I also agree there needs to be a an option to speed up progression if I like and VC assists with that. I maintain that if we just played the game on court for 2-3 months, everyone would have a ton of VC to do whatever they like. Also, I thought in myCareer shoes were free when you signed an endorsement? I don't play that mode enough, but if that's the case you're only paying for shoes for the Park correct?

Good debate, Happy New Year to you fam

[VDusen04]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

I hear you and you make a lot of valid points. I looked at myGM as you are a GM the owner doesn't trust, so you have to earn certain rights. I pictured the owner being like a Cuban or Jerry Jones type and hiring and firing is up to them until you acquire the trust and skill set. I didn't come into next gen with association expectations because they never mentioned it once as being in the game. So to have valid expectations for a mode that is just being created isn't to reasonable. MyGM isn't Association, that mode doesn't exist on next gen consoles. My main argument is in this new mode if they didn't call it VC and you couldn't buy it, would it be ok as XP you just earned from playing?

As far as myCareer goes I was a fan of the Summer League and D League versions of 2k10 and 11 I believe. But they've went in a different direction. The fact that you can literally get enough VC from the phone app in 3 days for a wristband and headband makes it a non issue to me. If it's an issue to others, I understand. Is any of this how the real NBA works? No. But to take the NBA and simulate it in a video game I agree there has to be a progression system. I also agree there needs to be a an option to speed up progression if I like and VC assists with that. I maintain that if we just played the game on court for 2-3 months, everyone would have a ton of VC to do whatever they like. Also, I thought in myCareer shoes were free when you signed an endorsement? I don't play that mode enough, but if that's the case you're only paying for shoes for the Park correct?

Good debate, Happy New Year to you fam

I think it's admirable you were able to create a fictional back story regarding your owner being a Jerry Jones-type who doesn't let their general manager do any of their duties (without first paying in gold). However, I think we must admit this is a departure from the simulation standards NBA 2K has been establishing for years, no? Once again, many people are wondering why freedom and control of the franchise mode had been largely removed in favor of squeezing in a much more fictionalized substitute. And once again, virtual currency seems to have played a very large role in the matter.

Contrary to your belief, I believe it's well within reason for any and every gamer to have valid expectations of any and every mode added to NBA 2K. Many fans of the series were looking forward to an improved version of this basketball simulation's franchise mode. Instead, they received a fictional mess strewn with golden coin requirements for everyday tasks. In the case of MyGM, the matter of functionality is just the tip of the iceberg. Many have very strong issues with the premise of the mode itself ("Buy the ability to regulate concessions costs! Until you buy it, we don't know who's taking care of this stuff!").

People have forever looked to Franchise modes as a way to control their own little basketball universe as much (30 team control, full edits everywhere) or as little (one team, simulating season after season) as possible. NBA 2K14's franchise now controls everything for us, forcing gamers to forego realism in favor of their fantasy twist and once again, VC appears at least partly responsible.

Regarding MyPlayer, the self-admitted fact that one must use a phone application for three days just to afford a headband just about sums everything up in a nutshell. "New NBA video game allows gamers to purchase headband for in-game character after just three days of working with smart phone application (sold separately)" could easily serve as a headline on The Onion.

All that said, I truly appreciate the well wishes. This is an enjoyable debate.

[Sundown]

Re: VC ratio is ridiculous.

Any argument that brings up the iPhone app as excusing how badly VC costs are implemented in 2K14 is a non-starter. The game should be a satisfying experience all on its own without any external apps and buying VC.

And the fact that you make so much more messing with an app for a few minutes than you actually do playing the game for hours just highlights the absurdity.