Real Cash for DF Coin

If some of you are like I was, then you are hemming and hawing at spending real cash on DF coin. After I read this forum thread (www.dogfightplay.com/index.php/forum/2-g...-bought-coins#190750)on the topic, I decided to spend my cash. This quote especially got me to take out the wallet: “[The creator of DF] has worked hard to create this and people have the balls to say "I've never bought coins!" […] Would you do a year’s work for someone and find it funny when they jump around in front of you cheering that they haven't paid you anything?” ([LB] who is [LB]??).

I ended up contributing about $20 U.S. dollars, and I say contributing for a reason. The way I see it, I donated money to my current favorite pastime. I see DF as community first that surrounds a game second. However, I’ve had my moments of regret, which is why I’m writing this post… to save some of you some grief. Before anyone decides to spend money on DF, I recommend asking yourself one question: Is DF a service provided Echo Boom, or is it a community created by Zuperman whom you want to support?

LB’s argument is a strong one especially if you are a pilot who honors gaining upgrades singularly on the broken wings of those you have shot down. However, let’s put all of that aside for a moment and look at the situation from a more practical point of view. There are a few things to consider before shelling out cash like I did. Once a player opens the pocket book for DF the schematics of the game appear differently and the changes made to the game are harder for a player to just roll with. Hard earned cash is now involved. Glitches and upgrades occur all of the time in DF. It is a fact; the nature of beast. Are those changes going to make you angry after spending some dough?

Take for example darraxx who said, “Ok I'm getting real ticked off. I'm losing coin. So far this has happened twice for a total of 10k gone poof” and [M] COD Dan who said, “I'm having problems with my cash... again.” The point here is that it is one thing to lose some DF coins gained from several kills; it is quite another to lose real dollars and cents, and customers, if that’s what you are, should be informed. Of course, it is possible that those complaints above, and the many like them, are fabricated or have been resolved immediately. So, please keep that in mind as well.

However, there is no speculation that the purchasing power and the benefits of the game change frequently. During a debate about how much it costs to purchase a fully upgraded top tier plane found in the link above (somewhere around $100-$150 U.S. seemed to be the consensus), [WS]HD offed this advice: Buy coins “on a needed basis bc you may find that one particular plane and setup that fits you perfectly, and then there's no need to buy anything else.” Sounds like pretty good advice.

However, I have been playing DF for more about 8 months, and I have seen many changes. I have earned enough coins to buy some decent planes that I have enjoyed flying. However, those planes seem to become not so great after improvements to the game set them down several notches. In addition, yesterday, I noticed that my parachute ammo had been significantly reduced. So HD’s advice doesn’t quite hold because that perfect fit you spent real money on is bound to change. Furthermore, one may also consider how long the D8 is going to remain the trophy plane (if that is your goal of buying points), which raises several questions about the possibility of upcoming changes. Echo Boom is under no contract to make sure your “set up” remains the way you like it.

With changes and glitches like these, you may take a moment to consider what you are purchasing. If DF to you is like that service I mentioned above, then I recommend you rethink your willingness to purchase DF coins. When I say service, take, for example, a cell phone company. Had my data usage dramatically dropped the way my chute ammo did, I’d be making some seriously angry phone calls to At&t’s customer service hotline. And DF doesn’t have a customer care center. However, none of that applies here because I didn’t feel that way with DF.

Here’s why:

Remember that quote from LB? “[The creator of DF] has worked hard to create this and people have the balls to say "I've never bought coins!" …” I believe this argument still holds. I view my $20 as a contribution to one of my favorite pastimes as I said already. In a way, I feel I am supporting the likelihood that I will be able to continue to enjoy the game. And, $20 feels to me to be a fair contribution.

So I urge you out there who maybe considering making their first purchase (or another) to ask yourself how much DF is worth to you. If you are buying coin for a permanent advantage over other players, you can probably expect to be disappointed in the long run and looking for Echo Boom's direct phone number. However, if you are part of the community and you want to contribute to the playing time of yourself and others with the added benefit of a few upgrades, then stretch those legs and dig for that wallet. DF is a great game.

Finally, for those of you who want to contribute but don’t have the cash, I have read that simply clicking on advertisements is also a great way to contribute to the success of DF. So take a moment and make several clicks. Then jump back into the cockpit.

If you like this post, also see my essay on DF ethics here: www.dogfightplay.com/index.php/forum/2-g...article-on-df-ethics