While I don't care if TV Exec's know what I watch and I also want Tivo to stay in business, what worries me is the long term consequences that these statistics could have on the Advertising industry. Since I got my Tivo, I've quit watching commercials. So my user statistics, as well as those of many other Tivo users, are racking up to support a big change in how products are advertised.
Will we see more sponsorship of whole TV shows by one company? Will there be more product placement in the shows themselves? Further, if eventually most households have a DVR and Tivo or a Tivo-like service, will there be pressure to somehow prevent the subscriber from fast-forwarding through the sponsor's message?
I don't understand why someone would pay for 40 SOJS (Stone of Jordan, a ring which has become a form of currency among D2 players). If someone has 40 SOJs, it makes me suspicious that at least some of them are duped items made by hackers. At the next update, the duped items will most likely disappear.
I am an avid Diablo 2 player. Many of the items going for any amount of serious money are very hard to find. It literally takes hundreds of hours of gameplay to complete an elite/exceptional set of items in the traditional manner. These items require not only a high character level to even have a chance to find them, but a very low chance of actually finding the items. Tal Rasha's Wrappings, an elite/exceptional set, goes consistently for over $150 on eBay.
Trading items can consume a lot of time, too. One may find a unique or exceptional/elite set item, but it may be one from a set you don't care about.
Buying these items is the quickest, surest way of getting them; this is a simple case of immediate gratification. Many people who want to enjoy the game, do not have the time it takes to invest to get the set items that they would like. This game is a hobby to them, and some people have items that they want.
And as far as the banker who says he earned $25,000 off Diablo 2 items goes - well, he probably deserved it, because it must have taken many, many hours of his time. My advice - don't quit your day job, unless of course, you are 14 and work in fast food.
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While I don't care if TV Exec's know what I watch and I also want Tivo to stay in business, what worries me is the long term consequences that these statistics could have on the Advertising industry. Since I got my Tivo, I've quit watching commercials. So my user statistics, as well as those of many other Tivo users, are racking up to support a big change in how products are advertised.
Will we see more sponsorship of whole TV shows by one company? Will there be more product placement in the shows themselves? Further, if eventually most households have a DVR and Tivo or a Tivo-like service, will there be pressure to somehow prevent the subscriber from fast-forwarding through the sponsor's message?
I don't understand why someone would pay for 40 SOJS (Stone of Jordan, a ring which has become a form of currency among D2 players). If someone has 40 SOJs, it makes me suspicious that at least some of them are duped items made by hackers. At the next update, the duped items will most likely disappear.
I am an avid Diablo 2 player. Many of the items going for any amount of serious money are very hard to find. It literally takes hundreds of hours of gameplay to complete an elite/exceptional set of items in the traditional manner. These items require not only a high character level to even have a chance to find them, but a very low chance of actually finding the items. Tal Rasha's Wrappings, an elite/exceptional set, goes consistently for over $150 on eBay.
Trading items can consume a lot of time, too. One may find a unique or exceptional/elite set item, but it may be one from a set you don't care about.
Buying these items is the quickest, surest way of getting them; this is a simple case of immediate gratification. Many people who want to enjoy the game, do not have the time it takes to invest to get the set items that they would like. This game is a hobby to them, and some people have items that they want.
And as far as the banker who says he earned $25,000 off Diablo 2 items goes - well, he probably deserved it, because it must have taken many, many hours of his time. My advice - don't quit your day job, unless of course, you are 14 and work in fast food.