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Hey Facebook addicts, your addiction is ringing in at $1.6 billion this year.
That's the estimated revenues the Facebook games will bring in the midst of a recession, on a site where every fifth day gullible people insist you fan "keep Facebook free or I'm quitting" groups.
Hey, I'm a Facebook addict. But to this point, it's an addiction that hasn't cost me a dime (unless you count the electricity and wear and tear on my computer).
That's because I refuse to buy into the gaming culture.
Walking around a big box store (shame, shame, I know) over the weekend, I found an entire rack dedicated to gift cards.
Then I looked closer -- they were Farmville gift cards.
Because nothing says "happy birthday" like $25 for planting imaginary corn.
According to NPR, only about 20 percent of Facebook users have played the games in the past three months. A fair guess is most of them don't pony up any cash.
So that leaves the rest of you bankrolling these companies to the tune of an expected $1.6 billion. BILLION!
Folks, if you like to garden so much, here's an idea. Walk outside and pull some weeds. It's free.
Or take $100 to the local garden center and go nuts. You'll add value to your home, get a workout, and save yourself some electricity and wear and tear on your computer.
Are you a Facebook gamer?
Image via RJ Bailey/Flickr
Comments (7)
I play games on there all the time and have never spent a dime. The money is for "extra" stuff.
Wait, people actually spend money on Farmville? I ignore all the games on facebook, and use it only as a social site. In fact I hide all that nonsense about corn, cooking, and pokes.
I play some of the games on facebook. I would never put real money into them though. If I had to put real money into them, I wouldn't be playing them.
Ohhhh just think you could plant your own real vegetables and save even more money because you don't have to buy them at the market.
I do play one game, Frontierville, which is made by the same company. I refuse to spend any money on it and as much as I like the game I'd be disappointed if someone bought me a giftcard for it! LOL
I play more games than I probably should on Facebook, and I haven't spent any money at all.
The funny thing is, with a lot of the games, if you're patient enough, you can get the points/gold/cash that you would normally have to pay for, by finding it randomly, or leveling up. :D
that picture of the farm is lameeee....mine is so much better...lol=]...i have a serious addiction but i do NOT spend actual money to get the extra stuff that my farm can live without. But as you play the game and level up, sometimes you earn the "FarmCash" for free....me likey =]
I'll admit, I spent a little money on Frontierville but only $5. Otherwise I play free.