One of the biggest controversies surrounding Grand Theft Auto Online (GTAO) is its in-game currency. Specifically, many players believe that the game’s virtual currency, ‘V-Bucks’, is worth less than its real-world counterpart. While the game’s developers stress that they do not intend to defraud or trick their players, they have yet to respond to these complaints.
To learn more about how to game using Bitcoin (BTC), we spoke with Anthony Domanico, the man largely credited with breaking the Grand Theft Auto V price bubble. Domincico has become one of the industry’s leading experts on the subject, and he agreed to share his insights.
V-Bucks And The Competition
When it comes to value, V-Bucks are worth ‘monetizing’ in several ways in GTAO. For example, players can purchase in-game items with real money, or they can exchange V-Bucks for Bitcoin (BTC), which is currently worth around $15,000. V-Bucks can also be used to access different game modes and features in GTAO.
As noted by Domincico, the value of V-Bucks in GTAO is directly linked to the popularity of various vehicles in the game and the rate at which players are willing to exchange real-world money for in-game ‘stuff’. Put simply, the more expensive a vehicle becomes, the more valuable V-Bucks the player will receive. In this way, the game’s supply and demand influence each other, creating an upward spiral that could easily cause the price of V-Bucks to surpass that of real-world money.
According to Domincico, this is exactly what happened during the height of the Bitcoin frenzy, when one V-Buck was worth around $75. Given how popular some vehicles are (i.e. The Mercedes-Benz Maybach and The Rolls Royce Wraith), this could explain why so many people believe that the value of V-Bucks is grossly understated, as even expensive cars are frequently discounted in favour of more popular models. A similar situation exists with the game’s boats, where expensive models are scarce and frequently become the subject of ‘bargains’ and ‘sale’ signs, even though nothing of value is actually being offered.
Is The Value Of V-Bucks Real?
Unfortunately, no. The value of V-Bucks in GTAO is simply a consequence of the ‘economics’ behind the game, which is largely based on the frequency at which players make large purchases. In theory, this should not be a problem, but in practice it creates a wealth of opportunities for those looking to game without actually spending any money at all.
Take a look at the value of some of GTAO’s most popular vehicles:
- The Ford F-150: $500 (in-game)
- The Suzuki Vitara: $1,000,000
- The Pontiac Firebird: $1,250,000
- The Mercedes-Benz Maybach: $750,000
- The Land Rover Range Rover: $700,000
- The Lamborghini Gallardo: $500,000
As you can see, these are all expensive cars, and they all have a significant dollar value. However, try selling any of these vehicles on the open market and you will most likely see a significant discrepancy between their value and the price you will receive. In most cases, these vehicles are not even worth what the game estimates they are worth.
To illustrate how this works, let’s say that you want to sell the Ford F-150. According to the game, this model is worth $500, but at best, you will probably only receive $300 for it. The remaining $200 represents your profit. If you want to make serious money in GTAO, all you need to do is to find an expensive car that has low requirements and can be readily sold for a quick profit.
To begin with, the game does not always correctly value the cars it provides. Even more troubling is the fact that many of these values are based on software estimates, which are entirely arbitrary. This is why many gamers believe that the value of V-Bucks is grossly understated. With so many opportunities to make quick money available, it’s little wonder people have started using ‘monetized’ vehicles as a way of gaming without having to spend a penny. As long as you can find a buyer for your goods, you can make a significant amount of cash quickly.
What are your thoughts on the subject? Do you believe that the value of V-Bucks is overstated, or understated? Let us know what you think in the comments below!