A Close, Yet Contentious Relationship
Whales and grinders have always had a very close, yet often contentious, relationship in free-trade games where items can be bought and sold. They are often likened to water and fire, eternally incompatible. Recently, news that many prominent whales have gathered in 'Tuyệt Thế Vô Song' has sparked intense debate.
The 'Fear' of Pay-to-Win
Many believe that a large influx of whales into 'Tuyệt Thế Vô Song' will disadvantage grinders. Whales can simply spend money to acquire powerful items from grinders, bypassing the need for the traditional grind. This could shorten the time to reach max level and max gear, widening the gap between whales and grinders, and potentially compromising fairness.
Concerns About Game Balance
Game player Nam Lê expressed his concerns: "Playing games should be for entertainment, but excessive spending that creates imbalance ruins the fun. Especially in a grind-and-trade RPG. Many games have become unbalanced due to the overwhelming power of whales. Whales often team up with other whales."
The Power of 'Whale'
As anyone who has played games like 'Độc Cô Cửu Kiếm' or 'Võ Lâm 1 2' knows, a server dominated by whales is often problematic. Therefore, I prefer games where people grind for fun, working together to train, farm, and trade, rather than simply buying their way to the top.
A Counterargument: Opportunity for Grinders
Disagreeing with this view, game player Minh Cao countered that more whales mean more opportunities for grinders to earn money. They can sell items to whales and use the profits to upgrade their own gear. "Honestly, in any game I play, whales and grinders can both thrive. Especially in a game that doesn't require a lot of money to be enjoyable, the gap between them is smaller. Grinders sell items to whales to get rich, and whales spend money to buy items and are often lazy. In areas like PvP or large-scale battles, whales aren't always dominant; it's about the community. And a strong community needs whales."
Cooperation for Difficult Content
Sometimes, a generous whale is needed for the server to defeat challenging bosses like these.
A Symbiotic Relationship
However, in practice, for grind-focused, martial arts-themed games like 'Tuyệt Thế Vô Song', there's a symbiotic relationship between grinders and whales. One cannot exist without the other. Grinders need buyers for their items, and whales are the ones willing to spend money on them.
The more whales there are, the higher the value of items, providing more opportunities for traders to profit, and their earnings multiply. This income allows grinders to acquire gear without spending real money.
Ultimately, whether this relationship will be harmonious or fraught with conflict remains to be seen. Experiencing 'Tuyệt Thế Vô Song' firsthand will likely provide clarity.