Kid spends 37,000 EUR on a free to play game

[Nineshadow]

That's $46,381.90, according to today's conversion rates. More than some people make in a year!

 

Horror stories about how much money people have spent on stuff you can buy in games have been around as long as there has been microtransactions and in-app purchases. But one teenager in Belgium went absolutely crazy with the amount of money he poured into online strategy game Game of War: Fire Age.

 

According to Belgian news outlet Nieuwsblad, the unnamed kid was reportedly buying in-game gold via his grandfather's credit card. The credit card info was given to him by his mother, who had requested her son's help to buy and download eBooks onto her tablet. After linking the credit card to his own iTunes account, he spent thousands of euros on gold in Game of War: Fire Age over the course of a couple of months. The boy's mother says that he claims not to have known that he was spending real money.

 

There's been recent concern about the messaging around in-app purchases in similar free-to-play games, which has led the European Commission to strongly recommend that apps built on the business model no longer call themselves 'free'. Google's App Store has changed its policies to fall in line with the new rules. While Apple hasn't followed suit, the company behind the iPhone and iPad has intervened in the past when kids have unwittingly made large in-app purchases. We've reached out to representatives for Machine Zone, the company that makes Game of War: Fire Age and will update this post if we hear back.

 

Source

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Jeeeeeez.

Some kids...oh wait,I'm 15 too.I'm not that stupid though,not even close.

Some would blame the mother,but hey,she was used by her son to his benefit.It's not entirely her fault.However,not noticing that amount of money going away...wtf.

[themaniac]

what the heck where do these people get all this money

[Unhelpful]

what the heck where do these people get all this money

Step 1: Be rich

Step 2: ???

Step 3: Profit

[Si3Rra_7]

Wow , did they receive a refund or smth ?

[Nineshadow]

what the heck where do these people get all this money

More interesting,how the hell didn't the mother notice 40 000 EUR just going away.

[AlexGoesHigh]

what the heck where do these people get all this money

that's credit cards for you

 

also the fuck kind of parent are these?

[Si3Rra_7]

Jeeeeeez.

Some kids...oh wait,I'm 15 too.I'm not that stupid though,not even close.

Some would blame the mother,but hey,she was used by her son to his benefit.It's not entirely her fault.

 

 I wasn't that retarded at the age of 15 wth , and i remember because it was 2 years ago ... I've seen cases with 7-8 year olds but 15 ? In a year in America he would be given a the responsibility to drive a car

[themaniac]

Step 1: Be rich

Step 2: ???

Step 3: Profit

ok

[themaniac]

More interesting,how the hell didn't the mother notice 40 000 EUR just going away.

i have know idea why she wouldn't notice

[SurvivorNVL]

Just.. I don't care how they have that much money, but this is something that is bound to happen many times over when people are irresponsible and let a kid have hold of a credit card.  I am only 18, but I find that when you're still in your early, early 20's and teens you are still a kid no matter what and hell even in to your later 20's you are.  I really hope there was discipline in this even if the kid, "Didn't know he was spending real money" at 15 I expect a kid knows what they're doing with a credit-card and ESPECIALLY from Belgium. There's no probable way the old man will get back his money, which was probably hard-earned, but I do hope he does get his money back as this is just.. stupid of a situation.  

[Tacitus]

what the heck where do these people get all this money

 

 

More interesting,how the hell didn't the mother notice 40 000 EUR just going away.

 

And how much shit could you manage to buy in-game with 37,000 Euros...

[Frix]

Wow , did they receive a refund or smth ?

Hope not

[Si3Rra_7]

Hope not

Spinning cock does not approve of your evilness

[RushTfe32]

Education issue here. What the hell is doing this mother with his son? When I was that age, I used to play ogame. By this time, they only have commander mode, and I had to suffer and sweat in order to have my mom's phone, send a message and have a week of commander mode... Forget about having a credit card on my hands. I had my own debit card, and only if I had found a job, I could have some money in there.

[Leonard]

what the heck where do these people get all this money

I don't know and i don't care, i just want to know if he/she wants to buy anything of mine for that price. I got furniture, cookware, carpets, food....come and buy 37,000 EUROs for each item is fair

[WinNut]

The part about him "not knowing he was spending real money" nearly made me spit my tea all over my monitor.

[dalekphalm]

More interesting,how the hell didn't the mother notice 40 000 EUR just going away.

If you had read the article, you'd realize that the Mother didn't own the credit card. It was the Grandfather's card.

 

that's credit cards for you

 

also the fuck kind of parent are these?

See above. The mother likely didn't know until it was FAR too late.

 

And I think this kid is either one of the following:

1. Actually mentally disabled/under developed. If so, this is tragic and nothing else.

2. A fucking dumbass who is completely inconsiderate to others.

 

I can't think of any other possible alternatives. No normal teenager would do this.

[frostin1990]

What kind of banks are those that don't send messages to account holders about their account being debited/credited.

[Sharif]

What kind of banks are those that don't send messages to account holders about their account being debited/credited.

Then again so heavily and continuously 

[Sharif]

This is just dumb and the kid's parents most probably made him spoiled by now but its not completely their fault though....other roles may be playing a factor as well 

[dlf]

Why I'd rather pay about up to $60, then play "nothing" and get microtrasactions.

[kayodoc]

I believe an open-hand slap is in order...two if the mother is feeling adventurous.

[CreativeTHC]

" Free To Play Game " ...I hope no one will play that with this thing + other companys won't let you add more than $200 $300 in a rly short time of time, cuz they will bann you account or they are just worried what's going on, if thoese are real money. Never heard of this game.

[Aniallation]

Oh this game, overadvertised shit, comes up everywhere 

[NumLock21]

Use real money to buy fake money! What?!

What's sad is you get to see more and more of these game, where you use real money to buy virtual junk. Shows how confident them developers are with their shitty ass games.

They know it won't sell, so they use this tactic to get money. And those who actually spend real money are 10x as stupid, especially those that write reviews on it and say spending real money is worth it.

http://www.gameskinny.com/1b054/candy-crush-represents-everything-thats-wrong-with-mobile-gaming