Guild Wars 2

Hello,
to start with, I have to say that I really enjoy this game being monthly subscription-fee free and I’m thankful for that. Honestly, I’ve never played and enjoyed any game as much as GW2. This is the reason why I want to support the devs and keep the game alive by buying Gems. Now, here comes the question:
Do the Devs get more money if I buy Gems in-game or via an e-shop? Can somebody please explain to me how this works? Beacause the price/gem is pretty much the same either on BLTC or an e-shop and it seems to me that buying them via e-shop must be less profitable for ANet. But if I’m wrong, please, feel free to correct me
P.S.: Sorry if my English wasn't good. But I hope you understood what I was talking about

devs get paid by the hour I’m pretty sure all gem sales goes toward ncsoft

First off, devs get paid off indirectly. Devs often don’t have anything to do with the gem shop – how about the actual designers of the item, the coders, and the artists? Do they get their share? It’s too complicated to make such a reward system work. By supporting the game through the gem store, you are supporting Arenanet and NCSoft by keeping them in business and employing individuals.

Second, I’m sure Anet would prefer people buy items with $$$ directly, but buying with gold helps them indirectly as well. It pushes the gold/gem rate up, making it more lucrative for people to sell their gems for money.

all sales do not go to arenanet, they go to NCSoft.

NCSoft is using that money to make wildstar.

Eventually it all goes to NCSOFT. But even NCSOFT lists income and profit for each of their wholly owned subsidiaries, which ArenaNet is one of. Just in the end, all income on paper is NCSOFT’s, but it does stop and get counted along the way by ArenaNet, NCEurope and NC Interactive.

You guys are leaving out Nexon, who have been in charge of the Gem Shop since late 2012: http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/Meleagar/112012/24237_NCSoft-Sold-Arenanet-and-GW2-Out-For-Nexon-Investment

When Nexon were given a share of the control over ArenaNet from NCSoft, the first thing they did was create the “Monetization Manager” position, and installed the person who had been in charge of the Cash Shop in Maplestory. She is now running the Gem Shop, and Nexon (makers or Maplestory) do share in the proceeds.

You’ll still be indirectly supporting the devs though, because for them to be able to continue working on GW2, GW2 has to be profitable for NCSoft. If everybody stopped buying Gems, eventually NCSoft would just pull the plug.

Of course, that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon but you get the idea.

Otokomae.9356:

You guys are leaving out Nexon, who have been in charge of the Gem Shop since late 2012: http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/Meleagar/112012/24237_NCSoft-Sold-Arenanet-and-GW2-Out-For-Nexon-Investment

When Nexon were given a share of the control over ArenaNet from NCSoft, the first thing they did was create the “Monetization Manager” position, and installed the person who had been in charge of the Cash Shop in Maplestory. She is now running the Gem Shop, and Nexon (makers or Maplestory) do share in the proceeds.

The position was filled several months before Nexon bought outstanding shares of the stock. NCSOFT saw none of that money. All of this was before the game went live and after ANet announced they were going with a cash shop as their business model.

But no, lets not bother to spend 5 minutes to research the accuracy of that article, let’s just post it again.

You all know where we are again.

First, devs doubtfulyl benefit from gem purchases directly in any way. As others have stated, they’re paid a salary that is likely the same regardless of gem sales.

Second, there’s no guarantee that ArenaNet even sees gemstore proceeds directly. NCSoft could direct it all back to ArenaNet’s operations, or they could use it to prop up their other games, which I will almost guarantee they do.

That said, more gem purchases = more successful game = indirect increased chance of raises and bonuses (maybe).

One thing to note is the fact that if they don’t earn any money from the gem-store (or too little money) NCSoft might decide that GW2 is no longer worth investing in, and thus closing it down.

So buying from the gemstore is very much supporting the devs.

Charak.9761:

all sales do not go to arenanet, they go to NCSoft.

NCSoft is using that money to make wildstar.

Which isn’t bad by any means – for example, Aion indirectly funded GW2 while GW1 probably funded Aion as well.

Just send them some cookies to Seattle.