Why are people who spend a lot of money on video game micro-transactions called “whales”?
up vote
58
down vote
favorite
Pretty much every game that involves micro-transactions has a large amount of their micro-transaction revenue coming from a very small percentage of their players, the so-called "whales" that spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month on them. I've also sometimes heard gamers that spend lower amounts of money as "dolphins".
Why are these players called whales and dolphins? Does it have to do with the whale hunting or something?
terminology
asked Nov 30 at 9:23
Nzall
11.8k85179
add a comment |
up vote
58
down vote
favorite
Pretty much every game that involves micro-transactions has a large amount of their micro-transaction revenue coming from a very small percentage of their players, the so-called "whales" that spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month on them. I've also sometimes heard gamers that spend lower amounts of money as "dolphins".
Why are these players called whales and dolphins? Does it have to do with the whale hunting or something?
terminology
asked Nov 30 at 9:23
Nzall
11.8k85179
11
Because whales consume vast quantities of tiny things constantly. (Note: This is not the actual reason.)
– Aaron Rotenberg
2 days ago
1
@AaronRotenberg seems like a good 2nd definition for Urban Dictionary lol
– YetAnotherRandomUser
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
58
down vote
favorite
up vote
58
down vote
favorite
Pretty much every game that involves micro-transactions has a large amount of their micro-transaction revenue coming from a very small percentage of their players, the so-called "whales" that spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month on them. I've also sometimes heard gamers that spend lower amounts of money as "dolphins".
Why are these players called whales and dolphins? Does it have to do with the whale hunting or something?
terminology
asked Nov 30 at 9:23
Nzall
11.8k85179
Pretty much every game that involves micro-transactions has a large amount of their micro-transaction revenue coming from a very small percentage of their players, the so-called "whales" that spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month on them. I've also sometimes heard gamers that spend lower amounts of money as "dolphins".
Why are these players called whales and dolphins? Does it have to do with the whale hunting or something?
terminology
terminology
asked Nov 30 at 9:23
Nzall
11.8k85179
asked Nov 30 at 9:23
Nzall
11.8k85179
asked Nov 30 at 9:23
Nzall
11.8k85179
asked Nov 30 at 9:23
Nzall
11.8k85179
asked Nov 30 at 9:23
Nzall
11.8k85179
11.8k85179
11
Because whales consume vast quantities of tiny things constantly. (Note: This is not the actual reason.)
– Aaron Rotenberg
2 days ago
1
@AaronRotenberg seems like a good 2nd definition for Urban Dictionary lol
– YetAnotherRandomUser
2 days ago
add a comment |
11
Because whales consume vast quantities of tiny things constantly. (Note: This is not the actual reason.)
– Aaron Rotenberg
2 days ago
1
@AaronRotenberg seems like a good 2nd definition for Urban Dictionary lol
– YetAnotherRandomUser
2 days ago
11
11
Because whales consume vast quantities of tiny things constantly. (Note: This is not the actual reason.)
– Aaron Rotenberg
2 days ago
Because whales consume vast quantities of tiny things constantly. (Note: This is not the actual reason.)
– Aaron Rotenberg
2 days ago
1
1
@AaronRotenberg seems like a good 2nd definition for Urban Dictionary lol
– YetAnotherRandomUser
2 days ago
@AaronRotenberg seems like a good 2nd definition for Urban Dictionary lol
– YetAnotherRandomUser
2 days ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
101
down vote
The term "Whale" is borrowed from the casino industry, where it is used to describe a rich gambler who bets extraordinarily large amounts of money. Just like in the game industry, casinos want to "catch" the most high-betting whales, because they provide a lot of income for comparably little expense. Casinos often go out of their way to form personal connections with whales and provide them with personalized service to ensure their loyalty and make sure they lose their money in their casinos and not those owned by the competition. Some game companies in the microtransaction business are also known to do this.
The casinos, in turn, took the term from the Poker community which has a tradition of using fish-themed terms for different categories of players, like "fish" for weak players and "shark" for strong players who prey on the "fish" in order to take their money. A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find: a very large fish* who has a lot of money and likes to play high-stakes games despite not being skilled enough to compete in them.
*Yes, I know that whales are mammals and not fish.
answered Nov 30 at 16:32
Philipp
20.5k888150
6
I’d also like to add that “whales” is a term I’ve seen used in investing communities such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.
– At0mic
Dec 1 at 4:38
"A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find" Especially if that whale thinks they're a shark. I think that part of the definition of "whale" is not merely betting a lot of money, but losing a lot of money. Card counters tend to pretend to be whales, when it fact they're not.
– Acccumulation
8 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
The term originated in casinos, where's high rollers (rich people who play for large stakes) are well-looked after by the casino, in order to ensure that they gamble at their casino instead of some place else.
These high rollers were referred to as whales by the casino, which can loosely be translated to "people with money to spend and who are likely to spend it on us". The same loose description applies to people who spend a lot of money on microtransactions, so the description was reused.
"Dolphin" is a wordplay on "whale", as a dolphin is a "small whale" (not biologically accurate but it fits the figure of speech).
answered Nov 30 at 13:47
Flater
2,9931320
21
It may be good to better link to the gambling establishment, and how it tends to be marine based. history of fish/sucker, shark, whale are well described in this article, but not different enough to warrant a new answer: realonlinegambling.com/terms/whale Dolphin refers to someone who "dips in and out" with their money.
– Keeta
Nov 30 at 15:42
16
In order to complete this answer you would now also need to tell us how the casino industry came to use the term "whale".
– Philipp
Nov 30 at 16:19
Dolphins (the mammal, not the fish) are indeed toothed whales.
– TKK
Nov 30 at 19:44
1
Related, the term is also used in retail to indicate returning customers who spend a lot.
– Kevin
Nov 30 at 20:32
2
@TKK I wasn't aware that there were both mammal dolphins and fish dolphins...?
– immibis
2 days ago
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
101
down vote
The term "Whale" is borrowed from the casino industry, where it is used to describe a rich gambler who bets extraordinarily large amounts of money. Just like in the game industry, casinos want to "catch" the most high-betting whales, because they provide a lot of income for comparably little expense. Casinos often go out of their way to form personal connections with whales and provide them with personalized service to ensure their loyalty and make sure they lose their money in their casinos and not those owned by the competition. Some game companies in the microtransaction business are also known to do this.
The casinos, in turn, took the term from the Poker community which has a tradition of using fish-themed terms for different categories of players, like "fish" for weak players and "shark" for strong players who prey on the "fish" in order to take their money. A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find: a very large fish* who has a lot of money and likes to play high-stakes games despite not being skilled enough to compete in them.
*Yes, I know that whales are mammals and not fish.
answered Nov 30 at 16:32
Philipp
20.5k888150
6
I’d also like to add that “whales” is a term I’ve seen used in investing communities such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.
– At0mic
Dec 1 at 4:38
"A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find" Especially if that whale thinks they're a shark. I think that part of the definition of "whale" is not merely betting a lot of money, but losing a lot of money. Card counters tend to pretend to be whales, when it fact they're not.
– Acccumulation
8 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
101
down vote
The term "Whale" is borrowed from the casino industry, where it is used to describe a rich gambler who bets extraordinarily large amounts of money. Just like in the game industry, casinos want to "catch" the most high-betting whales, because they provide a lot of income for comparably little expense. Casinos often go out of their way to form personal connections with whales and provide them with personalized service to ensure their loyalty and make sure they lose their money in their casinos and not those owned by the competition. Some game companies in the microtransaction business are also known to do this.
The casinos, in turn, took the term from the Poker community which has a tradition of using fish-themed terms for different categories of players, like "fish" for weak players and "shark" for strong players who prey on the "fish" in order to take their money. A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find: a very large fish* who has a lot of money and likes to play high-stakes games despite not being skilled enough to compete in them.
*Yes, I know that whales are mammals and not fish.
answered Nov 30 at 16:32
Philipp
20.5k888150
6
I’d also like to add that “whales” is a term I’ve seen used in investing communities such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.
– At0mic
Dec 1 at 4:38
"A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find" Especially if that whale thinks they're a shark. I think that part of the definition of "whale" is not merely betting a lot of money, but losing a lot of money. Card counters tend to pretend to be whales, when it fact they're not.
– Acccumulation
8 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
101
down vote
up vote
101
down vote
The term "Whale" is borrowed from the casino industry, where it is used to describe a rich gambler who bets extraordinarily large amounts of money. Just like in the game industry, casinos want to "catch" the most high-betting whales, because they provide a lot of income for comparably little expense. Casinos often go out of their way to form personal connections with whales and provide them with personalized service to ensure their loyalty and make sure they lose their money in their casinos and not those owned by the competition. Some game companies in the microtransaction business are also known to do this.
The casinos, in turn, took the term from the Poker community which has a tradition of using fish-themed terms for different categories of players, like "fish" for weak players and "shark" for strong players who prey on the "fish" in order to take their money. A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find: a very large fish* who has a lot of money and likes to play high-stakes games despite not being skilled enough to compete in them.
*Yes, I know that whales are mammals and not fish.
answered Nov 30 at 16:32
Philipp
20.5k888150
The term "Whale" is borrowed from the casino industry, where it is used to describe a rich gambler who bets extraordinarily large amounts of money. Just like in the game industry, casinos want to "catch" the most high-betting whales, because they provide a lot of income for comparably little expense. Casinos often go out of their way to form personal connections with whales and provide them with personalized service to ensure their loyalty and make sure they lose their money in their casinos and not those owned by the competition. Some game companies in the microtransaction business are also known to do this.
The casinos, in turn, took the term from the Poker community which has a tradition of using fish-themed terms for different categories of players, like "fish" for weak players and "shark" for strong players who prey on the "fish" in order to take their money. A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find: a very large fish* who has a lot of money and likes to play high-stakes games despite not being skilled enough to compete in them.
*Yes, I know that whales are mammals and not fish.
answered Nov 30 at 16:32
Philipp
20.5k888150
edited Dec 1 at 2:10
answered Nov 30 at 16:32
Philipp
20.5k888150
answered Nov 30 at 16:32
Philipp
20.5k888150
answered Nov 30 at 16:32
Philipp
20.5k888150
20.5k888150
6
I’d also like to add that “whales” is a term I’ve seen used in investing communities such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.
– At0mic
Dec 1 at 4:38
"A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find" Especially if that whale thinks they're a shark. I think that part of the definition of "whale" is not merely betting a lot of money, but losing a lot of money. Card counters tend to pretend to be whales, when it fact they're not.
– Acccumulation
8 hours ago
add a comment |
6
I’d also like to add that “whales” is a term I’ve seen used in investing communities such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.
– At0mic
Dec 1 at 4:38
"A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find" Especially if that whale thinks they're a shark. I think that part of the definition of "whale" is not merely betting a lot of money, but losing a lot of money. Card counters tend to pretend to be whales, when it fact they're not.
– Acccumulation
8 hours ago
6
6
I’d also like to add that “whales” is a term I’ve seen used in investing communities such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.
– At0mic
Dec 1 at 4:38
I’d also like to add that “whales” is a term I’ve seen used in investing communities such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.
– At0mic
Dec 1 at 4:38
"A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find" Especially if that whale thinks they're a shark. I think that part of the definition of "whale" is not merely betting a lot of money, but losing a lot of money. Card counters tend to pretend to be whales, when it fact they're not.
– Acccumulation
8 hours ago
"A "whale" is what every "shark" hopes to find" Especially if that whale thinks they're a shark. I think that part of the definition of "whale" is not merely betting a lot of money, but losing a lot of money. Card counters tend to pretend to be whales, when it fact they're not.
– Acccumulation
8 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
The term originated in casinos, where's high rollers (rich people who play for large stakes) are well-looked after by the casino, in order to ensure that they gamble at their casino instead of some place else.
These high rollers were referred to as whales by the casino, which can loosely be translated to "people with money to spend and who are likely to spend it on us". The same loose description applies to people who spend a lot of money on microtransactions, so the description was reused.
"Dolphin" is a wordplay on "whale", as a dolphin is a "small whale" (not biologically accurate but it fits the figure of speech).
answered Nov 30 at 13:47
Flater
2,9931320
21
It may be good to better link to the gambling establishment, and how it tends to be marine based. history of fish/sucker, shark, whale are well described in this article, but not different enough to warrant a new answer: realonlinegambling.com/terms/whale Dolphin refers to someone who "dips in and out" with their money.
– Keeta
Nov 30 at 15:42
16
In order to complete this answer you would now also need to tell us how the casino industry came to use the term "whale".
– Philipp
Nov 30 at 16:19
Dolphins (the mammal, not the fish) are indeed toothed whales.
– TKK
Nov 30 at 19:44
1
Related, the term is also used in retail to indicate returning customers who spend a lot.
– Kevin
Nov 30 at 20:32
2
@TKK I wasn't aware that there were both mammal dolphins and fish dolphins...?
– immibis
2 days ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
34
down vote
The term originated in casinos, where's high rollers (rich people who play for large stakes) are well-looked after by the casino, in order to ensure that they gamble at their casino instead of some place else.
These high rollers were referred to as whales by the casino, which can loosely be translated to "people with money to spend and who are likely to spend it on us". The same loose description applies to people who spend a lot of money on microtransactions, so the description was reused.
"Dolphin" is a wordplay on "whale", as a dolphin is a "small whale" (not biologically accurate but it fits the figure of speech).
answered Nov 30 at 13:47
Flater
2,9931320
21
It may be good to better link to the gambling establishment, and how it tends to be marine based. history of fish/sucker, shark, whale are well described in this article, but not different enough to warrant a new answer: realonlinegambling.com/terms/whale Dolphin refers to someone who "dips in and out" with their money.
– Keeta
Nov 30 at 15:42
16
In order to complete this answer you would now also need to tell us how the casino industry came to use the term "whale".
– Philipp
Nov 30 at 16:19
Dolphins (the mammal, not the fish) are indeed toothed whales.
– TKK
Nov 30 at 19:44
1
Related, the term is also used in retail to indicate returning customers who spend a lot.
– Kevin
Nov 30 at 20:32
2
@TKK I wasn't aware that there were both mammal dolphins and fish dolphins...?
– immibis
2 days ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
34
down vote
up vote
34
down vote
The term originated in casinos, where's high rollers (rich people who play for large stakes) are well-looked after by the casino, in order to ensure that they gamble at their casino instead of some place else.
These high rollers were referred to as whales by the casino, which can loosely be translated to "people with money to spend and who are likely to spend it on us". The same loose description applies to people who spend a lot of money on microtransactions, so the description was reused.
"Dolphin" is a wordplay on "whale", as a dolphin is a "small whale" (not biologically accurate but it fits the figure of speech).
answered Nov 30 at 13:47
Flater
2,9931320
The term originated in casinos, where's high rollers (rich people who play for large stakes) are well-looked after by the casino, in order to ensure that they gamble at their casino instead of some place else.
These high rollers were referred to as whales by the casino, which can loosely be translated to "people with money to spend and who are likely to spend it on us". The same loose description applies to people who spend a lot of money on microtransactions, so the description was reused.
"Dolphin" is a wordplay on "whale", as a dolphin is a "small whale" (not biologically accurate but it fits the figure of speech).
answered Nov 30 at 13:47
Flater
2,9931320
edited Nov 30 at 14:18
answered Nov 30 at 13:47
Flater
2,9931320
answered Nov 30 at 13:47
Flater
2,9931320
answered Nov 30 at 13:47
Flater
2,9931320
2,9931320
21
It may be good to better link to the gambling establishment, and how it tends to be marine based. history of fish/sucker, shark, whale are well described in this article, but not different enough to warrant a new answer: realonlinegambling.com/terms/whale Dolphin refers to someone who "dips in and out" with their money.
– Keeta
Nov 30 at 15:42
16
In order to complete this answer you would now also need to tell us how the casino industry came to use the term "whale".
– Philipp
Nov 30 at 16:19
Dolphins (the mammal, not the fish) are indeed toothed whales.
– TKK
Nov 30 at 19:44
1
Related, the term is also used in retail to indicate returning customers who spend a lot.
– Kevin
Nov 30 at 20:32
2
@TKK I wasn't aware that there were both mammal dolphins and fish dolphins...?
– immibis
2 days ago
|
show 1 more comment
21
It may be good to better link to the gambling establishment, and how it tends to be marine based. history of fish/sucker, shark, whale are well described in this article, but not different enough to warrant a new answer: realonlinegambling.com/terms/whale Dolphin refers to someone who "dips in and out" with their money.
– Keeta
Nov 30 at 15:42
16
In order to complete this answer you would now also need to tell us how the casino industry came to use the term "whale".
– Philipp
Nov 30 at 16:19
Dolphins (the mammal, not the fish) are indeed toothed whales.
– TKK
Nov 30 at 19:44
1
Related, the term is also used in retail to indicate returning customers who spend a lot.
– Kevin
Nov 30 at 20:32
2
@TKK I wasn't aware that there were both mammal dolphins and fish dolphins...?
– immibis
2 days ago
21
21
It may be good to better link to the gambling establishment, and how it tends to be marine based. history of fish/sucker, shark, whale are well described in this article, but not different enough to warrant a new answer: realonlinegambling.com/terms/whale Dolphin refers to someone who "dips in and out" with their money.
– Keeta
Nov 30 at 15:42
It may be good to better link to the gambling establishment, and how it tends to be marine based. history of fish/sucker, shark, whale are well described in this article, but not different enough to warrant a new answer: realonlinegambling.com/terms/whale Dolphin refers to someone who "dips in and out" with their money.
– Keeta
Nov 30 at 15:42
16
16
In order to complete this answer you would now also need to tell us how the casino industry came to use the term "whale".
– Philipp
Nov 30 at 16:19
In order to complete this answer you would now also need to tell us how the casino industry came to use the term "whale".
– Philipp
Nov 30 at 16:19
Dolphins (the mammal, not the fish) are indeed toothed whales.
– TKK
Nov 30 at 19:44
Dolphins (the mammal, not the fish) are indeed toothed whales.
– TKK
Nov 30 at 19:44
1
1
Related, the term is also used in retail to indicate returning customers who spend a lot.
– Kevin
Nov 30 at 20:32
Related, the term is also used in retail to indicate returning customers who spend a lot.
– Kevin
Nov 30 at 20:32
2
2
@TKK I wasn't aware that there were both mammal dolphins and fish dolphins...?
– immibis
2 days ago
@TKK I wasn't aware that there were both mammal dolphins and fish dolphins...?
– immibis
2 days ago
|
show 1 more comment
Thanks for contributing an answer to Arqade!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fgaming.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f341706%2fwhy-are-people-who-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-video-game-micro-transactions-called%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
11
Because whales consume vast quantities of tiny things constantly. (Note: This is not the actual reason.)
– Aaron Rotenberg
2 days ago
1
@AaronRotenberg seems like a good 2nd definition for Urban Dictionary lol
– YetAnotherRandomUser
2 days ago