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Joystiq

Square Enix introduces 'Crysta' proprietary money system in Japan

by Ben Gilbert on Dec 16th 2009 4:15PM

There's nothing quite like the feeling of exchanging your very own hard-earned cash for virtual ducats, knowing you'll never get it back. As it turns out, Japanese publisher Square Enix is a big fan of your money, and has just introduced its own proprietary currency to Japan.

Named "Crysta" (not just the name of that questionable girl from your high school anymore!), the virtual money can be used for "online community games like Party Castle ... MMO Fantasy Earth Zero, and to purchase soundtracks off the Square Enix e-Store," according to Siliconera. No announcement has been made on whether or not "Crysta" will end up in North America just yet, but we imagine that Square Enix would be happy to take our money as well.

Source

Tags: business, crysta, fantasy-earth-zero, japan, mmo, money, party-castle, square-enix, virtual-currency

Reader Comments (22)

I want to laugh but I'm too busy being confused at this story.

*by

I suppose it's better than points?

It confused me too... so.. you spend money, to buy fake money, to buy you things with. Why can't we pay with actual money again?

It's basically Square's equivalent of Microsoft points.

Well, yeah, I get that. But MS points are somewhat more understandable, although I hate 'm just the same.

It's not like you have a whole lot of other options to buy DLC/Arcade games and I know they get you with the left over point balance thing. You always spend more money then you really need.

I just don't seem why someone would be enticed to buy stuff from Square Enix like this, if you have other options.

@MystileArmor

I was going to break down why these "pretend" dollars make more sense, but Wikipedia breaks it down perfectly in the Microsoft Points article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Points#Criticisms

Basically, less transaction fees for the company, trick people into thinking their money has a different value than it really does, plus you can now guarantee return business (if you force people to buy in increments).

Didn't really think about the transaction fees, that makes sense, from a business perspective.

Yeah MS points are evil. I personally only purchase point cards rather than through the marketplace. I wish I could purchase in less increments than 1600. If I want a game that is only 400 points, I am left with 1200 points I really didn't want. Those points tend to stay for Arcade/DLC deals. Just wish you could do like a gift card of some sort and be able to purchase whatever value you desire. At least give me the option of 800 point cards.

Yeah - as ducttape said... it's all about money. Companies that do this can use the money you spent on points you haven't redeemed to make short-term investments. I'm not a big fan of the practice...

why the hell is this not called Gil

Because that isn't quite at the stratospheric level of retardation that Crysta is. It's more tropospheric.

OK, who wrote this and why do they know about the girl I dated in middle school? Seriously I'm dying laughing here, I dated a girl named Krista who cheated on me and started sleeping around the school after that.

Damn... When I was in middle school the only thing that mattered were pogs, let alone sleeping around.

I slept around my High School too. Especially my math classes. Man those classes were boring. (/lame joke)

Same thing for me really, I was fairly naive to the situation until quite a bit later. Apparently there were others in my school that had things figured out.

And here we are, playing video games and commenting on blogs while others still sleep around....
....
Anyone want to build a fort out of cardboard boxes with me?

so if i buy a squenix product via the xbox marketplace......will i have to buy crysta with microsoft points?

Square Enix must have been corrupted by Microsoft.

WE DON'T TAKE ITCHY & SCRATCHY MONEY

This was announced a month ago
http://ffxiv.zam.com/story.html?story=20705

Sounds tempting for the soundtracks.

But I'd rather have a physical copy of them than a digital-only which is what i'm assuming the Crysta will net you.

They should start paying their employees in Crysta.

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Square Enix introduces 'Crysta' proprietary money system in Japan

Reader Comments (22)

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:24PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:25PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:32PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:38PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:44PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:45PM ducttapeBigSexy said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:49PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:52PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:06PM fadeoutagain2784 said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:38PM Uncontrol said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:06PM JPeak said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:40PM Kuipo said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:46PM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:48PM ducttapeBigSexy said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:49PM Kuipo said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:17PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:40PM Puertoricarious said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 4:52PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:01PM Ample Salty said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:12PM idrumgood said

Posted: Dec 16th 2009 5:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 17th 2009 7:57AM Unvrfd said

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