With so many different video game currencies that can be bought with real money, it’s easy to lose track of your finances. An “in-game calculator” is here to help
500 FC Points in EA SPORTS FC 24 here, 1,000 V-Bucks in Fortnite there – but what does that actually mean in real money? The new “in-game calculator” designed by the Jung von Matt agency for the savings banks should help answer this question. The tool can be used both via the browser and as an app. But what does it actually offer?
According to the official press release, the calculator contains the “30 most popular online games” and their in-game currencies. In addition to the aforementioned titles FC 24 and Fortnite, League of Legends (Riot Points), Valorant (Valorant Points), Candy Crush (Gold Bars) and Apex Legends (Apex Coins) are also listed. Some other games such as Pokemon UNITE are currently not available
Image recognition in the app still prone to errors
In the browser version, the base rate of the virtual currency is listed: A table shows the real money value of a unit of the respective in-game currency. In practice, the calculator should be much more interesting. If you want to know what 2,000 FC Points are in “hard Euros”, as Jung von Matt puts it, you simply have to select the in-game currency and type in the amount
The app, on the other hand, currently only works via image recognition. Players have to take a photo of the respective amount and virtual currency in the game in order to receive the conversion. In the first eSports tests, this sometimes worked better and sometimes worse. Sometimes the amount is not recognized, sometimes the game is confused. The success rate varies from title to title
Research tool, but no real control
With a little patience, the correct result should appear at some point. So far, neither the app nor the browser version have any other functions beyond displaying the results. It is not possible to link to the respective game or even bank account. There is also nowhere to note whether a purchase has been made or not in order to obtain a proper overview of individual expenditure.
“More transparency and cost control” should be made possible. At least for the latter, however, the informational basis is provided at most. However, if all you really want is to find out quickly and easily how many euros are hidden behind in-game sum X or Y, you will be spared the need for more time-consuming internet research
