Gaming Insights - Marvel Avengers Academy P2P Profiles - "Michael R"

Being F2P (Free-to-Play) in online games, I am very interested in how paying players (P2P or Pay-to-Play) approach the games. This anonymous survey looks at alias "Michael R", a P2P player for the game Marvel Avengers Academy. Our stock questions are in bold.

1. How did you find Marvel Avengers Academy and what made you commit time to the game? 
• I've been a Marvel fan for years. If I remember correctly I saw an ad for it from another game and checked it out.
2. How much time are you able to spend playing the game compared to: What you initially expected; the amount of time you actually play the game; and what you would like your time investment to be?
• I spend a lot more time than I thought I would originally. I used to play it casually. Maybe two or three times a day. Now I play once an hour. I wish it was a lot less time intensive. Maybe like half way between the two.
3. Does this have any influence in your decision to spend money? 
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4. What keeps you coming back to the game / what do you like about the game itself? E.g., The actual mechanics of the game and events such as crafting items and fighting bosses; or collecting characters or decor; or laying out your Academy campus; or following the various story/one particular story; etc. 
• The thing that keeps me coming back and the thing I like most is the writing/story. I find it funny and well-written. I also like the aspect of collecting the heroes.
5. What specifically about the game makes you spend money?
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6. Do you compare your purchases in the game or your reasons to spend money, to any other type of expense (e.g., it's part of your entertainment budget not different from watching a movie, or it's like buying a service with no physical goods you take away, or it's a consumable like eating at a restaurant, etcetera)? Do you feel this comparison is key to understanding why people spend money?
• I would say I classify spending shards as entertainment money. I try not to spend that much on the game.
7. When did you first buy Shards and what made you decide to? E.g., Did you decide to do so as soon as you saw the game, right when you started playing, when the "Buy One, Get One" quest ["Buy a Box of Credits and get US$5 of Shards for free!"] appeared, some experience later in the game, etc...
• I bought shards right when I first started playing to get Spider-Woman.
8. Do you have a budget or other heuristic to determine how much you spend per unit time (e.g., per week); do you have a maximum amount you are willing to put into this game in total after which you will definitely not spend any more? What is your decision process / reasoning?
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9. How much have you spent so far and how do you think you compare with other P2P in the game? How does it compare to your other online game purchases and do you use those purchases to decide how much to spend?
• Honestly I've spent probably around 200 dollars... and it's way too much in my opinion. My partner gets so mad I spend this much on this game. :P  I've tried to cut back on the shards I buy. Its the most [I've spent] on online gaming currency for anything [I've played].
10. How much commitment to the game do you have now that you have spent money, and does that commitment increase the more you spend? What would make you walk away now?
• Having spent so much money does make me feel more invested honestly. I do think a lot lately about going fully F2P... I think if they keep forcing players to pay A LOT to win like they have with this [the Spider-Man Event] I will.
11. How do you feel about F2P players in general? How do you feel about F2P players able to get Shards without paying (e.g., through levelling up or watching advertisements)? How does this influence your purchases? Other than having spent real money in the game, how else do you think you differ from F2P players?
• I think it's frustrating that I don't have the option to earn free shards. I'm definitely not mad at F2P... good for them for being able to do it.
12. What are your expectations / what do you feel you should be entitled to compared to someone who is F2P? How would you feel / what would you do if at some point the game stops developing and no further content is created. Do you feel this is part of the natural life cycle of a game and to be expected?
• The only expectations are that if the game doesn't change [its] pay to win model is that they will loose a lot of players. And then the game will spiral into obscurity. Which would suck because I really enjoy the game. It would be sad to see greed ruin such a fun little game.

If you also play Marvel Avengers Academy and have spent money on the game, we'd love to interview you too and compile more insights into P2P player for all the F2P out there.