<sod>In August 2015, a former employee of MZ was arrested and charged with stealing proprietary data that included "player spending habits broken down by time, location, age and other characteristics" which showed, for example, which of ''Game of War''{{'}}s "in-game items generate the most revenue and where in the game players often quit."<ref name=needleman>{{cite journal |title=Why 'Game of War' User Data Is So Valuable |first=Sarah E. |last=Needleman |date=August 26, 2015 |journal=Wall Street Journal |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/08/26/why-game-of-war-user-data-is-so-valuable/ |deadurl=no |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20151225213912/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/08/26/why-game-of-war-user-data-is-so-valuable/ |archivedate=2015-12-25 }}</ref> According to the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', the monetary value of the data derived from the fact that "about 3% of mobile-game players buy virtual goodies, such as extra turns and special powers. Once you have purchased the initial low cost deals the price goes up to $99.99 for in game items. It is not possible to spend only a few dollars a month. There are  players known as whales – a name derived from casinos – plunk down $100s and $1,000's of dollars every month. With the introduction of Ancient Kingdoms these so called whales are going from kingdom to kingdom and attacking the few non spending players who haven't quit already "<ref name=needleman/><eod>
<sod>In August 2015, a former employee of MZ was arrested and charged with stealing proprietary data that included "player spending habits broken down by time, location, age and other characteristics" which showed, for example, which of ''Game of War''{{'}}s "in-game items generate the most revenue and where in the game players often quit."<ref name=needleman>{{cite journal |title=Why 'Game of War' User Data Is So Valuable |first=Sarah E. |last=Needleman |date=August 26, 2015 |journal=Wall Street Journal |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/08/26/why-game-of-war-user-data-is-so-valuable/ |deadurl=no |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20151225213912/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/08/26/why-game-of-war-user-data-is-so-valuable/ |archivedate=2015-12-25 }}</ref> According to the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', the monetary value of the data derived from the fact that "about 3% of mobile-game players buy virtual goodies, such as extra turns and special powers. Most spend only a few dollars a month, while a tiny fraction known as whales – a name derived from casinos – plunk down $50 or more a month."<ref name=needleman/><eod>