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Interview w/Edward Castronova

Posted by michael on from the gender-bender dept.

scubacuda writes "/.ers interested in the recent editorial on real $ in MMORPGs might also be interested in a GrepLaw interview I just conducted with Edward Castranova (expert witness in the recent Black Hat Hacker Court) about how his work on synthetic economies affects larger law and policy issues on the Internet. Ted has some interesting thoughts, particularly how online game-based economics (Star Wars Galaxies, EverQuest, Lineage, etc.) will eventually serve as the bases for "real governments." Should mainstream economics journals take his work on gender and virtual economies seriously, Ted promises to eat his virtual hat."

3 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. Wikipedia entry on synthetic economies by scubacuda · · Score: 5, Informative
    From Wikipedia:

    Synthetic economies perform useful resource-allocation and entertainment roles within MUDs. They also interact with the Earth economy. US dollar markets for synthetic-economy goods, currency, and services may be observed at online auction sites such as Ebay (search "Ultima Online", or "DAoC" for Dark Age of Camelot) and PlayerAuctions.com (search "EQ" for EverQuest).

    According to standard conceptions of economic value (see the subjective theory of value), the goods and services of synthetic economies are endowed with real value. The value of a good is determined by its users, and is measured by their willingness to give up resources to obtain it. MUD users are willing to devote both time and Earth currency to obtaining synthetic goods, making these digital assets as real as any assets on Earth.
  2. Science, unfortunately, disagrees with this guy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    His assertion that gender identity is a "choice" rather than an endowment is neatly contradicted by the relevant scientific disciplines. GENDER IDENTITY IS NOT A CHOICE. Gender EXPRESSION is a choice; nevertheless, you cannot "choose" if you want to feel like a man or a woman.

    I am transsexual myself. I am a registered SlashDot user, but because of the widespread public prejudices and misconceptions (e.g. that we are all gay, cross-dressers, "faggots", "sinners", etc.) I am posting anonymously.

    Gender identity is fixed in the brain (specifically, in the hypothalamus) prior to birth, or at some point in the very first years of life. (I'm talking maybe the first three or four, not the first twenty or thirty.) Scientists studying the brains of deceased transsexuals have found that male-to-female transsexuals possess FEMALE brain structures. Likewise, female-to-male transsexuals possess MALE brain structures. These structures are intrinsic to the makeup of the brain itself-- and cannot be altered. They were present regardless of whether or not the subject underwent any sort of transgendered therapy-- e.g. taking hormones, having a "sex change", etc. Again, these structures are fixed and unchangeable. The position of anyone who feels that gender identity (for example, in the case of transsexuals) can be "changed" (excepting through extreme brainwashing) is as untenable and scientifically bogus as those who feel that gay people can be "cured" of their sexual orientation. Incidentally, please note that sexual orientation and gender identity are different things altogether. Transexuals can be gay (or lesbian), straight, bi, or even asexual, just like anyone else. Think of sexual orientation as the "x axis" and gender identity as the "y axis". You can be at any point in that system.

    The only "choice" a transsexual has is whether or not they choose to act on their inner needs and undergo "transition". Gender identity, in no cases (whether a transsexual or a "normal" person) is a choice. You can no more "choose" to be male or female inside (i.e. in your brain, where gender feelings originate) than you can "choose" to be smart, or dumb, or right-handed, or left-handed. It's something you're born with. So, yes, gender identity IS an endowment. However, it doesn't necessarily always coincide with one's genitalia.

    In case you doubt me, please read the following entries from reputable scientific journals:

    ARTICLE #1
    ARTICLE #2

    This is NOT a matter of "opinion". You cannot "feel" that atoms don't exist. You cannot "feel" that 2 + 2 makes 27.5. You likewise cannot "feel" that gender identity is a choice. It is simply not so. Science has demonstrated this quite clearly.

  3. Re:cash in games by Melchior_of_wg · · Score: 2, Informative

    Variants of this has actually been tried out, with varying results. Note that you have to be *really* careful at what you are actually selling. I can give some examples and reasons why they are good/bad. The general feeling I've got after years of playing and talking about this is that a lot of consumers despite it because it goes against the reasons they play games in the first place. You generally don't want games to be influenced by RL, because, well, they are games.

    Project Entropia
    Real money could be converted to game money and back. Upsides: System made to prevent/lessen cheating. Game money was more important. Downsides: Bugs hit MUCH harder. Could be very costly. General feeling that the devs made the game steal your money.

    Tibia
    Normally free to play, but you can pay for permium account upgrades. With this, you got access to more spells, areas and such. Upsides: You still had to work for the items, which mostly removed the unfairness. Downsides: Still sepparation between haves and havenots.

    Achaea
    Normally free to play, but you could purchase 'credits' for real money. Credits could be used to train skills, get really good weapons, houses and similar. They could also be sold to other players. Upsides: Havenots could spend ingame time to get things to trade for credits. Downsides: Made some people overly powerful quickly.