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Second Life MMO To Let Players Make Money In-Game

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the third-life-coming-soon dept.

Thanks to Terra Nova for its post revealing that MMO 'virtual world' Second Life will allow virtual money made in-game to be converted to real cash, as part of a complicated new scheme which reduces subscription fees for many, but makes players pay for the amount of virtual land they rent. The post explains: "Anyone who pays [the monthly subscription] fee can now use the object-creation tools within the world to make content... charge Linden dollars for that content, and eventually turn some of those virtual dollars into real ones through a cash Developer Incentive program." The official announcement and discussion follow-up have more information on changes for this MMO, which recently announced it recognizes the IP of objects created in its virtual world.

3 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Wouldn't it be weird... by BlackCobra43 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If some form of Communistic land-ownership "nations" actually develeopped... ..and worked?

    --
    I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
  2. Pay your money, take your chances by xoboots · · Score: 3, Interesting

    >> it recognizes the IP of objects created in its virtual world.

    Funny. Considering how poorly and how contentious "IP" concerns are in the real-world, can anyone really expect a game company to do a better job? Doesn't this just sound like yet another reason for kids to get hold of credit cards, legally or not?

    Will be interesting to see how this evolves.

  3. Interesting taxation issues... by Bookwyrm · · Score: 3, Interesting

    An interesting problem with this is that the virtual world property now has real world cash-value. If Second Life 'pays' me in virtual money, which I can convert to real dollars, is this a form of employment? If I make a thousand dollars from selling things, will the IRS start hounding me? If some one steals a virtual object from me, can I have them arrested if I can show a monetary loss? As long as it is all play money, there were fewer issues -- but now that they are bringing in real money... well, lots of people and organizations interested in that, for better or worse.