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Virtual Worlds Are Worth 1 Billion Dollars

Posted by Zonk on from the that-little-huh dept.

IronWilliamCash writes with a link to a BBC article letting us know some unsurprising news: Massively Multiplayer games are a Billion dollar industry here in the west. They're worth even more in countries like China, South Korea, and Taiwan, but the recognition of the MMOG genre's appeal in Western nations is quite laudable. "Games such as World of Warcraft and worlds like Habbo Hotel are fast becoming "significant platforms" in the converged media world, the report said ... Revenues from subscriptions to MMOGs will hit $1.5bn by 2011. But the growth in MMOGs remains limited compared to developing markets such as video on demand, which is expected to be worth $11.4bn from revenues in four years' time." The article goes on to cover the diversification of the genre and the rise of casual titles in the Massive space.

7 of 56 comments (clear)

  1. Already there by afidel · · Score: 3, Informative

    Lets see, 8.5 million WoW subscribers * ~$12/month * 12 months = ~$1.2 Billion.

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    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
  2. It's only a matter of time... by MaWeiTao · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ...before the government starts taxing MMOs.

    1. Re:It's only a matter of time... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Informative

      MMOs may exist in the virtual world but they're still taxed in the real world. The business entities that owns MMOs are already being taxed as most business are. However, I wouldn't be surprised if a "vice tax" is added to monthly subscription fees that users pay.

    2. Re:It's only a matter of time... by DrEldarion · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In-game currency should only EVER be taxed when it is converted into real currency. Until then, it has no real value.

      Incidentally, people who do make money from selling in-game currency should already be reporting it on their income taxes, so there's no need for extra laws whatsoever.

  3. dr. evil by thhamm · · Score: 4, Funny

    Virtual Worlds Are Worth 1 Billion Dollars

    1 Billion ... muahahahaha ...

  4. Re:MMORPG now = Television 1960's by darkrowan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Next on the Fox Game Network: Leveling with the Stars....

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    AccountKiller
  5. Re:Death and Taxes. by FirmWarez · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean if someone was to go into their server room with a hatchet and some butane...

    A hatchet and some butane? What an obscure choice. Did you just look around your room to see what was there? I mean, some things that would make sense:

    • A sledge hammer and some diesel fuel.
    • An axe and some ethanol.
    • A pipe wrench and some JP4.
    • A baseball bat and some gasoline.
    • A light saber and some isopropyl butanol.
    • A piece of DOM mild steel pipe and some xylene.
    • A pair of wire cutters and red fuming nitric acid.
    • A pomegranete and two fingers of Jack Daniels.


    But a hatchet and some butane?

    Yeah, someone will mod me offtopic, but what a losiferous topic. "News flash: lots of people play Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games!". Uh, yeah, otherwise they'd be called JAFGOWDTSDs: "Just A Few Geeks Online With Digital Twenty Sided Dice". Oh, other news flash people actually pay to play games! Wow! Amazing.

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    It was supposed to be "funny".