Legitimizing Real Money Trading In Games

MMOGamer interviewed Andy Schneider, co-founder of Live Gamer, a company working with several major game publishers (including Acclaim, Funcom, and SOE) to legitimize the real money trading (RMT) industry in online games. Schneider expects this method of customer service to grow much more popular in the West over the next few years, especially after the success it's had in Asia. "It started in the very earliest MMOs, if not back in the MUD days in a very grassroots sort of way, but then obviously got into a more opportunistic and nefarious industry. When I talk about legitimate RMT, it's about a publisher supporting the notion that people want to buy and sell virtual items for real money, and they have decided to proactively support that notion and give their player-base a way to do that. ... It takes the manual process out of the equation that most players are engaged in with the black market, and reduces the fraud considerably, which is good for players. ... The reason there are gold farmers out there, the reason why there is nearly a two billion dollar secondary market for virtual items, is because of consumer demand."

Comments

On Bribing the DM

[Enderreil]

>It would be like bribing your DM to let your third level character find a +5 sword. Who would continue to play in a gaming group if such a disgusting thing were to occur?

This happens every week. It is only right to bribe the DM for all his hard work.

Rule #1: The DM need never pay his share of the pizza for he has an infinite number of Tarrasques and magical swords. ^_-

That said though, trust me when I say, "You CAN'T afford a +5 Sword!"

Re:On Bribing the DM

[daid303]

That said though, trust me when I say, "You CAN'T afford a +5 Sword!"

Unless you have boobs.

Profit

[Smivs]

1) Start virtual brothel
2) Charge punters real money
3) *****
4)Profit!

Re:It works for Second LIfe

[Anonymous Coward]

Why didn't they get bailed out? Obviously, there was systemic risk in Second Life?