Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Soapbox: If you want to sell special items, just do it already]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/the-soapbox-if-you-want-to-sell-special-items-get-to-it-alread/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/the-soapbox-if-you-want-to-sell-special-items-get-to-it-alread/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/the-soapbox-if-you-want-to-sell-special-items-get-to-it-alread/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I've argued before about the merits of being an honest cash-shop salesperson. You have to be upfront, blunt, and willing to take some heat. Bigpoint is one of my favorite examples of a cash-shop dependent developer simply because it says what it means and means what it says. It sells items, sometimes powerful items, in several different titles. Granted, the studio usually offers a way to get those same items through in-game means, but that doesn't make for as good a story.

We reported on Bigpoint a while ago when its reps essentially said that if a developer is going to make an effort to sell in-game items, it should do it the right way by making those items have a significant impact on the game by being either powerful or desirable. I cannot agree more. Bigpoint is a car lot that sells beautiful luxury automobiles. It also sells junkers and even gives out a lot of cars for free, but its charity once again does not make for a good dramatic write-up. I tend to think that if you you are going to make a cash-shop, depending on the style of game, of course, you as a developer have got to consider just what sort of impact you want that cash-shop to have on your players, and you can't be afraid to push your idea from the beginning.

But just get on with it.

Continue reading The Soapbox: If you want to sell special items, just do it already

MassivelyThe Soapbox: If you want to sell special items, just do it already originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanBigpointbsg-onlinecash-shopccpcylonsdark-orbiteditorialeve-onlinefeaturedlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroMicrotransactionsop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxthe-soapboxvirtual-goodsTue, 10 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gdc-austin-2011-ccp-on-virtual-goods-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online
Remember Monoclegate? CCP sure does, and at GDC this week, the company reflected on some lessons learned from its introduction of virtual goods to EVE Online. Associate Producer Ben Cockerill from CCP games offered a candid look at what the team learned through both player response and market data. While the initial launch of virtual goods in Incarna sparked a fierce objection on the forums and even in-game protests and riots, things have settled down quite a bit, and CCP seems confident that it is headed in the right direction now.

Read on for a look at why virtual goods were introduced into EVE Online and what the team has learned so far.

Continue reading GDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online

MassivelyGDC Online 2011: CCP on virtual goods in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurumben-cockerillcash-shopCCPccp-gamesdust-514eveeve-onlinefeaturedgdcgdc-2011gdc-onlineGDC-Online-2011incarnaiskkaren-bryanmonoclemonoclegatepanelplexrmtvirtual-goodsTue, 11 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP releases EVE's emergency CSM meeting minutes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/ccp-releases-eves-emergency-csm-meeting-minutes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/ccp-releases-eves-emergency-csm-meeting-minutes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/ccp-releases-eves-emergency-csm-meeting-minutes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online - internet spaceship
There's no drama like internet spaceship drama, and the boohoos stemming from last summer's EVE Online Incarna expansion -- and the associated monoclegate controversy -- continue to make waves.

CCP has finally gotten around to releasing the minutes from the "emergency" Council of Stellar Management meeting that took place in Iceland from June 30th through July 1st. According to CCP Xhagen, the lengthy delay was due to the fact that "it takes time to create a document that everyone can accept. It is important to keep in mind that CSM meeting minutes are not released unless both CCP and the CSM give their approval."

The document summarizes the discussions and presents the brouhaha surrounding captain's quarters performance, the Noble Exchange, and CCP's future plans for virtual goods from the perspective of both devs and player representatives. The PDF ultimately serves as a useful summary of EVE's latest drama explosion, and you can read it in its entirety by following the link below.

MassivelyCCP releases EVE's emergency CSM meeting minutes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boohoocaptains-quarterscash-shopccpccp-gamesccp-xhagencouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdramaemergencyeveeve-onlinehtfuincarnamonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenew-edennoble-exchangesandboxsci-fivirtual-goodsFri, 09 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Study suggests one in three gamers has purchased virtual goods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/study-suggests-one-in-three-gamers-has-purchased-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/study-suggests-one-in-three-gamers-has-purchased-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/study-suggests-one-in-three-gamers-has-purchased-virtual-goods/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Let's say you're playing an MMO with two of your mates. They could be online friends, real-world friends, or some combination of both. According to a new study conducted by PlaySpan and VGMarket, one of you has used real-world money to purchase virtual items.

The research was compiled last month and samples a pool of 1,000 gamers drawn from a VGMarket database. While the one-in-three statistic is interesting in its own right, even more compelling is the evidence that suggests 57 percent of participants purchase virtual items on a monthly basis.

You might think that social networking games are responsible for the lion's share of these percentages, but VGMarket's data show console games with online play accounting for 51 percent of the purchases, with social titles claiming second place at 30 percent (MMOs came in third, if you're curious). The study presents quite a number of curious factoids despite its relatively small sample size, and you can check out all the findings at the official PlaySpan website. It's also worth noting that downloading the full study requires providing PlaySpan with your personal info via a web registration form.

MassivelyStudy suggests one in three gamers has purchased virtual goods originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-gamesconsolesf2pfree-to-playmmo-industrymoneyplayspanpress-releasereal-moneyreal-money-tradingreal-world-moneyrmtsocial-networkingstatisticsvgmarketvirtual-goodsThu, 04 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/free-for-all-eve-drama-due-to-bolster-waning-tv-soap-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/free-for-all-eve-drama-due-to-bolster-waning-tv-soap-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/free-for-all-eve-drama-due-to-bolster-waning-tv-soap-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Much was said recently about the latest EVE Online "drama." If you've talked and written about MMORPGs as long as I have, you'd be very rich if you were paid a nickel every time you heard the word. Drama, when applied to the world of MMOs, ends up feeling like a funeral for an insect... more than a little dramatic. As someone who has played EVE a bit off and on (I have a six-year-old account, but only a 10,000,000-SP character), I was more than a little surprised at the response -- but not really surprised.

In fact, the recent drama -- hell, any EVE drama -- comes off as rather humorous. The same thing happened when World of Warcraft began selling the infamous sparklepony or when Lord of the Rings Online decided to sell a special skeleton steed in its cash shop (I was lucky enough to get one during the holiday event). Players screamed that they would be canceling, that they would protest in some form or another, and that they would never buy a product from the developer, go anywhere near anyone who shared the same name as any of the developers, or even utter the name of their poor, lost avatars again. Yet, here we are.

Every time something like this happens, it happens for a few distinct reasons. Click past the cut and I'll fill you in.

Continue reading Free for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule

MassivelyFree for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmcash-shopccpCCP-Gamesdramadramaticeveeve-onlinefeaturedfree-for-alliskMicrotransactionsmonoclemonoclegatereallybigtransactionsvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsWed, 06 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Charmed, Zentia, I'm sure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/free-for-all-charmed-zentia-im-sure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/free-for-all-charmed-zentia-im-sure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/free-for-all-charmed-zentia-im-sure/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Charm is one of those words that, as a kid, I never really understood. I always pictured some southern gentleman, lemonade in hand, wooing powdered belles from his porch on a hot summer's day: that's how I defined it. But now I think I understand it so much more, and I often wonder why this industry seems to often ignore the word, or has no idea what it means. It's easiest to explain it this way:

You cannot be charming by acting cool. If you act cool, it comes out cheesy. The movie The Matrix, for example: trying to act so incredibly cool, but comes off only cheesy. You must simply be cool to be charming. You can also be truly wide-eyed, which is charming. Or innocent, which is much rarer, but still charming. Be warned: Top Gun was considered very cool, and Tom Cruise very charming, in their time. Shirley Temple, mainly because of the time period her movies were made in, is still charming. A Christmas Story is very, very charming. Reese Witherspoon's work in Election? Oozes charm. Roy Orbison? Cool and charming, despite looking like a grandmother.

The same applies to MMORPGs. Seriously. Some games are trying to be way too cool, and should just relax a bit. Be fun. I recently discovered one of the most charming games yet in Zentia.

Continue reading Free for All: Charmed, Zentia, I'm sure

MassivelyFree for All: Charmed, Zentia, I'm sure originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash-shopchang-youChangyoucharmingclosed-betaclosed-beta-keyclosed-beta-key-giveawaycustomizationdesignEQ2EverQuest-2f2pfeaturedfree-realmsfree-to-playftpgameplaypixel-softsusan-reveltvanguardvirtual-goodszentiazentia-mmoWed, 28 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Study claims that women spend double what men do on virtual goods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/study-claims-that-women-spend-double-what-men-do-on-virtual-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/study-claims-that-women-spend-double-what-men-do-on-virtual-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/study-claims-that-women-spend-double-what-men-do-on-virtual-good/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Worlds in Motion is reporting on a new survey that takes a look at purchases of virtual goods and money.

PlaySpan and VGMarket surveyed just over 2,200 people between the ages of 13 and 64 regarding their purchases of virtual goods and currency. Women are the big spenders here, particularly when it comes to in-game money. They spend an average of $50 per year as opposed to the $25 a year that men spend.

The gap is a bit smaller but still significant when it comes to actual in-game items. Women spend an average of $55 a year and men an average of $30.

The survey covered a few other similar results, including combined spending and a different result when overall median spending was compared. The full survey is an interesting read, particularly considering the increasing popularity of microtransactions in the MMO world.

MassivelyStudy claims that women spend double what men do on virtual goods originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash-shopin-game-spendingmicrotransactionsplayspansurveyvgmarketvirtual-goodsworlds-in-motionThu, 22 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Study finds that 75% of online gamers purchase virtual goods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/study-finds-that-75-of-online-gamers-purchase-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/study-finds-that-75-of-online-gamers-purchase-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/study-finds-that-75-of-online-gamers-purchase-virtual-goods/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are you one of the steadfast, stalwart gamers who absolutely refuses to shell out money on cash shops, microtransactions and virtual services apart from subscriptions? If so, you're in the minority -- a study by VGMarket showed that three out of every four online gamers purchased a virtual good in the past year. This shouldn't come as a surprise, however.

The survey isn't strictly indicative of MMORPG gamers; it was taken from over 2,200 players who were either part of PlaySpan Marketplace, Facebook, or purchasers of Ultimate Game Cards. Still, the results are fascinating, as a whopping 64% admitted to spending money on cash-shop items at least once a month, with 9% going so far as paying for virtual goods on a daily basis.

Other statistics from the survey are equally interesting. PC gamers spent an average of $37 a year on virtual goods, and PayPal is by far the most popular method of payment. Oh, and the most-purchased good? In-game currency. (There, that shouldn't be too controversial, right? Right?) You can read the full survey results over at VentureBeat!

MassivelyStudy finds that 75% of online gamers purchase virtual goods originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionbar-graphs-are-sexycash-shopfacebookgold-buyinggold-sellingin-game-currencyitem-shopmicrotransactionspaypalplayspan-marketplacermtsparkle-ponysparkleponysurveyultimate-game-cardventurebeatvirtual-goodsvirtual-servicesWed, 21 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual sales boom, will top $3 billion in five years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/virtual-sales-boom-will-top-3-billion-in-five-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/virtual-sales-boom-will-top-3-billion-in-five-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/virtual-sales-boom-will-top-3-billion-in-five-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Gamasutra reports on a new study from research firm DFC Intelligence that concludes that sales of virtual goods are on the rise. The study surveyed 5,000 gamers from Europe and North America for a two-month period in early 2010, and also sampled seven years of Live Gamer historical data. Live Gamer, a virtual world monetization company with clients that include Sony Online Entertainment and Funcom, partnered with DFC for the study.

DFC reports that 88 percent of their survey base purchased virtual content, a label that includes everything from MMO microtransactions, to music, to movies and games. Sixty percent of this group said their digital purchases were in-game items.

DFC says the growing trend of virtual item sales paints a bright future for MMORPGs as well as social networking platforms, predicting that total item sales for "MMOG Lite" titles will exceed $3 billion by 2015. Head on over to Gamasutra for the full article.

MassivelyVirtual sales boom, will top $3 billion in five years originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dfc-intelligencefacebookitem-shoplive-gamermicrotransactionssocial-networkingvirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsMon, 29 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life content creators warn about scam site]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/second-life-content-creators-warn-about-scam-site/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/second-life-content-creators-warn-about-scam-site/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/second-life-content-creators-warn-about-scam-site/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Numerous Second Life content creators are warning their clientele that the Web-site virtualget.net (which has been apparently been operating for a couple of months now) is a credit-card harvesting scam. Whether that's correct or not, the site appears to be using the product images and product descriptions and trademarks of numerous Second Life content creators without their permission. The original images and text appear on Linden Lab's Xstreet SL virtual goods shopping Web-site.

Numerous DMCA notices are reportedly being filed by content creators at present. We attempted to contact virtualget.net (anonymously registered in Singapore) for comment, but none of their email addresses appeared to be functional -- One email address was restored to function when the majority of the site was taken down a short time ago, but we received no response. Linden Lab, who has an intellectual property stake in the matter, was not available for comment either.

Users of Kaspersky protection software found the Web-site marked as a phishing site several hours ago, presumably based on user reports.

Update: The operation seems to have disabled access to much of the site in the wake of numerous DMCA notices filed by content-creators.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelySecond Life content creators warn about scam site originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightcopyright-infringementkasperskylinden-labphishingsecond-lifesingaporetrademarkvirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsvirtualgetxstreet-slWed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey says: Nearly half of MMO gamers bought virtual stuff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/survey-says-nearly-half-of-mmo-gamers-bought-virtual-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/survey-says-nearly-half-of-mmo-gamers-bought-virtual-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/survey-says-nearly-half-of-mmo-gamers-bought-virtual-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the interesting things we at Massively find about statistics and surveys is how people react to surveys and research results about games, virtual environments and MMOGs. Unexpected results automatically attract criticism of every aspect of the report and data no matter how the results were obtained, from the political leanings of the researchers, to the way the charts are drawn. On the other hand, when the results of surveys or research agree with our expectations, people rarely question the results, again, no matter how they were obtained.

Therefore, we wonder what you all might make of this report, that 12% of Americans have purchased at least one virtual item in the last item within the last 12 months, and almost half (46%) of MMO gamers/virtual world users have done so within the same period. Obviously, that would include assorted free-to-play games, so-called 'freemium' games and environments, Facebook and all-sorts.

The survey was commissioned by global payment solutions provider, PlaySpan. The results are only available in summary, but we're interested in your reaction. Are the results what you expect, or not? And either way, do you dispute or accept the data?

[via GigaOm]

MassivelySurvey says: Nearly half of MMO gamers bought virtual stuff originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiceconomyfacebookfreemiumgigaomplayspansurveyvirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsThu, 30 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sweden extending taxation into the virtual]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/sweden-extending-taxation-into-the-virtual/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/sweden-extending-taxation-into-the-virtual/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/sweden-extending-taxation-into-the-virtual/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sweden is taking aim at online tax evasion and the estimated five billion Swedish krona (SEK) in annual undeclared income by the country's citizens. (This equates to roughly USD 645 million.) While much of this is revenue from "online marketplaces, porn, and astrology sites", undeclared income from games and virtual worlds are included in that figure. In fact, the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) looked at the sales of avatars and characters in 'computer games' over a 14 month period, with a collective advertised sum of 662 million SEK (USD 85 million). No income was declared on any of these transactions so it's a safe bet they'll be scrutinizing these sales moving forward.

Although the specific virtual worlds and games aren't named, GameCulture adds that the virtual property Skatteverket is looking at exchanged hands between 7000 gamers and residents. Also interesting is what GamePolitics turned up on the situation -- "even U.S. citizens could be subject to Swedish taxation on such virtual transactions, according to the Economics of Virtual Worlds blog."

MassivelySweden extending taxation into the virtual originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatarseconomygameculturegamepoliticslegalmmo-industryskatteverketswedenswedish-tax-agencytaxtaxationtaxesvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsvirtual-worldsTue, 21 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New legislation in China outlaws gold farming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/new-legislation-in-china-outlaws-gold-farming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/new-legislation-in-china-outlaws-gold-farming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/new-legislation-in-china-outlaws-gold-farming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gold farmers. We know you hate them... We know. And we've mentioned the associated gold spam as being the bane of many MMO players' existence a number of times in the past. But is the situation ever going to change?

Perhaps, given the new legislation coming out of China this week. Of course while all gold farmers certainly aren't based in China, a substantial percentage of gold farming operations are in fact run from the country. Such operations may now find themselves under greater scrutiny by the Chinese authorities; the government has now established its first official rule on the use of virtual currency in China.

Essentially, it states that virtual currency cannot leave the sphere of influence of its issuer. (Exact wording: "The virtual currency, which is converted into real money at a certain exchange rate, will only be allowed to trade in virtual goods and services provided by its issuer, not real goods and services.") If the law is actually obeyed and enforced, it would curb all manner of black market activities in China connected with the virtual.

Continue reading New legislation in China outlaws gold farming

MassivelyNew legislation in China outlaws gold farming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiablack-marketbreakingchinaeconomygoldgold-farmergold-farminglawlegalministry-of-commerceministry-of-culturemmo-industryrulesvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsMon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A closer look at revenues in free-to-play MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/a-closer-look-at-revenues-in-free-to-play-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/a-closer-look-at-revenues-in-free-to-play-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/a-closer-look-at-revenues-in-free-to-play-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The free-to-play business model in the MMO industry is one that lets users play a game for free in hopes that a percentage of that userbase will opt to embrace microtransactions, allowing F2P game operators to potentially bring in more revenue per month than they would maintain through subscription fees. We periodically see announcements of yearly revenue from some of the larger companies, but these figures are typically announcements of average revenue per paying user (ARPPU), emphasis on 'paying'. But how much money are free-to-play MMOs really making? This is the subject of an article at Gamasutra written by Paul Hyman titled, 'What Are The Rewards Of 'Free-To-Play' MMOs?"

Hyman catches up with Raph Koster (Metaplace), Daniel James from Three Rings Design (Puzzle Pirates), and Jeremy Liew from Lightspeed Venture Partners (a funding source for F2P MMOs) to discuss the microtransaction model.

Continue reading A closer look at revenues in free-to-play MMOs

MassivelyA closer look at revenues in free-to-play MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arppuarpudaniel-jamesf2pfree-to-playgamasutrainterviewsjeremy-lliewlightspeed-venture-partnersmetaplacemicrotransactionspaul-hymanpuzzle-piratesraph-kosterthree-rings-designvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsWed, 10 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MapleStory announces over 92 million users worldwide, 4 year anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/09/maplestory-announces-over-92-million-users-worldwide-4-year-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/09/maplestory-announces-over-92-million-users-worldwide-4-year-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/09/maplestory-announces-over-92-million-users-worldwide-4-year-ann/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We often marvel at the sheer numbers of subscribers and users some MMOs and virtual worlds are able to reach. You can look at a title like World of Warcraft, with over 11 million subscribers and just picture a massive green tidal wave made of dollar bills sweeping over Blizzard HQ. Every month. But WoW's millions of customers, while impressive, pales in comparison with what Nexon announced this week with MapleStory: 92 million users worldwide, with 6 million users in North America alone.

Sure, comparing success stories of a subscription title with a free-to-play game is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. Each of those 92 million "Maplers" probably isn't dropping $15 each month to play, but the fact remains that many of those users are paying real money for their virtual goods. The numbers we ran for MapleStory's virtual items sales in the US, roughly one year ago, had 5.9 million US users spending USD 29.3 million on these goods.

Continue reading MapleStory announces over 92 million users worldwide, 4 year anniversary

MassivelyMapleStory announces over 92 million users worldwide, 4 year anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaybusiness-modelscasualf2pfree-to-playmaplestorymilestonemilestonesmmo-industrynexonusersvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsSat, 09 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The big business of selling virtual goods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-big-business-of-selling-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-big-business-of-selling-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-big-business-of-selling-virtual-goods/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that the entire concept of people spending real money on virtual items and currency was just bizarre. The first mentions of such a thing this writer ever came across were back in 2003, when Julian Dibbell told the story of Black Snow Interactive, rumored to have been operating virtual sweatshops operating in Mexico. Fast forward to 2009 and the notion of shelling out real world cash for the ephemeral has become commonplace. Moreover, these formerly arcane business models centering around virtual trading have ballooned into a huge business, much to the chagrin of many game companies and their players.

However, not all companies attempt to fight this ever-increasing gravity of real money trading (RMT) that now permeates the MMO and virtual worlds industry, and some seek to make it an aspect of their business that they control rather than something they need to curb. Indeed, the profits of many (legitimate) businesses are largely derived from sales of virtual goods, as Rory Maher explains at paidContent.org in his article titled "From Pet Penguins to Flame Throwers: The Biggest Sellers In The Virtual World".

Maher looks at three companies doing well for themselves in the virtual goods game, and what they're selling that's proven so popular. He points out Tencent, a Chinese IM provider that incorporates microtransactions into the service, allowing users to spend their "QQ" currency to enhance and customize their IM interactions, even buying virtual pets that exist on their desktop and run around inside their instant messages.

Continue reading The big business of selling virtual goods

MassivelyThe big business of selling virtual goods originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-snow-interactivejulian-dibbellmicrotransactionsmobsterspetsplay-moneyplaydomqqrmtrory-mahertencentvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsyovillezyngaFri, 08 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Live Gamer's Andy Schneider on legitimizing RMT in games and virtual worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/live-gamers-andy-schneider-on-legitimizing-rmt-in-games-and-vir/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/live-gamers-andy-schneider-on-legitimizing-rmt-in-games-and-vir/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/live-gamers-andy-schneider-on-legitimizing-rmt-in-games-and-vir/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Most mentions of real money trading (RMT) in massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds conjure up images of virtual sweatshops and the resulting blitz of gold spam. Despite how loudly many protest against the idea of RMT in games, the fact remains that there is a market for this and people spend a lot of real world money on virtual goods every year.

Live Gamer is a company that aims to legitimize real money trading, creating a way for players to spend their cash without the risks inherent in dealing with shady gold and item sellers. It also ensures that money spent on virtual goods is going back into the pockets of the game companies. While services such as Live Gamer don't end the debate on whether or not RMT should be permitted in the first place, it's clearly here to stay, and some game publishers are getting proactive about real money trading.

Continue reading Live Gamer's Andy Schneider on legitimizing RMT in games and virtual worlds

MassivelyLive Gamer's Andy Schneider on legitimizing RMT in games and virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-schneiderandy-schneidergoldinterviewslive-gamermicrotransactionsmmo-gamermmo-industryreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtsteven-crewsvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsMon, 27 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Applied RMT Design with GoPets and Live Gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/gdc09-applied-rmt-design-with-gopets-and-live-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/gdc09-applied-rmt-design-with-gopets-and-live-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/gdc09-applied-rmt-design-with-gopets-and-live-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Massively sat in on a GDC 2009 session this week titled Applied RMT Design which was part of the Worlds in Motion Summit. Andrew Schneider, Founder and President of Live Gamer and Erik Bethke, CEO of GoPets, Ltd. presented a case study on balancing a game's primary and secondary markets, using GoPets as an example of how it can be done.

The market for virtual goods in massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds is worth billions. Not all of this is grey market, and more games are now being designed with microtransactions in mind. Live Gamer aims to bring greater legitimacy to microtransactions through a regulated secondary market providing benefits to companies as well as the players themselves. Thus far they've worked with EverQuest II, Vanguard, and GoPets, with Acclaim's 9 Dragons on the way.

Bethke and Schneider kick off their talk by explaining the fact that RMT in MMOs is inevitable, explaining how developers can be proactive about incorporating RMT into their titles rather than having it exist outside of the game. Live Gamer works with developers to create a legitimate system for trading virtual items for real money, one that's safe and secure. Of course, legitimizing RMT can also stir up controversy.

Gallery: GDC09: RMT Design panel

Continue reading GDC09: Applied RMT Design with GoPets and Live Gamer

MassivelyGDC09: Applied RMT Design with GoPets and Live Gamer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-11andrew-schneiderbusiness-modelscase-studycasualeconomyerik-bethkeeventsfree-to-playgame-designgdcgdc-2009gopetslive-gamermicrotransactionsmmo-industryprimary-marketreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtsecondary-marketvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsworlds-in-motionworlds-in-motion-summitSat, 28 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Raph Koster kicks off Worlds in Motion Summit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/raph-koster-kicks-off-worlds-in-motion-summit-at-gdc-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/raph-koster-kicks-off-worlds-in-motion-summit-at-gdc-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/raph-koster-kicks-off-worlds-in-motion-summit-at-gdc-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2009 has begun and Massively is in the trenches to report on all the big announcements for the massively multiplayer online gaming industry, plus we have some great interviews lined up all week as well. Our GDC 2009 coverage begins with today's Worlds in Motion Summit, kicked off by Raph Koster, MMO and virtual worlds luminary.

Koster's speech is short, essentially a quick review of the virtual worlds trends he's observed over the past year. It's important to see things in perspective, Koster points out, mentioning that virtual worlds have recently turned 30, and are now a far cry from their MUD origins. Hardcore, geeky stuff Koster says, and we've come a long way since then. "We've kind of arrived, haven't we?" Koster asks. "One half of American adults are gamers today, which is an incredible step."

Continue reading GDC09: Raph Koster kicks off Worlds in Motion Summit

MassivelyGDC09: Raph Koster kicks off Worlds in Motion Summit originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambiencebreakingconvergencecultureeconomyeventsflashgdcgdc-2009governancelegalmassively-event-coveragemcdonalds-3.0mmo-industryraph-kostersafaricomsilverlightsocial-networkingtaxationvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsworlds-in-motionworlds-in-motion-summitMon, 23 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Statistics point to China's growing significance in MMO industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/statistics-point-to-chinas-growing-significance-in-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/statistics-point-to-chinas-growing-significance-in-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/20/statistics-point-to-chinas-growing-significance-in-mmo-industry/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've been mentioning a bit about some of the regulatory issues in China affecting massively multiplayer online games, particularly as they concern some Western game companies. However, a number of gamers in the West have wondered something along the lines of, "What does this have to do with me?" Well, in terms of Western markets directly, not much. But China is significant for the MMO industry seen as a whole.

China will be the world's largest MMO market moving forward and as broadband speeds and penetration increase, the numbers of online gamers will keep rising. The current regulatory changes put forth by China's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) stands to have a major impact on how online games are operated in this market, ranging from implementation of a "fatigue system" (where play time is limited each day) to censorship of game content. The country has over 55.5 million online gamers, with a total market for virtual transactions between USD 1.4 billion and 1.9 billion (RMB 10-13 billion), according to 2008 statistics released by the China Internet Network Information Center (as reported in English by JLM Pacific Epoch).

MassivelyStatistics point to China's growing significance in MMO industry originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiacensorshipchinaciniccnnicculturefatiguefatigue-systemgappjlm-pacific-epochlegalmmo-industryregulationsregulatoryvirtual-goodsvirtual-transactionsFri, 20 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why do people buy virtual goods in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Massively multiplayer online gamers spend hours -- so many hours -- working towards obtaining virtual gear. Epic armor sets, mounts, player housing, faction ships... the list goes on, and will continue to go on. Our collective fascination with these intangibles ensures our desire for them -- and for those things beyond a player's reach solely within the virtual realm, real world cash makes all things possible.

This is the research focus of Ph.D. student Vili Lehdonvirta of the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, who breaks down our buyer's impulse according to three criteria:

  • Functional attributes, such as speed, hitpoints, teleportation.
  • Hedonic attributes, or how the virtual gear looks or sounds, its provenance or its connection to the background fiction of the setting, and of course customizability.
  • Social attributes, particularly the prestige accorded with ownership of a rare item.
Have a look at his "Virtual item sales as a revenue model: identifying attributes that drive purchase decisions" for a thorough analysis of why many of us are so inclined to obtain something that's ultimately ephemeral, which goes beyond the simpler "useful vs. decorative" angle.

MassivelyWhy do people buy virtual goods in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicarmorarmor-setculturefaction-shipgeargoldlootmmo-industrymountmountsplayer-housingreal-money-tradereal-money-tradingrmtvirtualvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsvirtual-worldsFri, 09 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China's virtual goods taxation sparks price increases and controversy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/chinas-virtual-goods-taxation-sparks-price-increases-and-contro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/chinas-virtual-goods-taxation-sparks-price-increases-and-contro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/chinas-virtual-goods-taxation-sparks-price-increases-and-contro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


China's State Administration of Taxation recently imposed a 20 percent income tax rate on profits made from virtual currency and virtual items, sparking price increases for virtual goods. While this tax rate (if actually enforced) clearly impacts the virtual space, it also affects transactions happening outside of MMO servers and virtual world grids. The taxation policy could ultimately extend to the virtual currencies linked to the largest IM providers in China such as Tencent, drastically increasing the percentage of the population affected by the new laws. Despite this, the positive benefits of eliminating gray and black markets for virtual items and currency may outweigh the drawbacks for gamers and users of the various digital services in China.

Questions remain about what will and will not be taxed in the virtual space, but it's clear that individuals who gain virtual income are expected to declare their profits and pay taxes on this, and do so within seven days of having earned the profit, according to Shanghai Daily.Taxpayers who can provide proof of the value of this property or the value of the transaction are taxed at 20 percent on their profits, while those who cannot provide sufficient verification are taxed at three percent of the total transaction value. But how many people are affected by this new system?

Continue reading China's virtual goods taxation sparks price increases and controversy

MassivelyChina's virtual goods taxation sparks price increases and controversy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiablack-marketchinacontroversyeconomicseconomygoldgray-marketlawlegalmmo-industryrmtshanghaishanghai-dailytaxtaxestencentvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsvirtual-taxationvirtual-worldszhu-shenshenWed, 19 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dutch court convicts 2 minors of stealing virtual items]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/dutch-court-convicts-2-minors-of-stealing-virtual-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/dutch-court-convicts-2-minors-of-stealing-virtual-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/dutch-court-convicts-2-minors-of-stealing-virtual-items/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Should the theft of virtual items be punishable by law? This varies from country to country, but today's ruling in a Dutch court emphasizes that virtual crime is actual crime under their country's laws, regardless of whether the individuals involved are minors. Associated Press reports: "These virtual goods are goods (under Dutch law) so this is theft," the court said Tuesday in a summary of its ruling.

The court did not reveal the identities of the minors, but they are 15-years-old and 14-years-old, respectively. They apparently coerced a younger boy into giving them a 'virtual amulet and virtual mask' in RuneScape. The offenders have both been sentenced to community service -- 200 hours for the 15-year-old, and 160 hours for the 14-year-old.

Do you feel this is too steep a penalty for virtual extortion, or not steep enough? Should it matter if the items or currency involved are real or virtual?

Update: It's been communicated to us by our readers in Holland that the crime in question was not, in fact, a virtual one, but involved actual violence. The victim in question, according to this source, "was kicked and threatened with a knife." The original Associated Press source omitted this detail, which obviously changes the tone of the discussion below. To clarify, this was real world violence inflicted over virtual items, hence the community service sentences for both of the offending minors.

MassivelyDutch court convicts 2 minors of stealing virtual items originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>associated-presscrimecriminaleconomyfantasylawlegalrunescapetheftthiefvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsTue, 21 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What rights should we have to our virtual goods?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/what-rights-should-we-have-to-our-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/what-rights-should-we-have-to-our-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/what-rights-should-we-have-to-our-virtual-goods/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Are you aware of your property rights as they pertain to the virtual goods in your favorite MMO? Are you aware of the laws in your country as they pertain to virtual goods? Heck, do you even read the EULA?

It seems like these lawyer-speak agreements are becoming more prevalent lately, as we impatiently click the 'agree' button in anticipation of playing the latest MMO. In fact, even older games are reinstating their EULA on the loading screens, forcing players to click through before entering their world. The reason for this basically boils down to inevitable litigation as gaming grows in popularity.

Continue reading What rights should we have to our virtual goods?

MassivelyWhat rights should we have to our virtual goods? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agreementchinaeulain-gamelawsrightsvirtual-goodsSun, 12 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI collectible confers unique in-game ability]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/final-fantasy-xi-collectible-confers-unique-in-game-ability/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/final-fantasy-xi-collectible-confers-unique-in-game-ability/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/final-fantasy-xi-collectible-confers-unique-in-game-ability/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Final Fantasy XI players who are into collectibles have a new item to lust over. There's a new addition to the Final Fantasy XI Player's Collection, which is available for a limited time only: The Tidal Talisman. It's a $43 silver-plated pendant with a side-benefit that's the real selling point. It comes with a virtual counterpart, which could prove very useful. The in-game version of the Tidal Talisman allows a player to teleport to locations previously visited in Vana'diel. Or, as it's described over at FFXI's site, it confers "the ability to project phantasmal robes over the wearer's body and enabling the wearer to teleport to distant lands in the blink of an eye."

For those who are on the fence about shelling out $43 for a FFXI pendant, Square-Enix appeals to a gamer's sense of urgency regarding scarcity of virtual goods: "We have no plans to bring this item back in the future, so all players are encouraged to take advantage of this unique one-time opportunity!"

Continue reading Final Fantasy XI collectible confers unique in-game ability

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI collectible confers unique in-game ability originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xisquare-enixteleportteleportationtidal-talismanvanadielvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemvirtual-itemsWed, 20 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MapleStory reaps over $29 million in U.S. virtual item sales]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/maplestory-reaps-over-29-million-in-u-s-virtual-item-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/maplestory-reaps-over-29-million-in-u-s-virtual-item-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/maplestory-reaps-over-29-million-in-u-s-virtual-item-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2007 proved to be a good year for Nexon in the United States, particularly with its free-to-play MapleStory. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that the although the game has 85 million users worldwide, only 5.9 million of them are U.S. players. Given the relatively small percentage of its player base located in the United States, it's surprising that MapleStory made an absolute killing on in-world transactions in 2007; the WSJ reports that 'Nexon's U.S. revenue last year more than tripled to $29.3 million from $8.5 million the prior year.'

Jeremy Liew provides some additional commentary on the Nexon windfall over at Lightspeed: "With $30m in US sales and 6m US registered users, assuming a 20% "active player" rate and 10% "buyer rate", that implies an ARPU of $20/mth which sounds about right and is consistent with number we've seen from games in Asia. It sounds like the US will be following very similar models of virtual goods monetization that we've seen in Asia." It's interesting that the predominantly Asian business model of legitimized RMT is already gaining some degree of acceptance in the United States, albeit a slow acceptance.

Via PlayNoEvil

MassivelyMapleStory reaps over $29 million in U.S. virtual item sales originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyfree-to-playlightspeedlightspeed-venture-partnersmaple-storymicropaymentmicrotransactionmmo-industrynexonplay-no-evilplaynoevilrevenuermtvirtualvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemSat, 31 May 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2008: discussion panel on virtual worlds and the "MMO explosion"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/ces-2008-discussion-panel-on-virtual-worlds-and-the-mmo-explos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/ces-2008-discussion-panel-on-virtual-worlds-and-the-mmo-explos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/ces-2008-discussion-panel-on-virtual-worlds-and-the-mmo-explos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gamasutra has posted a panel discussion covering many different facets of virtual worlds and MMOs in general. The panel consists of several panelists coming from all sorts of companies from AMD to Turbine. Overall the panel discusses many of the issues you always hear about when virtual worlds/MMOs come up. You've got talk of evolution within the industry, in-game advertising, global relevance (aka "how can we conquer the world?"), virtual goods/secondary markets (RMT/item selling) and of course cannibalizing older markets.

The discussion on each piece is mostly similar to what has been said already. There are a few intriuging quotes from some of the panelists throughout. Their conclusion to the discussion happens to be focused on a few aspects, but we found one was more interesting than the rest.

Steve Goldstein from Flagship Studios had this to say, "As we spend the next three or four days talking about margins and monetizing, we shouldn't lose sight of the miraculous industry we're in, where people are selling imaginary gold and building real relationships across the world."

Probably the most prolific statement of the entire discussion, Goldstein manages to bullseye the nail on the head.

MassivelyCES 2008: discussion panel on virtual worlds and the "MMO explosion" originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingamdevolutionflagship-studiosgamasutragold-sellingin-game-adverstisingmmo-industryrmtturbinevirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsMon, 07 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A legal, in-game "Wal-Mart" of virtual goods coming to an MMO near you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/a-legal-in-game-wal-mart-of-virtual-goods-coming-to-an-mmo-ne/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/a-legal-in-game-wal-mart-of-virtual-goods-coming-to-an-mmo-ne/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/a-legal-in-game-wal-mart-of-virtual-goods-coming-to-an-mmo-ne/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Two very large names have joined forces to help battle the illegal (and increasingly annoying) digital Black Market that exists to sell virtual in-game goods. Backed by $24 million in investment money, Mitch Davis (the former Massive in-game-ad firm founder) and Sony Pictures Digital vet Andy Schneider will launch Live Gamer, a publisher-supported service that creates a secure platform for real-money purchase and the sale of virtual goods.

Already on board are MMOs and virtual worlds from Funcom GMBH, Sony Online Entertainment, 10Tacle Studios, Acclaim, GoPets and Ping0 Interactive (the company that provides access to the online, multi-player component of Hellgate: London), and they're willing to work with any publisher. With backing such as this, we may soon see a siesmic shift in the virtual goods landscape.

Nearly every MMO is now plagued by these despicable gold farmers and Real Money Traders bent on selling their warez, regardless of their legality. Even my beloved City of Heroes and Villains has recently been targeted with endless spam that fills in-game Email boxes and brazen "live" players (often named "jkjkljlkj") who will approach you trying to offer their services. A concerted effort from within the industry itself to stop these griefers is long overdue. Hopefully this will be the spark that ignites a widespread change.

MassivelyA legal, in-game "Wal-Mart" of virtual goods coming to an MMO near you originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andy-Schneiderblack-marketcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsgold-farmersLive-GamerMassiveMitch-Davisreal-money-tradersrmtSony-Pictures-Digitalvirtual-goodsMon, 17 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST