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[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

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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