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by The practice of gold farming in MMORPGs has emerged from sub-culture news into mainstream news. Up to now, the media attention has largely been disregarded as a gimmick; just gamers trying to justify their addictions. However, a former on-line broker turned gamer, referencing his annual take of $120,000 in MMORPG sales, would say otherwise. With such earnings passing under the table, it's no surprise the IRS has shown an interest.
Profits used to be made by selling rare artifacts. But modern gold farming targets the fluctuating exchange rates of MMORPG currency against real dollars. Based on the volume of in-game commerce, many currencies within MMORPGs have emerged stronger than those of real nations. Calculations against Everquest's in-game economy show it would rank as the 77th richest nation on Earth. Energy consumption of virtual avatars is no longer the only MMORPG attribute that exceeds real world comparison.
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DO NOT tell my teenage son about this! I really don’t need for him to be gloating over making $50,000 real money in 3 days when he’s supposed to be doing his homework!
The "buy low sell high" concept is probably as deceptive as any other business venture ... the online world is only slightly more predicable than the real world. But the "gold farming" concept that they cite in the article is anything but fun. Take it from a fella that has occasioned into online gaming. The reason that people are willing to spend real world money to get this gold is getting it in mass quantities is something akin to real work. Sure, you're sitting in front of a computer playing a video game - but you're not. You're not playing at all. A good analogy would be a hobby garden versus being a real farmer. The first ... a pleasant distraction that you can obsess over. The second ... perhaps satisfying when you harvest at the end of the season, but an awful lot of work and worry between now and then.
To support yourself farming gold online the fun goes out of your hobby.
Yes; I was being very facetious when I made that post, tongue in cheek and everything.
It would be an interesting study to find out if the people who are successful monetarily in online gaming are also just as successful in ‘real life’ seeing as both usually require a lot of time and work which not everybody is willing to do.
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Stupid Everquest by Bortnyk :: NR6 :: on 20 December 2006
The people from the 78th richest must be a little sad.
RE: Stupid Everquest by Eye.Of.Sage :: NR6 :: on 20 December 2006
Didn't we have a news discussion like this before?
RE: Stupid Everquest by mikeforbes :: NR6 :: on 20 December 2006
This article ranks it 102nd, just ahead of Angola.
The title of this comment made me laugh ... I can picture some Angolan dude muttering it under his breath in a Homer Simpson voice.
RE: Stupid Everquest by Bortnyk :: NR6 :: on 20 December 2006
Everquested!!!