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Online Game Economies
Structure and Issues
Games Examined
• Primarily Everquest 1
– Longest running online economy
• Everquest 2
• World of Warcraft
Size of the Everquest Economy
• “Norrath, the setting for the online
game Everquest, has been found to be
the 77th richest country in the world,
sandwiched between Russia and
Bulgaria.” -BBC
• In 2001 Norrath’s currency out valued the
Yen in relation to the US Dollar in online
auctions.
Traditional Structure
• Non-Player Characters award/drop money for the
players to pick up, acting as the “mints” of the
cash system.
• Players buy items or services from the NPCs and
remove money from the economy.
• Often death penalties are used to somehow
remove money as well.
• This is intended to keep the cash level at a
constant.
How Players Break the System
• Macros allow players to repeat a money
generating action infinitely.
– This gold can be traded or sold online
• Online sites sell game money and items
high level players have earned for real
money - http://www.ige.com/
• Players sell off old maxed out characters
Examples from IGE
Problems Developers Face
• Market-oblivious NPC Merchants
• Infinitely durable goods (generally)
• Inflation on each server as players
progress
– In 2002 EQ several Realms almost collapsed as their
economies approached Hyperinflation (think post
WW1 Germany)
• Responsibility to maintain a level
playing field for their clients
Attempted Resolutions
• In-game Auction houses using game money
- WoW
• Durability on items - Many (WoW, SW:G
etc)
• Sony plans to open a legal item selling site
for EQ2
Cyworld
• Korean Based
• You can create a custom avatar for others to
see.
• You can chat with other users.
• Decorate a room for your
character.
cyworld.nate.com
• All of these things cost Acorns
• Acorns can be purchased with real
money ~10¢ each.
• Sold online, via cell phone and now in
stores as gift cards
Worth ~10¢ each, transactions of
Acorns equal $200,000.
Every Day.
Relevant Codes
• SECE 2.09: Promote no interest adverse to
their employer or client…
• SECE 2.03: Use the property of a client or
employer only in ways properly
authorized…