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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…