Game Gab

It seems that more and more frequently I get involved in discussions about people who make money or sell stuff from playing online games. Lately these discussions have taken place over lunch after church or while playing Magic: The Gathering during lunch at work. What interests me is finding out what things people have heard about. After that I can't resist sharing my knowledge of some more things going on that they might not be aware of.

Here's what people typically "know":

• Some people sell online game items and gold for "real" money
  
• Some person bought real estate (a specific location and area of land) in an online world for hundreds of dollars of real money
  
• Some people play the online game just for the purpose of getting stuff that they can sell for real money
  

And this what I try to add to their awareness:

• Some people actually make their living full-time through the sales of virtual items and currency (see the "Interview with a V-Empire" post on this blog from January, 2006)
  
• The selling and purchasing of real estate usually takes place in the game Second Life, where land goes for not just hundreds but also thousands of dollars
  
• The practice of taking part in the game strictly for the purpose of earning the most wealth over time is called "gold farming." The hardcore players have some pattern, script or sequence that they follow to rake in the gold.
  
• There is at least one company that has outsourced their gold farming to third world residents who play the game for hours a day supposedly in return for a small hourly wage and having their accounts paid for. Meanwhile, the parent company sells the goodies and pockets the difference.
  

So, do these conversations mean more and more people are becoming aware of the entirely separate "shadow economy" of online game worlds? Maybe. Not enough for it to become a mainstream enterprise ... yet. Some practices, like outsourcing, didn't have to wait for any form of legitimacy or formal recognition of these economies. Other practices, such as standard banking and investment services, seem far from ready to become engaged in this enterprise. Come back here to follow along as things start to happen.