30 Percent of MMOG Players Buy Gold

Keane Ng

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Sep 11, 2008
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30 Percent of MMOG Players Buy Gold



At least 30 percent of people who play MMOGs buy virtual goods and services, according to a World of Warcraft gold seller who believes that the practice should be licensed and supported by MMOG companies.

Extreme Gold Fan, an anonymous World of Warcraft gold seller and buyer who runs Eurogamer [http://www.wowgoldfacts.com] that he believes that the percentage of MMOG players who participate in real money transactions (RMT) for virtual currency and services is around 30 percent.

He argues that because the practice is so prevalent and, in his mind, beneficial, MMOG companies like Blizzard should stop trying to prevent it but incorporate it into their business by officially licensing and supporting real money transactions. "In my opinion, the industry would be better served if publishers would recognize that lots of gamers - I've heard it's 30 per cent of the player base - like the benefits of RMT, and work with credible companies and allow it to happen," he said.

Call him an idealist, but Extreme Gold Fan sees this all perfectly within the realm of possibility. "I don't see why this is not possible," he said. "They could make a condition of involvement in RMT that players give them a complete release of all forms of liability."

Well, 30 percent of all you WoW/Warhammer/etc players, fess up! Have you bought gold or other virtual goods or services? I'll admit that I've done it, not in an MMOG but in Diablo II, where nowadays you never have to spend more than a couple bucks for some relatively top-notch gear.


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Mr.Bubbles43

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Jul 23, 2008
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Nope never once bought any gold. Gold is kinda useless in warhammer so anyone that actually bought some is an idiot. Then in eve online I have never bought anything either.

Part of the problem is that in a lot of games I believe people pretend to be selling gold be in reality just scam people out of their money without giving them anything.
 

GothmogII

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Apr 6, 2008
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He's 'heard', real satisfying conclusion he's come to right there. Pfft...anyway, never have bought gold and never will. It's just so damn easy to make gold anyway, the people who do just come across as lazy prats. And if we're going that route, why not just ditch in game currencies altogether? Why not just pay money for the items themselves? It's all so stupid.
 

NDWolfwood5268

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Dec 3, 2008
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I've bought ISK (EVE Online currency), but from CCP (the game's developer). You see, CCP saw this as something that wouldn't go away, so instead of trying to shun it, they embraced it themselves so that people would turn to their resources rather then shady, possibly illegal, groups like those that hack accounts.

The practice involves buying game time codes (GTC's) with real life money, and optionally selling those codes by converting them into in-game objects for sale on the in-game market. Rather nice idea I thought, and it does help regulate those shady groups I mentioned. WoW and others can enforce something similar I think, no reason why not...
 

jigilojoe

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Mar 4, 2009
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I feel ashamed, although relieved. I brought gold once, a long time ago, I couldn't do anything without that fucking mount :(
 

Baneat

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Jul 18, 2008
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30%, absolutely no way, maybe 5. "I've heard" is NOT a reliable source and shouldn't be treated as such.
 

WolfLordAndy

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Sep 19, 2008
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I doubt its that big, though there must be something behind it to keep them in business.

But do they not realise, that should companies wish to endorse it, they'll sell it themselves by creating the items? Rather then allowing 3rd party dodgy chinese farmers sell it. Thus allowing gold sales actually destroys there whole business quicker and more completely then banning users ever will.
 

Eruanno

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Aug 14, 2008
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...So why would all those chinese gold sellers get employment at Blizzards HQ if they chose to create and sell gold themselves? This would essentially destroy their entire business to 100%... it would honestly be more beneficial if Blizzard did NOT ban it.

Also, I've never bought gold (or thought about it either, for that matter). Hi. Played WoW on and off since release.
 

Andraste

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Nov 21, 2004
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Baneat said:
30%, absolutely no way, maybe 5. "I've heard" is NOT a reliable source and shouldn't be treated as such.
Really? My first thought was "That's it?" I know tons who have. From an <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_42/252-Scratching-the-Surface.4>interview I did with Richard Garriott ages ago:

Virtual property: Good, bad or ugly? Richard [Garriott] fielded that one with an unexpected answer, saying, "Well, I think first of all, it's inevitable." ... "I buy virtual gold all the time," he says, adding, "I have no problem with it. I'm a supporter. I understand that my position on this is different from our sole corporate perspective. But anyway, I participate in it."
Even he does it. I know tons of people who have. I don't agree with the notion, personally, but that doesn't mean lots of people don't do it. Some sink resources of time into the games, some sink financial resources into it. Just depends where the lines cross for an individual.
 

Skizle

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Feb 12, 2009
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ive only baught gold of a friend once. he basically inherited about 40k worth of WoW gold from a guy that basically ran the auction house and it was a gift to him for trying the same thing on another server transfer.
 

HandCannon

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Mar 19, 2009
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I play WoW, never bought gold. its so bloody easy to make now in WotLK that its not worth it anyway. To be honest I dont think it would be worth it even if it was difficult to obtain.
 

DaxStrife

Late Reviewer
Nov 29, 2007
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I can see some people paying for gold thinking of it as an investment or something... but really, I can't see why someone should pay for stuff in a game when they're already constantly paying to play it.
 

KDR_11k

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Feb 10, 2009
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It doesn't get supported because that means the law will get involved. By saying that all "virtual property" remains with Blizzard they make sure noone has any claim against them if items get lost and that there is no actual value in the gaining of ingame items that could be construed as a lottery and thus gambling.
 

Samah

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Jul 7, 2008
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But where would we be without SusanExpress! I've heard Susan is hawt...
 

oliveira8

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Feb 2, 2009
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I really dont get people that spend real money to buy virtual money... Aint the fun part getting the money in the first place? (Okay its grindy but..you know what I mean.)