What is your take in RMT?

roctkd

Hello All!

     I know that RMT is a higly controversial industry. I am NOT a RMT supporter. I am just wondering how is everyone think of the business now? Although there are many gamers against the business, it still generated 1.6 billion  USD in year 2007. So... what is your opinion? Please vote! Thanks

modjoe86

Should I feel bad for having to google RMT? I'm assuming it is "Real money Trading," in which case I support it.  If someone has the money to spend, it's not my place to tell them what to spend it on.

roctkd

Hello modjoe86!

I am sorry about the terms. I should have clearly elaborate it. Sorry for the confusion. Yes, RMT does stand for Real Money Transaction. I think the people whom against it are mainly because that they think RMT interfers the fairness of the game.  Do you think it interfer the fairness of the game?

modjoe86

If we are talking about some game models in which the devs provide better equipment if you buy it with real money, then yes I think it is unfair. But to be honest, you should expect it going into the game.

If you are talking about people buying stuff from online companies, then no, I don't think it gives you an unfair advantage, you just get stuff more quickly.

baff

I have no problems with RMT although I feel your figure of 1.6 billion USD is somewhat invented.

Skoll

I am against RMT, in FFXI there are parties of like 5 black mages and a thief, the thief pulls a bunch of gobbues and the mages aoe kill them all. Not only is this game breaking, since the only real player is the thief and the mages are bots, but when you try killing your own gobbues the RMT swears at you and becomes extremely rude. So yes, i am against RMT. RMT's have really ruined the economy in FFXI, things that used to sell for 100k now sell for about 25k. It's very lame.

I realize gilsellers probably have a family to feed, but i pay 24$ a month(i own two accounts) to enjoy my game. Not to be pm'ed "Cao ni ma" every time i try farming my own mobs.

roctkd

The estimated value of RMT industry varies from source to source. I came up with this estimate from NEWS.com article. Please refer to the following link.

http://www.news.com/Real-world-success-with-virtual-goods/5208-1043_3-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=31716&start=0

Rikimaru_X

Why when I looked at "RMT" I thought of "Real Time  Strategy"? At least it seems like I wasn't the only one who did this.

olddaddy

RMT may ultimately be the death of online gaming in the United States.

In many States if you purchase an item by mail order, or over the internet, you must declare it and pay State sales tax. Similiarly, if you are carrying out a business activity in the United States you must pay Federal Income Tax.

Currently both the federal and State governments are looking at ways they can tap this revenue source. If you purchase that uber sword or orc killing, you have bought something of value, and don't be surprised when the State want's the buyer to pay their cut of the sales tax.

Similiarly, if  a gold farmer/leveling service in Shanghai is in an SOE game advertising his services don't be surprised when the federal government decides to tap that revenue source. The Shanghai gold farmer would be using a US based server to do business in the US, like having a US based sales office. Congress recognizes that they will have a hard time getting their hands on that Shanghai gold farmer, but three guesses who they can easily get their hands on. The US Congress has been looking at ways to legislate online gaming companies to report the increase in the dollar value of an gamer's account on Form 1099.

So, if during a year of play you acquired virtual gold and items worth $200, you would get a 1099 from SOE at the end of the year reporting that $200 as taxable income to the government. Value you would have earned through your efforts at playing a MMORPG. just like having a job.

Whether you think it's fair, right, or wrong, this is currently being looked at by the politicians.

Thank God for Monopoly, makes it hard to tax a digital game and exclude the classics.

 

CleffyII

I approve of RMT.  If the game is such an irritating grind that it creates a market for it, then by all means.

Anofalye

As long as they don't spam me, nor harass me, nor KS me, nor affect me negatively, they would be welcome to join my group even if they want to sell the items they may wins.  (If they sell for in-game currency, I would expect them to give me the offer of any item interesting me, at the same price they will sell, rather than put it on the market...they will know if I want the item, of course sometimes they didn't figure out how much they want to ask, but figuring that out is a fair thing to do since I group them, and then offer me the SAME price)

 

I want nothing to do with the "purchase/selling" in RL money, but if they group with me and abide to a random roll on all loot or any other looting system, they are players like everyone else.  If a fellow player purchase from RMT I don't care.  If that fellow player is a noob and clueless, I would rather know he is a noob, but he will still be welcome to join my group as he learn to play his character.

 

I believe in "Bind on purchase", in "instance boss fights"(no KS possible here, and no weird feeling of a lock battle, be it only a room in a dungeon, where you appear on the other side of the door, in fact 2000 away on the Z axis).  I guess I am just trying to make fun in a game, and help every other players make fun as well.  RMT usually don't spam me much, they understand that's been on my ignore list mean far less options for them, yet a few are been donkeys, and I honestly wish that their competitors which I will gladly group will out-business these &*?%$.

Par-Salian

I play games by the rules, otherwise what's the fun in it?

With that being said, if the MMO's TOS allow real life trading, then fine.  If it is against the rules (as it is in most games I've played), then no. 

 

roctkd

Real Time Strategy is RTS.

Torak

Originally posted by CleffyII


I approve of RMT.  If the game is such an irritating grind that it creates a market for it, then by all means.

Interesting perspective

I'm no RMT supporter but obviously many MMOers are. The problem has spiraled out of control in just about every game.

I really don't care anymore either way, all that bothers me is spammers these days. Every game you play, you are bombarded by gold spam. Drives me nuts.

mike470

It never really botherws me, unless there are bots killing monsters to get the money...then they get in the way of training.

What I fail to see is why companies are making such a big deal out of it.

Kenze

if you worked as hard in a game to make money as most do IRL to make money to buy ingame money then you wouldnt need to buy it.

 

..gah, what a terrible sentence /shame

Kiriji

RMT is a bit like porn no one admits to using it, but they proberly are if you know what i mean. You can kind of see why people use the RMT's if the game forces you to farm endlessly so you can buy a new hat. If you don't have that much free time then a bit of a money boost can help you free up more time to the actual "fun" aspect of the game, or even better you can use that money to invest in your char for making more money through, trading, crafting ect. But it does fuck up the economy.