mmorpg.com says "aye" to ingame item sales for RW cash

Silvanemrys

This website is probably one of the most popular MMORPG portals in the world and it's supported by the sale of ingame items and currency with advertising from a certain in-game item sales sweat-shop.

And yet, recent poll http://www.mmorpg.com/features.cfm/view/polls on this very website asking asking for users' stance on the "sale of game items for real money" returned an overwhelming majority saying it "ruins games".

So, MMORPG editors - what's it to be? Surely you cannot continue to run banner ads for sales of ingame intems, when your readers are so clearly against the practice?

LordMagnus

Don't like it? Leave.

Silvanemrys

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Originally posted by LordMagnus
Don't like it? Leave.

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Bite me. You didn't like my post. You're still here.

Siphons

I kinda agree, running ads like IGE is pretty cruddy. It sure would boost on approval rates (yes, my personal approval points, very coveted) if the site took a stand against such things. BUT, it's more profitable to take the buck, so I know it won't happen.

shilak

Its called being impartial. IGE has as much right to advertise their service as anyone else. I would much rather see this site catering for all opinions on MMO matters than just promoting the popular opinion of the day.

That poll clearly shows that some people think trading in-game items for real world money is acceptable. And I would hardly call 55.7% an overwhelming majority, 44.3% dont care or support it!

Silvanemrys

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Originally posted by shilak
I would much rather see this site catering for all opinions on MMO matters than just promoting the popular opinion of the day.

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If this subject is a bandwagon, then it's one of the longest running trains since the pilgrims headed west.

Try this for size. Of the seven highest ranked games by users (and abusers) of this website's review system* six of them clearly state within the EULAs, terms of use or other such click-wrap agreements required for access to the games, that the RL profiting from sales of in-game items is forbidden.

I particularly liked DAoC's:

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accessing the System and/or playing the Game for commercial, business, or income-seeking purposes is strictly prohibited.

YOU SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE TIME YOU SPEND PLAYING DARK AGE OF CAMELOT(TM) IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY, AND THAT YOU CLAIM NO INTEREST IN THE VALUE OF SUCH TIME AS REPRESENTED BY THE BUILDING UP OF THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL OF YOUR CHARACTER AND/OR THE ITEMS YOUR CHARACTER ACCUMULATES DURING YOUR TIME PLAYING DARK AGE OF CAMELOT(TM).

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Now that's a pretty clear attempt to close a frequently exploited loophole.

Never mind the money that MMORPG.com is generating from the banners adverts in question - what about the cash that it's losing from legitimate sponsors because of the very same adverts? If MMORPG.com is to be taken seriously by increased numbers of heavy weight advertisers, it'll have clean up it's image fast, like a Kate Moss sponsor.

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Originally posted by shilak
That poll clearly shows that some people think trading in-game items for real world money is acceptable. And I would hardly call 55.7% an overwhelming majority, 44.3% dont care or support it!

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Ahh, doncha love democracy. I'd say in this day and age where the leaders of the world's most powerful nations are decided by lawyers, 11.4% is pretty damn decisive.

*Guild Wars; EVE Online; World of Warcraft; City of Heroes; The Saga of Ryzom; Dark Age Of Camelot with Sony's EverQuest II being a bit ambiguous is it has its own in-game exchange service on two EQII servers.