You may or may not know, depending on how much you pay attention to the world of online games, that people routinely pay REAL money in exchange for virtual in-game money in games like World of Warcraft and Everquest. I personally know people who have paid anywhere from $35 to $200 for in-game money. These transactions are done between players of the game. I paypal you some money and then you meet me in-game and give me the game money. I'm sure you don't need my help in seeing the potential problems here. Now Sony Online Entertainment, the owners of Everquest, have decided that they will facilitate these transactions. It sounds like a good idea, but here's the problem I see. Currently, all the money and items that get traded come from "in" the game. If you go buy some gold from someone, that person had to acquire it by playing the game. Sony, however, doesn't have to. They develop the game. They can make as much virtual gold as they want. I'm not saying they shouldn't do it. I just think it sets an interesting precedent. Ultima Online did this same thing when it was in its death throes, and from what have heard Everquest and Everquest 2 are headed that same way. Truthfully, I'm surprised it took this long.
Psst Hey Buddy wanna buy some Virtual Money?
