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In virtual economy, the so called In-Game Money can be used. Virtual economy is an economy that is not real, perse. It is only present in an online game on a virtual world. This economy serves as a form of leisure tool, they are only used for fun rather than for the benefit of a persons survival, as in real economy. For instance, a person who participates in a virtual economy doesn’t need to pay money for food or water just to survive, instead he can buy a new shiny car and drive around for days with no cash in his pocket. Virtual economies can be found in online multiplayer games, like enormous multiplayer online games, or even in MUDs or in Second Life. In popular game like Second Life, players can possess real estate which can be turned into a house or a business. Eventually, players can become virtual millionaires if their endeavour goes well. This can lead to actual money made in the real world economy, like for instance, the player trade his/her business for real money to another player. In this sense, some virtual economies have the capability to create money for real people in the real economy. Virtual currency in many other games plays a massive part in real world economics, similar to in World of Warcraft. You can search for Websites of companies that will not only advertise in-game gold and merchandise in exchange for real money. With real life money, you can also buy a character profile of any level you wish for. Some far-reaching companies now have an infinite customer service database wherein gamers can build profiles, acquire money, and push the edge of virtual economy to our own economy. That is almost ridiculous!
A guy who played Ultima Online has a real, quite unbelievable story. He played the game as a blacksmith. He then made money by falsifying steel swords and series of mail armour for his clients. To be able to let his clients come back, he needs to be in grandmaster level so that he can make enhanced weapons. He also became an archer in the game so that he could fetch animal skins for his blacksmith. Then he obtained a mage that increased his archer’s levels. See, he operates his own business in the real virtual economy of Ultima Online. Before, he was the proud possessor of a Tower, one of the best houses to be built in Ultima and he acquire the key spot on the new continent. This accomplishment didn’t take him months or years (staying up late at night, clicking, double clicking, scratching, and saving) to buy the castle. The Ultima Blacksmith was a carpenter in real life. For the successful guy, he didn’t consider his work very hard because for him it is something that wasn’t for real but he really enjoy! [via] |
