Topic of the Week (July 14)

[Seridove]

This week, we want to touch on one of those topics that hits every successful MMORPG game out there....gold sellers/farmers. I've played several games and I knew that there were always ebayers out there selling characters and gold. In game, however, I rarely saw these transactions..as those who farmed money were hidden in secret...afraid of being caught.

Today, however, it seems that gold sellers/farmers have almost become an intrusive part of the game experience. You see characters in some games named "sdlkfds" and "eieorieo" on auto pilot, your ingame mailbox is full of spam (guess you can't even get away from that here) and your private tells are filled by people who want to sell you gold. One AoC fansite has even gone so far as to offer a "gold making/leveling guide" as a contest prize.

Where does the insanity stop?

We want to know from you...what are your thoughts on these gold farmers/sellers? Are they needed? Can we successfully get rid of them? Should they be left alone? Vote in our poll and let us know.

 

[UrsusManor]

Every coin has two sides. I think the demand generates the supply. There will always be gamers who find the rank advancement of the given game too slow and they don't care whether this ruins the game itself or not.

 

[Sawo]

I have bought money and characters with real moola and have nothing againsts it. Peoples do so and thats why there are things like Project Entropia and Second Life example. It is not fair for those who dont have money to buy über alts or some gold for epix...... but hey, thats how things work irl too, money eases your life.

 

[dp_dropout]

Seeing as how easy it is to make gold once you're past level 50 I think it's pretty hilarious to buy it.

That said, the fact that people buy gold doesn't bother me at all, the fact that these gold sellers spam my chat and email however does.
If there would be an adequate system in place which I can use to prevent this spam I would be happy.

Edit: Grats with Mod function, Sawo!

 

[Sawo]

Thanks, time to do something else than....... you know

AoC gold is not that important yet and its easy to get. They seem to spam more power leveling services than gold.

 

[Dethpatryn]

Personally I condemn both the sellers and buyers. If I know someone is a gold seller, I won't associate with them and will put them on ignore. If I know someone is a gold buyer, I again will not associate with them, but instead of ignoring them, will report them.

 

[Sawo]

If I know someone is a gold buyer, I again will not associate with them, but instead of ignoring them, will report them.

Some games dont mind it, infact, if you sell it like "compensation for used time to gain it" theres nothing they can do. Game companies own ingame items, but not the time some person has used to gain item/gold. But thats why there are massive end user agreements these days

 

[SWATJester]

Well, I hope this week's wrapup (which I just finished writing) will put a different spin on the outcome. I personally have nothing against gold sellers, RMT, or power levelers, I've even used them in the past. I'm firmly of the opinion that "It's my money, I should be able to spend it however I want, and who are you to condemn me for it?" If you don't like gold selling/buying, don't do it, but that's your own choice, and you have no right to criticize those who do buy for making that choice.

That being said, it certainly hinges on the sellers themselves behaving and not spamming people. If you choose not to participate in gold selling, you should not be forced to listen to spammers all day. That's as much your right as it is other people's to do it.

Again, hopefully this week's wrapup should shed a bit more light on the subject.

Also for those of you going to PAX 2008, I'm going to be lecturing on the topic in a panel called "Legal Issues in Contemporary Video Gaming", on Sunday the 31st at 3pm, so check it out!

 

[Seridove]

Here's a link to Dan's wrapup: http://ageofconan.stratics.com/php-bin/show_content.php?content=28285

 

[dp_dropout]

Here's a link to Dan's wrapup: http://ageofconan.stratics.com/php-bin/show_content.php?content=28285

It's a US court so the entire lawsuit has no international repercussion.
If the EU doesn't make some kind of law against it, I doubt it will have an impact on European gold farmers and power levelling services.
And we all know things are handled differently (I'm not saying 'better') in the EU than in the US. Just ask Microsoft.

 

[Sawo]

Aaaaaaand..... Goldfarmers are generally from China so not US nor EU laws can reach them.

 

[OldDuke]

It's a US court so the entire lawsuit has no international repercussion.
If the EU doesn't make some kind of law against it, I doubt it will have an impact on European gold farmers and power levelling services.
And we all know things are handled differently (I'm not saying 'better') in the EU than in the US. Just ask Microsoft.

As with the thepiratebay.org American law dont apply in europe, even tough they like to think so.

So for me and the rest of the world this means ****. And we in europe aint bought by the big and mighty corps like it is in the US!