If you're anything like me, you really liked the idea of Diablo III's Real Money Auction House.
But long before that, players were selling in game items on Ebay. And the only game that seems to have really supported the idea (with great success I might add) is Second Life.
"According to eBay Second Life is not considered a game, and thus the sale of Second Life virtual items is not prohibited." ( Link )
But a lot of companies such as Blizzard, even CCP really hate the idea of selling in game items and property for real dollars. There are a number of explanations offered such as, "It ruins the in game economy" and "There is a high probability of exploitation".
But you can't state the above -- and offer a Real Money Auction House or dismiss the success of Second Life.
I've been toying with the idea in the Alpha Release of Epic Space Game. Here's what I've come up with:
- 1. The idea of selling in game items must be as simple as possible.
- 2. We (as in the development team) don't necessarily have to be apart of the sales process at all.
- 3. Due to the nature of the game, players will want to sell Stations, Sectors, Ships and more on their own -- despite any rules or regulations I put in place.
Basically, if players want to do it, they're going to do it. You can't stop or police something like that.
What do you think?
Should selling in game items be something games(even mine) should support?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
I think that selling in-game items is gonna happen no matter what, so games should support it. At the very least, it shouldn't be banned.
Some games are going broken when you let people buy and sell stuff.
Some people want to get in game, enjoy its inner world, plot, conditions that effects their choices, without any influence from real world, like some lads buying all the good stuff (which was made to people buy it and screw everyone) and mowing areas down.
Some games, that made big hit (like Blizzard's), just cant afford letting people trade freely for real money, without ******* some addicts lifes up.
Second Life is not a game where you can "beat everyone in anything and win the game". It is just a sandbox where you can do anything, without challenging, achievments and goals. In games where you have condition that the man with bigger_anything will always "win", people will search easy ways to get there. And you will have all sorts of cheating, putting excessive amounts of money and time in pursuit of leveling up.
Hackers, farming bots, that's the problems. I get my Wow account hack 2 time, they take all my gold and items to sell it for reel money. Buying gold and items is encouraging the hackers.
I'm with you on this one. Granted, I understand a lot of people believe that Diablo 3's loot system has been altered to make the RMAH more profitable, though I personally don't share that belief, but that's my opinion on it as well: Black market sales were going to happen anyway, why not offer a safe place for people to do it? If you don't like the auction house, you don't have to use it.