Economics and ethics. When most people think of video gaming, these are probably not the first two things that come to mind. Granted, selling the actual game brings profit to the company who created it, but there are more economic implications than that. Video games, primarily MMO’s, have the ability for people to save, as well as make money within the contents of the game. We will start by looking at the financial savings that these games bring.
Linden Labs report on IBM’s virtual meeting shows how economically friendly Second Life has been to the company. The cost of having a convention online significantly cut expenses such as airfare, room and board, and rental space. Not only were they able to bring everyone together from the comfort of their own homes, but they were able to recreate objects that would normally cost money in the real world. IBM was able to digitally recreate prototypes of their new and upcoming products.
On the other side of economics, the “Chinese Gold Farmers” article shows how virtual gaming can be used to gain income as well. It stated that MMO’s bring in between $7 - $12 billion a year. This is done through things such as creating products within the context of the game, to selling accounts, to farming virtual gold and selling it for real money. People dedicate hours of their lives to simply clicking a button over and over. These businesses, however, have created a stir within the ethics of the gaming world.
These farmers are considered by many as cheaters, and gamers are becoming outraged. From online slayings to class action suits, people are doing all they can in order to stop these gold farmers. However, as frustrating as it may be to some of the more serious gamers, we must again turn back to the economics of the big picture. The process of farming, although hard to believe, is actually creating jobs in the world. People make a living off of farming gold, and other companies make money off of these companies. It has become a circle of life within the gaming black market, and without it, it could put people back into rough economic situations.
So the question must be raised, is it truly a bad thing that these people are producing online currency for others to benefit from? There are most certainly people out there who are willing to pay money to advance in these virtual worlds, and if that is how they desire to play the game, who are we to stop them? Why put to an end what so many people depend on for their livelihoods? Yes people become angry, but in the end they have another purpose of playing the game; stop the farmers from doing their jobs. It becomes a new game within these virtual worlds, and, being said, are these not just games? If people want to look at these MMO’s with a realistic view, then they should expect the same dishonesty and thievery that is in the real world. It is, after all, just another world controlled by the inconsistent and dishonest human race.
