Quote: "Virtual currency / real-world commerce "
That equals virtual capitalism.
Quote: "Has anyone here explored this idea with their games? Good idea? Bad idea? Success? Problems? "
I’ve never explored it, because it can be used for other purposes.
Without knowing the integrity of all users, the intent may be jeopardized.
That could haunt the system with potentially dangerous illegal activities.
I would say bad idea for a virtual currency based on any real world dollar, unless there is a medium such as in game items.
In other words, I think that allowing players to buy and sell in game items on eBay should be encouraged and not discouraged for an MMORPG like RuneScape.
I think that selling in game items would be better as revenue than monthly subscriptions given an open market and virtual capitalism.
Then any release of a new in game item could first be marketed with minimal availability going to the highest bidder.
As time went on the aftermarket for that item would start affecting the price, and as its store sales dwindled new items could be introduced.
This would also provide hard working ‘mules’ in nation’s of poor economies to prosper by selling items like in game gold coins to someone in another part of the world for real currency.
It is a win-win situation for both people because one has plenty of time and not a lot of money, whilst the other one has more money than time.
For gamers (especially MMORPGs), mixing real world and game world economies can be a great success.
However, given a straight sale for gold has potential for money laundering schemes.
Also, some serious (maybe too serious) RPGers think that buying items like gold instead of earning them is cheating.
To that I say, BAH, welcome to capitalism, which is what you have with an open market like a MMORPG currency.
Edit
I almost forgot LOL Security.
You would have to have a rock solid system to prevent a hacker from robbing you blind.
Quote: "If a multiplayer game with a real-world currency system didn't work, I'd seriously think of creating a single player game with an open storyline and periodically supplying new maps/expansion packs for micro-payments. "
Much better idea.
