EVE Online, World of Warcraft, Diablo 3 and Guild Wars 2 are AAA games that are now implementing legitimate forms of Real Money Trading. All four of these games now allow players to purchase gameplay-affecting items and boosts using real world currencies.

When did this become okay? 

The above companies rationalize the introduction of RMT trading by touting that it prevents illegal RMT, hacking, scams, etc. However, these are NOT the reasons why RMT was banned in the first place.

RMT was banned because it provided in-game advantages for out-of-game resources. That is, RMT was considered cheating.

What happened to make these companies believe that main evil of RMT is hacking and scaming instead of the loss of the game's integrity? How did the paradigm shift so much that people actually stand for it now when you would have had internet riots if this happened only 6 years ago?

The main reason they did it is because they cant stop it. They been trying for so long with WoW which took them 6 months of fighting after Relase of Vanilla WoW before they could stop people from selling Gold and Accounts on Ebay, which now all takes places on many 3rd party sites.

Same with Diablo 2, which from nearly day one and still to this day, there is Real Money Transactions happening all the time via 3rd party sites. Since they cant stop them, they are going to impliment it so that they can benieft from it as well as giving those who do do it, a secure means of doing so.

Originally posted by fundayz

What happened to make these companies believe that main evil of RMT is hacking and scaming instead of the loss of the game's integrity? How did the paradigm shift so much that people actually stand for it now when you would have had internet riots if this happened only 6 years ago?

You've answered your question right here. TImes have changed. RMT is inevitable, whether it's supported or not. Support for RMT creates a symbiotic relationship between the core player, the casual player and the developer. Not supporting RMT creates a hostile environment where core gamers hate farmers and casuals who buy illegally, and game developers hunt down offenders.

Wasn't like that 6 years ago (although it was more active than people realized).

Originally posted by Sythion

Wasn't like that 6 years ago (although it was more active than people realized).

This been happening since the late 90's, but you're right, its been becoming bigger and bigger each year over the past 6-8 years.

Its on the same level as PIPA. They say its against piracy, but it really isn't about that at all.

Its propaganda coming to fruition...

None of them have the same system as the others, so your generalizations are innacurate. 

Originally posted by fundayz

RMT was banned because it provided in-game advantages for out-of-game resources. That is, RMT was considered cheating.

What happened to make these companies believe that main evil of RMT is hacking and scaming instead of the loss of the game's integrity? How did the paradigm shift so much that people actually stand for it now when you would have had internet riots if this happened only 6 years ago?

Market happened.

These companies just noticed that despite their best efforts, farmers kept farming gold and people kept buying them (RMT wouldn't exist at all if people wasn't willing to RMT in the first place), added to the increase success of F2P titles with item shops. So if a non insignificant percentage of their customers want or already use it, they just decided to regulate it themselves instead of trying to fight it, and if they can profit from it, the better. After all, we have to remember they're not sporting organizations trying to keep everything as fair as possible, they're companies out to make money out of products we, the costumers, hopefully enjoy.

It just remains to be seen wether the amount of people that are for regulated "legal" RMT, or don't care either way is big enough to make up for the losing of people that feel strongly against it.

What game play affecting items are in EvE, WoW, and GW2? The only one I have a problem with is Diablo 3 simply because of how gear based of a game it will be. I would hardly consider cosmetic items in EvE game play changing in any way, unless you need a monocle to fly your ship. 

Just like the argument for legalizing drugs:

You know they'll be safe(er) and clean(er) because they're regulated.

You know the price will be more regulated because the market will be visible not hidden.

The people in charge can then tax and get a cut of the profits.

I mean, you ask me would I rather my money go to the company who made the game I enjoy or to the prison guard in China who is/was forcing inmates to farm gold in WoW -

I'm going to answer "the company who made the game" every time.

I would prefer it was regulated rather than underground / black market to maintain the economy rather than create its own unofficial one behind closed doors which could lead to a two-tier / unstable ingame and even real world economy.

Originally posted by fundayz

RMT was banned because it provided in-game advantages for out-of-game resources. That is, RMT was considered cheating.

What happened to make these companies believe that main evil of RMT is hacking and scaming instead of the loss of the game's integrity? How did the paradigm shift so much that people actually stand for it now when you would have had internet riots if this happened only 6 years ago?

I am going to disagree with you here.  The companies banned RMT primarily because it was disrupting their games too much and thus costing them money due to disgruntled customers. 

Games like EQ used to allow RMT until the operations got too big and professional and various duping hacks started crashing the servers.  When RMT started costing them money, they banned it.

Vertical purchases (things which make you stronger) are bad.

Lateral purchases (playstyle options like those found in LoL or Tribes:Ascend) are fantastic.  (Especially because in those examples you can unlock things the slow way if you really want.)

As it has been said over countless other threads whenever the topic becomes popular again.

It happens because the demand is there. It isn't a multi-billion dollar industry simply by being, it has customers (players) that willingly fork over their dough to get shiny things and power.

Human nature tends to find shortcuts for their goals, and many will rationalize the decision as not being harmful to anyone else.

If people here condemning and soap boxing this issue really wanted to make a difference, then they should:

1) Make a dedicated website or refer ppl to one where a petition can be signed against RMT's (unlikely to come to fruition) or

2) Vote with your wallet and not pay or play games with RMT's.

If enough ppl do this, change can happen, but the anonymity of the internet and the (insert derogatory adjective here) of those that buy real cash for ingame stuff makes it very unlikely to change anytime soon. 

Its only cheating if its an unfair advantage, companies are trying to make it as fair as they can, while still providing a service that has an ever increasing demand.

Its better than the alternative, which is an unregulated black market running amok

RMT became OK the day people started using it instead of refusing and demanding changing it, so yeah it seems it works ok....

I voted "it doesnt matter as long as it doesnt directly affect me"

OP, so when has it been OK to allow gold selling companies to take money that could/should be going to the game maker?

See, that is the question people like you refuse to think about.

It is NOT possible to stop gold selling unless the game maker themselves makes it availible.

It is 100% better for the game maker to get that money so they can reinvest it back into the game.

It is 100% better to have a game with no gold seller spam knowing that anyone that wants to spend their money is not only getting it from the game maker, but the money from it is going to help keep the game going.

Just deal with the FACT that people ARE GOING TO BUY GOLD IF THEY WANT TO NO MATTER WHAT and that this way, they are going to HELP the game instead of hurt it...game economies that rely on player money is going to be ruined no matter what anyway.

  Im for it..if anyone should be making money on the side it should be the actual game developers. Ive used third parties before but no longer have to sweat it as the devs themselves have seen the light of yet another income source.

Originally posted by Xerith

What game play affecting items are in EvE, WoW, and GW2? The only one I have a problem with is Diablo 3 simply because of how gear based of a game it will be. I would hardly consider cosmetic items in EvE game play changing in any way, unless you need a monocle to fly your ship. 

You actually don't know do you?

In EVE you buy PLEX which can be sold for large amounts of ISK. This ISK can be used to buy ships, materials, blueprints, upgrades, etc.

In WoW you can now buy tradeable Guardian Pup mini-pets. These can be sold on the AH for Gold, which can then be used for gear, consumables, gems, mats, etc

In Diablo 3 you can literally buy items and characters directly with cash.

In GW2 you can now buy Gems using cash and sell them in-game for Gold. This gold can be used to buy gear, crafting materials, consumables, guild influence. In addition, you can buy loot bags and gameplay bonuses (xp, karma, rare item chance, etc) directly from the cash shop.

Originally posted by jtcgs

OP, so when has it been OK to allow gold selling companies to take money that could/should be going to the game maker?

See, that is the question people like you refuse to think about.

It is NOT possible to stop gold selling unless the game maker themselves makes it availible.

It is 100% better for the game maker to get that money so they can reinvest it back into the game.

It is 100% better to have a game with no gold seller spam knowing that anyone that wants to spend their money is not only getting it from the game maker, but the money from it is going to help keep the game going.

This argument is laughable.

Yes, RMT will always happen. The issue is how widespread do the developers allow it to become.

There is a huge difference between knowing that a few people will find ways to cheat and the developers openly endorsing it.

Originally posted by BadSpock

Just like the argument for legalizing drugs:

You know they'll be safe(er) and clean(er) because they're regulated.

You know the price will be more regulated because the market will be visible not hidden.

The people in charge can then tax and get a cut of the profits.

 

I mean, you ask me would I rather my money go to the company who made the game I enjoy or to the prison guard in China who is/was forcing inmates to farm gold in WoW -

I'm going to answer "the company who made the game" every time.

Have to +1 this. One of the best answers.

RMT existed since the beginning of mmos. i bet even in UO it existed. So your question isn't valid. It was always there so iot was always ok for some people. Just now companies decided to control it.