I have a question about the in game Real Money Trading that is created by the game publisher.

We all know we can throw money at it indefinetely, but if the option to sell something for real world cash is available, can we take money out of the account? 

That is to say, if the goal of publishers was to reduce illegal RMT by creating their own RMT shops, then shouldn't they also allow the player to make money off the game?  Instead of endlessly spending money on the game for gems/pets/armor ad infitatum.  Doesn't it seem a little one sided that the most you can do with the money in your account is buy more game time (or items from the shop)? 

And that being said, does anyone else shiver with dread at the prospect of video game publishers becoming more like online banks with their services?

I have heard rumors about Diablo III allowing you to sell items for real world money, but this doesn't interest me if I can't then put that money into my real life bank account... (or atleast a paypal)

In some, like EvE where you could buy your game time with ingame ISK then it can and does work.

However, the companies allowing RMT's are doing for their own reasons, not the players.

This fallacious sense of entitlement that some feel because <insert game company> allows/disallows RMT, has a sub/no sub based model...is really the rotten core of the apple of gaming.

It feeds those third party companies to farm gold and sell it for real cash. It helps change the direction of mmo's to please the 'Want it now!' crowd, and facilitates those companies too lazy to create something new and copypaste existing games just to make a margianl profit.

Idk, Second Life has that. Is it working out?

I'm just curious if anyone else has come to the realization that 3rd party RMT will never go away if the publishers never allow the player to make real world money off the game. 

Of course 3rd party RMT will never go away as a business, but it would be hugely effected if gaming publishers allowed real money to be made.

Maybe, if the comapny could make a % off those transactions then sure, why not have them.

The implementation to such a system could be hellish to make, ensuring no exploits, scams, phishing schemes be allowed. Too many headaches I believe for them.

Who knows, maybe we'll see that in the near future. 

It would open up a huge can of worms along the lines of online money accounts.

Scams, phishing, etc. would just be part of the risks associated with it, like Ebay, Amazon, etc.

But is having an online AH where the products are in-game items such a big step?  We already buy and sell virtual things like music, E-books, movies, etc.  Is taking it to videogames such a huge leap?

Didn't Entropia do that?

Would agree with others though. Look at some of the infamous financial scams that have happened in MMOs with in-game currency (Hello EVE, looking at you). Now imagine that happening with your oewn money.

No thanks.

diablo 3 is exactly what you are describing ... their RMT transaction are betwen 2 player trading items . they only collect a finder's fee the same way ebay currently does ( ebay does not sell items and blizzard will not sell items either)

You will basically be able to be your own gold farmer and live off of your d3 account ;)

Originally posted by myrmx

diablo 3 is exactly what you are describing ... their RMT transaction are betwen 2 player trading items . they only collect a finder's fee the same way ebay currently does ( ebay does not sell items and blizzard will not sell items either)

You will basically be able to be your own gold farmer and live off of your d3 account ;)

Cool, but will you be able to transfer money from your d3 account back to your bank account?  (have to state it flat out or I get confused)

Originally posted by Edeus

I have a question about the in game Real Money Trading that is created by the game publisher.

We all know we can throw money at it indefinetely, but if the option to sell something for real world cash is available, can we take money out of the account? 

That is to say, if the goal of publishers was to reduce illegal RMT by creating their own RMT shops, then shouldn't they also allow the player to make money off the game?  Instead of endlessly spending money on the game for gems/pets/armor ad infitatum.  Doesn't it seem a little one sided that the most you can do with the money in your account is buy more game time (or items from the shop)? 

And that being said, does anyone else shiver with dread at the prospect of video game publishers becoming more like online banks with their services?

I have heard rumors about Diablo III allowing you to sell items for real world money, but this doesn't interest me if I can't then put that money into my real life bank account... (or atleast a paypal)

I believe you can in Diablo 3.

Originally posted by Edeus

Originally posted by myrmx

diablo 3 is exactly what you are describing ... their RMT transaction are betwen 2 player trading items . they only collect a finder's fee the same way ebay currently does ( ebay does not sell items and blizzard will not sell items either)

You will basically be able to be your own gold farmer and live off of your d3 account ;)

Cool, but will you be able to transfer money from your d3 account back to your bank account?  (have to state it flat out or I get confused)

I th9ink they use paypal.

actually I find the entire micro-transactions of MMO intresting however I do think in games where pvp actually mean something it should be off limits. Many would disagree with my example I am about to use but I am going to use it anyway.

Micro-transactions in Darkfall which is a game that SHOULD be focused on clan vs clan terroritory warfare would be downright silly.

Originally posted by Edeus

 

That is to say, if the goal of publishers was to reduce illegal RMT by creating their own RMT shops,

 

That is not the goal.  The publishers make their own RMT shops to make money... It's all about money, they didn't make it to reduce illegal RMT.

The only reason the publisher care about illegal RMT is they are in direct competition with them. 

If this happens, will the publishers keep track of your gains and send you the appropriate tax forms at the end of the year?