Virtual Economies, virtual crooks
A while back on babble, we had a thread on Edward Castronova's discovery that role-playing game EverQuest had a real-world economy roughly the size of Russia. What was most interesting was the way free market forces worked in eerily similar ways in both virtual and "real" economies. There are also several stories (for example) about people paying "real" currency for virtual real estate.
Perhaps that's not so surprising anymore, some seven years later. However, apparently, even virtual economies are susceptible to ponzi schemes, as this remarkably frank confession letter by Phaser Inc. shows:
It's been a journey for all of us. Some people trusted us. Others didn't but accepted the risks. Yet, other people were skeptical at first, but became convinced by friends and testimonials (those were all genuine by the way). Everyone has his/her own Phaser Inc. experience. A couple of you withdrew your ISK this week - just in time. Probably some of you were just about to do it, but forgot to send the mail, and are a little too late now; all part of the experience.
The same story applies to ourselves. It's been a lot, really a LOT of work. We fulfilled over 800 withdrawal requests. We answered over 6,000 mails and processed more than 15,000 payouts. Its been an incredible event. And, isn't that beautiful after all? This can only be done in EVE Online. Enjoy this game, it's one of a kind.
We'd like to conclude with the words of CCP : EVE is real!
They embezzeled over one trillion ISK (the currency unit of EVE) or about $50 000 USD. Scams are "legal" in EVE so long as they don't involve "real world" bank accounts or account hacking.
My conclusion: capitalism and virtual worlds are kith and kin.
I understand your point and also that there is many other game. The South Korea company Nexon got many game under that principal under those game there is a lot of gambling. And of course, the game is designed in order that the player got to buy stuff event if the game is "free". Example there game Combat arm which is first shooter game got to currrency in there game gp and nx. Gp is a currency that you gain in price according to your score. Nx is a currency that is aquire by buying them with a credit card or nexon game card.
All the equipment buy with gp last about a day to a month according to the price you pay. in nx it 1 to 6 month. kid can also buy game related price. But what is the most weard is there is a hack for the game that you need to login and pay monthly fee in order to be able to use it.
So they did every thing in order to gain your kid monthly allowance and to make them gambling addict.
So alway keep an eye on your kid when they are on computer.
Trick: put the familly computer into the kitchen.