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Picture this: Dozens of people and computers crammed into a room, all logged in to online games such as EverQuest II, Lineage II, or World of Warcraft. Sound like a geek's paradise? Think again -- this isn't a competition, it's a sweatshop. Known as "farmers," these low-wage workers, typically based in China, are paid to play these games, accumulating virtual goods and money, which are then sold to regular players for actual cash. Farmers may make pennies an hour, while their employer can bring in six figures. It's the real-life dark side of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMPORGs). The average player may be in it for the adventure and challenge, but with over $100 million from the sale of gold, goods, and ready-made characters in 2004, some folks are just in it for the money.
Suggested Sites...
- Game Theories - how virtual worlds can have real life economic impacts.
- Wage Slaves - companies are exploiting workers as well as the games.
- Play Money - how Julian Dibbell earned $3,917 a month selling imaginary goods.
- Station Exchange - Sony bucks the farming trend by creating a sanctioned marketplace for EverQuest II goods and services.
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Directory categories:
MMPORGs, Secondary Markets, EverQuest, Lineage II, World of Warcraft |
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Archived under: Business, Hobbies, Online Gaming, Video Games |
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