China bans Plat Farmers

[GovtMule]

Sure! After we be bring in the DDOStore

http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/ebusiness/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218101859

[VKhaun]

Holy ****.

[Lorichie]

We'll know what the effect is going to be if we see the number of items on the AH plummet by 50+ percent....

I dont think this is going to curtail them for long, there's just too much money to be made.

That being said, it's good to see.

R

[Lithic]

I'd bet this was the first step in nationalizing (and greatly expanding) the gold-farming buisness.

[SableShadow]

I'd bet this was the first step in nationalizing (and greatly expanding) the gold-farming buisness.

I wouldn't bet against you. :)

[Aranticus]

regulation and enforcement are 2 entirely different issues

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

regulation and enforcement are 2 entirely different issues

Oh China does not play. Sure the chance of "getting caught" is slim. BUT FEAR not only LAW is the enforcement policy in that land.

Would you enjoy the risk of being "caught" by Chinese intelligence?

Hundreds of thousands of gamers worldwide will be and currently are thanking China.

Its a shame the US is so far behind the curve in invention of GOOD LAWS that make SENSE.

[Uska]

Oh China does not play. Sure the chance of "getting caught" is slim. BUT FEAR not only LAW is the enforcement policy in that land.

Would you enjoy the risk of being "caught" by Chinese intelligence?

Hundreds of thousands of gamers worldwide will be and currently are thanking China.

Its a shame the US is so far behind the curve in invention of GOOD LAWS that make SENSE.

I think he has some ground to know more about what he is talking about then most of the rest of us

[Ganak]

Very interesting. Although the motives are China's own, a blow to their own economy.

[irivan]

You all forgot about the broke ass eastern block, and just wait for the Algerians to get into this game, oh and did i hear windows chime starting up some where south of the border?


Aye, aye, aye!!!

oh and soon broke As* Americas will be in on that game too!!!

[transtemporal]

regulation and enforcement are 2 entirely different issues

True, but in china (at least according to my friends who've moved to NZ from the mainland) the two are often indistinguishable.

[Mockduck]

My spidey-sense is picking up the sound of a business getting ready to be filled outside of China. There's a market that will be filled for this, like it or not. If not in China, then elsewhere.

[Jondallar]

My spidey-sense is picking up the sound of a business getting ready to be filled outside of China. There's a market that will be filled for this, like it or not. If not in China, then elsewhere.

like India. it has the infrastructure/technology, large poor population, and an already established track record of providing outsourced services to Western countries

[Ssmooth]

Great. Now I gotta hear from Habib in the game now, not just for customer service.

[Raegoul]

Chinese law enforcement has very short arms. Generally, the further away from Beijing the more flexible is the Law.

[Pyromaniac]

I don't think all the plat farmers were from China anyways...puts on tinfoil hat.

[cdbd3rd]

We'll know what the effect is going to be if we see the number of items on the AH plummet by 50+ percent....

I dont think this is going to curtail them for long, there's just too much money to be made.

That being said, it's good to see.

R

Likewise, I think we're missing something. Wouldn't the gov't be getting a slice of that revenue coming in from all over the world? (If not, then there's the motive for the act.)

Granted, I'm looking at it from a completely Western viewpoint -- not sure exactly how they're set up on taxing & stuff over there.

*stops to ponder*


But then, like the US, they could be missing out on tax revenue because it's all internet transactions. That perturbs gov't, so I hear.

:rolleyes:

:confused: *shrug*

[Grond]

"The extent to which the Chinese government will apply its virtual currency rule to online role playing games remains unclear. A report in the English-language China Daily says that in-game gear is not considered virtual currency, so selling virtual items may be allowed to continue.

The trading of virtual currency for real cash employs hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and generates between $200 million and $1 billion annually, according to a 2008 survey conducted by Richard Heeks at the University of Manchester.

He estimates that between 80% and 85% of gold farmers are based in China.

"[M]any online games have a virtual economy and an in-game currency," he states in his survey. "Gold farmers can play in-game to make some currency. They then sell that for real money -- typically via a Web site and using the PayPal payment system -- to other players of the game."

Game companies typically forbid gold farming but committed virtual currency traders find ways around such rules. Some game companies have recognized the futility of trying to ban the practice and have built virtual commerce into their game infrastructure. "



Don't start celebrating the demise of the Chinese plat farmers yet. The estimate that 80% to 85% of the gold farmers are based in China is quite staggering, though.

[shamz]

you think they ban it because of plat or gold trading outside china??
this is one story... http://www.gamingsteve.com/archives/2005/07/divorced_couple_1.php
theres also a story where a man was killed for selling a ex-friend great sword for big bucks (the friend killed him)