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It’s the end of an era. Gold farming -– the oh-so-reviled practice that even tops Communism and depressing thoughts about Guns N’ Roses on some people’s lists of “Things Immediately Associated with China” -– has been dealt a potentially fatal blow.
As of June 29, trading virtual currency for real goods or services is illegal in China. In other words, closing your eyes and chucking a bit of real-life coin into games like WoW won’t land you in a Scrooge McDuck-esque pool of in-game gold; it’ll land you in prison.
The Chinese government justified the ban saying that, by drawing this line between real and virtual currency, it hopes to crack down on “gambling and other illegal online activities.” It is important to note, however, that in-game gear apparently isn’t considered currency, so corralling and selling virtual items to those willing to spend hard-earned cash on a videogame (yet not willing to play said videogame) may still be legal.
A 2008 study conducted by Richard Heeks at Manchester University found that 80% to 85% of gold farmers are located in China. Obviously, then, this ban is a pretty huge deal. Granted, we’re talking about the guys and gals who managed to -– in the face of pressure from game companies -- continue peddling their services by spelling out ads through rows upon rows of meticulously organized in-game corpses, so we doubt China’s gold farming population will go down without a fight.
Comments are closed on this article
JohnP
June 30, 2009 at 1:28pm
I have noticed that Blizzard has been doing a LOT to prevent in game advertising with a lvl 1 toon lasting only minutes after spamming. Add that to possible jail time for China's gold factories (these are actual companies! Very few gold farmers are independent). Now remove print advertisements along with E-Bay auctions. Then there is the threat of TAXES added to gold purchases. All these have to hurt gold farming.
BTW, with WotLK gold is so much more easy to get. Buying 1,000 gold is not that useful anymore. Perhaps to low lvl toons, but not to anyone who is lvl 80.
When I do see farmers (in the early AM mostly), they immediately bug out when I arrive. Not like the old days when I had to fight off the gold farmers just to do a quest.
Definitely better since WotLG came out.
yogurt80
June 30, 2009 at 8:06am
Is it just me, or does this article contradict itself? First, it says that you can't trade VIRTUAL $ for REAL services, but then the example it gives says "Chucking REAL LIFE coins into games will land you in jail."
I'm confused.
johnny3144
June 30, 2009 at 10:21am
from what i understand, both the trading between real life currency and virtual goods/currency are illegal, meaning it goes both way. buying or selling in game currency/goods with real money are both illegal.
yogurt80
July 01, 2009 at 12:25am
Thanks for clearing that up. It doesn't really state that in the article- that makes more sence now.
JonnyNYK
June 30, 2009 at 6:38am
At least probably a substantial amount of them. This was a huge reason why I left WoW years ago...I'm not surprised that the study found 80-85% of them to be from China. When people yelled at people blatantly farming, you'd either get a garbled attempt at english begging for more gold or just no response. Now it's time for them to get a real job or a job at all.
nekollx
June 30, 2009 at 9:06am
All thats really going to happen is gold farmers will grind for items with a high resale value, sell those to the player who in turn keeps it or vendors it.
Uggh this is going to make City of Heroes hell now as gold farmers use the market to get high resale enhacnements (the only loot in CoX) to sell instead of Infl
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
mesiah
June 30, 2009 at 3:08am
Wether or not this effects the actual farming of gold is left to interpretation. The report says you can not sell in game currency for real money. It does not say that a company can not employ people to play a game for them. Workers are paid an hourly wage to play a company owned character. The employee isn't playing their own character and selling items to the company. If china interprets there law in this fashion, then gold farming wont be effected at all. They can farm all they want, it just prevents people from china from buying it. Personally I would love to see gold farmers and the like go away, but I doubt laws like this will make it happen.
Tekzel
June 30, 2009 at 5:34am
I understand your point, but unless you are Chinese and living in China, my gut feeling is you are not understanding what goes on over there. Here in the US, we play fast and loose with the INTENT of the law all the time, because the consequences aren't as severe. Over there, my feeling is the Chinese government is less amused by such antics. If there are any native Chinese reading this, I am sure they will correct me on that point if I am wrong.
mesiah
June 30, 2009 at 9:18pm
I agree that if the chinese governemt intends to stop gold farming with the law that it will have a large effect. I should have been more clear in my statement. What I was trying to say is, the government may not be interested in things like gold farming at all. If it helps the economy and they make money from it, china probably doesn't care as long as their people aren't spending their money on the services. China produces plenty of products for other countries that the governemt would never allow their, this will probably be no different.
johnny3144
June 30, 2009 at 10:29am
you are pretty much on the point. i remember back in china, it's illegal for underage kids to go in internet cafe. cops actually come down to the cafe, and check your ID. hell, drinking is less controlled here in US than internet in china.
though gold farming will still prob go on, it will be atleast more underground. so i suspect you will see a significant drop in gold sellers in wow(china server will see a more significant drop). though i am not very sure what effect this will have on WoW's virtual economy. correct me if i am wrong, but if there is a sudden drop in supplie, won't the price skyrocket?
Tekzel
June 30, 2009 at 10:36am
Mmmm, to a degree, some. But supply and demand only go so far for non-essential items. Once the price reaches a "silliness threshold", the demand drops off regardless of supply.
Tekzel
June 30, 2009 at 10:37am
Wow, that is the first time I have ever double posted. And I JUST installed FF 3.5, wonder if there is any correlation? :)
nekollx
June 30, 2009 at 10:39am
it's a feature.
"now with autmatic double post!"
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
