I'm a hardcore gamer since childhood, from family computers to playstation generation.. but in year 2001, I got hooked up with MMORPGs and that made me look "Gaming" in a different perspective.

For years, a long debate has raged between Game developers, "gold sellers" and even players (who are anti or pro RMT) about the legality of Real Money Trading (RMT) and its impacts on games especially on it's economy and stability.

Many people that are new in this kind of thing strongly believe that RMT is bad, that it goes against game rules and participating in RMT is being unfair to other gamers who are almost losing their real life just to get strong in-game.

Publisher EULA (end-user license agreement) states that in-game items are virtually treated as a personal property, but are only recognized as "information goods" and the right of ownership of these goods belongs to the developers and players have the right to use, as conferred by the terms of service so the gamers have no rights to sell those items for real money.

"Selling a virtual item to someone for real money is said to constitute an infringement of publisher property rights. Anti-RMT groups claim that RMT floods the market with excess currency and causes inflation." WhichI strongly disagree, how come that there will be inflation if the currencies were obtained legally in-game? And those currencies being sold by the players or big gold selling companies are obtained by hours of farming.. they are not hacking the program itself to produce a "duped" (duplicated) currency.. so where is the inflation in there? it's just a normal cycle in my opinion.

As for the infringement of copyrights is concerned, players or gold sellers are NOT selling virtual gold LITERALLY.. lets look at it this way.. the player who are selling gold spent also real money for the electricity bill, game-time cards and not to mention hours of effort to earn what he deserve in-game, in short.. he invested. So in return, if by any chance that he wanted to get back some of his investment he can transfer it to another player and ask something in return.. and let's not treat that as if he is selling the rights of that virtual goods to that player.. instead, he is just TRANSFERRING it in goodwill and asking for monetary compensation. So, did he infringe the copyrights? did he sell the codes or something?

In any other real life services like plumbing, house keeping etc.. people pay them for that services, in short.. people are paying for services that they are not capable of doing or they do not want to do. So if someone don't have the time to power level his character in a game.. he/she will pay for power leveling services that some gold selling company offers.. is that a crime? does that infringe the game copyrights? how is RMT any different?

I understand that some RMT companies use hacks and DO negatively impact the games. There are good and bad people in all walks of life. The solution is to support RMT companies that operate with strong ethics and honest business practices, those that offer fair pricing, provide real guarantees, practice high levels of customer services, and have good channels for complaints. And there is a particular RMT company that I think has a good potential.. which is Gamerce they just started but their ways of RMT is interesting because they are not selling goods themselves but they act as a middleman. just think of E-BAY MMORPG Style. That way even a simple player who also invests money and time can also participate in this kind of business.

To end this long post :D, there is no law that prohibits the sale of RMT services. I’m a proponent for fair trade, free markets and the convenience of RMT. I don’t like monopolies which are what the current Game developers promotes, they are just pissed that they cannot profit from RMT themselves. I want the FREEDOM to spend my time and money as I choose. So guys what do you think about this? again, lets be open minded when it comes to this matter.

-IrieRastafari

Hi guys, It's been a while since I discussed RMT here in my blog.. well it's been a long debate for over a decade now and until now developers are still against it because they are claiming that in-game items are virtually treated as personal property, but are only legally recognized as information goods, the right of ownership of these goods belongs to the developers, and players have a right to use, as conferred by the terms of service. Oh well who will agree if they cannot gain anything from it right?

Well, as I am surfing the net searching for some news about the present situation of the Virtual Community and the long battle against RMT.. one article caught my attention and I really think that every gamer must see it and have a healthy debate about it.. so here it is:

"This article questions the legal status of Real Money Trading (RMT) in MMORPGs. Noting that in-game items are virtually treated as personal property, but are only legally recognized as information goods, the right of ownership of these goods belongs to the developers, and players have a right to use, as conferred by the terms of service.

I argue that the object of RMT is neither the item itself nor the right to use the item, but rather something entirely distinct one - 'play values', and the monetary compensation is a 'gwonri-geum' (goodwill) payment. This analysis makes an analogy between the transfer of goodwill and RMT, where the transfer is not a purchase of an item or the right to use, but rather a payment for the effort the other party has invested in obtaining the item. On this analysis, RMT does not concern the operator any more than sales of goodwill concern the lesser of a business property. READ MORE "

comments are highly appreciated.. lets open our minds about this.

Massively multiplayer online gamers spend hours -- so many hours -- working towards obtaining virtual gear. Epic armor sets, mounts, player housing, faction ships... the list goes on, and will continue to go on. Our collective fascination with these intangibles ensures our desire for them -- and for those things beyond a player's reach solely within the virtual realm, real world cash makes all things possible.

This is the research focus of Ph.D. student Vili Lehdonvirta of the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, who breaks down our buyer's impulse according to three criteria:

Functional attributes, such as speed, hitpoints, teleportation.

Okay guys here goes the Dragon Sage Quest Guide:

1. Starting point - Haem in Rev Deca castle

2. Speak to Talia - Bindstone Downstream of Shamar River in Armenes/Rev Deca map (Coordinates: D8)

3. After speaking to Talia, go to Black Dragon Sanctuary click at the Statue of Wailing Dragon in Geizan (Coordinates: C9)

4. After that, Go see Keeper of Dragon Eyes - Guliermo at Dragon Eyes Bindstone in Via Marea (Coordinates: F2)

5. Return to Rev Deca and speak to Haem

6. Find the youngest child in Rev Deca - (Perisada is located just outside the Rev Deca castle not town; left side of the castle)

7. Go to Crystal Quarry - Kill the Phoenix Croief (located by the portal leading to the second lvl of Crystal Quarry)

8. Return to Rev Deca and speak to Haem

9. Talk to Rivyn's Conscience - location: Del Lagos - north central (Coordinates: F|G 2)

10. Find Sign of Sepa Rosa - location: Aevraum (Coordinates: C9 at top of the tower) go to Gathering Hall and ride your mount to Aevraum.

11. Go to Altar of Late King - Ferdinant's Mausoleum location:Armenes/Rev Deca Map (Coordinates: G8)

12. Return to Rev Deca and speak to Haem

13. Go to Armenes Altar; speak with Atiya - location: Armenes/Rev Deca Map (Coordinates: G5 Tip: use infernal tower portal stone)

14. Okay all the running is talking is done and lets get into the real thing. You can ask some of your friends or guildmates for assistance coz this may take a lot of effort especially if your armor is not that good and you are an int build dekan.

• Go to Black Dragon Sanctuary (Geizan C9)- go to the last room west when you see the Shard of Baron Victor Vlen (BOSS) - you will pass through a long hallway with serpent pillagers, then will see serpent outlaws standing outside the doors to room where the Baron is (when you see these you are very close). Enter room where Baron is, go left and stay next to the wall to avoid his wrath. Go down a small ramp/hallway where you will see a large pot in the room, (leave party at this point if you have any) and double click the pot. The horseman will appear and he's no problem 1 on 1. Help may be needed to keep all the mobs off of you. Also, in this room of the BDS, a mini boss spawns (the white wolf Violence Mahopatew or something like that). If the boss is there, quickly open the pot then everyone attack the boss, if you die you can return and the horseman will be standing there and can be pulled into the hallway with a range attack thus avoiding the mobs and the boss. You should obtain a Spillproof Basin on killing horseman once.

• Go to Caronia's Tomb (Varvylan J6) - map of Caronia's Tomb is same as BDS so go to the same room as below. If in a party, withdraw before opening the pot. Kill horseman and obtain the Dryproof Basin.