05-30-2006, 10:13 AM
Quote:Great interview and the Garriots had some surprising answers... although it did make me kind of nervous when Richard said that he thought selling virtual items for real-world money was a good business model. If you play a subscription-based game, the company is encouraged to put enough good content out there that you feel it is worth your time and money to play this game. If they adopted a virtual-items-for-real-money business model, then all they are encouraged to do is release a new best sword every week.
He talks a lot about the need to design the game for that, though. Second Life is an example of an MMO where the company makes money selling virtual items and it's not a "new best sword" situation. It's a money, real estate, etc., situation. It's possible to not make the mechanic game-breaking if you do it right.