Accept gold farming as it will never go away, says RedBedlam boss

RedBedlam founder Kerry Fraser-Robinson has told GI the industry should just accept gold farming in MMOs, as it's going to be around whether we like it or not.

"It's going to happen whether you like it or not," he said. "People will always find the path of least resistance, if you stop them buying your gold then they'll buy that gold from somebody else who is gold farming.

"If you don't build that into your system then you're not going to be able to compete with the gold farmers and that will ruin your in-game economy, which will in turn ruin your game," explained Fraser-Robinson.

"At the very least having the recognition that virtual economics is a discipline and is a very important integral part to being a virtual world.

"Take EVE Online for example, they didn't allow for in game transactions but they did design a very robust economy and they did design that game knowing it's a problem, and designed it with an awareness of virtual economic conditions.

"The closer you get to having a virtual world that has any kind of trading, barter or value system you have to take virtual economics very seriously," he concluded.

Much more through the link.

By Mike Bowden