Comments on: Not-so-virtual Currencies http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/ A blog on virtual worlds, games, and digital content, from Matt Mihaly Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:32:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: MMODump.com » Not-so-virtual Currencies http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-4139 Thu, 21 Dec 2006 07:57:34 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-4139 [...] Currencies Not-so-virtual Currencies:“ [...] […] Currencies Not-so-virtual Currencies:“ […]

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3897 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:10:17 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3897 Credits don't have an incremental creation cost, but having people in my condo for a couple days has a me-cost. ;) Credits don’t have an incremental creation cost, but having people in my condo for a couple days has a me-cost. ;)

]]> by: PlayNoEvil http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3896 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:00:27 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3896 Big mistake, Matt... unless you didn't have the credits and needed to print them. Big mistake, Matt… unless you didn’t have the credits and needed to print them.

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3889 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:03:00 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3889 You know, I once had a team of carpet-layers offer to come re-carpet my then-condo for credits in Achaea. I declined. --matt You know, I once had a team of carpet-layers offer to come re-carpet my then-condo for credits in Achaea. I declined.

–matt

]]> by: PlayNoEvil http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3887 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:46:40 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3887 Joseph - There are a number of games with virtual currencies (and a fair number that can be bought via phone, debit cards, and other channels). What makes QQ coins unique is that they are being honored as a currency by real businesses for real services (including some troubling ones like prostitution and gambling). Hence, the attention from the Chinese government. This is an amazingly powerful idea - a virtual currency that is so popular (and trusted) that it competes with real currency. Joseph -

There are a number of games with virtual currencies (and a fair number that can be bought via phone, debit cards, and other channels).

What makes QQ coins unique is that they are being honored as a currency by real businesses for real services (including some troubling ones like prostitution and gambling).

Hence, the attention from the Chinese government.

This is an amazingly powerful idea - a virtual currency that is so popular (and trusted) that it competes with real currency.

]]> by: Joseph Monk http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3855 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:56:40 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3855 Korea's Cyworld uses a similar thing, Acorns I believe they call them, also pretty big(can even buy them at convenient stores). Korea’s Cyworld uses a similar thing, Acorns I believe they call them, also pretty big(can even buy them at convenient stores).

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3706 Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:21:46 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3706 I was at the GDC announcement this year when Alex announced WildCoins and I was pretty excited. About the only announcement's I've heard since then are that Runescape started using WildTangent to help with billing. I was at the GDC announcement this year when Alex announced WildCoins and I was pretty excited. About the only announcement’s I’ve heard since then are that Runescape started using WildTangent to help with billing.

]]> by: PlayNoEvil http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3664 Sun, 17 Dec 2006 12:42:55 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/12/14/not-so-virtual-currencies/#comment-3664 Matt - I've been following and blogging about Tencent and QQ for a while. They are a very interesting company, and actually available via a pink sheet stock (TECHF.PK - they trade at a P/E of around 80 on the Hong Kong Stock exchange - which I bought based on things like the story you've cited above)! They are the biggest thing in China's Internet that we never hear about here. The QQ service is HUGE in China - everyone uses it. They also have a casual game site (which takes a very healthy rake in QQ coins). I think virtual currencies are the next big thing, and not just in gaming. (Though I haven't heard anything recently about WildTangent's WildCoins) Matt -

I’ve been following and blogging about Tencent and QQ for a while. They are a very interesting company, and actually available via a pink sheet stock (TECHF.PK - they trade at a P/E of around 80 on the Hong Kong Stock exchange - which I bought based on things like the story you’ve cited above)! They are the biggest thing in China’s Internet that we never hear about here. The QQ service is HUGE in China - everyone uses it. They also have a casual game site (which takes a very healthy rake in QQ coins).

I think virtual currencies are the next big thing, and not just in gaming.

(Though I haven’t heard anything recently about WildTangent’s WildCoins)

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