Game involving real money - bad idea?
by Dan Keller · in General Discussion · 07/29/2008 (11:28 am) · 8 replies
Is it a terrible idea for an multiplayer game to have a game currency that can be exchanged for real currency?
That is, will it
* get me sued
* get me arrested
* make people hate the game when they lose
* give hackers the opportunity to steal money from me
* encourage psychopathy among gamers, resulting in constant "YOU STOLE MY ******* CLOUDSONG!"-type incidents
* attract the mafia
or
* be fun, profitable, and exciting for all!
That is, will it
* get me sued
* get me arrested
* make people hate the game when they lose
* give hackers the opportunity to steal money from me
* encourage psychopathy among gamers, resulting in constant "YOU STOLE MY ******* CLOUDSONG!"-type incidents
* attract the mafia
or
* be fun, profitable, and exciting for all!
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#2
Edit: Puzzle Pirates is a good example.
07/29/2008 (12:05 pm)
Search for micro-transactions - games do this all the time. But I second Ted, get legal advice before letting the service go live.Edit: Puzzle Pirates is a good example.
#3
07/29/2008 (1:17 pm)
There's nothing wrong with that, but I would get someone with experience writing secure applications to write anything to do with networking/money.
#4
07/29/2008 (4:36 pm)
If you are in the US, make sure your state won't consider it gambling. Most states take a dim view of anyone else making money off gambling. 
#5
especially if your game has an economy or market aspect.
just managing purely virtual economies is a full-time job for a professional economist.
07/29/2008 (4:43 pm)
It's a pretty huge undertaking as well,especially if your game has an economy or market aspect.
just managing purely virtual economies is a full-time job for a professional economist.
#6
07/30/2008 (12:18 am)
A one-way transaction is safer (buy in-game stuff/perks with real money, but no return money). It's considered gambling in many parts of the world otherwise. It's also hell to manage.
#7
Edit: What I'm more concerned about are numbers 3 and 5.
07/30/2008 (7:31 am)
Is it considered gambling even if the reward is based purely on skill and not luck?Edit: What I'm more concerned about are numbers 3 and 5.
#8
I don't know. But I'm betting lawyers could definitely help you out in the stickiness of state and federal regulations and definitions more than we could.
07/30/2008 (1:24 pm)
Are horseraces about luck or skill? Is betting consistently on sports teams about luck or skill or fandom?I don't know. But I'm betting lawyers could definitely help you out in the stickiness of state and federal regulations and definitions more than we could.
Torque 3D Owner Ted Southard
You should probably talk to a lawyer about this kind of stuff, as the laws change, and you may or may not have some legal issues if you design the game incorrectly.