MMO Better News

[Palma]

China officially bans Gold Farming

It is estimated that 80% of gold farmers are chinese, and if China is indeed able to close the doors on gold farmers, it will remove about 300,000 farmers from the market. Guess they will have to switch to cyber instead.
"Me so micro-transaction, send you tells long time!"

For the Horde... I mean... Alliance

Blizzard has announced a future service that will let you trade your existing character for an equivalent character (including gear) on the other faction.
- Tired of being undead? Switch to a human with lame dancing!
- Tired of being a human with lame dancing? Switch to a Blood Elf so you can have glam hair and the most annoying laugh in the game!

 

[Meepzorp]

from what i've read, the problem with the legislation is that it only covers transactions within china. it outlaws buying virtual things with real money, so it completely kills games that are based on a business model of microtransactions.

if my guild doesn't stop completely falling apart every 3 months, i might consider a server and faction change for my main pally.

 

[Mercurial]

The Chinese law is really supposed to prevent online gambling. If the right people get paid off, I'm sure they will rule that farming gold in MMORPGs isn't gambling, and we'll be right back where we were.

 

[Palma]

You're right, it appears that it will not change our gold farming situation at all.