Part 2: MMORPG

This is part 2 in my 5 part mini series where I will show you how to make money in the video game world. This brings me to the 2nd money maker and I guarantee this one is more fun than the last.

The Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game is second on our list of things to do. They too have seen a huge increase in popularity as the internet continues to grow. Taken straight from gamasutra, “World of Warcraft has surpassed 10 million subscribers worldwide, with more than 2 million subscribers in Europe, more than 2.5 million in North America, and about 5.5 million in Asia.”. Those numbers are astounding! The numbers don’t lie, MMORPG’s are huge. These virtual worlds have become second homes to some individuals who spend day and night entranced in front of their computers. The allure is definitely real, in fact, some have called it addictive. So how do we go about making money in these expansive worlds?

Each MMORPG is different and special in its own way but the ways that you make money in each are pretty much the same.

1) Just do it – You could create a character and spend hours and hours, day in and day out playing. When your character reaches a certain level, he is worth a certain something. After all, time is money. Some new players don’t want to spend hours and hours creating their super character. So they’ll look to you to buy yours.

2) Show me the money! – If you genuinely enjoy playing any MMORPG then you’ll no doubt amass a certain amount of money in the game. This money has a real world value and can be sold for real cash. Again, time is money, and some players would rather buy their way to the top.

Need Proof? – Check out this individual who became the lucky new owner of WoW character for the small sum of $9,500

Upside: As with our first money maker, the possibilities for making money in any MMORPG are endless. Hell, if you wanted to, you could turn it into a regular day time job.

Downside: Again time and a slight learning curve come into play here. You will have to learn the trade in whatever MMORPG you decide to run with. Also, it should be noted that many companies have questioned the legality of making real world money from an MMORPG. They have dubbed it RMT or Real Money Trade. If you decide to spread your wings in this arena you will definitely want to look before you leap. Read more here .

You should familiarize yourself with the following websites:

IGE – The authoritative source for buying and selling gold in many popular MMORPG’s.
MMORPG – The name says it all
Game Ogre – The internet gaming mega site
When Play Money Becomes Real – An old Wired Article that still holds true to this day.