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Joined: 15 Nov 2006
Posts: 396
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SOE has released a white paper, disclosing statistics about Station Exchange. The intended goal of this paper seems to be saying "look at the money we are making" to other MMO companies, and "see, it isn't that bad, it works well" to players.
Quote: John Smedley is CEO of Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) (makers of Everquest 2 and Star Wars Galaxies), and sometimes serves as a lightning rod for debate in the Massively Multiplayer genre. SOE and Mr. Smedley made the bold decision in June of 2005 to roll out a service that would allow players to trade US currency for in-game currency, items, and even characters. Called the Sony Station Exchange, it has caused a good deal of debate and, it turns out, made the company a nice little pile of money.
Today, SOE is releasing a white paper detailing the first full year of trading; how much was sold, how much they made, and the big bucks individuals can get from selling non-existent coins.
SOE, it's cool you have found a way to make money out of the player's "work". But now that you have proven that IG money, items and characters have a value, when do you intend to change your user agreement?
Quote: We and our suppliers shall retain all rights, title and interest, including, without limitation, ownership of all intellectual property rights relating to or residing in the CD-ROM, the Software and the Game, all copies thereof, and all game character data in connection therewith. You acknowledge and agree that you have not and will not acquire or obtain any intellectual property or other rights, including any right of exploitation, of any kind in or to the CD-ROM, the Software or the Game, including, without limitation, in any artwork, music, character(s), item(s), coin(s) or other material or property, and/or any compilation or copyrightable arrangement of any of the above (collectively, "Rights"), and that all such property, material, items and Rights are exclusively owned by us. |
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Xavier. |
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