Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Study: America spent $3.8 billion on MMOs in 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/study-america-spent-3-8-billion-on-mmos-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/study-america-spent-3-8-billion-on-mmos-in-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/study-america-spent-3-8-billion-on-mmos-in-2009/#comments Massively multiplayer online game players in the States allegedly spent $3.8 billion last year, according to the Today's Gamers MMO Focus Report by Gamesindustry.com and TNS. The report claims that the MMO market in the US has reached 46 million users, with 21 million paying for online games. The rest play without spending a dime (think "freemium").

In a shocking upset victory dripping in sarcasm, World of Warcraft was the most popular MMO with the US, besting NeoPets, Club Penguin, Disney ToonTown and Runescape. Ah freemium, where even the traditional MMO companies can make money.

[Via Massively, Gamasutra]

JoystiqStudy: America spent $3.8 billion on MMOs in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>free-to-playfreemiummmommo-industrymmo-sales-2009spendingworld-of-warcraftThu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan offering double XP this month]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/age-of-conan-offering-double-xp-this-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/age-of-conan-offering-double-xp-this-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/age-of-conan-offering-double-xp-this-month/#comments OK, so you don't care about Age of Conan any more, but what if you could plow through the content you don't care about even faster? In an unusual attempt to win back subscribers, Funcom's offering double XP throughout November, allowing you to catch up with those poor mopes who had to play through the slow way. Other gifts on offer (depending on how long you subscribe) include a spot in the Secret World beta and a level 40 helmet with a 10% XP modifier.
This new promotion comes just two weeks after Funcom went on a price slashing spree.

Uh, Funcom, just between you, us and the wall ... you're starting to come off as a bit desperate. Just a skosh.

JoystiqAge of Conan offering double XP this month originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conan-guidefuncommmo-industryThu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LGJ: Virtual Taxation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/lgj-virtual-taxation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/lgj-virtual-taxation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/lgj-virtual-taxation/#commentsFiled under:

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:
It seems around this time every year, with W2s and 1099s filling mailboxes, that someone thinks it's a good idea to bring up the idea of taxing the virtual world. The irony really is that most of these discussions are far from complete and often only address one potential viewpoint that could be taken.

The latest commentary comes from the Washington Post (via GamePolitics) with further follow up on New World Notes based on a recent publication by the IRS. Their basic contention is that the essential difference in the Terms of Service between the Second Life model and the more traditional MMO model (i.e. World of Warcraft, Ultima Online, Everquest) would mean different tax treatment. I don't think it's nearly so cut and dry.

Continue reading LGJ: Virtual Taxation

JoystiqLGJ: Virtual Taxation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>irslawlaw-of-the-gamemmommo-industrymmogmmorpgtaxtaxesFri, 23 Jan 2009 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[LGJ: Regulating Virtual Currency]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/12/lgj-regulating-virtual-currency/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/12/lgj-regulating-virtual-currency/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/12/lgj-regulating-virtual-currency/#commentsFiled under:

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:



We're seeing quite the economic turbulence in the United States as of late, and financial problems lead to two things: 1) further regulations on the issues that caused the problem; and 2) people seeking out new sources to exploit to make a quick buck. Plenty of people have written article upon article about all of the various economic tools that have been exploited to bring us to this point. I, however, would like to talk about one of those potentially exploitable areas people may move toward, that being the currencies that exist in virtual worlds and MMO games. I figure it's only a matter of time before what I'm about to describe occurs in one manner or another, which could very easily turn the tide of regulatory scorn from Wall Street to Azeroth or Second Life.

I guess the best place to start is from something I hope most people are familiar with on a basic level: insider trading. In short, insider trading is when people with non-public information trade stocks to their benefit. It's regulated as a combination of a breach of fiduciary duty to the company or a misappropriation of information. In short, it's an unethical way to profit from inside information, and generally frowned upon (though some economists disagree with regulating insider trading). But insider trading is about stocks and securities, so where am I going with this?

Continue reading LGJ: Regulating Virtual Currency

JoystiqLGJ: Regulating Virtual Currency originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lawlaw-of-the-gamemmommo-industrymmorpgsecond-lifevirtual-currencyvirtual-economyvirtual-worldsworld-of-warcraftFri, 12 Dec 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE President expresses his enthusiasm about the future of MMOs on PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/soe-president-expresses-his-enthusiasm-about-the-future-of-mmos/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/soe-president-expresses-his-enthusiasm-about-the-future-of-mmos/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/soe-president-expresses-his-enthusiasm-about-the-future-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: ,

John Smedley, President of Sony Online Entertainment, is confident that by moving SOE closer to the Playstation division, it will help the PS3 and PSN succeed in the face of Xbox Live and PC's MMOs. In an interview with MCV, Smedley lists SOE's "eight years of experience running an online service" as a major asset they will be able to provide. He believes "retail is exactly the kind of driver" needed for PS3 MMOs and SOE will provide an additional boost in the form of a promise: "The next round of MMOs are made to run on both the PC and PlayStation 3."

However, Smedley smartly avoids questions about the length of time it will take for PS3 MMOs to compete with likes of PC MMOs such as World of Warcraft. He claims the PS3 already has an "online playerbase", while the PSN is "a significant and robust network " and there is "a real hunger" for MMOs, but concedes it will "take some time to build that base even larger."

Smedley claims he is confident about the future of MMOs on PS3, but are you?

JoystiqSOE President expresses his enthusiasm about the future of MMOs on PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>john-smedleymmo-industrypsnsoeTue, 24 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST