Play Money

Or, How I Quit My Day Job and Made Millions Trading Virtual Loot

Julian Dibbell's book has an intruiging title ... but can someone really earn millions of dollars in a virtual world. The title itself sounds like a spin to a new stock market deal.

Real-money trading (RMT): MMO players who don't have the time, patience, or ability to acquire fantasy good through fantasy means will purchase the goods from other player with "cold, hard, real-life cash". I think about this several moments not quite understanding it and then read on.

In parts three and four, Dibbell writes of his experiences with purchasing virtual real estate. After a short time, he writes very little of his dream house in Malas.

As I read further, I realize there is an real breathing industry (economy) in the virtual world. I don't completely understand it. I am confused by the value of the real dollar compared with the virtual dollar (or the gp and gold indexes).

I have read through part seven now. My impression of virtual trading is that it is less risky than the stock market and more risky than buying lottery tickets. The return is minimal at best and it takes a great amount of time to turn around a small profit.

I am interested in seeing where Dibbell ends up by the end of the book. Will he become a millionaire or wind up in the poor house?