Agreed. The video game industry has been good to me since 2002, so
I've been with you for a WHILE now.
This Japanese case was dope because it's like suing someone for
jacking your graffiti style or because you called yourself DJ such-
and-such when you know there's a DJ such and such in Miami. As I
recall, the reason there was ever a Notorious B.I.G. brand is
because some wack emcee named Biggie Smalls tried to sue just as
Ready to Die dropped.
I'm reminded of how fans of adult actress Asia Carrera came out and
sent her money when her husband died last year because she'd blown
her fortune on online gambling. This woman WILL get what she's
looking for. And more. As soon as an advertiser figures out how to
sponsor her in virtual money, she's good!
On Apr 17, 2007, at 3:38 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
To step away for a moment from the heaviness of homicidal maniacs,
suicide bombers in Iraq, and administration missteps... For those
of you who don't pay attention to the video game world, it's a
multi-billion dollar market that by most accounts is surpassing
Hollywood in sales dollars. Video games are up there with
pornography and DVD/on-demand rentals in terms of money spent by
Americans each year. MMORPG's (Massively Multi-Player Online Role
Playing Games) have followings in the millions worldwide. In recent
years the phenomenon of creating/buying in-game characters hit.
Level up enough to make your wizard go from hobbit to Gandalf and
you have a hot commodity. Pimp your ride out with sufficient flash
and horsepower, and you have a monster that not only looks good,
but can smoke the competition on the streets. Three years ago a
Japanese dude brought an intellectual properties lawsuit against
another gamer who somehow managed to steal a virtual character the
guy had created.
The plaintiff placed a dollar value on the game charcacter he
created, and sued for damages. Now video game makers allow you to
upgrade characters by using points won from other games, by
accumulating in-game money to be exchanged for the upgrades or
characters, or even by engaging in transactions through eBay! Many
of the most fanatic players clock 40+ hours per week easy just
playing their games, and their worlds of dragons, warriors and
wizards is a meaningful to them as ours is to us. So no surprise
that this happens. If people can sue for the theft of a virtual
character, why wouldn't some woman hit on using the world's oldest
bargaining chip to gain some quick and easy gaming money?
You might want to stay abreast of the gaming and movie industries,
as the changes there will impact our society in ways you may not
have anticipated.
And please: no corny jokes about her needing an epic mount!
***
Woman Offers [Favors] for 'Warcraft' Gold
By: Ruben Diaz
For: Game Invasion
Reports are circling around the Internet at a rapid pace about a
woman who had posted a personal ad on Craigslist.org offering
sexual favors in exchange for 'World of Warcraft' gold.
Needing 5000 gold to purchase an 'Epic Flying Mount,' one of the
fastest mounts in the game, she offered anyone, male or female,
playing on her server the opportunity to perform a variety of
sexual acts in exchange for the in-game currency. Chief among her
deviant interests was finding a partner into role-playing, going so
far as to inform potential suitors that she has a costume ready for
the occasion.
ClubSi.com managed to snag screenshots of the postings, including a
posting the next day about her success, before they were removed
from Craigslist.
Obviously she didn't read the upcoming 'World of Warcraft'
development notes where her character class will be able to acquire
an epic mount (epic flying form) through a quest in lieu of
purchasing one.
Look at this as an example of immediate vs. differed gratification,
kids.
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