Gold Farming

China Bans Trading in Virtual Currency, 'Gold Farming'

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2009 - 6:47am.

Shanghai, China - The Chinese government has announced new limits on the use of virtual currency, in a move intended in part to curtail the practice of "gold farming," where people in poorer countries play online games and collect virtual gold which is then sold to rich players in other countries.

Report: MMOG "Gold Farming" a $500 Million Industry

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 25, 2008 - 11:59am.

London - Some half a million people in developing nations are working at least part time as "gold farmers," spending hours tediously accruing online currency within video games and then selling it to time-strapped players in an estimated $500 million virtual industry, the BBC reported, citing a study by University of Manchester professor Richard Heeks.