Author: Simon Hibbs (---.244.5)
Date: 07-01-2003 07:04
And there I was, thinking all I was doing was having fun.
Firstly, roleplaying is no more escapist, and therefore no more political than reading or writing fiction, or watching a film. It can be political, but only in the limited sense that any art can be political.
Secondly, Everquest generates no economic value and has no economic power. There are many reasons for this. For example all the 'items' that have 'value' in Everquest can be instantly created in massive numbers by the game administrators simply by editing the database. Therefore any scarcity of supply is as fictional as the items themselves. Furthermore trading in these 'items' in real-world cash is aainst the terms of the game. Also, the vast majority of people playing iv Everquest do so purely for entertainment, and do not themselves attach any real-world value to their virtual posessions.
The actual economic value of Everquest is in it's ability to generate income for it's owners and employees. I think you'll find that the Russian and Bulgarian economies put far more meals on far more tables than Everquest ever will. Any apparent value is just as ephemeral as the apparent increased value of the stock exchanges in 2001 before they collapsed. At least that bubble had some substance to it, whereas the Everquest 'economy' is all just pure hot air.
Simon Hibbs
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