Online "banker" runs off with cash, avatars cry foul

[bradclark1]

This is about Eve. :rotfl:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060828-7605.html

[TteFAboB]

If every player who lost some virtual money joined together again in a single fund, contributing each with 1k of real money, they could bribe a game staff to release the player's details, hire a private detective to find and track "Cally" and finally sign a contract with a hitman.



Hopefully August never gave any money to this fella. Impressive how he managed to gain the trust of so many players, considering, as the article points, no real-world rules or laws apply.

[August]

Originally Posted by TteFAboB

Hopefully August never gave any money to this fella. Impressive how he managed to gain the trust of so many players, considering, as the article points, no real-world rules or laws apply.

Oh no. I'd never invest in something like that which had no guarentees, game money or not and i have no sympathy for those who would. It should be pointed out that not only do real world laws not apply here, the scam was perfectly within previously established game rules. The sucker... er, i mean "investors", don't have a leg to stand on.

[snowsub]

this makes me :rotfl:

sort of reminds me of people selling "guild wars" in-game weapons on Ebay for real money. And people would be stupid enough to pay it

[Camaero]

My friend is buying a level 60 character on WOW for 200 something bucks...

I don't know where to start with that!

That is sad! Truely sad!!!


So, anyone want to pay me real cash for some Silent Hunter III Renown? :hmm:

[August]

Originally Posted by SubSerpent

That is sad! Truely sad!!!


So, anyone want to pay me real cash for some Silent Hunter III Renown? :hmm:

I have a crew.cfg file comprised of all elite characters which i'll sell for $20 bucks American...

[TteFAboB]

MINE! I'll pay 35$ in Gold for it!

[STEED]

Originally Posted by SubSerpent

So, anyone want to pay me real cash for some Silent Hunter III Renown? :hmm:

Sorry no. Only on the grounds my taxman had got most of my money.

[Skybird]

Philip K. Dick is calling...

[CB..]

Unfortunately, as spectacularly disappointing Cally's crime may be to some of those living in the EVE Online universe, it is unlikely that the FTC will be signing up and logging in with a team of virtual investigators any time soon. For one thing, and I think this needs to be made absolutely clear so that there is no confusion: NO ACTUAL MONEY WAS STOLEN.

sounds like they have got their soloution right there...if you have genuine virtual crime within a simulated world..then it's an ideal opportunity to allow for a genuine virtual police force..allow players to join the game as investigators...no idea how the heck it might pan out but it would at least make it part of the game it self rather than being a immersion killing event..

personally i think this is the way to go...it will make players far more guarded regarding there resources and who they trust..not simply assuming that because some thing exists it must be legitimately part of the game..give the game it's own in game "X-FILES" team searching for "other worldy" events such as cheats and other forms of non normal gameplay activities..
saldy i never play on-line..last time i went on line in a similar game i spent weeks fending of characters who barraged me with offers to "up-grade" my equipment..tell me where the hidden "dooby" was...boost my levels artificaily etc etc etc ad nauseum....and of course there was not much i could do other than keep repeating i wasn't interested...unfortunately this reduced the game atmosphere to the level of a argument in a particulary annoying pub

not for me

[TteFAboB]

How about this: get rid of virtual credits! Get rid of artificial currency! Make it like Sid Meyer's Pirates! or other pirate games where ships sail (fly) around physically carrying their gold unless they leave it at the port or bury it somewhere.

Get rid of virtual-virtual money, no credit cards/accounts, so thieves can only rob you if they destroy your ship while you are carrying your cash with you, invade your station or the place where it's banked, force you to give it to them or whatever.

This guy would've never walked away with it because half the galaxy would hunt him, his ship, his assets and etc. untill they had looted the very last gold coin out of his bankrupt empty hands.

[August]

Originally Posted by TteFAboB

How about this: get rid of virtual credits! Get rid of artificial currency! Make it like Sid Meyer's Pirates! or other pirate games where ships sail (fly) around physically carrying their gold unless they leave it at the port or bury it somewhere.

Get rid of virtual-virtual money, no credit cards/accounts, so thieves can only rob you if they destroy your ship while you are carrying your cash with you, invade your station or the place where it's banked, force you to give it to them or whatever.

This guy would've never walked away with it because half the galaxy would hunt him, his ship, his assets and etc. untill they had looted the very last gold coin out of his bankrupt empty hands.

The problem isn't the money, it's the use of alternate characters. It's just too easy to do this type of thing with a disposable character whose last act before being sent to the bio shredder is to transfer his ill gotten gains to the main char without anyone knowing the name of the puppeteer behind it all.

If people were limited to one character and had to live with the reputation they created for themselves in game they'd be far less likely to pull stunts like that since they would have to face the music afterwards.

[kiwi_2005]

Originally Posted by snowsub

this makes me :rotfl:

sort of reminds me of people selling "guild wars" in-game weapons on Ebay for real money. And people would be stupid enough to pay it

Ahh i paid for a green weapon for guildwars for my monk character - cost me $16 bucks. Money well spent. :p

[The Noob]

I could never believe to pay for a Virtural thing. Thats Crazed!