The Gaming Open Market is a stock market clearing house where players can trade currency in different MMOs. They recently lost $3k in a trade where a player claimed the delivery did not go through, so they're revisiting their policies. To that end, they are switching from PayPal to YowCow, and not dealing in anything other than Second Life Linden$.
Part of their press statement, via the Alphaville Herald:1) Game publishers need to recognize the commodification of their game worlds, and accept that out-of-game trading is going to occur. Plain and simple. Until they do that, no trading, mule or deposit account is safe. Of course there are *many* good reasons why the companies might not want to do this, and I won't bore you with the details. (Email me if you would like to discuss it.)2) Payment services have to start recognizing that FedEx courier tracking numbers are *not* the only way to prove delivery was made. PayPal doesn't, and has no interest in considering it.
3) Game companies have to become open to working together with payment services to prevent fraud. This isn't hard. The game companies simply have to be willing to provide documented proof for the payment systems to use when defending themselves against a claim. What's so tough?
Working together with Linden Lab and YowCow, we *can* provide you with a safe trading environment.
Also mentioned on Terra Nova and Penny Arcade.
July 9, 2004 02:17 AM