Xbox Live 360.com. Games and Games.

Worlds in Motion has an article up detailing a new surge in the efforts to legitimize real money transactions in MMO games. Generally, the idea is a good one, as RMT can provide the players what they want, as demonstrated through the vibrant black market, while the legitimization gives the developers what they want. In fact, RMT based games are widely successful in other parts of the world. However, given the current state of US gambling laws, increased RMT in MMO games where gambling exists could put the MMO providers on thin ice. Second Life has already seen attention for gambling, and other worlds may not be far behind.

The tricky issue to deal with is the conversions between the virtual goods or currency and real currency. This is something I've discussed at length in my SSRN Papers. From a broad perspective, if a game either lacks gambling or lacks RMT, then there should be no cause for concern. However, when both elements are present, it becomes more problematic. Second Life (while gabling was still permissible), for example, as a direct currency exchange, could be viewed no differently than online casinos. In fact, even if gambling were using a more barter-like system, where, for example, weapons were wagered in fights, there could be a gambling issue assuming the weapon has a real world value, for example, from the ability to buy or sell it for real currency. The even more complex situation arises where the market price can fluctuate, especially given the prospect of reporting winnings or losses for tax purposes.

Obviously, this issue could take a number of turns depending on what the developers end up implementing in future games. It will be interesting to see if more developers place outright bans on wagering to avoid the issue entirely.

My sincerest apologies, readers, for the hiatus that just ended. It's rare that I have so many projects operating as such a pace where I simply cannot find any time to blog, but as the year draws to a close, many clients want to wrap up ongoing projects. However, I seem to have things back under control, and so my blogging should be back to normal.

I will also (hopefully) be able to make a pretty big announcement in the very near future.

And please remember to keep voting for Law of the Game until Jan. 2!

Most importantly, please have a happy holiday season.

Happy Holidays from Law of the Game

The glitz and the glamour of Hollywood is about to hit Xbox 360 when the Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store opens for business.

• 300


• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone


• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


• Zodiac


• The Matrix


• The Matrix Revolutions


• The Matrix Reloaded


• Ocean’s Eleven


• The Perfect Storm


• Swordfish


• Three Kings


• Training Day


• The Fugitive


• Risky Business


• Space Cowboys


• Eyes Wide Shut


• Analyze This


• Demolition Man


• Eraser


• Executive Decision


• Lethal Weapon 3


• Lethal Weapon 4


• Looney Tunes: Back in Action


• Mars Attacks!


• Clash of the titans


• Superman III


• Dead Calm

Have you satisfied your appetite for Halo 3 yet? It’s barely been out of the office Xbox 360 since it arrived and we’re still hungry – ravenous, even – for more. And that’s very fortunate because ‘more’ is just what we’ve got, thanks to the Heroic Map Pack.

Came to Xbox LIVE (in a hail of Covenant bullets) on December 11th the Heroic Map Pack download comprises a trio of brand new multiplayer arenas, each offering a unique gameplay experience and all significantly extending the incomparable Halo 3 fun – and that’s got to be a good thing, right? Be assured, it totally is!

The first map, Standoff, is set in a symmetrical valley that is riddled with large boulders and sinuous trenches, making it ideal for sneaky sharp-shooters and mid-sized Slayer matches. Next up Rat’s Nest is a vast and twisty labyrinth that you wouldn’t really want to run around on foot, thus the action is more vehicular in nature – and is all the more explosive for it! Finally the Foundry describes itself as the ultimate Forge map. More or less every component of this cavernous warehouse can be moved and placed to your liking – stairways, bridges, tunnels and large walls to cower behind when you see us coming, guns a-blazing! With that kind of flexibility you might never need another map pack again. But that’s not how we play…

The Heroic Map Pack costs a mere 800 Microsoft Points and is available now – go check it out! However if you’re prepared to wait until spring 2008, when the next Halo 3 map pack is scheduled to launch, it will be totally free. How’s that for a triple-whammy of awesome news? But can you really keep your itchy trigger finger in check until next year? No, us neither!

Yes! This is a very very cool shirt if your a HL2 Orange Box PORTAL fan ! Which I happen to be.

Source: Splitreason