The Economics of Online Gaming

CHAPTER 2

RIVA

I made pretty good money by working alone, at least by newbie standards. My production was not fast, but I could earn about 10,000 gold coins every week by selling swords and armor, and every batch raised my manufacturing skill by a few levels. It was a grind, but I enjoyed it. I played the game as if I was the only player in the game. I could make money selling manufactured items and use that money to train other skills. I chatted with other players, but I played alone. It was almost like a mining simulator with a chat room attached. I didn’t think that I needed anyone else.

What changed my mind was a player who approached me while I was walking to the iron mines in the Desert Pines (DP). He asked if I would like to join his guild. ...