The Romero Returns

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It has been rumoured for some time that John "The Romero" Romero, co-founder of Id Software was making his way into the MMOG industry. Daikatana the MMOG you say? Pshaw!!!

The Romero has opened a new studio, Ion Storm The Barricades. Alright, it's not called that, it is called Slipgate Ironworks and is located near Redwood City in California. Good luck to John with his new venture. In John's own words, let's hope this one doesn't, "Suck it down!"

Karen, our Vanguard: Saga of Heroes community manager put me on to a gold farming quote by Zack Karlsson, Director of Business Development at Sigil.

"First, Sigil Games Online has no problem with RMT.
I know that this seems contradictory to any previously published statement, but allow me to explain our position. We do not care if people engage in RMT in any game where the developer and publisher has authorized it. There are several great examples of games that have incorporated RMT into their game, Second Life, There.com, and others. There's an enterprising group of MIT students working on a 2D/3D futuristic MMO with RMT built into the economy from the ground up -- and we support that.

However, we do not support it when it happens to developers or publishers without their consent. We spend 4 or 5 years building these games and we expect that when we license them for use to people, that they accept the terms under which we license it for their use.

There are rules for use. Just because an automobile can go 140mph doesn't mean that you get to go 140mph. When you buy a car, you agree that you will only go as fast as the speed limit. Do some people break the rules? Yes. Is it illegal? Yes. If you get caught, is there a penalty? Yes, and 'but the car can go that fast' isn't a sufficient excuse -- nor is, 'but there's a market for RMT.'

Yes, there is a market for it. Wherever the value of time is greater than the value of money, there will be a market for it. Whenever time can be commoditized and sold, there will be a market for it. It is, actually, the same mechanic that drives outsourcing."

Well said Zack Karlsson and almost exactly what I said (which is probably why I like it so much). I wish other developers, Turbine I'm glancing in your direction, would take this same stance. As most of you know, TenTonHammer.com made the choice to back the developers like Sigil Online, foregoing the lucrative revenue that the secondary market companies provide via advertising purchases and commissions. It irks me when I see an interview or other exclusive content being doled off to sites owned by the secondary market companies. (OGaming, Allakhazam, etc.) The players are screaming that they want the secondary market squashed, some developers claim the same stance and then turn around and hand out content to those same sites.

If the developers permit secondary market action then I have no problem with it at all. What doesn't work, is writing a EULA that forbids it while catering to the companies that break that EULA. Those mixed messages hurt the community as a whole. As a consumer you vote with your wallet. Supporting games like Vanguard goes a long way to changing the industry for the better.

Make your mark. Mark your territory. Post a comment. If you are shy you can E-Mail me.
Every good guild needs a home. A home free of gold ads, secondary market farmers. Look no further than GuildPortal.com.

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As always, thanks for visiting TenTonHammer.com,
-- John "Boomjack" Hoskin

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