[Air-L] EVEOnline Monthly Payments Now Tradable, Sellable, Destroyable

[Ren Reynolds]

CCP's introduction of PLEX confuses me. They have been assiduous in keeping EvE a closed economy, then there's PLEX.

PLEX (Concord Pilot License Extensions) has a thin veneer of in-game meaning but as we know is an in-game token of value, that value being the cost of given period of game time. Of course all MMO currency in some way represents value that can be expressed in terms of time, just like all currency can be. However it seems to me that the direct relationship between PLEX and game time makes it categorically different.

By that I mean, if I get PLEX then I assume a tax event has happened as PLEX is a benefit in kind (just like a company car would be under UK tax law), similarly the loss of the ship noted below I assume might be seen as a tax write off. Thought, and possibly more worrying, is whether someone might argue that there is enough randomness at the heart of EvE's economy for it not to count as a game of skill hence it would fall under Gambling law (in particularly I'm thinking of US inter-state laws and internet gambling cases).

With the potential of Facebook currency and Googles recent acquisition and the UK Government's white paper on consumer protection (that includes Digital Goods)  I can see those of us with papers on virtual currencies will have to dust them off. 

ren


On 9 Aug 2010, at 22:28, Peter Timusk wrote:

> Interesting study you aim for Nick. I have been advised by my corp CEO not
> to move PLEX. I am also not so happy that PLEX are not really worth US
> dollars, in fact, but only more game play. There is no cashing out game
> currency (isk). In Second Life there is cashing out. I prefer though Eve
> because more is going on socially than in Second Life IMH game play
> experience. I am happy to say bragging a bit that my game play is good
> enough in Eve Online that I almost play for free these days in Eve earning
> enough "in game" isk to buy PLEX's every month rather than pay 15$ US per
> account. My main toon/avatar managers all the industry for a corp and is
> paid "in game" currency wages. Our alliance lost three ships worth 30 bil
> each in this year's tournament. Was this really a few thousand US dollars?
> My answer is no. It was really just more fun.
> 
> My first attempt at research writing about Eve seems to focus on learning
> business skills and spreadsheets because of playing the game.
> 
> Peter      >> Margarite Liberte in EVE Online.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org
> [mailto:air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Nick Lalone
> Sent: August-09-10 4:34 PM
> To: air-l at listserv.aoir.org
> Subject: [Air-L] EVEOnline Monthly Payments Now Tradable, Sellable,
> Destroyable
> 
> Hello all,
> I thought this would be an interesting note for some of you:
> 
> PLEX, the in-game item you can buy from other players in EVE Online that
> lets you extend your subscription to the game by 30 day. CCP recently
> unlocked the restrictions on PLEX in game.   Previously, you could not move
> PLEX.  It had to stay in a station where it was safe.
> Or at least safer.
> 
> Now, however, PLEX is an item like most everything else in New Eden.
> It can be moved, sold, shipped, and destroyed.
> 
> FROM:
> http://tagn.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/the-plex-story-weve-all-been-waiting-fo
> r/
> 
> So I have been waiting for the first real big PLEX loss item to show up.
> 
> And now we have it.
> 
> Reported over at Massively, a player carrying 74 PLEX, worth nearly
> $1,300 in real life and over 22 billion ISK in-game, had his ship blow up in
> Jita.
> 
> Should have chosen something bigger than a Kestrel.
> 
> And all the PLEX was destroyed.
> 
> Poof.
> 
> Gone.
> 
> Welcome to EVE Online.
> 
> --
> Nick LaLone
> Texas State University-San Marcos
> Systems Support / Master's Student
> www.beforegamedesign.com
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