What Are Gold Farmers?

The term gold farmer is used, usually contemptuously, to describe people who earn a living from acquiring money or items in the persistent virtual worlds of computer games and then selling them for real money in the real world.

Many websites exist which can cater to the needs of players in the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games (MMORPGS) by selling large quantities of the in-game currency at relatively modest cost in actual cash. Players busy with work and family may find it difficult to invest the time in the game necessary to acquire large quantities of gold so these websites offer a simple solution to them.

In most games, however, these types of transaction are illegal, that is they violate the terms of service agreement signed with the game provider; and, if they are discovered, it can lead to the termination of the user's account. Many ordinary players of these games feel that the presence of gold farmers affects their game world adversely, disrupting the natural state of the economy, and there is a widespread negative feeling towards them.

Add Comment

Report