Everquest 2 Platinum

One of the most controversial subjects in Everquest 2 (or really in any MMO) is the sale of virtual characters and currency.  Although many different games use different currency methods such as gold, gil, credits or any number of other systems, the standard in Everquest 2 is platinum. As such, for this article, and reference to “platinum” sales should be construed as simply discussing currency sales, whatever that currency is, platinum in Everquest environment, or otherwise.

It is not the purpose of this article to either condone or dismiss the practice of platinum and character sales, nor provide links to resources that advertise platinum sales.  Rather, this is an
attempt to look at some of the more popular arguments for, and against, a market for platinum and characters, either explicit or underground.  Fundamentally the arguments against platinum
and character sales break down into three types: the standard “it’s cheating” argument, a second that says that platinum buying and selling grants an unfair advantage to those that take part, and a final argument that appeals to a broader humanitarian aspect, that platinum and character sales are part of an underground “sweatshop” environment. 

Platinum sales are cheating

This is probably the most straightforward and common argument against the buying and selling
of characters.  Simply, it’s against the End User License Agreement (EULA) or other applicable
documentation.  Most MMOs have document that users must accept every time they log on
which explicitly bans the buying and selling of characters and platinum.  Any platinum and item
transfers must be dealt with entirely within the game mechanics, and the selling of characters
completely forbidden. 

There is a reason this argument against platinum sales is the most common, it is generally
impossible to defeat.  The standard response most of those in favor of an out of game platinum
and character economy is “but a EULA is not a legal document”.  True, and it’s unlikely one is
going to jail for selling platinum for real life currency, but that doesn’t mean the game masters
can’t ban you for selling platinum.  Their game, their rules, and as far as it’s not directly
discriminatory (and one would be very hard pressed to find a court willing to say that
discrimination against platinum sellers is forbidden), games can ban players who engage in
platinum selling with impunity.

But this isn’t the case in every environment, platinum selling isn’t always forbidden.  Recently
the Everquest 2 team unveiled their “Station Exchange” program, which is designed around
character and platinum sales.  Now it still restricts these platinum sales to their own system (and
take the appropriate real life cut), and third party character and platinum sales are not allowed.
Still, the argument of “platinum sales are cheating” don’t hold weight in these instances. 

Platinum selling gives an unfair advantage

This argument is based on a simple construction.  Players that play fairly will have gear appropriate for their level.  While the platinum accounts and equipment may vary somewhat
amongst them, the “honest” players are generally geared similarly.  The platinum and item buyers on the other hand are equipped well beyond what is normal at that point of the character’s
advancement.  Being stronger, faster, and more powerful due to these illicitly gotten goods (or the platinum to buy such), they are able to dominate entire areas, effortlessly killing monsters far
faster than the honest, non platinum or item buying public can.  This creates an unfair advantage,and an unequal balance of power.

The argument for platinum buying is thus:  Those that have the spare cash to spend on video
game platinum generally work long hours and make a good deal of money.  They have spare
money to buy platinum and characters, but no spare time.  Effectively then, their platinum and
item buying just balances things out.  Some take that argument even further, stating that they
wouldn’t want to play the game otherwise.  They can afford the cash to buy platinum, but and go
through the less exciting lower levels.  This argument goes so far as to suggest that platinum
buying is in fact GOOD for the game.  Because they can buy platinum and items, and level past
the dull areas faster, it puts money in the developers hands through subscriptions otherwise
canceled.

As for those who complain about an unfair advantage, the proponents of platinum buying usually
counter with the rules of their own.  Mostly they point to the EULA or other documentation that
says aggressive disruption of areas is against the rules.  They argue that if it is too aggressive,
summon the game masters and let them be punished.  If it’s not aggressive enough to warrant a
violation of the rules, well it may be annoying, but it’s not against any rule.  Effectively the
argument breaks down to whether or not they buy platinum, there are still rules to effect
disrupting areas.  Either their super-powerful items acquired with bought platinum empowers
them enough to disrupt an area, in which case have them punished, or it does not, and thus
violates no rule.

Platinum sales encourage sweatshop platinum farming

The third common argument against platinum buying and selling appeals to a broader
humanitarian aspect.  They say that much of the platinum and items for sale are not simple
player to player interactions.  Rather, they are the result of underground platinum “farms”, where
people, usually in Asia or third world nations, are payed well below a decent standard of living,
to generate platinum for hours on end.  There has been documentation to show a growing trend
of these “platinum farms”, where individuals are forced to play virtual games in unventilated
cramped environment, for 10 hours or more, without breaks, for pennies an hour.  People say
that buying platinum supports this inhuman form of labor.

There are arguments against this however.  Those supporting platinum sales state it is simply the
fact of life in these areas.  If it weren’t for a platinum market, it would be some other industry.
Others even go so far as to say that even if the conditions the platinum sweatshops are
deplorable, farming platinum and items is still far safer than sewing or manufacturing.  Shutting
down the platinum selling industry forces the near slave labor platinum farmers into an even
more dangerous occupation, if they can find any at all.

In the end, the buying and selling of platinum, characters, and items is a moral choice.  Many
feel against it, for the reasons outline above, or others entirely separate.  Others find nothing
wrong with it, and in fact even suggest in some ways the platinum selling economy is an overall
good thing.  However one decides, it is ultimately a personal choice.