Diablo III is sure to stun fans of the series with its great visuals and gameplay, but perhaps the most interesting feature of the game is its revamped auction house which lets players sell in-game items for real-world money. The Diablo III online auction house is set to be a first in the MMORPG genre which until now has seen third-party websites negotiating the buying and selling of in-game items for money.
The game's publisher, Blizzard, is obviously hoping to curb the would-be RMT (real money trader) players who would have no doubt attempted to infiltrate Diablo III. Blizzard is also set to cash in on the new Diablo III online auction house as they will be charging two separate fees -- a listing and purchasing fee, per transaction. The new auction house system is still in beta testing, but as a former player of MMORPG games I am almost certain that the system will be a hit.
What's Driving This Trend
- Virtual Economies
- Virtual economies and in-game transactions are increasingly popular in the MMORPG genre, providing opportunities for disruptive innovation in the gaming industry.
- Real Money Auction House
- The Diablo III online auction house, allowing players to buy and sell in-game items for real-world money, could potentially disrupt the online marketplace industry.
- Curb Real Money Traders (RMT)
- The introduction of the Diablo III online auction house may be a means of curbing real money traders (RMT) in the gaming industry, creating opportunities for disruptive innovation in the anti-piracy and security industry.
Who This Affects Most
- Gaming Industry
- The popularity of virtual economies and in-game transactions presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the gaming industry, such as the introduction of real money auction houses.
- Online Marketplace Industry
- The Diablo III online auction house could potentially disrupt the online marketplace industry by offering a platform for buying and selling virtual items with real-world money.
- Anti-piracy and Security Industry
- The Diablo III online auction house may be seen as a means to curb real money traders (RMT) in the gaming industry, creating opportunities for disruptive innovation in the anti-piracy and security industry.
