The "Age of Wulin" Virtual Auction Sees an In-Game Sword Go for $16,000
Michael Hines — January 3, 2012 — Tech
The bar for hardcore gaming has just been set a little higher thanks to the 'Age of Wulin' virtual auction. The unreleased Chinese MMORPG game recently auctioned off in-game items, with one weapon fetching a jaw-dropping $16,000.
The auction was held to drum up interest for the game and judging by the results they did a pretty decent job. The $16,000 bid for the virtual sword wasn't the only high bid of the night as a sheath for the Hook of Departure sold for $1,600 with the Lordly Spear Sheath fetching $2,500. Other items such as monthly play cards and enhancement materials sold for more reasonably prices ($15 and $30 respectably). The success of the 'Age of Wulin' virtual auction is somewhat surprising seeing as how the game hasn't even been released yet.
The auction was held to drum up interest for the game and judging by the results they did a pretty decent job. The $16,000 bid for the virtual sword wasn't the only high bid of the night as a sheath for the Hook of Departure sold for $1,600 with the Lordly Spear Sheath fetching $2,500. Other items such as monthly play cards and enhancement materials sold for more reasonably prices ($15 and $30 respectably). The success of the 'Age of Wulin' virtual auction is somewhat surprising seeing as how the game hasn't even been released yet.
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Auctions - The success of the 'Age of Wulin' virtual auction demonstrates the emerging trend of virtual auctions for in-game items.
2. High-value In-game Items - The high bids for items like the virtual sword in the 'Age of Wulin' auction highlight the growing trend of gamers willing to spend significant amounts of money on digital goods.
3. Pre-release Marketing Strategies - The 'Age of Wulin' virtual auction serves as an example of the innovative marketing strategy of holding auctions before a game's release to generate interest and anticipation.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming Industry - The gaming industry can tap into the trend of virtual auctions to create additional revenue streams and incentivize players to spend more on in-game items.
2. E-commerce Industry - The success of virtual auctions for digital goods presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the e-commerce industry to expand into this niche market.
3. Marketing Industry - The use of pre-release auctions as a marketing strategy in the 'Age of Wulin' example opens up new possibilities for the marketing industry to create unique and engaging campaigns for upcoming products and services.
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