Expert opinion on the influences of bots on the economy and gaming enjoyment in mmorpgs Version dated 29 th March 2012 Compiled by Prof. Dr rer nat. Wolfgang Broll on behalf of Bossland GmbH

Effects of bots on the relationship between the virtual and real economies

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Expert opinion on the influences of bots

7.2. Effects of bots on the relationship between the virtual and real economies
As Heeks describes in his study (2009), prices for virtual currency are declining. This means that a massive devaluation of gaming currencies against real currencies is taking place
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. According to the study, however, the cause is not bots but the fragmentation of the gold farming sector: due to the competition (higher supply) and the absence of further large cost-saving potentials, it is no longer possible to skim off profits of the same magnitude as in the past.
It remains to be examined whether, and if necessary, what effect the use of bots has on this. According to Lehdonvirta & Ernkvist’s study (2010), the price for gaming currency on offer by RMT (illustrated with WoW gold as an example) is made up of income for the professional player or players, the costs of the game studios and also the fees of several intermediaries. The game studios’ costs here include subscription fees for gold farming and the provision of infrastructure, etc.
It could therefore easily be concluded that users perform a simple economic calculation of the costs for the reduced time and effort in the game. The result is then the decision to use a bot or to obtain the goods or gaming currency in the form of RMT. This could further increase competition in the gold farming sector and thus the devaluation of the gaming currency (against real currencies). The cause would not, however, lie directly with the bots and those who use them but classic economic effects (sinking price with sinking demand) of the real economy.
For players who wish to acquire a certain object or a certain amount in the virtual currency or wish to increase their protagonist’s level of experience, the benefit is also relevant in addition to the cost. On the one hand, the gaming character’s experience (level) cannot be increased exclusively by using gold. On the other hand, the greater contract
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Whilst the prices for the virtual WoW gold currency were around up to €300 for 300,000 WoW gold units in August
2011, the price had sunk to below €100 by March 2012, which would mean an inflation rate of more than 200% for WoW gold within just a few months.

Prof. Dr. W. Broll
Gutachten zum Einfluss von Bots auf Spielspaß und Ökonomie in MMORPGS
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certainty can, however, be a decisive factor for bot users when making their decision.
Due to the fragmented gold farming market (see Heeks 2009), there are few recognised and reliable dealers. Contact to small providers, however, often exists only via a corresponding non-descript website. Bot providers, on the other hand, were often based in the past in countries which came significantly closer to the wishes of most players for sound business practice.
However, whether and how players make a decision for or against using bots or for or against RMT of WoW gold is not known. It is also possible that due to unknown factors a movement from gold purchases from commercial providers towards individual bot use will take place. This effect is caused by players’ normal economic calculations and the aforementioned weaknesses in the virtual economy which cause or make possible the aforementioned effects.
It is, however, not to be expected in any use scenario that the price for virtual currency and goods on the RMT market will sink further arbitrarily as the costs for the period of use and the infrastructure always accrue. In conclusion, the effect of bots on the relationship between the virtual and the real economy can only be mentioned speculatively according to the current state of research.

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