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

The influence of deflationary and inflationary effects

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Expert opinion on the influences of bots

8.5. Problematisation of bots on the basis of user complaints

8.4. The influence of deflationary and inflationary effects
The expert opinion describes two effects of botting: on the one hand, an excess supply of goods with the corresponding decline of the internal game prices, i.e. deflation. It is argued that this would no longer allow normal players to receive a corresponding countervalue in the gaming currency for their produced or hard-won goods. On the other hand, an excess supply of virtual gaming currency (gold) with a corresponding increase of the internal game goods prices, i.e. inflation. Here it is argued that players would no longer be able to afford the corresponding goods. However, since both effects are mutually opposing, it remains to be seen whether they actually have any appreciable effect overall. The fact that the fluctuation in the number of active players can also have a much greater influence on the value of virtual money and goods is also disregarded. It is also postulated that the sale value of objects has been fixed by Blizzards and that the gaming economy would only function on this basis. If this were the case, there would be no free trading system in WoW in which players can themselves negotiate the price for objects but a form of centralised planned economy in which prices for individual goods would be defined centrally (by the game provider). The economy in WoW was, however, consciously designed so that prices can initially develop freely according to supply and demand, even though it is of course possible for the game operator to influence the quantity of money and resources at any time by introducing new sources of money (e.g. the WoW Daily Quests)

Prof. Dr. W. Broll
Gutachten zum Einfluss von Bots auf Spielspaß und Ökonomie in MMORPGS
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or new (more powerful) objects are introduced which need new or different raw materials (see also Heeks 2009).
8.5. Problematisation of bots on the basis of user complaints
Furthermore, the expert opinion lists 300 thousand complaints about bots and time and effort expended by Blizzard in relation to checks and pursuance. It must be assumed that most players are familiar with the existence and the basic function of bots. As is further described in the expert opinion, it is virtually impossible to differentiate between bots and players whose method of playing is similar to a bot. It therefore remains unclear whether the complaints can actually be attributed to botting or whether it is partly players who are dissatisfied with the game including other players for other reasons and expressing this here. Overall, it should be recorded that with 12 million users (Blizzard 2010), the number corresponds to just 2.5% of users, assuming a maximum of one single message per user (which is certainly a very conservative estimate). The conclusions listed are therefore to be regarded as at least extremely speculative.

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