• Forbes, Wednesday, November 2, 2005 10:53 AM

The marketing industry should take note of the rapidly developing economies inside massively multiplayer, online role-playing games. A Knowledge@Wharton article appearing on Forbes.com takes a look at the virtual economies inside games like Second Life and World of Warcraft, where users buy and sell real estate, fashions and food, and trade virtual dollars against the U.S. dollar. Whole companies have even been formed inside these worlds, selling products like magic potions and powerful weapons that can be used to competitive advantage. Analysts estimate that the total in-game market could reach $1.5 billion in 2005. Are there advertising opportunities? You bet, and these markets are only going to get bigger.

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