Computer gamers hire hundreds of thousands of Chinese to earn virtual gold
source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2008/08/23/dlgames122.xml
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Nearly half a million people are employed in "virtual sweatshops" earning points and goods in online games to sell over the internet, a study has found.
The practice known as gold-farming, where a player attempts acquire gold, equipment or tradable skills, usually by actions like killing monsters, is growing rapidly according to researchers at Manchester University.
They say the industry, which is largely based in China, although also includes Romanians, Indonesians and Mexicans, currently employs about 400,000 young people who earn an average of £80 per month.
Typically the large-scale gold farms, which have been termed "virtual sweatshops" provide meals and accommodation and the farmers work 12-hour shifts with only a short break. The businesses are run 24-hours every day all year round. The market earns hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Image: http://www.newint.org
The practice known as gold-farming, where a player attempts acquire gold, equipment or tradable skills, usually by actions like killing monsters, is growing rapidly according to researchers at Manchester University.
They say the industry, which is largely based in China, although also includes Romanians, Indonesians and Mexicans, currently employs about 400,000 young people who earn an average of £80 per month.
Typically the large-scale gold farms, which have been termed "virtual sweatshops" provide meals and accommodation and the farmers work 12-hour shifts with only a short break. The businesses are run 24-hours every day all year round. The market earns hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Image: http://www.newint.org
