Setting up advertising for any Virtual Item in free-to-play games has been struck down by a German court. The members of the Bundesgerichtshof, or Federal Court System of Germany, have ruled that you cannot advertise your virtual items in a free-to-play game. This decision could greatly change the current of our current gaming world.
A Fierce Debate on Virtual Items
Of course this decision came with significant conflict. Lower German courts said that it was fine for the items to be advertised. Nor is this the prevailing opinion around the world. Of course if this one is adopted other countries may follow suit. Companies are already lobbying to have it overturned.
The Logic Behind the Ruling
This decision was based on the concept that free-to-play games selling items is unfair competition for normal types of games. We can actually see the logic behind this due to the huge success of these type of games. Companies all over the industry have used it to get to the top of their genre. These range from Korean MMOs to TF2. Even guild wars has this model.
The Complicated Issues Behind a Virtual Item
The reason these profits are so spectacular is that the company has barely any overhead for them. They don’t have to build the physical items and can even move their work out of studio, such as with Steam Workshop. It does give a massive and some say unfair advantage.
Creating a Virtual Item System
Anyone can do this and usually without much cost. That does make it even in a sense. The real question is whether every company should have to simply to put a game out? We are not sure what the answer to that is.
The Impact on the Virtual Item Market Now
Right now the impact will be minimal. Companies may be fined if they break the limit but this will only impact the European market. The real thing to watch for is whether similar rulings will come from this. Further restrictions could come or it could be struck down. Either way this is the gaming world changing as we watch it.
