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| Poor earning virtual gaming gold | Poor earning virtual gaming gold |
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| Nearly half a million people are employed in developing countries earning virtual goods in online games to sell to players, a study has found. | Nearly half a million people are employed in developing countries earning virtual goods in online games to sell to players, a study has found. |
| Research by Manchester University shows that the practice, known as gold-farming, is growing rapidly. | Research by Manchester University shows that the practice, known as gold-farming, is growing rapidly. |
| Researchers say the industry, which is largely based in China, currently employs about 400,000 young people who earn £80 per month on average. | |
| Games companies have attempted to crack down on the practice. | Games companies have attempted to crack down on the practice. |
| Players in the popular online game World of Warcraft acquire virtual gold by fighting monsters and completing quests. | Players in the popular online game World of Warcraft acquire virtual gold by fighting monsters and completing quests. |
| Alternatively, some simply buy it from a fast-growing workforce employed to play this and other games. | Alternatively, some simply buy it from a fast-growing workforce employed to play this and other games. |
| Manchester University says the young people, described in the study as "playbourers", sell gold or other virtual goods, despite the practice being against the rules of many online games. | Manchester University says the young people, described in the study as "playbourers", sell gold or other virtual goods, despite the practice being against the rules of many online games. |
| However, the report's authors say an industry which connects cash-rich time-poor players with those willing to work long hours for little reward is likely to go on growing. | However, the report's authors say an industry which connects cash-rich time-poor players with those willing to work long hours for little reward is likely to go on growing. |