Second Life has its own economy. So do big-ticket games like World of WarCraft, EverQuest, and E.V.E. However, in-game economies are not just limited to the big names anymore; two such games were on display at the E for All expo here this weekend.

One such game, online first-person shooter Combat Arms,  wow alliance was released by Nexon during the summer. The game's economy is based on NX Cash, where 1 million NX= $100. Combat Arms is the latest game released by the American publishing arm of South Korea-based Nexon.

Nexon's revenue model relies solely on in-game microtransactions, as opposed to ads or subscription fees. The company's games, which include Maple Story and Mabinogi (both MMORPGs), are free to play, and marketing manager Meghan Myskowski says the microtransactions don't affect gameplay, but rather "provide customization and personalization of your character. It enhances the experience for the user." wow gold And in the game, she adds, everything is assigned value.

The company sells prepaid cards in $10 and $25 increments; they're available at several online and brick-and-mortar retailers. The cash can be used to buy items in the game; the typical item value is $1. However, you can't cash out of the game, unlike some other in-game economies.

Virtual Economy Strengthens

Myskowski declines to give details about how usage patterns have evolved over the years since Maple Story was introduced in the United States in 2005. But she says the U.S. market had to get used to the concept of micropayments.

"Now, people are used to paying for virtual items," she adds. "Virtual life has changed substantially." Myskowski also credits games like World of WarCraft and sites like Facebook with growing awareness and use of microtransactions.

The other game on display at E for All that uses a cash economy: MindArk's Entropia Universe. The online MMORPG game launched four years ago (originally as Project Entropia), and counts nearly 800,000 registered users; only about 40 percent of those users are in the U.S. Entropia is free to play, just as Nexon's games are. But here, you'll want to add bucks into the economy, in order to gain skills, possessions, and objects from other players in the game.