Team Fortress 2

Valves highly popular PC and Mac game Team Fortress 2 have used a trading system within there game to allow players who have purchased virtual assesories to exchange them with other players. What is intresting is that the game itself was released in 2007 the game is still bringing in profit from selling virtual goods. It began as a game in a pack called 'The Orange Box' with the other popular games Portal and Half life 2. It wasn't until 2008 it was re released as a stand alone package for windows avaible through steam. The game was later released as a Free to play in june 2011 game that relys only on Micro-transaction sales through steam for profits. They allow players to download the orginal core of the game while extras can be bought to enhance the look of the game and allow players to dress there character as they please to stand out.

There was a quick attachment to 'Hats' in the game with the core fan base taking over with ideas and buying 'hats' This soon led Valve into designing a trading system to allow players to swap the virtual items players have bought.They have even started a competition that allows players to design there own concepts to be part of the Team fortress world. They get jugded by both the games audience and players as well as the designers. The winning concepts get made and sold in the game with the player who designed the assessory getting half of the profits from the item sales.

There is also alot of news about how these 'hats' have become so popular players are willing to pay mass amount of money to get rarer items. A recent player bought a hat for $1500 outside of the game. This shows the willingness to spend on Virtual Items.



http://www.teamfortress.com/workshop/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Fortress_2

http://holdselect.com/2011/07/07/team-fortress-2-hat-sells-for-1500/