Virtual goldmine: In-game goods fuel debate over digital ownership

Nearly half of games include in-game purchase options, according to analysis by TIGA of a sample of games released last year by British developers. Fortnite (pic) for example has 'skins' or outfits that new players must purchase with real-world money. — AFP Relaxnews

LONDON: Jon Jacobs was a financially struggling actor in real life but a wealthy trader in an online videogame when he had his breakthrough: what if he could turn his virtual success into a steady stream of real dollars?

Jacobs, who mortgaged his home to start investing in virtual property, broke records when he sold his nightclub to other users in the multi-player online game Entropia Universe for US$635,000 (RM2.65mil) in 2010.