The Logbook: A look at early virtual economies

Gamers have a long history of interacting with virtual goods and currencies. From Second Life to World of Warcraft to Fortnite, virtual worlds are becoming multi-billion dollar economies that bleed into real-world economies. This week, we examine the history of the virtual economy.

While most games have had some version of a native currency, gaming economies really took off in the late 1990s to early 2000s with the creation of games like Runescape, MapleStory, World of Warcraft and Second Life. In these economies, gamers buy and sell digital gear, skill upgrades, and cosmetic items to enhance their gameplay.