UPDATE
We've currently posted our new Terms of Service policy under Glu as we are now a part of Glu Mobile. Some of you have pointed out that the sale of virtual property for real world currency is a bannable offense. Technically this is not new. It also wasn't allowed under the Terms of Service under Cie Studios. In fact, this statement is almost true of any online game. Game developers pretty much own everything in a game, even your accounts and your "items". So selling something in game for real currency equates to you selling our property for money. You don't own it, so you shouldn't sell it.
Will we ban your account for doing so. Probably not, but we retain the right to do so. We know we really can't sop it, and we probably won't try, but we'll never say it's okay and we'll never say that we might not do something about it in the future. Basically if you choose to sell our property for real world currency, you do so at your own risk. Buyers of said property you also do so at your own risk. We cannot help you if you get "ripped off".
As for the trading, selling and buying of virtual items for virtual currency, while not being recognized or condoned by the Racing Rivals team, it's not a bannable offense. You just, again, do so at your own risk, we will not assist with any issues that may arise.
You can review our new Terms of Service here:
www.glu.com/legal
Comments
From our ToS:
Regardless of the means of transfer, the direct or indirect redemption or transfer of Virtual Goods and Virtual Currency for real world money, goods or other items of value by or from any party is strictly prohibited except where expressly authorized within the Services. Any attempt to do so is in violation of these Terms and may result in an immediate termination of your user Account and access to the Services, as well as possible legal action.
Soon to be Ex-Carbonated Community Manager
Nothing has changed. The fact that we don't condone the sale of virtual currency for real world money doesn't change how the game works. If your intent was to sell fake money for real money, than I am sorry, but that really isn't allowed. I mean, can we really stop you? No. But realize that because we own the rights to the virtual stuff, you and any buyer won't be protected under PayPal policies. So again, we're just trying to protect people from being scammed out of real world money.
Soon to be Ex-Carbonated Community Manager
Soon to be Ex-Carbonated Community Manager
Especially if this forum gets more popular with users.
And I m sure there is nobody who denies that you guys should take the profits for all your works.
Here is my point. Restricting the trades through paypal or real cash WILL NOT necessary improve your profit.
I haven't looked into your statements so there is no proof for my theory but based on the system of the game, there are a lot more ways for the players to purhcase cars than
buying cars from the showroom via pinking or getting cars from friends or so on. In contrasts, GEMs don't.
So instead, you guys need to promote the demand and improve the market size for gems (which are necessary for playing the game)
by increasing the number of active players and make them "addicted" to the game.
In other words, you guys shouldn't barigate the inflow of the new players and their use of game contents. New players mostly use the paypal to get into the game.
Gems should be your main source of generating the profit. Not the RRC.
As far as I know, Racing Rivals is the only mobile game that has a PvP wagering system. And there is a reason for that. No other developer wanted to go down that treacherous path. When players are allowed to transfer virtual items (in-game money, cars, etc.) between accounts, the rules will always be manipulated. Plain and simple. If the developer does not like it, they ONLY answer for them is to remove the ability to transfer the items completely. If CIE were to remove the wagering system, it would probably seal the game's fate. The answer for CIE is to find a way to capture profit from supported trades/selling. An in-game used car marketplace. A place for people to list vehicles for sale, and name their asking price, or list trades. The vehicles/RRC/gems are then transferred between accounts instantly when both players agree to terms. CIE's way to benefit? Implement a commission. Seller pays say 5 gems for every successful deal. This marketplace would...
-Have the largest audience, since everyone who plays the game will see it (versus the much smaller percent that know about the trading/selling here or elsewhere)
-Encourage players to buy RRC/gems for deals.
-Gives players the peace of mind that they cannot be scammed when making deals.
-Seriously cut down on the "illegal/unsupported" deals made elsewhere.
The ToS isn't transferable to players.