A new report from technology news site Slashdot has revealed that online auction house Ebay intends to remove listings for all virtual items, regardless of type or game title, clamping down on third-party sales of gold and accounts from many popular MMOs.
Despite the Slashdot piece further explaining continued in-game item and currency sales through third party firms as IGE, previously profiled on Gamasutra in August, and Sony Online Entertainment's own internal Station Exchange for its line-up of MMO titles, eBay has decided to close down all virtual item listings due to their inherent 'legal complexities.'
The policy currently in effect covers virtual items of any type, including in-game currency, items, and entire accounts or characters from MMOs, even up to, the report notes, 'neopoints' currency for casual virtual-pet website Neopets.
Read more http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12556
Monday, January 29, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Priest Caught Selling Absolution on eBay
A Catholic priest from the Norwood neighbourhood of Bronx, New York, has been charged with selling absolution via an account on eBay, the popular online auction website. The priest, Father Augustine Butler, allegedly offered "Complete absolution for all sins, past, present and future" at a starting bid of $250. Nearly 2,440 eBay users took Mr. Butler up on his "limited supply" offer before church authorities were apprised of the transgression.
"Father Butler's actions have brought shame down upon himself, the Catholic church, and to eBay, the respected internet auction house," Cardinal Primaverde, of the Archdiocese of New York, said.
read more http://www.avantnews.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=332
"Father Butler's actions have brought shame down upon himself, the Catholic church, and to eBay, the respected internet auction house," Cardinal Primaverde, of the Archdiocese of New York, said.
read more http://www.avantnews.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=332
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Australian student sells his life on eBay, including 'cranky girlfriend'
Fancy a new life? An Australian man is selling his on the auction site eBay, offering his name, phone number, worldly possessions and circle of friends to the highest bidder.
Nicael Holt, a 24-year-old philosophy student, has promised to introduce the buyer to his potential lovers - "around eight which I have been flirting with", as he put it on his eBay entry - and his grand repertoire of six jokes.
Bidding started at A$5 (£2) and closed yesterday at A$7,500. Mr Holt, from Wollongong, south of Sydney, said he would go through with the deal if any of the top five bidders were genuine and prepared to pay cash.
Under an entry posted on the site earlier this month, headed "New Life for Sale!!", Mr Holt offered a broken relationship with a cranky ex-girlfriend and a four-week training course "in becoming me", including fashion sense, food tastes and "style of seduction".
Read more http://news.independent.co.uk/world/australasia/article2183873.ece
Nicael Holt, a 24-year-old philosophy student, has promised to introduce the buyer to his potential lovers - "around eight which I have been flirting with", as he put it on his eBay entry - and his grand repertoire of six jokes.
Bidding started at A$5 (£2) and closed yesterday at A$7,500. Mr Holt, from Wollongong, south of Sydney, said he would go through with the deal if any of the top five bidders were genuine and prepared to pay cash.
Under an entry posted on the site earlier this month, headed "New Life for Sale!!", Mr Holt offered a broken relationship with a cranky ex-girlfriend and a four-week training course "in becoming me", including fashion sense, food tastes and "style of seduction".
Read more http://news.independent.co.uk/world/australasia/article2183873.ece
Thieves Selling Stolen Items On Ebay
Eyewitness News uncovers crooks going high-tech to hawk your stuff. It used to be thieves would break into your house, steal your valuables, then head straight for the pawn shop. Now they're just logging onto the computer and sending your stolen stuff into cyberspace.
Pawn shop owner Jim Holloway said he’s seen the change, “They know if they pawn something's that not theirs and it's stolen, they have a good chance of getting caught.”
Read more http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=1663f3f3-a071-41a2-a06a-a3ce03eb5d7b
Pawn shop owner Jim Holloway said he’s seen the change, “They know if they pawn something's that not theirs and it's stolen, they have a good chance of getting caught.”
Read more http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=1663f3f3-a071-41a2-a06a-a3ce03eb5d7b
Investors cheer eBay turnaround
Investors gave their blessing to eBay's turnaround Wednesday, sending the stock of the San Jose auctioneer soaring after it trounced Wall Street's expectations for the second quarter in a row.
Not only were revenue and earnings more robust than analysts had anticipated, but eBay also expanded its operating margin and accelerated the growth of the total value of items sold on its marketplace.
EBay's fourth-quarter net income rose 24 percent to $346 million, or 25 cents a share. Excluding stock-based compensation and other expenses, eBay said net income increased 27 percent to $431 million, or 31 cents a share, three cents above Wall Street estimates.
Read more http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/16538153.htm
Not only were revenue and earnings more robust than analysts had anticipated, but eBay also expanded its operating margin and accelerated the growth of the total value of items sold on its marketplace.
EBay's fourth-quarter net income rose 24 percent to $346 million, or 25 cents a share. Excluding stock-based compensation and other expenses, eBay said net income increased 27 percent to $431 million, or 31 cents a share, three cents above Wall Street estimates.
Read more http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/16538153.htm
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
eBay's 'Feedback 2.0' Revealed
eBay users can now view sample screenshots of eBay's recently announced "Feedback 2.0" system on the eBay UK website. The new system will allow buyers to rate transactions on item description, communication, shipping time, and shipping & handling charges. In late February, eBay will pilot Feedback 2.0 on eBay.co.uk, eBay.ie and in Australia, Belgium, France, India, Italy and Poland. If all goes well, eBay will launch the new system globally in late spring or early summer.
Read more http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m01/i23/s03
Read more http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m01/i23/s03
Car Dealership Auctions Off Super Bowl Tickets
MIAMI While thousands of Bear and Colt fans try to figure out how they will get their hands on Super Bowl XLI tickets, a Homestead car dealership is offering up two free tickets, but there is a catch.Armstrong Toyota-Scion of Homestead is auctioning off a 2006 Toyota Sequoia on eBAY that they loaned to current Miami Dolphin running back Ronnie Brown.
As an incentive to potential buyers, they have also decided to throw in two Super Bowl tickets.With premium seats to the Big Game already being offered on eBay for up to $20,000, some fans are taking advantage of Brown’s offer. Eight people have placed bids for the SUV/Ticket combo, with the highest bid reaching $12,100 as of 2:30pm on Tuesday afternoon.Potential buyers have until January 29th to place their bids.
As an incentive to potential buyers, they have also decided to throw in two Super Bowl tickets.With premium seats to the Big Game already being offered on eBay for up to $20,000, some fans are taking advantage of Brown’s offer. Eight people have placed bids for the SUV/Ticket combo, with the highest bid reaching $12,100 as of 2:30pm on Tuesday afternoon.Potential buyers have until January 29th to place their bids.
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