Despite government, civic groups and media features, the Chinese gold farming industry - with online game World of Warcraft as the primary vehicle, continues on.

Some proponents of the underground industry are adamant that the supply is still huge. They think that gold farming will continue to exist because players will continue to look for it and pay for it. “The reason people buy gold is the same reason they pay people to wash their car – they would rather spend money than do it themselves”, said one anonymous Chinese gold farmer.

Let’s take a look at the current state of the Chinese gold farming industry and take a behind-the-scenes-look at 2 actual employees.

One more click, sir…

Case Study 1: Li

Here’s an excerpt from a post at MMOSITE:

Li is just one of more than 100 workers employed by Wow7gold, an internet-based company that makes more than 1m pounds a year selling in-game advantages to World of Warcraft players. Customers may ask for their avatar’s skill level to be increased (“power levelling”), or for a virtual magic sword or precious ore to be obtained. As one player put it: “Where there’s a demand, China will supply it.”

For thousands of Chinese workers such as Li, “gold farming” is a way of life. Workers can expect to earn between $100 to $150 (PHP4,800 to P7,200) a month which, given the long hours and night shifts. After completing his shift, Li is given a basic meal of rice, meat and vegetables and falls into a bunk bed in a room that eight other gold farmers share. His wages may be low, but food and accoMMOdation are included.

Case Study 2: Eva Yuan

 A 26-year-old graduate who speaks three languages, she has been working in the white-collar departments of Wow7gold for more than a year. Each day she helps more than 100 customers, placing orders and answering queries. “Most of our customers are from America but they are people of all ages and careers,” she says. “The biggest transaction I have seen was one person who bought 100,000 gold, which costs $3,000 (P144,000). For me this is a lot of money but for them it is not.”

After leaving university, Yuan was unable to find employment in the “real” economy. Now, the $325 (P15,600) she makes every month at Wow7gold allows her – with a bit of help from her parents – to support her one-year-old son.

“We face unemployment in some areas and China has a large population so the challenge is severe,” she says. “These firms provide the employee with a place to live and money to earn. When I came there were just 100 employees, now there are over 130. This is a new and innovating area for the economy”. I ask Yuan whether she thinks her job is worthwhile. “Everything that appeals to some people in the world needs some people to produce it. We are allowing people to buy what they want, and we care about that.”

The latest estimates put around 400,000 Asians (mostly Chinese) employed in these sweat shops.

The underground industry is reported to make around $900 Million (PHP43.6 B) a year. With a customer base numbering from 5 to 10 million. This is expected to grow in the years to come as Internet access and online games become more popular.

Via MMOSITE