In many games, such as Lord Of Ultima, players can purchase a special type of currency with real money, as opposed to earning it in a game. This currency is then used to purchase premium items and services, which normally are unavailable to the players otherwise.
I am wondering whether it is feasible to use Bitcoins as a form of currency in a game? Are there any games out there that have already implemented that?
There's one thing that you must consider.
If you were using your own Mycoin instead of Bitcoin, you could grant users coins in game (in a limited amout), so that "premium" features could be earned simply by playing a lot (which some games do). Now, you wouldn't give people bitcoins that costed you money just for playing your game (for free), would you?
There is a game that uses Bitcoin as its currency called Dragon's Tale, not to mention numerous online casinos. In general, using Bitcoins in games is quite feasible, just requires a willing developer.
In many cases it can even be preferable, as one could imagine making a simple micropayment in an instant provided they need to purchase something in a game, rather than transfer the money in bulk and later not using all of it without the chance of getting the rest back.
Moreover, similar to upcoming Diablo 3 Auction House Marketplace, or already existing market in Second Life, one can imagine the players earning Bitcoins in such games from other people and later withdrawing their earnings with an ease.
I can think of several reasons why this might not be the best idea for your game vs using an in game only coin
1) Inability to grant game credit. If your users play a lot, bring their friends etc you might want to give them more credit. If you are using bitcoin then those have to come from somewhere, or you can't do it. This will limit your ability to manage the ecosystem of your game in the ways that you might want to.
2) Supply Shock: You may find that when the price of bitcoin vs the dollar goes up or down then your game will be affected by money streaming in or out. If your game is presumably a business that has to run as one that might be a risk you don't want to take.
3) Data Security. If you have 10,000,00 games coins on your system there is very little reason for someone to try and steal them. If you have $10,000,000 worth of bitcoin then there are major reasons that someone might want to hack in and steal those.
4) Tax law. Depending on where you and your players are there may be tax implications. Or other legal regulations that you might run across. The last thing that you need is for the FBI to decide to check if someone is using your game for money laundering.
I am working on an online game! My site is http://www.terrasilenti.com/
We are in alpha phase testing and have a game running. Pre-Beta.
Players using bitcoins will be treated as full currency processing and we give detailed setup for mining.
We plan to support the bitcoin community through use as well as support of the bitcoin.
