Diablo III player banks $10,000 in auction house sales

While Diablo III’s real money auction house has been the subject of some controversy for many people, for at least one player, it’s been a cash-dispenser of pretty epic proportions – according to Reddit user WishboneTheDog, he’s already banked over $10,000 in sales.

Before anybody calls troll, his claims are backed up by screenshots of his auction house transaction history and corresponding PayPal listings, and he’s also been doing a Q&A over on Reddit’s Diablo forum.

“One of my favorite parts of gaming has been the economics of the item markets since I started trading in Neopets ten years ago. It is what first got me interested in economics, and I am now studying business at a good university. I hope to consult with game companies someday about balancing the economies of their games,” he explained.

“I have never botted, scammed, used any of the number of exploits, or cheated in any way whatsoever. Before this game, I never made any money off of what I did because it was against the rules. Investing and trading in the item markets is part of how I have my fun, it wouldn’t make sense for me to cheat.”

His comments about the economics and psychology of something like the Diablo III auction house are smart and thought-provoking. In the context of “paying to win”, Wishbone makes an interesting analogy:

“Paying money for the gear is the equivalent of purchasing nice golf clubs, or high tech running/climbing/basketball shoes. It’s purchasing gear that gives you an edge on the competition in the game that you play. A thousand dollars for a good set of golf clubs gives you the ability to play the game of golf better than someone of equal skill playing with a $10 garage sale set. It doesn’t automatically make you good, but it helps you get there. And if you love that game, then by all means play your best.”

He doesn’t divulge any of his big trade secrets, but the Q&A is definitely worth a read for anybody who might have questioned Blizzard’s decision to create the auction house in the first place. With more than 10 million users, there’s a real opportunity for business here.