The NY Times has an article covering the real money that's being made through massively multiplayer online games, mainly focusing on the "virtual world" Second Life.
One man they interviewed plays Second Life for four hours every day, using his expertise as a developer and contractor to run a virtual real-estate business.
Renting out land in the game to other virtual retailers earns enough to cover his mortgage every month, while another lady playing Second Life was on track to make $100,000 in one year from a similar business.
The article also gives an insight into why people spend their hard-earned cash in these virtual world's:
Who buys this stuff? One Second Life resident, who asked to be identified only by her screen name, Diamond Hope, said she spent $10 to $15 a month on clothing and other accessories in Second Life, but would spend more if she could afford it. "With all the things you can buy in Second Life," she said, "it's hard not to want them, just like real-life stuff."
The Game Is Virtual. The Profit Is Real. via Slashdot
Second Life commerce
C|NET Video on Second Life
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