Comments on: The Economics of Pretend Pirates http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/ For now we see in a mirror, dimly.... Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:36:03 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Dan http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-169 Dan Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:24:02 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-169 I am quite interested in this topic as well, in reality I think playing this game a bit in my free time as an architecture major was a perpetuating factor in my switch to an economics major. In any case I've recently started researching within the ship product markets and trying to find equilibriums within them, and so far it looks as if most players are quite risk averse when it comes to cannonballs and when the math is done it would seem the room in the market is quite large (though these are very preliminary results). Anyhow maybe it's the state of the economy and my lack of a job but it seems interesting for the moment. I am quite interested in this topic as well, in reality I think playing this game a bit in my free time as an architecture major was a perpetuating factor in my switch to an economics major.

In any case I’ve recently started researching within the ship product markets and trying to find equilibriums within them, and so far it looks as if most players are quite risk averse when it comes to cannonballs and when the math is done it would seem the room in the market is quite large (though these are very preliminary results).

Anyhow maybe it’s the state of the economy and my lack of a job but it seems interesting for the moment.

]]> By: Griffinbane =P http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-77 Griffinbane =P Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:29:13 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-77 Cannonball sales with restricted sales of dubloons eh? I'm not sure what would happen. It could drop, or it could stay the same. After all, the cannonballs do not require dubloons to be produced, or bought and sold. It'd probably drop however, due to demand (read further). It might affect bulk sales. I know a few major dubloon buyers who can buy out several islands' stock of balls, and have done it. However, it can and almost certainly will affect the ships that uses the cannonballs. Ships require a lot of dubloons to be delivered into your hands. Less dubloons mean less ships being sold. Less ships being sold means less cannonballs being shot. Less cannonballs being shot means a higher supply over demand. Cannonball sales with restricted sales of dubloons eh? I’m not sure what would happen. It could drop, or it could stay the same. After all, the cannonballs do not require dubloons to be produced, or bought and sold. It’d probably drop however, due to demand (read further). It might affect bulk sales. I know a few major dubloon buyers who can buy out several islands’ stock of balls, and have done it.
However, it can and almost certainly will affect the ships that uses the cannonballs. Ships require a lot of dubloons to be delivered into your hands. Less dubloons mean less ships being sold. Less ships being sold means less cannonballs being shot. Less cannonballs being shot means a higher supply over demand.

]]> By: Gavin http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-71 Gavin Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:08:40 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-71 There is something akin to a banking system going on here. The game organisers are acting as the central bank. The number of doubloons they allow to circulate will determine the rate of inflation you refer to. The big spenders who auction their doubloons are acting like commercial banks providing funding to the economy in addition to their role as pseudo employers. Talking of experiments, an interesting demonstration of the current 'credit crunch' would be to restrict the number of doubloons the big spenders were allowed to auction. What would that do to cannonball sales? There is something akin to a banking system going on here. The game organisers are acting as the central bank. The number of doubloons they allow to circulate will determine the rate of inflation you refer to. The big spenders who auction their doubloons are acting like commercial banks providing funding to the economy in addition to their role as pseudo employers.

Talking of experiments, an interesting demonstration of the current ‘credit crunch’ would be to restrict the number of doubloons the big spenders were allowed to auction. What would that do to cannonball sales?

]]> By: JTK http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-66 JTK Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:14:39 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-66 I didn't know that about inactivity, although it seems easier just to log in and wander around for a bit. Don't worry -- I have my own account, with a Pirate on a Doubloon ocean. In fact, I once bought Doubloons and handed them out in-game to my sons as Christmas presents. Otherwise, I've earned all the Doubloons I've needed. Shipwrightery and Atlantis are my friends.... :D I didn’t know that about inactivity, although it seems easier just to log in and wander around for a bit.

Don’t worry — I have my own account, with a Pirate on a Doubloon ocean. In fact, I once bought Doubloons and handed them out in-game to my sons as Christmas presents. Otherwise, I’ve earned all the Doubloons I’ve needed. Shipwrightery and Atlantis are my friends…. :D

]]> By: Delirious http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-65 Delirious Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:35:12 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-65 You missed a key element of the dubloons. If a pirate buys dubloons online, then their pirate will not be deleted due to inactivity. I bought dubloons only once, purely for this reason. The rest of the time, I have just earned all of the money I needed in game. Surprisingly, there is a large community of adults that play the game. I even know one woman in her 60s. I think you need to create your own account. ;) You missed a key element of the dubloons. If a pirate buys dubloons online, then their pirate will not be deleted due to inactivity. I bought dubloons only once, purely for this reason. The rest of the time, I have just earned all of the money I needed in game. Surprisingly, there is a large community of adults that play the game. I even know one woman in her 60s. I think you need to create your own account. ;)

]]> By: JTK http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-64 JTK Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:09:18 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-64 Yikes -- I am strictly an armchair economist. I took one intro microeconomics class in <a href="http://bucknell.edu/" rel="nofollow">college</a> to fulfill a requirement for my <a href="http://bucknell.edu/x16042.xml" rel="nofollow">engineering degree</a> way back when, and I've been hooked ever since, though woefully undereducated. Most of what I know I have learned from <a href="http://www.2000wave.com/gateway.asp" rel="nofollow">this guy</a>. But, thanks for the vote of confidence! I hope to delve into the murky waters that are the Puzzle Pirate economy and see what comes to light! Yikes — I am strictly an armchair economist. I took one intro microeconomics class in college to fulfill a requirement for my engineering degree way back when, and I’ve been hooked ever since, though woefully undereducated. Most of what I know I have learned from this guy.

But, thanks for the vote of confidence! I hope to delve into the murky waters that are the Puzzle Pirate economy and see what comes to light!

]]> By: Donall http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-60 Donall Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:48:27 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-60 Now Hypnos has linked here in her blog, I suspect you'll be getting a lot more readers. Much like the EVE players, I and many other YPPirates would be very interested if you or another economist did some analysis of the YPP economy, so I encourage you to take up Cleaver's offer. :) Now Hypnos has linked here in her blog, I suspect you’ll be getting a lot more readers.

Much like the EVE players, I and many other YPPirates would be very interested if you or another economist did some analysis of the YPP economy, so I encourage you to take up Cleaver’s offer. :)

]]> By: JTK http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-58 JTK Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:44:37 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-58 Thanks muchly for the kind words! For those not in the know, <a>Daniel James</a> above is AKA "<a href="http://yppedia.puzzlepirates.com/Captain_Cleaver" rel="nofollow">Captain Cleaver</a>", CEO of <a href="http://www.threerings.com/about/" rel="nofollow">Three Rings</a>, which is the aforementioned company that developed Puzzle Pirates. I have no idea how he found my blog. Probably because I stole the graphics from his site. Thanks muchly for the kind words!

For those not in the know, Daniel James above is AKA “Captain Cleaver“, CEO of Three Rings, which is the aforementioned company that developed Puzzle Pirates.

I have no idea how he found my blog. Probably because I stole the graphics from his site.

]]> By: Daniel James http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/the-economics-of-pretend-pirates/#comment-56 Daniel James Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:44:37 +0000 http://fadedmirror.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-56 Thanks for the praise! You are correct in most of your assumptions. If you're interested in digging in deeper to the PP economy, we would be interested in sharing some data! The graphics are great, btw. I was sure I was looking at icons lifted from the website (which is fine, too). - Daniel at threerings.net Thanks for the praise! You are correct in most of your assumptions. If you’re interested in digging in deeper to the PP economy, we would be interested in sharing some data!

The graphics are great, btw. I was sure I was looking at icons lifted from the website (which is fine, too).

- Daniel at threerings.net

]]>