It was only a matter of time. The virtual gaming economy world has crossed over to the real world economy. From the BBC :

A real world cash card that allows gamers to spend money earned in a virtual universe has been launched.
Gamers can use the card at cash machines around the world to convert virtual dollars into real currency.

The card is offered by the developers of Project Entropia, an online role-playing game that has a real world cash economy. Last year $165m passed through the game and the founders of the online Universe expect that to at least double in 2006.

The new cash card blurs the boundary between the virtual and physical world even further. It allows people to access their virtually acquired PEDs and convert them into real world money at any cash machine in the world. The card, issued by MindArk, is associated with the players Entropia Universe account and has all of the features of a real world bank account.

Players can transfer, withdraw, deposit and even view account balances using the system.

I remember raising this idea with the Chief Marketing Officer of one of the UKs largest banks three years ago. he didn’t get it. Maybe another bank will, but you can bet it won’t be one of the old-school players. Maybe someone like ING Direct or WaMu.

By having a bank at the back end of the system you add credibility to the system, and provide re-assurance that your cash is not going to be spirited away by some relatively unknown gaming company with no financial services experience.

Does your bank have a branch here? :

It’s only a matter of time.