Dude drops $16,000 on a sword in a game ... and it's not even out yet

![][1] Sadly, the source of this story is not The Onion A.V. Club. [According to The Daily Mail][2], a die-hard fan of Chinese free-to-play massively multiplayer online game (MMO) Age of Wulin spent an insane $16,000 on a virtual item within the game at a recent live auction held by the game's creator, Snail Games. The item is a one-of-a-kind sword that we're sure is unmatched and all that good stuff.

Here's the thing, Age Wulin _hasn't even released yet_. In fact, the game's open beta test doesn't begin in China until spring 2012. Just to recap, this dude spent a down payment on a house on an item within a game that is months away from even private testing. The game could completely and utterly suck, you know.

The live auction welcomed other excited fans of the upcoming game, ready to spend serious coin. The most valuable item next to the legendary costly blade? The Daily Mail reports that a Lordly Spear Sheath netted $2,500 for Snail Games, while another soon-to-be (we hope) player bought a Hook of Departure $1,600.

Mounts for players' characters to ride in the ancient Chinese war game sold for $70, according to The Daily Mail, which still dwarf the most expensive items in Facebook games like [FarmVille ][3]and [Bejeweled Blitz][4]. Now, what we want to know is what makes Age of Wulin so appealing that at least a few folks are willing to drop thousands on it? (This is far from the first online game set in ancient, warring East Asia.) And how can we make a game like it?

[Via [Complex][5]]

[Image Credit: [The Daily Mail][2]]

**Are you blown away that someone would spend this much on an in-game item? If anything, what's the most you'd spend on a single virtual item? Sound off in the comments. [Add Comment.][6]**

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[1]: http://o.aolcdn.com/dims/GAME/5/168/168/100/http://www.blogcdn.com/blog.games.com/media/2011/12/article-2079095-0f48597700000578-514468x311-1325108095.jpg
[2]: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2079095/Chinese-man-spends-16-000-sword-virtual-martial-arts-game.html#ixzz1hqS2v8Cq
[3]: http://blog.games.com/category/farmville
[4]: http://blog.games.com/category/bejeweled-blitz
[5]: http://www.complex.com/tech/2011/12/stop-what-youre-doing-and-start-making-virtual-crap
[6]: http://blog.games.com/2011/12/28/online-gamer-spends-16-000-age-of-wulin/#disqus_thread
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