> the crazy stuff that goes on in virtual economies like this has always interested me.

If you want crazy, you should check Eve Online's economy, it's on a wholly different level and scale.

Especially as CCP (the game developer) takes a cut of real-world to in-game money conversions: you can buy PLEX (1-month account extension) with real money, and it's an in-game item which you can exchange for virtual currency (by selling it to other players).