I suspect there were plenty of economists already looking at virtual worlds for research purposes. This Reuters article on their first economist hiring has quo

I suspect there were plenty of economists already looking at virtual worlds for research purposes. This Reuters article on their first economist hiring has quotes from him. http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/08/16/us-videogames-economist-life-idUSN0925619220070816 http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/08/16/us-videogames-econ...