Facebook's New Virtual Currency Rankles Some Game Developers - WSJ.com

Facebook facing some interesting virtual currency opportunities and opportunity costs

Facebook's currency, called Credits, is being sold for 10 cents apiece and can be applied toward the purchase of virtual items, such as a "karaoke machine" for a game in which players run a virtual nightclub.

For every credit a merchant redeems, Facebook is taking a 30% cut.

"Thirty cents off of every dollar adds up," says Robert van Gool, founder of 10-employee San Francisco firm Gonzo Games, who says he had considered selling virtual toilets on Facebook for a racing game until he heard about the new credits. He plans to put the game on a different platform where he also expects it to receive greater exposure.

Facebook's New Virtual Currency Rankles Some Game Developers - WSJ.com