IGE

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For the antibody, see Immunoglobulin E (IgE).

IGE (Internet Gaming Entertainment) is a MMORPG services company. Through its websites, IGE trades in the virtual currencies of online games, a practice which is against the licence agreements of most MMORPGs. IGE is one the main players in real-money trading, also known in the MMORPG industry as the virtual economy or secondary market. Members of the gaming community are often critical of IGE, as its services may allow players to break the rules of online games [1].

The CEO of IGE is Brock Pierce, a former child movie star [2]. Pierce was also the co-founder of the controversial failed dot-com Digital Entertainment Network (DEN) [3]. In January 2004, IGE acquired its major competitor, Yantis Enterprises, run by another controversial secondary market figure, Jonathan Yantis [4] for an undisclosed sum.

IGE's parent company, RPG Holdings purchased Allakhazam.com in November 2005^[1] and was annouced in May 2006^[2]. Allakhazam is a popular MMORPG community site for a wide variety of games that IGE's services cater for. The site had prided itself on not supporting the trade of virtual currencies in the real economy. This marks the further expansion of this company's presence in online gaming communities. This purchased followed that of ThottBot.com.

Following this, some outraged Allakhazam users threatened to leave, and while a number did move away from Allakhazam, the site is still extremely popular with MMORPG players.