Virtual worlds are becoming increasingly rich and diverse environments with complex social and economic eco-systems. Science fiction trading game Eve Online is one of the most dynamic worlds, with its own economists helping players get to grips with the intricacies.

More than 220,000 people pay a subscription to play Eve Isk, a game set in a vast universe of more than 5,000 solar systems distributed over 66 regions.

Players battle to win territories through forming corporations and creating, buying and selling products - it is a virtual microcosm of the economic world at large.

Dr Eyjo Gudmundsson is the lead economist, a virtual Alan Greenspan, who works to make sense of all the data.

He said: "Within the game I supply players with economic information so they can make decisions about their own production, what they are going to produce and how they are going to produce it.

"It's basically the same economic questions as in real life. It's about strategy and an important part about strategic decisions is logistics and having access to the resources you need to win your war.

Corporate espionage is a very big part of the game

Dr Eyjo Gudmundsson

"It's like a real war in the sense you have to plan ahead. It's about long-term planning and long-term strategy."

Every quarter Dr Gudmundsson and his team Eve Isk produce an economic newsletter analysing trends inside the game.

"We are looking at markets, at production and long-term trends that show the movements of the players.

"We publish basic information on price levels and production values and interesting demographic information so players can rank themselves. Just like in a real economy, you want to have a benchmark."

The newsletter goes into great detail on the trade of virtual minerals in the game and where players are travelling in the universe.

With such depth and complexity, it is hardly surprising that Eve Isk attracts a good number of senior executives and business professionals.
Dr Gudmundsson said: "It's the challenge of being able to be the best at planning ahead, the one who controls a large territory, showing your skills in running a corporation that has up to 1,000 members."