Gabe Newell is trying to find a way to create a burgeoning economy between the free-to-play games in Valve’s library, such as Team Fortress 2 and DOTA 2. To that end, Valve has hired internationally renowned economist Yanis Varoufakis to:

…forge narratives and empirical knowledge that (a) transcend the border separating the ‘real’ from the digital economies, and (b) bring together lessons from the political economy of our gamers’ economies and from studying Valve’s very special (and fascinating) internal management structure.

Whatever that means. Varoufakis expects to publish his findings, providing new insight in how free-to-play works (or should work). Hats for everyone!

Source: Boing Boing