There are several areas of the system here at WPC that incorporate what is known as "credits", several of the modules installed here use them heavily. And for the most part its much like what you may find on other systems like this and some sites that are not SMF powered... from memory I will list the areas here at WPC that rely on credits... The Shop module, Batlle RPG game, and the Downloads/Resources module...

• The shop module is the main controlling module for the credit system, it has a Bank where you can draw/deposit credits & earn interest on the deposited amount, you can purchase various items in the Shop internal store, it also awards preset amounts of "free" credits & bonuses for posting in the message boards.
• The Downloads module is the one that allowed me to monetize the credit system with real PayPal@ money and the current conversion rate is 1 credit = $0.00005 cents and that module charges you a preset amount for downloading items in which the charge is awarded to the user who uploaded the particular digital item.
• In the Battle role playing game you use credits to purchase items such as health and attack/defense points which determine whether you live or die during the game and it also awards you a preset number of free credits just for playing the game.
• Occasionally I will award a certain amount of credits to members who contribute useful information/items to the community.
• Sometimes I will award credits to winners of various promotional programs or competitions we conduct here.

So as you can see, the credit system is sort of like having money but doesn't necessarily cost you real money (purchasing them with PayPal is entirely optional), it depends on your spending habits and participation in the community, explore it and give me some feedback, and since the minimum age required to be a member is 13 it gives youngsters some practice in how a true monetary environment works without necessarily twisting their arms to use real money to make purchases or earning their own way for that matter.