Part 6/10:

The reputation of party hats took a dramatic turn in November 2003 when a player inadvertently discovered a glitch enabling item duplication. After this glitch was exploited, thousands of party hats flooded the game, which inflated their supply and significantly lowered their value. What once had been rare and desirable became commonplace, shifting the dynamics of speculating and trading for these items.

This incident triggered a rollercoaster ride for party hat values. Initially plunging due to over-saturation, the market saw recovery, but the blue party hat—a fan favorite—was now the most valuable crown. This fluctuating market laid the groundwork for the rise of a merchant culture within the game, where players undertook strategic buying and selling of items.