When it comes to making payments for MMO and virtual world items or subscriptions, game cards are proving to be an increasingly popular way of purchasing virtual currency – especially for those too young to have a credit card. You have seen them before, hanging by the cash registers of video game, grocery, and convenient stores. But just how popular are they?

Atlanta-based InComm recently released a report saying their game currency card business grew 200% in the past year. The company did not release sales figures, but it says it handled over $8 billion in retail transactions in 2007. Incomm says it has relationships with over 60 different game partners, and retailers are benefiting from the trend as well. InComm says its game cards are available in approximately 145,000 different stores around the world.

Since cards are small and sold in public places, the issue of theft is obviously a concern, so the cards must be activated at the register before use. InComm says it has partnered with Playspan for card activations.

Although game cards have not been very widespread for games on social networks yet, we expect to see more convergence soon – we’re going to be increasingly following payment trends in social games and virtual worlds.

[via VentureBeat]