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Entropia Universe

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Entropia Universe
Developer(s)MindArk
Publisher(s)MindArk
Designer(s)Multiple
EngineCryEngine 2
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseJanuary 30, 2003
Genre(s)MMORPG/RCE/FPS
Mode(s)MMORPG


Entropia Universe is a massively multiplayer online virtual universe designed by the Swedish software company MindArk, based in Gothenburg. Entropia uses a micropayment business model, in which players may buy in-game currency (PED - Project Entropia Dollars) with real money that can be redeemed back into real world funds at a fixed exchange rate of 10:1. This means that virtual items acquired within Entropia Universe have a real cash value, and a participant may, at any time, initiate a withdrawal of their accumulated PEDs back into real world currencies according to the fixed exchange rate, minus transaction fees; the minimum amount for a withdrawal is 1000 PED. The Entropia Universe is a direct continuation of Project Entropia.

The Entropia Universe entered the Guinness World Records Book in both 2004 and 2008 for the most expensive virtual world objects ever sold, and in 2009, a virtual space station, a popular destination, sold for $330,000.[1] This was then eclipsed in November 2010 when Jon Jacobs sold a virtual resort on Planet Calypso for $635,000; this property was sold in chunks, with the largest sold for $335,000.[2][3]

Development (x)

Development of Entropia Universe (formerly Project Entropia) was started in Sweden in 1995 by Jan Welter Timkrans and a group of colleagues. They started of with just one planet called Calypso with, as far as we know, at that point no intention to develop that one planet into a universe with multiple planets. In 2001 the game used the NetImmerse 4 game engine, which to today's standards does not look so nice, but for 2001 it was state of the art. On May 20th 2002 they started the Commercial Open Trial and the game was opened for the big public. Some of the more interesting editions to the game are:


4.2 28 January 2003 Personal storage system
5.3 24 November 2003 Housing system, space travel
5.6 5 April 2004 Mentor & Disciple system
5.7 1 June 2004 Crystal Palace Space Station
6.0 10 August 2004 New graphics engine (GameBryo)
6.1 6 October 2004 Amethera continent, Landgrabs
7.3 4 May 2005 Land Area Management, Auction Procurement Orders
7.5 1 July 2005 New avatar creation process, Beauty Professions
7.8 23 November 2005 Animal Taming
8.0 19 December 2005 Asteroid Space Resort
8.8 18 December 2006 Shopping Malls


The next interesting development in the history of Entropia Universe came on 17 August 2009 which is the implementation of the long awaited CryEngine 2 from CryTek. This again gave the game the cutting edge of game engines and made the game look very good. The one problem with this engine is that it is not made for MMO's and therefor needed a lot of work from both MindArk and CryTek to get it to work. Because of this new engine almost everything in the game had to change including the landmasses on the, then only, planet Calypso, which they packed into an even with a nice story of attacking robots and a big space ship crashing into the planet changing the land. After a few days where the game was offline it restarted with the new engine and everybody had to go and explore the new planet again. There were also some systems that were disabled right after the implementation of the CryEngine, of which some got back after a few weeks and some took months or even years. There are still systems that were in place before CryEngine that have not yet returned at the end of 2012.


11.0.0 6 April 2010 New Planet (RockTropia)
11.2.0 21 June 2010 Vehicles
11.3.0 28 September 2010 Voice chat system
11.5.1 8 December 2010 New Planet (Next Island)
11.10.2 25 May 2011 New Planet (Arkadia)
12.0 21 June 2011 Space
12.6.0 1 May 2012 New Planet (Cyrene)

Gameplay

Cost to participate

The service can be downloaded and played for free, following an account registration procedure. However, a new player receives only a damaged orange jumpsuit, a pair of grey shoes and a tool for gathering vibrant sweat from creatures. As such, although one is able to participate for free, more involved gameplay is difficult without depositing funds. Players with little or no money are initially limited to the following actions:

  • Using the service as a 3-D virtual chat room or exploring the virtual universe.
  • Using an in-game process called "Sweating" or "Sweat Gathering" to extract bottles of "Vibrant Sweat," which is used to make Mind Essence, so it can be sold to other players for PED or changed to other items. The 2010.06.03 VU release introduced 2 new types of ME, one of which can be made with sweat, coming from loot; second can be found in trade terminals as ready to use solution.
  • Collecting "fruit", "dung", and 6 sorts of precious rare stones of different value, which can be sold to other players to raise funds.
  • Performing numerous "jobs" for other players - for example, acting as a trader, or buying pre-defined amount of crafting materials at specified rate for crafters.
  • Performing missions (quests), that can be completed without any in-game equipment or money.
  • Trickery: cheating, and stealing.
  • Finding abandoned items or PED lying on the ground.
  • Begging, which is largely frowned upon.
  • Take part in newbies missions in order to receive free tools and ammunition.

Players may purchase items needed to kill Entropia's tougher creatures—which are often likely to yield a higher number of valuable items than their weaker kin—or they can participate in the "Mining" and "Crafting / Manufacturing" professions, which can produce saleable items to fund further gameplay. However, an element of risk is involved in all of these activities, and the expected payback is usually less than the funds required to initially partake in them.

Many players attempt trading as a fun and seemingly attractive method for acquiring PEDs, but has typically low margins.[citation needed] One exception to this is trading so-called "uber" items, which are rare and efficient versions of normal devices. Such items can retail in-game for the equivalent of thousands of US dollars.[citation needed]

Other ways of earning PEDs have included: organizing ticketed events within Entropia, operating a player-owned shop (such as a beauty salon), managing a shopping mall for its taxes, piloting others into space stations and planets, virtual real estate agency, providing a clothes/furniture coloring/texturising service, or promoting those enterprises.


Character creation (x)

Before beginning the game a player has to choose a name for his avatar, which must be a first name, a last name and a nickname of which all 3 names will be visible to all the players in game. The name can not have any profanities in and can never be changed, unless MindArk thinks the name is inappropriate. Next the new player will need to create his or her avatar and can choose to adjust about everything, from sex to height to eye, hair and skin color.

During the process of creating your avatar there will be some personal info asked which will not show up for anyone in-game. This info is used by MindArk to verify that you are real when you wanna withdraw money out of the game. Giving them false information, could end you up not being able to withdraw any money.

After initial creation further physical modifications can only be achieved through the services of other users acting as hairdressers or plastic surgeons, for example.

Contrary to most other MMO's every person is only allowed ONE avatar and having more then one could end a player up banned from the game loosing any funds they have invested in the game. This drastic measure is implemented to don't give players the opportunity to cheat or farm, which could really influence the game and it's players in a negative way because of the real money that is involved.

Because of the 'only one avatar per person' rule people should be careful when they wanna start the game over from the beginning (no idea why people would do that) because when starting the game over with another avatar that will be your second one and you could be banned from the game. If for some reason you do wanna start over, the smart thing to do is contact MindArk asking them to delete your previous account. This is also on situation where filling out your real information is needed, because they will most likely ask for some form of identification, before deleting your account.

Significant events and virtual property sales

December 14, 2004 - The game creators MindArk announced the conclusion of the first "Treasure Island Sale". This was a virtual island put up for auction. The winning bidder, an avatar named Zachurm "Deathifier" Emegen, paid 265,000 PED (US$26,500) for the island. At the time this was the highest price ever paid for a virtual item. According to the press release, it is "a large island off a newly discovered continent surrounded by deep creature infested waters. The island boasts beautiful beaches ripe for developing beachfront property, an old volcano with rumors of fierce creatures within, the outback is overrun with mutants, and an area with a high concentration of robotic miners guarded by heavily armed assault robots indicates interesting mining opportunities."[4]

October 24, 2005 - A virtual "asteroid space resort" was bought by Jon "Neverdie" Jacobs for a sum of 1,000,000 PED (US$100,000), greatly surpassing the sale of Treasure Island. Jon Jacobs is also the writer and producer of a song played within the Entropia Universe called "Gamer Chick". The asteroid was named Club NEVERDIE after Jacobs's own in game avatar and has made headlines around the world for the high price of the purchase and his own ambitious plans to turn the resort into a venue for "Live Entertainment in Virtual Reality".[5]

November 9, 2005 - The BBC reported that "Deathifier" had recouped his investment in under a year. He made money by selling virtual homes as well as taxing other gamers to hunt or mine on the island. "The money made to date is only a taste of what can be achieved with my virtual island purchase," said Deathifier.[6]

May 2, 2006 - MindArk announced the introduction of an ATM card enabling players to withdraw the real-world currency equivalent of their PED funds directly from any real-world Versatel ATMs. As reported on the BBC newsfeed users could sell virtual items online and then go purchase a dinner for themselves down the street in real life with this cash card technology. It was stated that $165 million had "passed through the game" in 2005 and that this figure was expected to double in 2006.[7]

Mike Everest, a home-schooled high school senior from Durango, Colorado, and his mother earned $35,000 in 2006 by constructing and selling weapons in Entropia. Of this, $12,000 will be used as college funds for his siblings. Everest spent an average of three hours per day playing the game and intended to continue playing to fund his own college education.[8]

October 17, 2006 - MindArk announced that Entropia Universe had achieved the milestone of over 500,000 registered users. "The growth of Entropia Universe is an enormous achievement for us and the members," said Jan Welter, CEO of MindArk, developer of Entropia Universe. "As the world of video games evolves to become more than just a means of two-dimensional entertainment, we are seeing a demand for the integration of real-world features in virtual environments. Individuals are joining the Entropia Universe community to interact, meet new people, learn new ideas, reach entrepreneurial aspirations, create societies and even foster new relationships in everyday reality."[9]

May 8, 2007 - MindArk announced the results of the world's first virtual banking license auction. These two-year exclusive licenses aim to integrate real world banking systems into Entropia Universe. The virtual Entropia Universe banks will work similarly to real world banks, or pawn shops.[10] Initially, they will be provided with secure systems enabling them to lend money to participants and collect interest, design and name their own virtual bank building(s), and make their own personnel available through avatars. Each winner must add a further US$100,000 as working capital.[11] MindArk CIO Marco Behrmann said, "The five banks will have integrated services within the mechanics of Entropia Universe and will not just be virtual advertising spots."[12] After months of bidding the five licenses sold for a total of US$404,000,[12] to:

  • Avatar "Janus JD D'Arcwire", representing Wirecard Bank AG, who paid US$59,060.[13][14]
  • Russian Internet payment provider MONETA.ru, with avatar "Yuri iNTellect" who paid US$99,900.[14]
  • Entropia celebrity "Jon NEVERDIE Jacobs", who paid US$90,000.[10][12]
  • Second Life virtual celebrity and entrepreneur Anshe Chung, who paid US$60,000.[14]
  • Avatar "Jolana Kitty Brice", an Entropia Universe participant and entrepreneur who paid US$95,000.[11]

December 8, 2009 - The sale of the Crystal Palace Space Station was announced. A public auction held from December 14, 2009 through December 28, 2009 determined the new owner.[15] It was won by Buzz Erik Lightyear who paid 3.3 million PED, or US$330,000 for it.[16][17]

June 15, 2010 - Parent company MindArk AB released its 2009 annual report. They reported a cash flow of -18.6 Million SEK (-$2.4M). In the report it states that the real life bank they were planning to start is on hold due to a lack of funds. MindArk also said they had a signed letter of intent to sell their original virtual planet, Planet Calypso, for a price of $6,000,000 USD to an unnamed company.[18] This company was later on announced to be SEE Virtual Worlds, which was already a partner with the intention to release at least two planets in the Entropia Universe (Planet Michael, a virtual world celebrating the life of Michael Jackson, and a second planet featuring monsters from Universal[19]) but in June 2011, MindArk released a statement announcing the end of the partnership with SEE altogether.

References

  1. ^ "Man buys virtual space station for 330k real dollars". Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  2. ^ "Planet Calypso Player Sells Virtual Resort for $635,000.00 USD". Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  3. ^ "And the asteroid goes to". Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  4. ^ "Article: "Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land."". BBC News. 2004-12-17. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  5. ^ "Gamer buys virtual space station". BBC News. 25 October 2005. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  6. ^ "Virtual property market booming". BBC News. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Cash card taps virtual game funds". BBC News. 2 May 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  8. ^ Neha Tiwari (October 10, 2006). "Teen pays siblings' college fees by selling virtual weapons". cnet News. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  9. ^ "500k Users Press Release". gamedaily.com.
  10. ^ a b "NEVERDIE Bank Interview" (PDF). 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2010-05-21. Some may say they are like pawn shops, but in Entropia they are banks. There is no other way to get money forwarded or loaned securely.
  11. ^ a b Chloe Albanesius (2007-05-09). "Tycoons Buy In to New Virtual Banks". Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  12. ^ a b c "VIRTUAL WORLD ENTROPIA UNIVERSE ISSUE FIRST EVER VIRTUAL BANKING LICENSES FOR $400,000 MindArk Announces the Five Winners of the World's First Virtual Banking Licenses; Real World Banks and Celebrities Among the Buyers". 2007-05-08. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  13. ^ "Fox News Article". [dead link‍]
  14. ^ a b c C. Albanesius (2007-05-25). "Wirecard Explains How Virtual Banking Will Work". Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  15. ^ SOURCE: Planet Calypso (December 8, 2009). "PR: Planet Calypso Announces Online Auction To Acquire Massive Virtual Space Station - UPDATED".
  16. ^ ANP (December 30, 2009). "Recordbedrag betaald voor virtueel ruimtestation".
  17. ^ entropiaplanets.com (December 28, 2009). "Crystal Palace - And the winner is..."
  18. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  19. ^ Posted October 28, 2010 - By Stephen Johnson (2010-10-28). "Universal Monsters MMO Incoming". G4tv.com. Retrieved 2012-09-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)


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