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Latest Entropia Universe News Updates and Reviews Updated daily
Entropia Universe : Game economy grows with micropaymentsOct 09, 2008 11:00:00 AM News Item: 5727
Filed under: Business models, Culture, Economy, MMORPG industry
As was in recent times discussed in a similar topic here at , the idea of micropayments for our MMORPGs and virtual worlds is growing in popularity among game creators, but is it the best option? According to several highly-successful companies such as Nexon and MindArk, it's not only the best option, it's the future of online business models.
A spokesindividualfor MindArk, maker of Entropia Universe, says that over $400 million in U.S. funds has changed hands in their game's four year lifespan. While some companies have strict rules against the interchange between real world money and virtual credits, there are ample others who swear it's the only way to go these days. A perfect example of this, as cited by a PCworld article, reminds us that the downloadable album from Aerosmith's Guitar Hero ventures have earned them more sales than all other album sales combined. "Who would have thought ringtones, wallpaper screensavers, and non-game mobile entertainment would be a $250 million business?", adds Joseph Olin, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Comments
Entropia Universe : Chance, skill and the lawSep 16, 2008 11:30:00 AM News Item: 5272
Filed under: Entropia Universe, Economy, News items, belief, Second Life, Politics, Legal, Virtual worlds Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like you to give a big hand to the US Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which is back with us once again as a special, and rather unexpected guest. You see, while the UIGEA initially kicked around in 2006, the actual regulations that will implement it are just about to kick off.
Today, the House Financial Services Committee will be holding an emergency mark-up of some of this legislation. Why is it an emergency? Well, because while the whole thing is technically about 'gambling', the wording of the UIGEA isn't at all clear about what it actually is making unlawful, and when it comes to legislation and regulations, the words are everything. Words that are getting decided today.
While you might already be under the impression that the UIGEA was already active, the fact is that businesses have just been jumping the gun and attempting to regulate based on some rather fuzzy wording what they might not be permitted to do.
Online games of chance? Well, sure. What about online games of skill? That's where you use your knowledge and abilities to make a profit in an online activity. That's where we get to the sticking point, because virtual environment economies may yet fall into that yawning abyss between words.
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Entropia Universe : News From the Wider MMORPG World: September 9, 2008Sep 09, 2008 12:00:00 PM News Item: 5045
Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Entropia Universe, MMORPG industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds, MMORPGRTS, Kids
The MMORPG genre is more than World of Warcraft, Age of Conan, and Warhammer Online. Here's what's going on in the rest of the world.
Nanoverse Online lets you experience life an a micro scale Duplex Systems has announced its second MMORPG, Nanoverse Online, which takes place in a world "unique physics". While their website show photos of insects, the description of gameplay delineates more of a mechanically-oriented gamerbase. "It is not the visual power that counts, but compelling and exciting gameplay," says Marko Dieckmann, Managing Director, Duplex Systems. "Nanoverse Online will bring the fun back to MMORPGs, a genre full of cliches, copied over and over again." There is no official release date for Nanoverse Online, but screenshots are expected to hit their website soon.
NDOORS partners with Nexon to bring Atlantica Online to Japan Nexon Japan has in recent times signed a publishing agreement with NDOORS to let Japanese gamers into the turn-based strategy world of Atlantica Online. "We are fortunate and thrilled that Atlantica's unique action and fun can be shared and enjoyed by many gamers throughout the world," said Cho Sung Won, NDOORS' CEO. With a gamer base of over one million users, Atlantica Online stands poised to make a enormous showing with its new global existence.Continue reading News From the Wider MMORPG World: September 9, 2008 Comments
Entropia Universe : Where is Second Life going?Aug 26, 2008 01:00:00 PM News Item: 4178
Filed under: MMORPG industry, belief, Second Life
Where is it all going? With an MMORPGG you already know: Content updates, free and paid expansions, and so forth. A broadening and sometimes also a deepening of the game experience.
Virtual environments tend to be a bit hazier, largely supported by microtransactions they may include game-elements (like Entropia Universe), sci-fantasy settings (like the upcoming Blue Mars), specific celebrity events (Habbo) or merchandise and marketing-spotlighted experiences (Virtual MTV, Barbie Girls Online and more).
In a very real sense the virtual environments industry is largely about spotlight. Targeting a market, wooing a demographic, and showing them where you are going to take them in the coming days.
Interesting, then, that the world's best-known virtual environment, Linden Lab's Second Life lacks the answers to fundamental questions, the answers to which directly impact every user and organization who participates (or who might participate in future). In fact, hardly anyone is asking those questions. Now isn't that peculiar?
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Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop. |
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Entropia Universe : Linden trademark for credit cardsAug 22, 2008 10:00:00 AM News Item: 4348
Filed under: Entropia Universe, Economy, News items, Second Life, Virtual worlds
Linden Lab has been granted another trademark on their hand-and-eye logo. This time for a credit card. Specifically, trademark registration 3378449 covers "Online financial services, namely, offering a fictional-dollar-denominated credit card to charge online purchases".
Of course, 'fictional-dollar-denominated' would mean Second Life Linden Dollars (L$). Exactly what sort of card this might be is uncertain. You may recall that in 2006, MindArk released an ATM card for Project Entropia (now called Entropia Universe) allowing access to Project Entropia Dollars (PED) and supported by the Versatel cash-card network.
There's no indication whether Linden Lab is (or was) planning a physical card, or some sort of non-physical card, how it would be backed or where it might be honored.
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Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop. |
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Entropia Universe : One Shots: Overlooking New SwitzerlandAug 20, 2008 02:05:00 PM News Item: 4347
Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Entropia Universe, Free-to-play, One Shots
For today's One Shots, we're bringing you a treat. This is a screenshot from a virtual universe we don't see very often at all, but is absolutely gorgeous. What title is this, you might ask? It's Entropia Universe, developed and published by MindArk. While the graphics are somewhat stylized, nobody can dispute that they're not lovely to look at. What else can we tell you? Well, according to Mike S. who sent this screenshot in, this is prior to the upgraded CryEngine2 graphics -- so it looks even better now, if you can envisionthat! With lovely graphics, a free-to-play model, and the ability to cash out items you find into real-world funds, we're shocked we don't see this title more often.
Do you have a screenshot from a world we haven't seen in recent times? Would you like to brag on your favorite game or world? We'd love to see your screenshots. All you have to do is email them to us here at oneshots AT massively.com along with a note telling us a bit about what's going on in the screenshot, your name and the name of the game. Then relax and enjoy the limelight! %Gallery-9798%
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Entropia Universe : Entropia Universe bidding war heads to $12,000 payout for newbieJun 05, 2008 04:00:00 PM News Item: 4346
Filed under: Sci-fi, Entropia Universe, Events, in-game, News items, Virtual worlds
How would you like to wake up and find that you made $12,000 overnight? Seems like a dream, doesn't it? How would you like to have that $12,000 come from a single drop you found one day while farming in your favorite MMORPG? Now it seems even more like a dream.
But this is the reality for Timon "Stuka" Miles, a relatively new gamer to Entropia Universe, the game where the fictional currency is linked to real world money, akin to Second Life. Stuka's fortune stems from a piece of DNA from the extinct "Letomie" monster -- an item that can resurrect the creature if all of it's DNA fragments are found inside of the game. After a brief placement on the Entropia Universe forums, Stuka moved the auction to the official in-game auction house where it attracted the attention of Zachurm "Deathifier" Emegen, owner of the 26,000 real world dollar Treasure Island, and Jon "NEVERDIE" Jacobs, owner of the 100,000 real world dollar space station.Continue reading Entropia Universe bidding war heads to $12,000 payout for newbie Comments
Entropia Universe : Entropia Universe Ambassador conversation: Why play EU?Jun 01, 2008 03:30:00 PM News Item: 4345
Filed under: Sci-fi, Entropia Universe, Business models, Economy, Game mechanics, Interviews, belief, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds So what is it about Entropia Universe that has kept gamers hooked for five years now? What sets it apart from the other virtual worlds or MMORPGs out there? Well, according to one of EU's Ambassadors, Buzz Erik Lightyear, the game is about much more than simply playing a game. It's about playing a game that actually gives something back. "I'm not paying to play. I'm profiting from playing," he says.
This real-world money system is not unique to EU, as it's seen in other virtual worlds, such as Second Life. In most other online games, the exchange of in-game currency for real-world currency is against the terms of service. But EU is seen as more of a venture into the MMORPG space than Second Life, using skills, crafting and auction houses as you would in something like WoW or LotRO. In addition to this, EU is updated monthly, with word of new planets on the horizon and the new CryEngine2 platform being introduced soon. Comments
Entropia Universe : Entropia Universe learns three new languagesMay 31, 2008 07:00:00 PM News Item: 4344
Filed under: Entropia Universe, MMORPG industry, News items, Virtual worlds
Microtransaction-based Entropia Universe is set to expand into new markets, as developer/publisher MindArk has announced the completion of translations of the Entropia client into three new languages -- German, French, and Spanish. Previously, the virtual world was only accessible to English-speakers.
The translations were performed by a company called Lionbridge. MindArk rep Frank Campbell said his company made the move to increase market penetration, address users' needs, and increase the company's credibility.
Entropia is a Sci-Fi-themed virtual world. It's an unusual combination of MMORPG-style combat and crafting, and Second Life-esque e-commerce. MindArk suggests to potential users that they can make money -- or even a living -- within the virtual world. Unsurprisingly, though, a substantial investment of real funds and time is required to become competitive. Comments
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