MMOG related but still useless.

[UD_Delt]

The same idiot in Project Entropia that dropped a ton of cash is back again ine some free times rag with an online wedding and details of his pipe dreams to become the virtual Donald Trump...

http://www.newtimesbpb.com/Issues/2006-08-03/news/feature_full.html

[Strazos]

I find it extremely hard to believe he can actually make money doing this. It's a game - why would anyone want to buy a particular rock in space? How does he even make the money, cover charge for his stupid club? Who the heck pays to go dance in a game? I don't even like to go to real life clubs anymore.

Am I missing something, or are there really that many idiots on the internet?

[Lantyssa]

There really are that many idiots.

[tazelbain]

There is a 40 ped (4 dollar) fee to get to his asteriod.  Do these people not there are other MMOGs out there that will give you a higher quality game at a fraction of the price? I noticed near the end that there have been monster drops worth 8k+, maybe people play in hopes of big payouts like a slot machines.

[Strazos]

So that drop would translate to $800?

[Der Helm]

So that drop would translate to $800?

*downloads client*

[Rithrin]

Maybe I haven't read enough about Entropia, but even if you do discover the $8,000 drop mob and manage to take him down, how would you even cash it out? Sell it to other players? Surely they'd rather hunt down something similar than pay $800 for some silly in-game stuff. The way they talked about things in that whole article made it seem like they've created some insanely realistic virtual world with economy and stuff, but... it just doesn't make sense. Guess there really are that many idiots out there.

[Trippy]

Maybe I haven't read enough about Entropia, but even if you do discover the $8,000 drop mob and manage to take him down, how would you even cash it out?

With the Entropia Universe Cash Card, of course.

[UD_Delt]

Guess there really are that many idiots out there.

Probably really not that many. A couple things stood out to me in the article:

The developers claim that more than 450,000 accounts have been registered but will not disclose the average number of players in the game at one time.

A whole 2 players interested in donking off a bunch of cash.

MindArk then held an auction for the property in October 2005, with Zachurm "Deathifier" Emegen — the Australian who purchased Treasure Island one year earlier — and Jacobs the only players vying for the virtual real estate. After three days, the auction ended. Jacobs had won. The final bid: 1 million PED, or $100,000.

This is the kicker... 100 people showed up to what they bill as a major in game even. I believe the game is still a single server so only 100 are showing up to something like this doesn't speak well toward the total number of players.

They're now married here and in the computer-generated world of Entropia, where roughly 100 avatars have gathered at Club NeverDie.

A couple other quotes.

I also don't think this is true. I could have sworn Ultima way back before even EQ had a player shrine or two for popular players who had passed away.

"This is the only thing of its kind," he says. "This is really the first-ever virtual gravesite. We played Entropia enough for this to have more meaning to me than if there were a grave."

One other quote of interest, I'm pretty sure this is just shoddy journalism without checking facts but maybe someone can clarify:

In February 2002, BlackSnow Interactive filed a lawsuit against Mythic Entertainment after the developer announced that it would shut down the game Dark Age of Camelot, making virtual items related to the game worthless.

[tazelbain]

So that drop would translate to $800?

*downloads client*

I think the articale meant $8000 drops.  But remember there have only been a handful of these since the game started. I imagine players spent well over$8000 in armor or ammo to get this.  With one lucky person getting the prize and everyone s gets junk.

Maybe I haven't read enough about Entropia, but even if you do discover the $8,000 drop mob and manage to take him down, how would you even cash it out? Sell it to other players? Surely they'd rather hunt down something similar than pay $800 for some silly in-game stuff. The way they talked about things in that whole article made it seem like they've created some insanely realistic virtual world with economy and stuff, but... it just doesn't make sense. Guess there really are that many idiots out there.

I imagine people like NeverDie, who spends his time working on his club, still want to sport badass armor and weapons.

[HaemishM]

One other quote of interest, I'm pretty sure this is just shoddy journalism without checking facts but maybe someone can clarify:

In February 2002, BlackSnow Interactive filed a lawsuit against Mythic Entertainment after the developer announced that it would shut down the game Dark Age of Camelot, making virtual items related to the game worthless.

Really, really shitty fact-checking AND writing. Black Snow didn't sue because Mythic threatened to shut the game down, Mythic threatened and DID shut down the accounts of the BSI douchebags.

[Llava]

Holy crap his wife is hot.

Like a darker Jessica Alba.  Dayum.  I'd play Project Entropia for that.

[Rithrin]

With the Entropia Universe Cash Card, of course.

Its like a dream come true for the people who live in their parents basement and rarely see the light of day!

Err more seriously, interesting concept. Though I'd feel this would be a recipe to bankruptcy for any company... Specially since I have a feeling a majority of the (active) players in the game are just trying to make some cash.

A whole 2 players interested in donking off a bunch of cash.

That's true. They make it sound like they had people flocking in droves to buy this stuff.

[Lantyssa]

This is the kicker... 100 people showed up to what they bill as a major in game even. I believe the game is still a single server so only 100 are showing up to something like this doesn't speak well toward the total number of players.

If they all had to pay 40 PED to attend the event at his club then 100 people isn't bad at all.

Err more seriously, interesting concept. Though I'd feel this would be a recipe to bankruptcy for any company... Specially since I have a feeling a majority of the (active) players in the game are just trying to make some cash.

The original company did go bankrupt.  They did a shuffle where another company founded by the CEO or whomever bought the assets and kept the game going.

Many are looking to make money, but it requires both skill, luck, and a lot of hard work.  People with more money than sense are quite happy to be free with their cash so end up supporting those that put in the effort.  I admit to spending a little on the game early on, less than had I played EQ or such for the same time period, and came away with around a 250% profit.  (Although the procedure to withdraw funds early on was byzantine and either my roommate screwed up [not inconceivable and he couldn't be bothered to follow up] or MA screwed us, so we never saw the cash.  I do not know if they handle the outgoing transactions better now, but I would hope so.)

I still find it an interesting concept, although I sincerely doubt I would ever put more money into it.  If it entertains someone and they can show restraint about how much, if anything, they spend per month then there are worse ways to burn money.  Or it can turn into a money-sucking black hole considering many people's fiscal responsibility, which keeps PE afloat.

[Rithrin]

Many are looking to make money, but it requires both skill, luck, and a lot of hard work.  People with more money than sense are quite happy to be free with their cash so end up supporting those that put in the effort.  I admit to spending a little on the game early on, less than had I played EQ or such for the same time period, and came away with around a 250% profit.

I wonder if the game could be played casually, but still get to a point where every once in a while you get a fancy dinner courtesy of PE?

[Lantyssa]

Maybe, but I don't think it would be easy.  If you're savvy enough to play the auction house or good at socializing, your chances are certainly better.  My big find was a gun worth 600 PED (from the terms, not even another player) off an easy to kill creature, so luck can certainly buy a dinner or two.

Perhaps it is best to view it as similar to gambling.  You can win, you can study to improve your chances, but if you don't set a limit for yourself you can lose big.