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Project Entropia's Universe Solidifies

Posted by timothy on from the sweden's-largest-software-project dept.

Psyiode writes "Swedish interactive entertainment developer MindArk today announced the virtual universe Project Entropia is going gold on January 30th 2003. If you'll recall, Project Entropia is a MMORPG where everything is purchased with real money and slowly degrades during use. Could this be the way most online games will be played (and paid for) in the future?"

7 of 333 comments (clear)

  1. Sliding feet by nukey56 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Last time I checked the beta out, it lacked certain prerequisites for a good game environment, including the ability to walk. Seriously. The character models had no walk animation, and instead, just slid around. I have serious doubts about this game, mostly because it seems that more effort has gone into the complex systems (read: economy) than into the user experience. Just my 2 cents.

  2. Hyperbole? by Ratface · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They're saying that they've invested over 15 million USD in the game already and will continue to invest over 5 million USD/year! That sounds like a horrific amount of money for them to try and make back. Expect a virtual cup of coffee to cost 10 bucks real money!

    Also, I live in Sweden and work in the Internet industry here and I've never heard of this company. If their investment has been as large as they say it has, I would expect to have heard something about them. (I would also expect them to build a website that *doesn't* crash my browser (IE 6!) every time I visit the site!).

    Just my 2 Entropian cents!

    --

    A little planning goes a long way...
  3. Re:cash back by cyborch · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In game you have a vitual wallet. You are able to make transfers to and fom your real bank account at any time. So if you earn money in the game you are earning money in real life too.

  4. My experience says otherwise... by raehl · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I played a MUD when I was in HS/college, and I was arguably the best player in the game, and my clan was definitely the best clan in the game. The game also had an outlaw system similar to this one, and sure enough, everyone in my clan had outlaw flags.

    However, we wern't outlaws - we WERE the law. If you were nice, you were treated nice, and if you killed and stole from people, we'd hunt you down. Most people gave us a wide berth, but some would think they could take us on, and they'd get beat down too. The rest wanted to join the group.

    Not saying it's not possible the top 10-20 players won't form an outlaw group, but it's also possible that the top 10-20 players form a more benevolent power structure.

    --
    paintball
  5. Offices raided by MS by Cpt_Corelli · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I have heard about them when their offices were raided by 70 officials of the Swedish court, acting on behalf of Microsoft and three other software companies.


    Read more on this link.

  6. The other audience by Snaller · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is probably going to attract people who hope to be able to make money from the being in the game (we see this in just about all other online games, where they sell items and equipment for real life money) - it may also be a way for nolife nerds to make a living without leaving their sofa!

    --
    If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating
  7. Money laundering? by JPelorat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Sounds like a great way to launder large amounts of cash. Rocco spends a ton of money in-game from a non-extraditable country, and 'sells' it all to Vinnie's character, who cashes out, happily legal and flush.

    --
    Hokey statistics and ancient misconceptions are no match for a good thought in your head, kid!