Games

MindArk's Entropia Universe legitimizes profiting off MMORPGs

Most of us in the video gaming world have fantasized about working and earning money by playing video games, either in near-impossible to find jobs as a game designer or tester, or by selling "gear" and "goods" mined from our favorite MMORPG on Ebay for real cash. Problem is, most such transactions must take place on the black market, so to speak, unless we want our accounts banned and earned virtual "cash" confiscated. Even in games where such transactions aren't frowned upon, converting your game cash to real cash can be problematic, especially for the inexperienced who don't know where to sell their goods, how much to charge, or what to look for to sell.

Enter MindArk's Entropia Universe. This unique MMORPG starts off with a semi-unique hook--You play the role of a colonist on one of several planets, trying to help establish civilization out of the wilderness and, of course, earn money to get better gear so you can do more stuff, etc. Here's where Entropia Universe differs from the competition, however: Players can take in game money-PEDs, or Project Entropia Dollars-and convert them at a fixed 1 to 10 ratio for real dollars (i.e., one PED is worth 10 cents.) While free to play, MindArk does have to make money, so most things in the game that you need to actually do more than run around and collect the sweat of various creatures for small amounts of money cost PEDs that you pony up real cash for if you can't earn the money in game. (Never fear, there IS more for newbies to do, just not much more that's profitable.) However, unlike most MMORPGs that use this pay-real-money-for-gear feature, you can then convert your PED holdings back into the equivalent amount of dollars at any time, and if you can earn PEDs in the game (and many people do,) you can convert THOSE PEDs for real cash as well, giving Entropia Universe a large advantage over other MMOs for real life moneymaking opportunities.

While there is a lot to do in the game "just for fun", unlike in some games, you must usually pay (reasonable) fees to participate in recreational activities in the game, just as you would in real life. You start out with nothing more than the clothes on your back (an ugly orange jumpsuit), literally fresh off the boat and must earn the PEDs necessary to get the gear for things like hunting or mining. (That's right--unlike most games, you don't even start with a weapon.) However, there are numerous moneymaking opportunities in the game for the entrepreneurial minded, from buying land (which you can then charge rent upon, as well as taxes for hunters if you stock your land with exotic creatures,) to mining to running a store of your own, which can do anything from selling goods to providing other players beautician services to change their appearance. Players also can, if they can afford a hangar and a ship, fly other players to other locations in the universe-for the right price, of course. Furthermore, like in World of Warcraft, players accumulate skills, so if you are skilled in the right profession, you can assist those players who need your services (for a small fee, of course.) Players have even organized contests with entry fees and prizes awarded to the winners, large scale real estate management (two players have spent over $100,000US to purchase a space station for themselves, which they then charge rent and taxes for the use of, although you can run a shopping mall and rent out space for stores if you wish to go smaller scale,) or opened clothes stores or other manufacturer outlets.

Some of this has, of course, already been done in other games (Second Life comes to mind,) but no other game has ever provided such an easy way to convert one's virtual cash to the real thing. MindArk has actually created an ATM card that works specifically with Nextel ATMs to allow instant access and conversion of your virtual funds to the real thing, or vice versa. Although Entropia Universe has been around since 2003, it has lush, detailed graphics that put quite a few MMORPGs to shame, including WoW. With several worlds (and more on the way,) filled with killer robots, mutants, and hostile creatures, as well as business opportunities galore, Entropia Universe may well be the future of MMORPGs as we know it--and offers a look into a potential new industry in the years to come.

This post was contributed by Chris Jones. This Post is Un-Altered and is still in it's original state. As such, the views expressed here may or may not be the same views as Charles Siegfried. To submit your own articles, send them to [email protected]