Living in the Projects

The massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) Project Entropia, created by game developer MindArk, has recently teamed up with in-game advertising provider Massive Incorporated to give both in-game and real-world businesses access to their in-game advertising system.

What separates this massively multiplayer game from the rest of the herd is that it utilizes a real cash economy. The economy in the game uses a currency called PED (Project Entropia Dollars), and every 10 PED you earn is equivalent to 1 US dollar which you can then have deposited directly into your bank account. The reverse also works if you would like to add some money to your account; the currency is converted to PED and you can use it to purchase new items for your character.

The best part, believe it or not, is that the game is completely free to download and play. There are no monthly charges, no fee to purchase the game, you just download, install and start earning cash.

In 2005 the GNP within Project Entropia was $165,000,000 and the expected GNP for 2006 is $350,000,000.

The latest patch for Entropia adds player tools for developing in-game interactive campaigns, as well as events like conferences, contests, shows, and other forms of live content. The addition of these tools, and the free-economy nature of the game, not only allows players to earn real money by advertising their in-game businesses, but also allows real-world businesses to advertise directly to players.

Late last year a Project Entropia player purchased a virtual Space Resort for $100,000, the largest real dollar amount ever paid for a piece of virtual real-estate.

“The members of Project Entropia are regular visitors, who spend many hours in their virtual world which is built on real world economic principles. The addition of real world advertising within this virtual economy is a perfect marriage to us.” said Jan Welter, CEO of MindArk.

The game is set on the distant colony of Calypso which is thought to be the first planet to be inhabited by humans. Your role in the game is to help your colony build this new world. They have a wide range of threats, from forest creatures to the dreaded Araneatrox Stalker. They also harness the ability to do several interesting things, such as tame animals and train them to perform various actions.

Everything that is won, purchased or sold can be translated into real money, which means if someone is willing to buy your laser rifle from you for 50 PED, you just earned yourself $5 - not a bad thing considering you’re playing a game? Although the collection of PED in early levels does take some time, there are over 400,000 people playing this game and there are millions of US dollars in circulation.

It’s easy to get discouraged in the early stages of the game, but it might pay off down the line.The person who bought the Space Resort, during an in game public auction, is now renting rooms out and collecting taxes, among many other activities.

Together with all other online users you have the possibility to take an active role in the creation of a whole new civilization, to
explore entire continents in an evolving world and claim land where you can establish new communities. Should you choose to leave the peaceful and secure cities you may be forced to struggle against the wild untamed nature, against hostile mutants and invading robots.

You must learn to use all available resources and a growing multitude of skills, wit, guts, teamwork and equipment to claim a paradise. Take on quests and pull the strings of the past to discover more of the story behind Project Entropia as the future unfolds before you in a growing web of intrigues that will take on epic proportions.

Whatever you may find it’s only the beginning, and whatever you do may alter the future of an entire world!

project-entropia.com