I'd feel bad but anyone who sinks that kind of $$ into a game obviously can afford to lose it, or is a complete moron. 

Originally posted by Ceridith

Originally posted by Luv_bug

Originally posted by Serignuad

Originally posted by Luv_bug

Originally posted by EverSkelly

Sounds so fake. 60.000$, really..?

 Oh ya, there are $100,000+ armors in Entropia Universe according to my friend that plays it. Also remember they sold the guys stuff in MINUTES. Tells you how many people are willing to buy.

 I think for some of us that don't play, we want to know where the "60,000" and "100,000" numbers are coming from.

Is this real-life currency or in-game (I can't imagine any set of in-game items being valued at 60,000, let alone 100k)?

What determines the value?

 No its real money. Entropia is actually a licensed bank too. My understanding is the company sells the uber items, and value is determined by the "bad arseness" of the wep, armor or ship and the number of the item in the game. For example the guy was carrying a $15,000 pistol which is super strong and of which there are only 10 total in the game.

Am I the only person who finds it absolutely insane that people are willingly playing this game and sinking hundreds if not thousands of dollars into virtual items in it?

The point I just can't process in my head is that the company who is apparently a 'registered bank' and has full control over the currency exchange, is also selling virtual items worth thousands of dollars that they can create by replicating a few bits of data.

It goes against all sense and logic from an economic standpoint.

 Its natural selection. Its no different the what $cientologists put themselves through. Both are silly things to spend that kinda jack on.

Originally posted by thebigchin11

this whole story is clearly BS, lets leave it.

I have to agree on this; without clear documented proof from a reliable source, this is nonsense to me.

I also find it interesting there are certain posters in this thread continuing to hype up the story each time it lulls, which makes me call this a deliberate attempt to draw attention to a relatively unpopular game.

Originally posted by AlphaGeek

Only stackable items are lootable, meaning ammo, mined resources and raw materials. Vehicles, weapons, and armor cannot be looted in any PvP area.

 

I seriously doubt anyone would carry $60,000 in stackables anywhere. The avatar would be unable to do anything but walk at a very low speed due to encumberance.  OP, pony up a source for this rumor or it's a load of hooey.

 

 Apparently  there is a game mechanic in which you can only access your resources through any "bank" but only on the planet on which they are stored. To do business on other planets you must transfer your stuff, hence the bountiful harvest. Would also explain why he might have been easier to focus fire on if he was encumbered as you say IF the materials from his ship automatically transfer to his avatar upon destruction. The source is my friend who is a friend of the bandits and has played EU on and off for a while. He said they're laying low on an asteroid and generally laughing their butts off. Apparently they also destroyed the guy's uber pistol too.Which would explain the last guys ability to survive long enough to take him out with his vehicles weapons. The guy was apparently carrying a $9,000 sniper rifle as well, which wouldn't have been an effective weapon 1v1 against a vehicle if it adhers to classic sniper rifle mechanics. As I said, I'll try and learn more, when i can get him on the phone. Please also remember that no uber had ever been hit like this before and are generally tougher than elephant tusk's, so in his hubris he wouldn't of realistically thought twice about being jacked.

Originally posted by thebigchin11

this whole story is clearly BS, lets leave it.

 Your forum name musta gone to your head. What are we some sort of virtual mafia in your imagination? Dude you do you.

Whilst all of this completely boggles my my mind I do find i tfunny as hell.

It's always great being the underdogs and taking out the big dogs in normal PvP games but these guys must be feeling pretty damn good about themselves for this one.

Originally posted by Talin

Originally posted by thebigchin11

this whole story is clearly BS, lets leave it.

I have to agree on this; without clear documented proof from a reliable source, this is nonsense to me.

I also find it interesting there are certain posters in this thread continuing to hype up the story each time it lulls, which makes me call this a deliberate attempt to draw attention to a relatively unpopular game.

 Not sure if the Associated Press is trolling EU for news stories. I heard from a rl friend of the 6 bandits that also plays the game. I actually came to see if the Entropia players here might have been able to give me more info. Also if I am one of the posters you're referring to, I'm the OP, I feel I should answer what I can about the story, I also wanna see if anyone might know an uber player that could give more details, since its among them that its a big stink, but I don't have a vested interest. I don't even play the game hehe. I just thought it was crazy, and that this must be video game history being made. The single worst gank of all time hehehe.

Originally posted by Kabaal

Whilst all of this completely boggles my my mind I do find i tfunny as hell.

It's always great being the underdogs and taking out the big dogs in normal PvP games but these guys must be feeling pretty damn good about themselves for this one.

 Me and my boy laughed our butts off for a half hour. OMGosh this was funny when I first heard, and it was about the underdog thing. Y'know?

Originally posted by Luv_bug

 Apparently  there is a game mechanic in which you can only access your resources through any "bank" but only on the planet on which they are stored. To do business on other planets you must transfer your stuff, hence the bountiful harvest. Would also explain why he might have been easier to focus fire on if he was encumbered as you say IF the materials from his ship automatically transfer to his avatar upon destruction.

If his ship was destroyed while transporting goods he would have had to be in space. Which you said he was not.

When returning to a planet you land in a designated area that is on the oposite side of the map from any lootable pvp areas. The planet side lootable pvp areas are relativly small in comparison to the world or space maps.

The source is my friend who is a friend of the bandits and has played EU on and off for a while.

It would appear that either your friend is telling you a wild fantasy about the potential ofthe game, or his pirate friends are telling him lies. There are too many inconsistancies with the story and while it does make for a good story, unfortunatly that appears to be all it is. I had really hoped for there to be a grain of truth behind it, but im really not seeing it.

He said they're laying low on an asteroid and generally laughing their butts off. Apparently they also destroyed the guy's uber pistol too.

There is no ability to destroy an opononts weapon within the Entropia Universe.

Which would explain the last guys ability to survive long enough to take him out with his vehicles weapons. The guy was apparently carrying a $9,000 sniper rifle as well, which wouldn't have been an effective weapon 1v1 against a vehicle if it adhers to classic sniper rifle mechanics. As I said, I'll try and learn more, when i can get him on the phone. Please also remember that no uber had ever been hit like this before and are generally tougher than elephant tusk's, so in his hubris he wouldn't of realistically thought twice about being jacked.

 

In response to Talin,

I am an active participant within the Entropia Universe, and I spend alot of time researching as many aspects of it as I can. When I find a story like this, I like to find the truth behind it, so of course I am going to post and question. You on the other hand appear to be trolling purely for the sake of trolling.

 

To Luv_Bug,

I really would like to know the facts, but unfortunatly thats not what you have been sharing. I mean no offence because I think either you or your friend were lied to, or atleast the truth was extreamly exagerated.

If you ever want to chat ingame, let me know. I mostly hang out on Rocktropia when im not traveling through space between the other planets, and everyone in the local hangout spots on Rocktropia know me and can help you get in touch with me.

 

gl and have fun :)

 

narfi

Originally posted by Ceridith

Originally posted by blackemperor

...

It does not need to make sense from an economic standpoint, as long as they make money out of it.

The same could be said of pyramid schemes, ponzi schemes, and other types of scamming and fraud... but that's doesn't make them moral, logical, sustainable, and as a consequence of this, neither are they legal.

Many people over the years have attempted to attack the game in the legal realm. They've not managed to get very far.  Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. Those involved *choose* to be there. Any money and/or time they spend is by their choice. Its really no one elses business, especially not some governments.  I played the game for awhile, and spent around $100 on it. But its not my type of game. 

Thanks for the offer Narfi. I spoke to my friend who said there is some sort of intermediate point between space and entering a planets atmosphere that is pvp, and thats where they got him. I hope I have that right, he explained quite a bit about the game's history and so forth like how Neverdie became big by mortgaging his house, and eventually how Mindark got him a planet, something alse about how his girlfriend(island Girl) he met online died and now she's a teleporter avatar (or something), why land ownership is no guarantee of success and how people he knows make good money in the game but the tedium is extreme. After 2 years of playing on and off, he says EU's ok, but not near what people think its gonna be when they sign up. He mentioned his brother said he found an article on the incident  which took place somewhere around the 13th,  he also says he's seen a bunch of new players in the last 2 days so apparently its out there. I've asked him to give me the following:

1) The mark's name and society

2) The link to the article his brother found (I looked and didn't find it, so asked him to ask)

3) If the bandits have an official society, its name

He says most players aren't aware,but the high end people are. He also says the guy's society is out for blood from these guys and that they won't be able to conduct business in game anymore if the society can help it. Word is the mark has also gone to Mindark looking for redress. My friend also stated he believes it was an inside job, though he has no proof, but in his opinion space is too big for these guys to just stumble upon the guy just as he's moving a big payload like that. I mentioned the destroyed pistol issue, he said it didn't happen, I might have misunderstood him(???), we were kinda raucous and laughing at the time.

So just waiting now...

OK so I am reading the thread.  I know nothing of entropia, so I went and looked it up. It sounds like it is heavy RMT. So in other words the guy with the most cash wins?

So do folks really spend 69K on a game?

Just wondering, since I know nothing of the game.   Exactly how would the game compare to swg or to eve.

Not trying to be a troll, just trying to figure  out if folks spend 69k. 

Originally posted by erictlewis

Not trying to be a troll, just trying to figure  out if folks spend 69k. 

I think they actually do. I read about a guy buying a planet in there for $100K+ and then making money selling off pieces.

Originally posted by erictlewis

OK so I am reading the thread.  I know nothing of entropia, so I went and looked it up. It sounds like it is heavy RMT. So in other words the guy with the most cash wins?

So do folks really spend 69K on a game?

Just wondering, since I know nothing of the game.   Exactly how would the game compare to swg or to eve.

Not trying to be a troll, just trying to figure  out if folks spend 69k. 

Its pretty much the ultimate RMT game. 60K isn't that much, compared to the 300,000 someone paid for a space station(or some such) awhile back.  Its much like the real world. Those with the most money,  tend to make out like bandits. 

Well it's not hard to believe such things occur in games as I myself use the less expensive of the RMT games Second life [which is more of a social 3D networking tool] and make around 100 dollars in cash a month.

I was a skeptic. After reading more about this game on Wickapedia I am not so sure this didn't really happen now. Apperently the uber- rich have transferred their combination of boredom and money to video games . They pay hundreds of thousands of real dollars in this game for things like small personal islands,resort clubs,ownership of banks, planets,and space stations. They have the world record twice for most paid for an item in a video game. There is a monatary system in place in the game for exchanging game cash for real currency. This game is headquartered in Sweden I think . They are said to frown upon begging. I wonder if there are any trailer parks in this game?

Originally posted by erictlewis

OK so I am reading the thread.  I know nothing of entropia, so I went and looked it up. It sounds like it is heavy RMT. So in other words the guy with the most cash wins?

So do folks really spend 69K on a game?

Just wondering, since I know nothing of the game.   Exactly how would the game compare to swg or to eve.

Not trying to be a troll, just trying to figure  out if folks spend 69k. 

To answer your question and the speculative answers already in response to it,

Yes Entropia Universe has some heavy spenders in it, but those are not the normal players.

It is possible to approach the game with a buisness model in mind and invest money to profit with.

Examples of some of those big name players are NEVERDIE, Deathifier, Buzz Lightyear, etc...

The normal player can play and enjoy the game at whatever rate they want though.

You can approach it as a free to play game that is extreamly chalanging. (thats what I did my first 6 months)

If you are playing for free, there are ways to progress but the competition is fierce because it is all for real money. It is definatly not for the stupid or weak of heart. (there is atleast one well known UBER, one of the top skilled players in the game who only deposited when he first started and now withdraws monthly, check out his live streams at http://www.justin.tv/stargazing )

You can approach it like you would a subscription game (but with the advantage of no monthly commitments if you want to take a break)

You can progress on into the mid level ranks with 15-50 dollars a month without really using too much intelegence.

You can progress to the top with 15-50 dollars a month IF you are willing to work and study and are up to the competition.

You can approach the game like a gambler and deposit more than is healthy without studying anything and randomly spend it in hopes of getting some good loots. It works for some doing this for a time, but in the end stupidity always end up pissed off.

The reality is that you are in competition against every other player in the game. Even when you are playing purely PvE the Real Money aspect requires that you moniter your costs vs rewards not just against yourself, but against all others doing that activity. Because it is a 'free to play' game, the developers WILL get their cut, you just need to be smart enough to ensure that that cut doesnt come from your own pocket and that it is the next guy paying for it.

I love the chalange and have chosen to put in 50 dollars a month. I dont need to deposit to play at a relaxed skilling pace anymore, but I enjoy some of the riskier activities that I know arent economicly wise and that monthly depo lets me do whatever I want with the knowledge that I am not risking my characters wealth in the process.

Feel free to ask me anything you want about the game, but maybe its a bit off topic for this thread... start a new one and direct me there and ill help with anything you need.

gl and have fun,

narfi

Originally posted by Serignuad

Wow.. and the exchange.. Entropia being licensed as a bank.. is instantaneous between in-game currency and real-life?

So I can tell Entropia I want to exchange X amount of um "credits" for real-life currency?

Unfortunately, in every game I play (Eve being the most appropiate I think), I don't do that well making money. I'd make a terrible gold-farmer, but that said.. its certainly interesting enough that it makes me want to try it out.

What about actual "gold" farmers and bots.. I'd imagine they'd be like a plague of locusts on a game like this?

And if people are spending 15,000 on in-game items, sounds like Entropia found itself an interesting highend, niche-market.

 So if that's real money, when you make a profit, how do you handle taxes?  In the USA, you have to declare all profits on taxes.

Originally posted by Ceridith

Originally posted by Luv_bug

Originally posted by Serignuad

Originally posted by Luv_bug

Originally posted by EverSkelly

Sounds so fake. 60.000$, really..?

 Oh ya, there are $100,000+ armors in Entropia Universe according to my friend that plays it. Also remember they sold the guys stuff in MINUTES. Tells you how many people are willing to buy.

 I think for some of us that don't play, we want to know where the "60,000" and "100,000" numbers are coming from.

Is this real-life currency or in-game (I can't imagine any set of in-game items being valued at 60,000, let alone 100k)?

What determines the value?

 No its real money. Entropia is actually a licensed bank too. My understanding is the company sells the uber items, and value is determined by the "bad arseness" of the wep, armor or ship and the number of the item in the game. For example the guy was carrying a $15,000 pistol which is super strong and of which there are only 10 total in the game.

Am I the only person who finds it absolutely insane that people are willingly playing this game and sinking hundreds if not thousands of dollars into virtual items in it?

The point I just can't process in my head is that the company who is apparently a 'registered bank' and has full control over the currency exchange, is also selling virtual items worth thousands of dollars that they can create by replicating a few bits of data.

It goes against all sense and logic from an economic standpoint.

Why? How much does it cost Microsoft to produce another copy of Windows? Virtually nothing but people find value in it and pay money for it. This is  the same case for these in game items, except they have the right to resell it and many people do and actually make money on the game. Intangable products certainly have value if people are willing to pay for it.

If people find enough value to pay for something, it makes economic sense to them, which is all that matters to the seller.

Any economy requires a belief that it is stable. The US dollar does not have assets backing it, but we use it as a medium of exchange because we think we can. If I bought a virtual item for $60,000 believing I could sell it and get real money back (perhaps even more) in the future, then it makes sense for me to buy it economically.