Oh, is the troll under that bridge also? LOL Sorry for your anguish!

MrChompy, thanks for that mini-review with comparisons to similar games and thumbnail economic profile!

I also enjoy exploring the brave new world, seeking out new life, and explodifying the crap out of it. :)

As an old player of the paper and dice Traveller  game, I do miss the spacecraft action to some extent, but you can't beat personal interaction as a player/avatar. In the old Activision Battlezone game, we'd often take breaks from combat, jump out of out tanks and chat for a bit. In those primitive days of online MMOG, the only way to handshake was a jump... and we were thankful! LOL

Cheers! 

If you see Aandar in the PA new arrival zone, ask him if Alice is on. She mentors lots of people and has written an excellent guide for new players. Also, there are often seasoned players in the NAZ that will happily answer questions and give advice. There are both MA empoyess that are official guides (indicated by wardrobe and stars over their heads) and players that volunteer their time for the betterment of the community.

Be cautious when taking a mentor, as there are some deadbeats out there. MA/ FPC awards mentors with a prize upon a disciples graduation, and some unscruulous people will sign you on as a disciple and then ne'er be seen again.

When selecting a mentor, here are a few suggestions.

Make sure there isn't a language barrier.

Go on several outings with a prospective mentor before committing. The dirtbags won't wait that long to start ignoring you.

Get an alternate way to contact the person, such as an email address or forum ID.

Make sure the person has experience in the career path you  think you want to try.

Make sure the personis generally on at the same time you usually play.

Good luck!

Darco, not a terrible idea. If you haven't been watching the news about the game, there are several new planets that will be coming online in conjunctionwith the cryengine releaase. These planets will be maintained and managed by business partner companies, such as Creative Kingdom Games Interactive, CRD,  See Virtual Tours, and Nextpert.

I'll post more info on implementation dates as word gets out on the Entropia related forums. Contrary to the belief of some, I have no ties with any of the involved companies, nor  am I Swedish so I can't listen in on the MA people as they drink at the neighborhood bar, etc, etc, etc. :)

Opti, the RL market places often have automatic limitations in place to stop trades if the market plummets. I recall the automatic hold was called last year sometime, IIRC.  Since many items already have established street prices, a upper or lower cap might not be practical since so many items are in the hands of players rather than career profiteers, but it might be beneficial to limit based on the slope of the market value graph.

Sorrow, interesting stats there. Not many games you can pull a profit out of. That being said, you're an exception as there are far more people that break even, or end up paying in some. Personally, I don't  mind paying in because I understand that this is an entertainment venue and not a get rich quick scheme. :)  Cheers!!

Actually, there's a lot of argument in the thread the troll cites, both in favor and in opposition to all things Entropian. He only read the first post apparently. It's also evident that he has not read the EULA lately.

Oh well...

Free game, free events, a few people like the troll (as any game and forum has), but far more normal and even friendly people.

Have a look, judge for yourself, don't take our word for it or that of the creature under the bridge.

Maybe that's how long his account has been locked or somehting.

Anyway, back on topic, of course a RCE game economy is going to reflect the RL economic status. EU has not only an RCE, but MA offers a boon in allowing non-depositors to stay on at the sufferance of those that do deposit. With the hyperinflated prces that were in game, it's no suprise that the market in game has begun normalizing to some degree.

I mean come on, some things we see in game up to this point have made no sense. In RL we have volume discounts for large quantity of mass produced goods. In game, large amounts of stackable items usually have typically enjoyed a premium price.  That probably won't last.

The global economic downturn may well help EU by squeezing out the middleman (at least those that are profiteering reseller pigs) and  make the game more playable and economical for those that actually play the game.

Thanks for the update on the rules. I know some players did express concern aboutintellectual property rights of the non-winners, this seems to have been allayed.

As for a preview...  not a chance until the deadline is past. LOL

I merely asked questions.

Since you seem by your own admission to be banned from the game,  I guess you're taking the "sour grapes" approach, eh?

That would explain your tirades here instead of trying to be constructive in something you are actually participating in.

LOL.. just LOL dude.

I was once banned for organizing a players strike. Don't give me that fanboi crap.

So what game company do you work for anyway? I'd think they would hire someone with a better command of English to come in here and speak ill of a competitor...

Meanwhile, back in the world of the sane and rational, Opti is right!

Landgrab is indeed coming. The winners will get land charters valid for a 9 month period. During that time, they may stock and maintain wildlife on the land. The land owners will get a percentage of any loot from hunters or miners on their land area.
 

Rules this year do indeed seem exculde any but the top 50 skilled societies, but since those factions are the only ones that realistically have a chance of engaging forces defending a claim markern and then defending the claim marker from subsequent attacks,  it sort of makes sense that the rules would be written in a manner to address those groups rather than all Societies on Calypso.

Unfortunately, the society I am a member of isn't large enough or powerful enough to take part as a major force in the landgrab. That being said, we have a few ideas that we may try to bring to the table as a mercenary unit, or perhaps just try to tip the table at our whim. :) I'm sure we'll manage to have fun!

AG

I've got an idea in mind for this competition, maybe 2. :)

I'll have to dust off my old school gamer skills and think about balance and stuff. :)

Beginning last night, the robot forces began another push to take Calypso from human control.

Reports began coming in of massive robot spawns in the area of East Scylla, and global chatter indicated that advanced generation robot models unseen since Robot War II were indeed on the planets surface and being engaged and defeated by elite colonist militia units. Models encountered included Drokas, Defenders, Legionares, Eviscerators, and Warlocks.

Unlike the previous attack, no advance warning came from the Calypso Defense Force commander, or the Robot Defense Institute. Colonists were completely taken by suprise, but quickly mobilized to defend the planet. 

Updates to follow as more information becomes available.

AG

So basically, you're saying that investment in any mmorpg has the same risk as investing in any other privately held company.

How does one differentiate between an investment in a company and putting cash into their gaming system? I believe that an investment would actually be for shares of stock, and not a purchase of  virtual items.

Since MindArk, the company that owns Entropia Universe is privately held and recently aquired a Banking license from the Swedish Government (MA is based in Gothburg). Since EU is the first game with an RCE, it is my belief that the banking license is a first step in the financial regulation of the industry... or at least for those games that choose to have an RCE ast part of their structure as EU does.

Interesting years ahead! 

Interesting find, but the complaint there is against GE Money Bank.

While the complaint does cite that that Joe was unable to get GE to return funds based on his dispute claim, Joe mentions that his EU account had been locked.  It fails to mention what activities had occurred for MA to take this action.

lium, I think you're rubbing up against the edge of a llibel suit with your initial post.  You need to think before mouthing off like this.

AG

The MA/ FPC folks have posted over on EF that pics with avatars in the new environment will be posted soon. I guess it's safe to assume that video of some form won't be too far behind.

The new landscape looks  good! So good in fact that I hope I'll recognize the places on-planet that should be familiar to me!

AG

Opti, the dude just likes talking trash about a game he can't understand. Don't beat yourself up over it. LOL

Ooops.

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694342/The-MMO-Report-Friday-March-27th.html?skin=dark

Should work.

Here's a link to the episode of their show "The Feed" which makes mention of the MA banking license.

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694342/The-MMO-Report-Friday-March-27th.html?skin=dark

Maybe that Entropia Universe ATM card will be making a comeback after all.

Edited to correct link

Auctions often have better luck if you time them so that they end on peak hours during the weekends. More eyes watching the screen that way. :)