MindArk has announced a deal with Cyber Recreation Development Corp. to bring Entropia Universe to China and create a cash-based virtual economy for China.
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 30, 2007 -- Entropia Universe, the safest virtual world utilizing a real cash economy, has been chosen by the Beijing Municipal People's Government supported online entertainment company Cyber Recreation Development Corp. (CRD) to create a cash-based virtual economy for China. The landmark deal was negotiated for almost a year and will bring an outside virtual world into China for the very first time. Entropia Universe was chosen over several other proposals, including one by Second Life.
The new project will permit up to 7 million concurrent users logged into the virtual universe with an overall aim to attract some 150 million users from all over the world. Entropia Universe, a three-dimensional universe on the Internet intended for entertainment, work, commerce, community building, culture, and much more, is expected to generate over $1 billion annually in commerce from this partnership.
David Liu, the CEO of Cyber Recreation Development Corp., says, "It is estimated that the project will generate some 10,000 qualified job opportunities in China. An important aspect for this project is also the positive effects on our environment that we foresee. People will actually be able to work from home inside Entropia Universe, as many people do today, even from rural areas, thereby decreasing the amount of pollution generated by travel. Entropia Universe's highly secure system and open-ended approach is suitable for a variety of exciting developments, from trade to cultural exchange, to environmental saving and historic preservation. All in all, Entropia Universe is absolutely the best choice on the market for us to achieve the set goals."
Jan Welter Timkrans, the CEO of MindArk PE AB, says, "The scope that follows from this agreement is truly grand in vision but also great for the continual development of Entropia Universe. The ideas presented during our mutual talks with CRD are mind-boggling and show the potential that lies within Entropia Universe as a safe, stable and trusted platform, both for real cash commerce, as well as gaining culture and education for Entropia participants. On the technical side, the server structure running the Entropia Universe will be one of the fastest on Earth. I am also very pleased that MindArk has been able to quickly come to a mutual agreement, as this journey began when MindArk joined the delegation surrounding the East-India ship Gotheborg's arrival in Shanghai in August 2006, and the celebrations around this. The Swedish Royal family and esteemed members of China's upper political echelon were present at the celebrations."
The technology introduced with this project will enable other companies within media, film, music and gaming industries, or other content providers, to acquire their own planet within Entropia Universe. In turn, this will provide a diverse, entertaining and interesting three-dimensional virtual universe of vast proportions for participants to explore. A number of the world's largest corporations within the aforementioned business sectors are currently in negotiations to purchase their own planet within Entropia Universe.
The heart of Entropia Universe today lies in a distant planet named Calypso, encompassing two continents with large expanding cities that offer a variety of entertainment and social interaction for its citizens. The cooperation agreement with China will generate hundreds of new planets and open up space for travel between the planets.
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