Massively

Entropia Universe adds Arabian planet

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, Free-to-Play, Sandbox

According to scientists, Entropia Universe continues to expand, not contract. The MMO had added a new planet to its galaxy, Toulan.

Planet Toulan draws from Arabian mythology and culture for its makeup, boasting deserts, swamps, mountains, and a post-apocalyptic setting. Players can land on Toulan (which means "extremely mystical and captivating" in Arabic) to colonize and rebuild the ravage landscape.

Toulan was designed by Jordan's Beladcom in cooperation with Entropia Unvierse AB. Beldacom's General Manager Talal Asfoura lauded the virtual planet's launch: "Created by a Jordanian team, Planet Toulan marks a milestone of achievement in the emerging Arabic gaming industry. We've taken the mythology we grew up, mixed in new ideas from science fiction, and can now share it with the world."

[Source: Entropia Universe AB press release]

Entropia Universe adds Arabian planet originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player loots over $30K from a single kill on Planet Calypso

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Free-to-Play, Planet Calypso, Sandbox

Most players are pretty excited to get an epic weapon or piece of armor when fighting a massive world boss in other games, so just imagine the reaction if the loot chest overflowed with cold, hard cash. That's what happened to one player in Planet Calypso who walked away with $33,000 in cash for downing one of the toughest monsters in that game.

Player Alan Akram of Norway, better known as Alan Krom in game, was on a quest to take down something big when he came across a Mulmun Looter Elite; with support healing from Karine Rikane, he was able to best the boss. Of his good fortune, Akram said, "I am stunned as I never expected a jackpot this massive and will definitely be playing this game for a long time."

Want a jackpot of your own? Jump in and give it a go -- the windfalls of others do not impact players' chances of winning.

[Source: Entropia Universe press release]

Player loots over $30K from a single kill on Planet Calypso originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Oct 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Explore the Cyclops Depths on Planet Calypso

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Patches, Endgame, News Items, Free-to-Play, Planet Calypso, Dungeons

At times it might seem that Planet Calypso is all about massive cash transactions, but that's not the case. There's also a planet to explore, a planet that's gotten a little bigger with the introduction of the new Cyclops Depths. Located beneath the eponymous Cyclops Volcano, the Depths are home to a variety of creatures including the species that originally inhabited the planet... a species that's not entirely happy to find out that an entirely new species has decided to colonize its home.

The Mind Reavers had locked themselves away to wait out ecological disaster, but now they're coming back up. So high-level groups of players will need to go down there and negotiate, which means fighting through a large number of mutants and Mind Reavers. New players are welcome to enter as well, but the area is primarily meant for veterans well-equipped for the process of clearing out the depths.

[Source: Entropia Universe press release]

Explore the Cyclops Depths on Planet Calypso originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Jul 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso's $70k virtual egg hatches after 6 years

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Events (In-Game), Free-to-Play, Planet Calypso, Sandbox

Entropia Universe's Planet Calypso is well-known for its real cash economy that usually includes some virtual item being bought or sold for an ungodly amount of money. In line with that, a virtual egg that last sold for $70,000 is hatching after lying dormant for six years.

We put a paragraph break there to let you process that for a second. Yes, a $70k virtual Atrox Queen dinosaur egg is breaking open as part of a new event where players need to stop the newborn Feffox from causing further destruction throughout the planet. Once players stop the deadly beast, they'll need to band together one last time for a massive battle to save the world. The event began on Monday but runs until April 28th, so you still have time to join in.

Sound like fun? Head on over to the game's official site to learn more.

Planet Calypso's $70k virtual egg hatches after 6 years originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entropia Universe players buy the moon

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Culture, News Items, Free-to-Play

How would you like to own the moon? In the real world, it's not really possible. In Entropia Universe it's quite possible and has in fact already happened. A group of players purchased a moon for $150,000 as part of the game's 10-year anniversary celebration. But it's not just a super-expensive piece of property, it's a chance for the owners to make something unique and long-term in the game world.

MindArk, the company behind Entropia Universe, offered the moon as a chance for players to shape something freely while sharing profits earned from the new location. That means that the investors have essentially licensed out a part of the game for their own development and customization even as it remains a part of the overall gameworld. The moon is expected to be fully added to the game in Q2 or Q3 of this year. If you're curious about the specifics in the community, you can check out the full rundown on the official site.

Entropia Universe players buy the moon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia

Beau Hindman — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Launches, New Titles, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Humor, Free for All

I'm not much of a shooter fan and probably never will be. Sure, I have as much fun blasting my way through monsters as the next gamer, but I rarely have the patience or physical stamina to overcome the pains and frustrations of shooter PvP. After all, my first rule of PvP applies especially well to shooters: There is always someone better than you. Planet Cyrene, the new world being added to the impressive portfolio of Entropia Universe, tasks players tasks similar to those found in Planet Calypso and mixes in PvP arenas that promise to frustrate (or delight) players, depending on their skill level. I sat down with Ed Robles III, lead developer for Planet Cyrene, to see just how nasty and expensive things might get.

Remember, this is the Entropia Universe we are talking about, and that means players will spend real money on bullets, armor, and practically everything else. Fortunately, players can earn items that are worth real money as well. Call it gambling or whatever you want, but it still seems to be a pretty successful formula.

Continue reading Free for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia

Free for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MindArk giving away Entropia Universe land deeds

Jef Reahard — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Business Models, Game Mechanics, Free-to-Play, Promotions

MindArk has given new meaning to the term phat lewt with its latest update for Entropia Universe. Players may now acquire one of a thousand Planet Calypso land deeds simply by hunting, mining, or crafting while in game.

Each land deed carries a real-world value of $100 (and deeds are often sold for much more on the open market), according to a MindArk press release. The deeds also provide revenue sharing through the game's citizenship program. Deeds began dropping yesterday, and MindArk says that they will continue to do so throughout 2012.

Planet Calypso is the oldest planetary playfield in Entropia Universe. The game boasts more than one million registered accounts and over $400 million in annual user-to-user transactions.

[Source: MindArk press release]

MindArk giving away Entropia Universe land deeds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entropia Universe player drops $2.5 million on virtual land deeds

Jef Reahard — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Business Models, Economy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play

Entropia Universe is in the news again, and yes, it's because of a huge real-money transaction initiated by one of the game's players. MindArk says that a single investor bought $2.5 million US worth of land lot deeds on Calypso, which is one of the game's oldest planetary zones. Entropia's citizenship system originally launched last December with almost 60,000 land deeds up for grabs. The mechanic allows for revenue sharing among citizens; the annual return on investments is hovering around 27%.

In a nutshell, the system allows players to amass weekly profits directly from the game after an initial investment of $100 for a single land deed. Investment opportunities are open to anyone with an Entropia avatar, and MinkArk also reports that the game features over one million registered accounts and over $400 million in annual user-to-user transactions.

[Source: MinkArk press release]

Entropia Universe player drops $2.5 million on virtual land deeds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming

Matt Daniel — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO Industry, Massively Meta, Miscellaneous

We're just over a month into the new year, and already we've got plenty to look forward to: The Secret World is expected to hit in April, TERA will follow shortly in May, and Guild Wars 2 will be out... sometime this year (we hope). But before we all start looking toward the future, let's take a moment to look back at some of the gaming achievements of the past.

Thanks to the handy-dandy Guinness Book of World Records 2012: Gamer's Edition, we've got a quick compendium of MMO-related records from the past year and then some, so if you're at all interested in the shortest-lived MMO to date or the longest time anyone's spent playing MMOs from inside a crate, join us as we take a stroll down memory lane to take a look at some notably (in)famous MMO achievements.

Continue reading Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming

Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MindArk announces Planet Calypso land grab

Matt Daniel — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Events (In-Game), News Items, Virtual Worlds, Planet Calypso, Miscellaneous

MindArk's Planet Calypso is certainly one of the most unique virtual worlds out there, due in large part to the fact that the game's real estate is bought, sold, and traded for real-world cash. Land management, however, has generally been an activity for the ludicrously rich, with some properties costing as much as 500,000 USD.

MindArk looks to change that, however, by introducing a whopping 60,000 new plots of land (each measuring at 100 square meters) that can be bought for the (relatively) low price of 100 USD. Each deed that a player purchases "entitles the holder to a share of the 50% planet partner Gross Revenue generated by Planet Calypso." So if you've got a few hundred bucks to blow on virtual real estate and want a piece of the pie, head on over to the official site and sign up.

MindArk announces Planet Calypso land grab originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Total Recall IP snagged by MMO studio SEE Virtual Worlds

Matt Daniel — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Entropia Universe, MMO Industry, News Items, Planet Calypso

Planet Michael creator SEE Virtual Worlds has announced that it is now the proud owner of even more well-known intellectual properties. The studio now owns the rights to Men in Black 3, Total Recall (the remake, bleh), Asterix, War of the Worlds, and Waterworld.

Whether the studio will turn these properties into MMOs as well, however, remains to be seen. CEO Martin Ballas said only, "These properties are tied to memorable moments and incredible characters that players are going to interact with in future SEE-created digital and online interactive video games." SEE Virtual Worlds, however, has purchased Planet Calypso for a staggering $6 million, which could hint at a possible Total Recall-themed online destination. Before long, you just may be able to hop online and shout at your party, "Get your ass to Mars!"

Total Recall IP snagged by MMO studio SEE Virtual Worlds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEE buys Planet Calypso for $6 million, talks with Massively for an encore

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Interviews, MMO Industry, Legal, Planet Calypso, Miscellaneous

For $6 million you could buy a heck of a lot of tacos -- or one virtual planet. Wisely, SEE Virtual Worlds went the latter route, snapping up Planet Calypso from MindArk and saving itself massive heartburn. The sci-fi-themed Planet Calypso operates under the umbrella of Entropia Universe and boasts 950,000 registered accounts since coming online in 2003.

As part of the deal, SEE Virtual Worlds also acquired all of the assets of First Planet Company, a former subsidiary of MindArk, which has been transformed into SEE Digital Studios. Under this reorganization, SEE Digital Studios is now responsible for developing and operating Planet Calypso, Planet Michael and Universal Monsters. The company is expected to hire on additional team members for these projects.

Fresh from the champagne celebration, SEE Virtual Worlds President Corey Redmond sat down with us to discuss this deal and the future of these three titles. Hit the jump to boogie with Michael Jackson, scream in terror at the Wolfman, and navigate the economy of virtual worlds.

Continue reading SEE buys Planet Calypso for $6 million, talks with Massively for an encore

SEE buys Planet Calypso for $6 million, talks with Massively for an encore originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drivers wanted on Planet Calypso

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Planet Calypso

Planet Calypso is an odd sort of virtual world, a free-to-play game that allows players to exchange in-game money for real cash. It's gearing up for the auction of the new Medusa's Head islands, which contain a variety of services and species for the enterprising landowner. And in anticipation of just that, a new update has offered the perfect vehicles for running through an unspoiled tropical paradise -- high-powered combat tanks, helicopters, and warboats bristling with deadly armaments.

Along with three new Nordic-named vessels -- the Megingjord tank, the Naglfar boat, and the Gungnir helicopter -- the update brings with it a variety of updates to the use of vehicles. Commissioning has been removed, and a weapon mounting system has been added to help facilitate the addition of aforementioned deadly armaments. Even if they're not planning on bidding on the brand-new islands, Planet Calypso players should be able to enjoy the environment in their vehicles of choice.

Drivers wanted on Planet Calypso originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso's new content takes players on a wild ride

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Entropia Universe, Events (In-Game), Hands-On, Virtual Worlds, Planet Calypso

Planet Calypso is one of the more unusual games that we cover here at Massively, mostly thanks to its real cash economy. Massively's Beau Hindman spent some time in the game recently for Rise and Shiny, giving his experience as a new player.

Our newest peek at the game is a bit more advanced and a lot of fun. Planet Calypso is in the middle of the Harbinger event, an ongoing new challenge that introduces players to new areas, new enemies, and some formidable new foes. The Planet Calypso team was kind enough to invite me on a tour of the event, so follow along after the jump for a closer look!

Continue reading Planet Calypso's new content takes players on a wild ride

Planet Calypso's new content takes players on a wild ride originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entropia Universe expands with treasure hunting on Planet Arkadia

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Business Models, News Items, Free-to-Play, Virtual Worlds

Planet Calypso is one of the more interesting concepts in the free-to-play arena, as it's a game in which you can theoretically make real money from playing the game. It looks like the concept is expanding a bit with the announcement of Planet Arkadia, an environment for virtual treasure hunters. Part of the same overarching concept and universe as Planet Calypso, the game will be a chance for players to enjoy the thrill of treasure hunting without the actual logistical issues of stealing things and then selling them.

The game is going to bear another similarity to its predecessor, however, in that the treasures being unearthed will potentially be worth real-world currency. That should provide players of the game with a little added incentive, along with concept art by Feng Zhu and the promise of an immersive virtual world. Tentatively set for release in early 2011, Planet Arkadia already boasts a site with preview images and more information on the game environment. So if you've always wanted a chance for your virtual treasure to translate into real money, your dream might be closer to fruition than you think.

Entropia Universe expands with treasure hunting on Planet Arkadia originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Planet Calypso

Beau Hindman — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real-Life, Sci-Fi, Business Models, Economy, Events (In-Game), Previews, PvE, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Roleplaying, Virtual Worlds, MMOFPS, Planet Calypso, Rise and Shiny

Planet Calypso is another one of those titles that has a perplexing reputation. Granted, in the past I have actually slammed the game -- and I mean slammed it -- but for different reasons. Normally -- and I have seen this over the last week as I told people about the game -- people bring up that they have "heard" that the game is nothing but a gambler's paradise, filled with thieves, liars, and the addicted.

Back then, I had an issue with the revamping of the game. I tried it on the day after release, bugs and all, and it was so unplayable that I couldn't move. Taking my own advice of looking back on games that we might have tossed aside, I can now say not only that the game has proved to be one of the most beautiful games I have played, but that the stereotype of the Planet Calypso player seems completely baseless. I looked, trust me, but all I found were nice people.

Of course, I did only play it over six days or so.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Planet Calypso

Rise and Shiny recap: Planet Calypso originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The robots are rising on Planet Calypso

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Events (In-Game), News Items, Free-to-Play, Virtual Worlds, Planet Calypso

It's not one of the largest games out there, so most people might not know what you're talking about if you mention Planet Calypso. Those who do might well only think of the highly publicized auctions and trades, in which players have spent large amounts of real-world money to purchase land and facilities (which bring in plenty of real-world money themselves, for the record). But beyond that there is an actual game world, complete with an ongoing storyline. As spotlighted in the newest game newsletter, that storyline is being turned up by a new event -- an ominous approach by robots.

The last major assault by the robots left the previous capital city a smoking ruin, and not coincidentally coincided with the game's graphical update to CryEngine 2. This time, the colonists have begun decoding messages sent by the robots, and defenses are gathering to ensure that a repeat of the last event doesn't take place -- even as the robots field a new technology known as "Hydra." Several helpful links for information may be found within the newsletter, which promises plenty of enjoyment for the players in Planet Calypso.

The robots are rising on Planet Calypso originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso aims to attract new players with starting area

Jef Reahard — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, News Items, Planet Calypso

Planet Calypso, the long-running real-cash economy MMORPG from First Planet Company and MindArk, will soon offer a new and dedicated starting area for new players. Previously, player colonists were at the mercy of the title's veteran residents and were thrown right into Planet Calypso's considerable learning curve with little in the way of an introduction.

Now, newbies can partake of the safe starting area (restricted to new players), learn the game's basics, and grab missions in the new Calypso Gateway. Players will hunt, mine, and craft using starter equipment on the secluded arrival island, and they will not be able to return once they've completed the tutorials and traveled to mainland Calypso.

Check out the official site for all the details.

Planet Calypso aims to attract new players with starting area originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso and Entropia Universe unveiling vehicles

Jef Reahard — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Patches, News Items

Entropia Universe, the long-running virtual world from MindArk, has announced the introduction of in-game vehicles in their 11.2 patch which is tentatively scheduled for today. Ground-based vehicles are the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as MindArk has plans to implement boats, aircraft, and spacecraft in the near future.

"With this new system, the whole community now has the opportunity to build vehicles. The features included in today's release are just the beginning of the vehicle system content. The development teams are already working with upcoming features [including] boats. It will soon be possible to cruise the lakes and oceans on the planets of Entropia Universe. Several different types of boats will be available," MindArk said in a press release.

Check out the news posting over on the official Entropia Universe website.

Planet Calypso and Entropia Universe unveiling vehicles originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Planet Calypso newsletter announces new developments in game

Rubi Bayer — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: News Items, Virtual Worlds, Planet Calypso

The newest edition of the Planet Calypso newsletter brings some pretty exciting news for longtime players: Jon "NEVERDIE" Jacobs is selling his rock. Yes, you heard that right. The guy who made the Guinness Book of World Records by paying $100,000 for the asteroid in Planet Calypso is taking offers for that same asteroid. You get everything except the name -- he understandably wants to keep that.

If your pockets aren't deep enough to take him up on his offer, how about some Proteron DNA instead? Proteron DNA pieces are now dropping, leading hunters to roam around chasing after it in the hopes of spawning their very own Proteron. Hunters roaming into new lands means taxes, which means more money all around.

In either case, the new happenings in Planet Calypso are sure to keep many players entertained!

Latest Planet Calypso newsletter announces new developments in game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso 2010|2 update adds 80 missions

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, Planet Calypso

It may be a MMO about planet colonization, but we dare you to look at the title of Planet Calypso and not imagine a neverending Jamaican party resort. In any case, the Planet Calypso team is pleased as punch to announce its 2010|2 update, which includes a whopping 80 new missions. You may recall that the 2010|1 update introduced the mission system back in February of this year.

20 of these new missions are dedicated to the mysterious Cyclops volcano (which also appeared with the 2010|1 update), with the remaining 60 devoted to the "Iron Challenge" of finding and exterminating the local critters. The latter is done, to quote the patch notes, "in order to raise awareness of firearms issues."

The 2010|2 update comes with a few other additions, as well as a trunk full of bug fixes. You can read the full patch notes over at the Planet Calypso site.

Planet Calypso 2010|2 update adds 80 missions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso's David "Deathifier" Storey talks about his purchases

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Economy, Interviews, Virtual Worlds, Planet Calypso

MMOs are a big business these days, and even though they're not real items, a lot of the goods within a given game are worth quite a bit of money. This is transparently true of Second Life, but hardly limited to it -- witness, for example, the real-world price of EVE Online's ships. Or, take David Storey, alias Deathifier, alias "that guy who spent a whole lot of money on Planet Calypso items in auctions." And he's spent quite a lot of money -- in the game world, he owns both an island and a staggeringly expensive egg with a yet-undisclosed purchase.

So why did he buy it? As he puts it in a recent interview available on Forbes.com, the same reason people make any expensive purchase -- because it makes you feel good. According to the interview, it's not as if the investment has been a poor business decision. The virtual island he bought in Planet Calypso for $26,500 brings in roughly $100,000 a year, as he uses it for a rare game preserve and taxes local hunters. The full piece has more information on his outlook and business practices, as well as a brief overview of the markets of virtual worlds and MMOs in general.

Planet Calypso's David "Deathifier" Storey talks about his purchases originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso debuts their new mission system with a bang

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Planet Calypso

A literal bang, actually. Not only has Planet Calypso updated to version 2010|01 (their new system uses the year and update number, rather than version number) but they've also had a small volcanic eruption that's changed part of the map. Blizzard, eat your cataclysmic heart out.

While the newly re-terraformed area of Cyclops has been visually improved by the team and patched in under the 'guise of a volcanic explosion, the version update also brings the anticipated mission system to Calypso.

The mission system, which is in a public beta, more or less, is only currently offering 5 tutorial missions to newbies landing on Calypso for the first time. Once you complete those five missions, be sure to offer your feedback in the survey that pops up at the end. That information will be used to make more missions for higher level players, so don't be stingy!

Also, there's fish. Remember those fish we showed last time? Yeah, those fish. If you value your ankles, you'll watch where you swim.

Planet Calypso debuts their new mission system with a bang originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso welcomes their new community manager while looking to the future

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items

The team over at First Planet Company, the minds behind the MMO/Second Life hybrid Planet Calypso, have recently welcomed a brand new community manager onto their staff -- Hanne Einan Gulbrandsen. Gulbrandsen is the game's first dedicated community manager, bringing the virtual world in line with the company practices of other MMO companies.

But, while Gulbrandsen settles into his new office and title, First Planet Company has also detailed their development roadmap for this year -- going over future additions such as vehicles, a new questing/mission system, and the addition of fish to the world (as shown above.) The mission system will finally give Calypso MMO style storyline quests, offering players a new way to play the game and experience the planet's lore. How these new quests will impact the game's real money-based economy will be interesting, especially if doing them offers in-game rewards.

Continue reading Planet Calypso welcomes their new community manager while looking to the future

Planet Calypso welcomes their new community manager while looking to the future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso player pays nearly $70,000 for virtual egg

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, News Items, Virtual Worlds

Planet Calypso continues to bring in the big spenders. At the end of December, word got around that a Planet Calypso player had won an auction for the Crystal Palace Space Station, paying $330,000 real world cash for the item. A few years ago, another player mortgaged his home to pay around $100,000 for a virtual nightclub in Planet Calypso. Hold off on the laughter, though: the nightclub wound up turning quite a profit, and the space station looks to be well on its way to the same.

Now another player is following in the footsteps of those two, taking a chance on the mysterious Atrox Queen Egg. David "Deathifier" Storey purchased the egg in a public auction, paying the equivalent of $69,696 for the item. The egg has been around since 2006, and players don't know when it will hatch, or even what exactly is inside. Deathifier is taking a bit of a chance with his purchase, perhaps hoping it will turn the same sort of profit as previous newsmaking purchases in the game.

You can take a look at the full story here.

Planet Calypso player pays nearly $70,000 for virtual egg originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crystal Palace Space Station auction tops 330,000 US dollars

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Culture, Events (In-Game), News Items, Virtual Worlds

Remember a while back when we mentioned that the Crystal Palace Space Station went up for sale in Planet Calypso, marking the start of another insane bidfest to claim what could be a very real source of income? Well, the auction is over and the winner has been declared -- Buzz "Erik" Lightyear has taken control of Crystal Palace for the very, very hefty sum of 3,300,000 PED. For those of you who want to know the real world value, you're looking at a cool 330,000 dollars.

While this seems insane (and it probably is, to some degree), Mr. Lightyear will be looking at revenue coming in from the hunting conducted on the space station, plus the purchases made there. In short, this space station is a walking money generator, especially as it's the only place to find alien body parts used to make high-end armor. All Buzz has to do is let the station run, set a decent tax rate, keep it stocked with things to hunt, and he can take all the PED he earns and translate it into cold, hard cash.

For all of the bidding insanity, check out the full coverage of the auction over at Entropia Planets.

Crystal Palace Space Station auction tops 330,000 US dollars originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patch 10.6 for Planet Calypso brings item enhancements and a new critter

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Virtual Worlds

The hybrid virtual world / MMORPG Planet Calypso has recently leveled up to version 10.6 and has introduced the brand new system of item enhancement to the game as well as the winner of a community contest.

Item enhancement is very much like it sounds -- a way to upgrade and customize your weapons and armors -- but it works more like an item leveling system than a crafting component. As players use items, they will now rank up into tiers. Tiers upgrade the item itself, but they also unlock spaces on the weapon called sockets. Players can add connectors onto the sockets to further customize the item's statistics, but be careful! Connectors can break during the use of an item, but they can be stacked to minimize damage.

Also, the large Proteron has made an appearance on the planet! The creature is the result of the community "Create-A-Critter" contest, so congratulations are in order for Apsara Sofia Rozenkreutz! Congratulations!

For all of the patch note goodness, check it out on the main site.

Patch 10.6 for Planet Calypso brings item enhancements and a new critter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who wants to buy a virtual spacestation?

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Culture, Economy, Events (In-Game), News Items

You sir! Can I interest you in this pristine virtual space station? No? Ma'am! Over here ma'am! How would you like to live amongst the stars in a brand new virtual space station?

If you think this post is a silly post, then think again. Planet Calypso (formerly Entropia Universe) really is auctioning off one of their virtual space stations to their players, making this the third time that a major piece of Calypso property has been auctioned off to a private party. This time it's the Crystal Palace Space Station that's up for auction, one of Calypso's long time prime off-world hunting grounds.

What makes this auction so newsworthy is the fact that it will be conducted through Planet Calypso's auction systems using PED (Project Entropia Dollar), which basically makes the virtual space station worth real money, as the PED needs to be purchased by the player with real world currency.

Continue reading Who wants to buy a virtual spacestation?

Who wants to buy a virtual spacestation? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Go out and steal oil in Planet Calypso's 10.1 update

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Economy, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP

In a move to make our virtual lives eerily more like our real ones, the First Planet Company has re-opened the oil pumping station on Planet Calypso with patch 10.1, offering all players the chance to make a quick profit by grabbing oil from the pump -- if you can make it out alive, of course.

The pumping station is not only in the middle of the wasteland, but it's also surrounded by angry NPCs (the wastelanders) and it's right in the middle of an open PvP area. Sure, you can make a tidy profit by grabbing oil from the station, but you have to be efficient and sneaky about it. Otherwise, you'll just end up with a bullet in your back and your blood mixed with the oil.

Continue reading Go out and steal oil in Planet Calypso's 10.1 update

Go out and steal oil in Planet Calypso's 10.1 update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blue Mars: An interview with Avatar Reality's CEO, Jim Sink

Tateru Nino — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Interviews, Second Life, Blue Mars, Virtual Worlds

As Blue Mars goes into a scaled, open beta, interest has been rising in Avatar Reality's virtual environment. Inevitably, it's compared to Linden Lab's Second Life and - rightly or wrongly - will probably be wearing that comparison for some years to come. Certainly, Second Life users have found the environment intriguing so far.

It seemed only proper that we sit down with Jim Sink, Avatar Reality's CEO and find out a little bit more about Blue Mars.

Continue reading Blue Mars: An interview with Avatar Reality's CEO, Jim Sink

Blue Mars: An interview with Avatar Reality's CEO, Jim Sink originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Blue Mars to go into open beta on September 2nd?

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Blue Mars, Casual, Virtual Worlds, Rumors

According to an anonymous source, the new virtual world game on the block, Blue Mars, might be entering into open beta on September 2nd. What does this mean for you? Well, it means that another CryEngine 2 MMO might be making an appearance soon to do battle with Planet Calypso.

Currently we are unable to confirm the exact time of the opening of the Blue Mars open beta, but we can confirm that the game has been shut down and is being prepared for the "public beta" according to posts on the forums.

Blue Mars is the middle ground between Second Life and Planet Calypso. Where Planet Calypso acts as a game with a real money economy and Second Life allows all users to create content and change the world to their preferences, Blue Mars signs up and approves select developers to create content for their world. Standard users will have the ability to open up small shops and/or purchase living quarters (at the developer's preference) as well as interact with the games and events the ruling developer sets up for their players.

Continue reading Rumor: Blue Mars to go into open beta on September 2nd?

Rumor: Blue Mars to go into open beta on September 2nd? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The second golden age now occuring in Planet Calypso

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Events (In-Game), Patches, Free-to-Play

CryEngine 2 is pretty. Really pretty. So pretty, in fact, that we added a rainbow to the above picture, just to amplify the already intense pretty with more pretty. Ronnie James Dio would be proud of us today.

But, if you haven't guessed, Planet Calypso is back online and is proudly sporting their new graphics engine with glee. Did you know that this is the first time the night ever passed over Calypso, as they never had a day/night cycle before? Now you know.

Also, as promised, today marks the opening of The Second Golden Age of Calypso event along with the upload of version 10.5. During this event, special rare items will be dropped throughout the world. These items will only be available for this event, so if you're an avid player of Planet Calypso or were looking to give the free-to-play game a try, now would be a pretty good time to do it.

However, you don't have to rush if you don't want to. The Second Golden Age will continue all the way until Christmas, so that gives you a good four months of event time to rack up all of those special goodies.

[Thanks, Dargon!]

The second golden age now occuring in Planet Calypso originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planet Calypso, formerly Entropia Universe, converts to CryEngine 2

Seraphina Brennan — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Entropia Universe, Business Models, Economy, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, Launches, MMO Industry, Patches, Server downtime, News Items, Virtual Worlds

In just two days, Planet Calypso, formerly Project Entropia and Entropia Universe, will be shutting down for a major patch of epic proportions. The game will be undergoing a graphical refit, moving from their old graphics engine to the new CryEngine 2 -- the same engine that powers Crysis and upcoming virtual world Blue Mars. Old and busted, meet the new hotness.

The new version of the client, version 10, is now available for download before this whole conversion process takes place. The servers will be shut down on Sunday night/Monday morning at midnight UTC as version 10 is deployed to the servers. The servers will be unavailable for a few days, as the First Planet Company does a full diagnostic on the servers to make sure everything is good to go.

Continue reading Planet Calypso, formerly Entropia Universe, converts to CryEngine 2

Planet Calypso, formerly Entropia Universe, converts to CryEngine 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New MMO announced from the Entropia Universe platform: Planet Calypso

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Entropia Universe, Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, Virtual Worlds

It seems Entropia Universe has fully embraced the "world building" aspect of its virtual space. Evolving from a virtual world to a virtual world development platform, MindArk has announced the creation of a new subsidiary named First Planet, which will operate, develop and market a new MMO entitled Planet Calypso. Since this MMO will be created through Entropia's guidance and tools, it will be built on the Entropia Universe platform and be considered one of EU's planets.

The scope of First Planet won't stop at Planet Calypso, though. It has been created to "solely focus on platform development suitable for a wide range of industries interested in utilizing the opportunities of the 3D internet." Other upcoming planets include Creative Kingdom, China Recreative Dreamland, Next Island and See. Find out more information on the press release and MindArk's plans with their upcoming platforms at Worlds in Motion or the Entropia Universe website.

New MMO announced from the Entropia Universe platform: Planet Calypso originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2008 Massive Multiplayer Online World Championships

Akela Talamasca — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: Entropia Universe, Events (Real-World), Events (In-Game)

Friday, November 23, 2007 will see the opening of this year's Massive Multiplayer Online World Championships (MMOWC), the first part of which will take place in Club NeverDie, which you'll recall was bought by Jon 'NeverDie' Jacobs as an investment, for $100,000. This year, the finals will be held in Miami, Florida, on Sunday, December 16. According to the press release, "Gamers who make it to the finals will have the option of an all expenses-paid weekend trip to South Beach, FL, where they will be filmed in a hot new reality show, hosted by superstar gamer NeverDie. The champion will win a land Area on Planet Calypso in the Entropia Universe worth more than $20,000 USD. The land area will feature hunting and mining taxation rights, which will provide the winner with a profitable real cash monthly income."

Sounds like NeverDie is making the most of his investment. I wonder if he'll offer the winner some low-APR bank loans as well?

(Note: Although the referring article consistently reads '2008' for the date, it's obviously going to be 2007)

(Via businesswire)

The 2008 Massive Multiplayer Online World Championships originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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