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Entropia Universe Ambassador interview: Why play EU?

Shawn Schuster — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Entropia Universe, Business models, Economy, Game mechanics, Interviews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds

So what is it about Entropia Universe that has kept players hooked for five years now? What sets it apart from the other virtual worlds or MMOs out there? Well, according to one of EU's Ambassadors, Buzz Erik Lightyear, the game is about much more than simply playing a game. It's about playing a game that actually gives something back. "I'm not paying to play. I'm profiting from playing," he says.

This real-world money system is not unique to EU, as it's seen in other virtual worlds, such as Second Life. In most other online games, the exchange of in-game currency for real-world currency is against the terms of service. But EU is seen as more of a venture into the MMO space than Second Life, using skills, crafting and auction houses as you would in something like WoW or LotRO. In addition to this, EU is updated monthly, with word of new planets on the horizon and the new CryEngine2 platform being introduced soon.

Entropia Universe Ambassador interview: Why play EU? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The potential of advertising alliances in virtual worlds

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture, MMO industry, Casual, Virtual worlds

Forget scenery-blocking billboards and ad-saturated sporting events, the virtual world is the newest venture into successful marketing, according to a recent study by Pepsi and MTV. In this study, Pepsi discovered that users averaged 28-minutes per interaction with Pepsi's presence in Virtual MTV compared to its 30-second interaction in the televised version.

More importantly, the associated advertising is where this method shines the brightest. Over 90% of users said that Pepsi promoted music and artists through the vMTV survey, yet only 30% said the same thing in regards to the traditional televised version. This specialized audience is key to the virtual world's advertising potential with associate programs such as Pepsi advertising through vMTV. It can certainly make for some interesting alliances or potential buy-outs from the major businesses. Monopoly anyone?

The potential of advertising alliances in virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 May 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The real-world impact of virtual identities

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Culture, Opinion, Legal, Virtual worlds

Can you truly be held responsible for something you've done in a virtual world? Should the implications of your actions carry over to "the other side"? If so, then to what extent? This has been a daunting subject, even since the days of Tron, but a recent book by Jacob van Kokswijk entitled "Digital Ego" addresses this very issue.

The comparison of the virtual identity to our real-life identity is becoming of ever-increasing importance. This not only pertains to consequences and responsibilities in both realms, but also economic factors such as an advertising target audience. Will this trend continue to grow as the casual virtual world blossoms, and we begin to blur the line between a physical and virtual existence? Let us know your opinion.

The real-world impact of virtual identities originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virtual Worlds 2008 overview

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Business models, Economy, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Education, Kids

The 2008 Virtual Worlds conference has come and gone, and the aftermath is gracing news sites all over the web. In a particularly in-depth article at Virtual World News, we get a first hand account of what went on. It's a no-brainer that the majority of business attendees focused on how to make money in virtual worlds. The Wall Street Journal calls this "virtual business 2.0", which is basically a few buzz words thrown together in an attempt to look hip and cool. We're certainly not saying that business has no place in a VW, but it can become a scary thought, ultimately.

Another prominent avenue explored at this event is that of children's virtual worlds, which are becoming increasingly popular. Neopets, Nickelodeon, Barbie and Dinokids were all on-hand to make sure their piece of the pie was well-represented.

Virtual Worlds 2008 overview originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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