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Gamer makes a cool half-million by selling virtual property

tank017tank017 Member Posts: 2,192

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http://blog.games.yahoo.com/blog/160-man-drops-record-setting-335-000-on-virtual-game-property

 

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Think the rent is, in fact, too damn high? Then stay as far away from online world Entropia Universe as possible, because its real estate prices will drive you insane.

Take, for instance, what just went down on Planet Calypso, where one of Entropia's wealthier players has sold off his interests in a "resort asteroid" for an eye-popping $635,000

The seller is Jon Jacobs, also known as the character 'Neverdie'. He originally purchased the asteroid in 2005 -- eventually converting it into the extravagant resort 'Club Neverdie' -- for the then-record price of $100,000. For those keeping score, that's a gain of over $500,000 in just five years. In nerdier terms, that's an ROI of 535%. Match that, Citibank.

And we're not talking about Monopoly money here. Launched by Swedish developer MindArk in 2003, Entropia Universe features a real-world, fixed-rate currency exchange that works just like chips at a casino: players trade real cash for in-game funds called PEDs (Project Entropia Dollars), which can at any point be redeemed back for real, spendable cash -- minus a transaction fee, of course.

Jacobs was making money from the get-go, however, having earned back his initial hundred-grand investment in just eight months. How? By selling rights to hunt and mine on the asteroid, as well as selling off bits of real estate. He worked it much like any real world landlord, really, but with a lot less red tape and a lot more graphics.

Entropia's users have made headlines before. Just last year, fellow Entropia player Buzz "Erik" Lightyear purchased an in-game space station for $330,000, making it the most expensive virtual item in the world.

Though its exorbitant real estate transactions have earned it headlines, Entropia is otherwise similiar in form and function to massively-multiplayer games like World of Warcraft. Set in a sci-fi future, the game casts players as colonists who must fight creatures, collect and trade precious materials, and explore planets. Currently, Entropia is experiencing a 'Harbinger Event' whose outcome will be dictated entirely by its players.

Comments

  • AnnwynAnnwyn Member UncommonPosts: 2,854

    That game will always continue to amaze me. I just can't believe the amount of money players are actually making from that, it's astonishing and almost tempting.

  • kwaikwai Member UncommonPosts: 825

    I played it back when it was called project entropia, never liked it then really, dont like it either now, you litterally have to be a nerd with little to no real life in order to make money of this game.

    It isnt for the casual gamer, i know people who probally have put 20-50000$ into the game, and its a normal mortal guy who has a standard work etc.

    Its just stupidity

  • EU_RAZEREU_RAZER Member Posts: 85

    Sure it is for casual gamers, just don't expact to make any money of the game.

    The way to make money is to invest money (like NEVERDIE, Buzz  and some other) and make it your job to play or get very lucky.  You can play for lets say 25 dollar a month IF you play smart and keep the hunts and stuff within your skill level.

    You can even play for free, but thats where the grinding coms in the play. But there are lots of people doing that without much trouble. A friend of mine only payed about 100 dollar in 5 years so it sure is possible.

  • BenthonBenthon Member Posts: 2,069

    Pretty sure MMORPG hosted a article for this a week ago here.

    He who keeps his cool best wins.

  • PhryPhry Member LegendaryPosts: 11,004

    Originally posted by EU_RAZER

    Sure it is for casual gamers, just don't expact to make any money of the game.

    The way to make money is to invest money (like NEVERDIE, Buzz  and some other) and make it your job to play or get very lucky.  You can play for lets say 25 dollar a month IF you play smart and keep the hunts and stuff within your skill level.

    You can even play for free, but thats where the grinding coms in the play. But there are lots of people doing that without much trouble. A friend of mine only payed about 100 dollar in 5 years so it sure is possible.

    sure, you can gather animal 'sweat' to make a little cash.. and i do mean 'little' but if you want to actually go out and kill something then, 25 dollars a months is actually, on the low side.. it can cost a hell of a lot more than that.. i think the fact that the guy made so much profit just goes to show how much of a scam this game is.. its basis is more in the line of pyramid selling, and just as dodgy, where 99 percent of the players are making money for the 1 percent who have the 'in' ..  something that potential players should be made aware of before parting with their cash imo.image

  • EU_RAZEREU_RAZER Member Posts: 85

    And where do you get the info that 99% of the players are making money??

    And as said before, do not expact to make money if you are not willing to put money in to the game. This is REAL money and you can't expact the game company to give away free cash except for the sweat you gather. The money is made from other players, so yes people are loosing money to, or spending it to have some fun like I do.

    So if you look at it in terms of spending some money on a hobby it is great, if you look at it in terms of getting rich fast you are wrong !

  • LoktofeitLoktofeit Member RarePosts: 14,247

    Originally posted by EU_RAZER

    And where do you get the info that 99% of the players are making money??

    He said they are making it for the 1%, which seems about right to the outsider because it's only two or three players that anyone's ever heard about from this game over the past... decade? I think more people would find EU news more interesting if it was about more than just how much money Neverdie spent or made. 

    What are the other players doing? What kind of events do they gather for? What organizations have they formed? Drama? Politics? Achievements?

     

    There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
    "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre

  • TheHatterTheHatter Member Posts: 2,547

    I just want to note that every news article like this, all stems from the exact same person.

    I just think it's some rich boy, who likes to see his name in the news. He bought something not too long ago, for $400k. 

  • EU_RAZEREU_RAZER Member Posts: 85

    you are wrong

    NEVERDIE bought the station about 5 years ago for 100.000 dollar

    6 years ago Deathifier bought an island for 25.000 dollar

    Erik Buzz Lightyear bought another space station for 330.000 dollar last year

    and now NEVERDIE has sold his spacestation to a few people with one of the parts beeing 335.000 dollar, but the total being around 650.000 dollar, so all a different person

  • LoktofeitLoktofeit Member RarePosts: 14,247

    The fact still remains that it's just news about the same few guys at the top over and over. I think EU would be enticing to more people if there was news relayed about the cool stuff the average player does or can do in the game.

    There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
    "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre

  • bansanbansan Member Posts: 367

    Basically it's just like business, you skim a little from each player and it adds up for one player.

    This was the same guy that bought some "egg" for 16k and sold it for somewhere around 60k, if memory serves (I may be off by a bit).

  • AlphaGeekAlphaGeek Member UncommonPosts: 193

    ARX-7, Correction: This game is for people that can perform math, plan, and stick to a budget. If you cannot, you will smell of fail.

    Do you smell of fail, ARX-7?

    Alpha AG Geek
    Founder- Manticore Society

  • EU_RAZEREU_RAZER Member Posts: 85

    Originally posted by Loktofeit

    The fact still remains that it's just news about the same few guys at the top over and over. I think EU would be enticing to more people if there was news relayed about the cool stuff the average player does or can do in the game.

    I do agree with you one that. There is to little done to attrackt players other then news like this. The game company has always depended on stuff like this for advertisement. But with the new planets comming pretty soon I'm sure this will change because the new planets will be competing for players and they have to advertise more. And from what I have heard from the new planet people be ready for some nice add campaigns.

  • EU_RAZEREU_RAZER Member Posts: 85

    Originally posted by bansan

    Basically it's just like business, you skim a little from each player and it adds up for one player.

    This was the same guy that bought some "egg" for 16k and sold it for somewhere around 60k, if memory serves (I may be off by a bit).

    Yep NEVERDIE bought the egg and sold it for 60k to Deathifier.

    This does prove Loktofeit  story of it beein just a few people in the news all the time but like I said that doesn't make it a bad game, just bad advertisement.

     

    Take a look at the link in my signature to find out what the normal players are thinking and doing

  • PreponerancePreponerance Member Posts: 295

    Plenty of people put RL money into subs, yet it's not really an investment since their characters usually "belong" to the developer.  How many level 80 WoW Characters do you have to sell to make a ROI %535 and 500000k in cash.

  • SomeguynamedSomeguynamed Member UncommonPosts: 69

     

    I've never played this game, I'm here because the yahoo article caught my attention.

    I read in some earlier posts that all of the headlines in this game are generated by 2 - 3 of the same players.  I was wondering, would it be possible they are some how associated with the game company (like a stock holder, or the relative of a stock holder), and have created these news as publicity stunts?  Because I find it hard to believe someone would spend $100,000 real cash in a computer game, even if he is a kid from a rich family. 

    For example, what if Neverdie is a part owner, or affiliated with a part owner in MindArtk.  Maybe he would know the game mechanics inside and out.  Then he invests $100,000 under the direction of the stock holder, and the in depth knowledge of game mechanics help him make $500,000? (or if he was a part owner, it would be like investing $100,000 into his own company?)

    I'm just wondering about the validity of the big news generated by these 2 - 3 players, because I don't think yahoo would audit their books or bank accounts before posting the story. (for all I know, MindArk may have paid yahoo to post).  And could these 3 players be associated with a developer or an owner in the company?  (like a cousin / close friend / step brother / family-in-law, whatever).

  • AlphaGeekAlphaGeek Member UncommonPosts: 193

    Someguynamed, because Sweden has laws regarding stuff like you're insinuating.

    You'd better take a close look at Bill Gates and Warren Buffet also. You know how much news is generated in the news about them in their particular fields, too!  LOL

    Seriously, there are only a few really big spenders in Entropia. There are far more noobs and midlevels than those that dump tens of thousands and more on virtual properties in the game. Most of us are just in to play the game, although I'm sure many of the current crop of noobs came sniffing around in the hopes of free money.

    Besides, cousins in this game get their kneecaps shot!  (long story, in-joke involving a scam of quite expensive armor and the excuses given by the perp)  PM for details if you want 'em. :)

    Alpha AG Geek
    Founder- Manticore Society

  • GeevesGeeves Member UncommonPosts: 149

    When this game dies some people are going to lose an absolute ton of money.

    MUNDO!!

  • EU_RAZEREU_RAZER Member Posts: 85

    They could, but if Trerasure Island and the first sale of CND are anything like the sale of CND this time, the investment will be back within a few months, sure this time the investment is much bigger, so make it a year.

    But my guess is that this game will go one for a long time. New and very exciting planets are comming next year which will bring in lots of new players and money for MindArk to keep developing it. The planets that are comming are very different from each other so something to anyones liking, and that the 'trick' here, anyone will find a planet they like in Entropia Universe, so potentially any gamer migh play in EU.

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