Entropia Virtual Property Sold for $100K
A virtual in-game “space station resort,” auctioned off by the makers of Project Entropia, has been sold to real-life entrepreneur Jon Jacobs for $100K. Jacobs forecasts revenues of $20,000/month from admission fees, residential and commercial rental fees, advertising fees from the station’s billboard system, etc. Apparently there is some speculation that Jon and the makers of Entropia are in cahoots, trying to generate buzz. Well, I’ll bite. *grin* While I’m more interested in property being generated by end-users in games like Second-Life, it’s interesting to see how differing levels of creative and/or entrepreneurial need can be addressed by game developers. Perhaps these games will become so popular that developers can offer “design seminars” in major cities in order to encourage further creativity and activity. I bet people would pay to attend the seminars (though it might be worth making them free.) |
Name: David EderyLocation: Kirkland
Bio: Manager and Principal of Fuzbi, a consulting firm focused on the business and design of online video games, and research affiliate of the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program.
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I guess I just don’t get why Entropia or Second Life are fun for their participants. I guess the economies are so unequal that you can buy a house in-game where you might not be able to afford on in real life. Jon Jacobs couldn’t have afforded a real life space station resort.
Nonetheless, it seems like the fun derived from these games is entirely social, completely derived from one’s desire to show off to other people. Frankly, I don’t really like other people, so this sort of game doesn’t appeal to me.
Comment by breath — November 10, 2005 @ 5:24 pmI’m not sure “showing off” is the right terminology. There’s something deeply satisfying about making something that other people appreciate. Create a place where people can feed off each other’s creative energy, and its no surprise that a strong community forms. Ten thousand users can respond to each other’s needs in a fluid economy far faster than twenty designers ever could!
Comment by David J Edery — November 10, 2005 @ 10:52 pm