The Unreal Opportunity (Part 4): A New Approach to the Webshop

The relaunch provides an opportunity to reconsider the webshop beyond starter packs.

MindArk should consider maintaining a small, carefully selected range of new direct-sale items independent of the starter packs.

This should emphatically not become a conventional MMO cash shop with hundreds of items competing against Entropia’s player economy.

Potential offerings could include cosmetic clothing, vehicle skins, avatar customization products, estate decorations, storage/convenience products, account-bound cosmetic items and occasional commemorative releases associated with anniversaries, planets or major events.

The governing principle should be:

Sell expression, convenience and participation without replacing the player economy.

Direct-sale items that compete materially with crafted goods, hunting loot or existing player businesses should be approached much more cautiously.