[font=Verdana]A subject that has been open to much debate is the very nature of Project Entropia itself. This subject has been discussed over and over in every shop container on the planet since I started participating in PE. Some believe that PE is like an online casino where the stakes are high but the rewards are great. Others just casually look upon it as a simple game where the primary goal is to attain skills. Many cleave to the idea of a ‘Virtual Universe’ where they can escape after they get home from work, slipping into their evening clothes and meeting with their friends. Fortunately for us, these topics have been clearly defined by Mind Ark … or have they?[/font]
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[font=Verdana]From the ‘Security Breach’ in-game painting image that was converted to an internet advertisement campaign, to the content of their home page that is updated to this day, it is clear that Project Entropia is marketed to the public as a game. Such gaming content is mostly unheard of, real money mingling with virtual currency. We read into the advertisements like it’s perhaps the best thing to come along since canned-soda. We buy into their commercial, free of charge of course, and download the client-side software so that we too can begin to “have fun and get paid.”[/font]
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[font=Verdana]https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/gallery/files/8/1/2/peadvert_thumb.jpghttps://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/gallery/files/8/1/2/Is_Game_thumb.jpg[/font]
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[font=Verdana]This is where all connection to the ‘Gaming’ community ceases. No sooner do we download the software and give it a double click then we are met with Mind-Arks long and laborious EULA (End User License Agreement) which slaps us in the cheek of our enthusiasm and undoubtedly tells us that “this is NOT a game.” We discover that we have entered a virtual universe that has more clauses and conditions than a mortgage on a new car or a contract with a shrewd lawyer. This is usually a breakthrough that is made after months of participation in PE, when we find ourselves bored, with nothing much more to do than actually read the EULA.[/font]
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[font=Verdana]Yet, after months of time and much commitment to ‘Playing’ PE, we are met with the above illuminations with a moderate amount of confusion, for by this time many have acquired a feel for the virtual universe of Project Entropia, and this game of ours seems to feel more and more like a casino with every passing day. The distinction between fun and luck becomes seriously blurred, and we begin to use these terms interchangeably and without barriers of definition to separate them. Hunting the Armax Bull or the Standard Damper becomes synonymous with rolling the dice: some get lucky and some don’t. A Gratz to those that do, and damn to those that don’t.[/font]
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[font=Verdana]Are we gaming? Are we living? Are we gambling? Are the marketing strategies of the Mind-Ark advertisement campaigns to be believed? Are the classifications of our ‘Virtual Universe’ what is truly real, or are we simply accepting an EULA that assuages MA of all liability and financial responsibility? Are we to run to the nearest Gamblers Anonymous meeting and sign the guest book? Will questions such as these ever have answers which we can hang our proverbial PE hats on? [/font]
There is a very great and popular Japanese Anime which deals with the same topic :“Lain”
It’s about how the Wire (= Internet) interferes with the real world.
Everybody who knows this Anime movie will remember this quotation:
“The Wired is much more real than the real world.”
I think this is a really striking, strong sentence and worth to be thought about.
I think john C Lilly once said " What one believes to be true, either is true or becomes true"
Life is what you make of it. If you believe that is unfair, there is no god, there is no hope, you have no opportunity, the rich just get richer etc… All of that stuff then comes into being for you… However if you believe in karma, destiny or yourself, life can be extremely fulfilling and filled with opportunity…
For me personally, I believe the same applies to Virtual Reality. I also chose to believe that PE is a virtual Reality… I’m not asking anyon else to adopt my belief, just sharing mine
stop with the nonsense
what do you mean is not real ?
is as real as the little papers i have in my wallet and you call money
it’s all about your mind and where is it … not only your body … if you have same feeling when hunting on calypso as when hunting alien creatures in real life on a planet in a far galaxy than is real
to bad we need to log in the real world sometimes … oh wait this is the real world … the earth is just a virus … oh … too confusing
I play it to have fun. Sure it costs money, but so does other games. The payments in PE are just… different. Blackjack is a game too, btw… And like so many other games, Black Jack is really boring if you don’t play for money. (or something else)
Only thing that I find weird in the EULA, is the unquestioned power that MA gives themselfes over everything in the virtual universe.
If this is really a Virtual life with real money, I don’t think that passages from the EULA like “MA may terminate accounts without explanation… bla bla bla”. (I haven’t looked up the exact words of it, but that’s how I remember it).
If this was taken to trial in a real court, I’m sure MA would lose. They can’t claim to have a real economy on one hand, and at the same time have no responsibilities whatsoever.
Well… Just my humble opinion. Good post as usual, Tool
I’d have to go with “all of the above”.
Technically speaking, one cannot deny that you are playing a game. MA just doesn’t like the term ‘game’ because they want to attract adults with credit cards, and rich folks are often put off by the idea of childish video games. Thus, the introduction of their terminology: virtual universe.
Within the game we are playing, there is a virtual universe. But this applies to any game… World of Warcraft, Deus Ex, _______ Quest I-VIII, The Elder Scrolls, The Lost Vikings… even Zork!
The only difference between PE and other games is the financial tie to the real world. Some people might say that the economy in PE is more realistic than what is in other game, but I would argue against that – that’s a touch off topic, though.
You cannot remove the virtual universe from the framing we have it in: gaming software. There’s just a realistic touch to the dollar signs in-game. If MA wants to market it as “not a ‘game’”, by all means go ahead, but the dictionary would argue otherwise.
Game:
An activity providing entertainment or amusement
A competitive activity or sport in which players contend with each other according to a set of rules
…other def’ns…
It might also be interesting to note that recent history of the word “game” is related to gambling.
PE isn’t a virtual universe because there is no immersion.
It is true that what we believe is the real world may be an illusion - but we are immersed in that illusion. It surrounds us - by default we believe what we see and we must rationalize away from that belief.
But there is no immersion in PE. NONE. Therefore, it is not a virtual universe.
In the matrix the immersion factor was so real that when you were injured while in the matrix you would bleed in the real world. That’s immersion. Therefore the matrix was/is a virtual universe. A universe, virtual or otherwise, must immerse those that live within to the point that they believe in that universe.
When MA does a better job on immersion they can start to talk about their product as being a virtual universe. Until then, it’s just a game.
All though PE is by far the best and most advanced MMORPG i have tried, It’s still way too limited and plain to be called a Virtual Universe. Perhaps in a few years PE can earn that title, but until then it’s a game… A darn good game…
I’m for gaming. It was gaming that brought me to PE and gaming is why I stay. I admit I have some gambler in me but if I wanted to gamble I’d go play online poker or go to the Racino up the road from me to play slots.
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[font=Verdana]From the ‘Security Breach’ in-game painting image that was converted to an internet advertisement campaign, to the content of their home page that is updated to this day, it is clear that Project Entropia is marketed to the public as a game. Such gaming content is mostly unheard of, real money mingling with virtual currency. We read into the advertisements like it’s perhaps the best thing to come along since canned-soda. We buy into their commercial, free of charge of course, and download the client-side software so that we too can begin to “have fun and get paid.”[/font]
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Actually… it’s not unheard of, money mingling with “virtual” currency. It’s just that in most games it’s against EULA to involve real money with any item transaction since the items are the property of the game company. Even MA has mandated that out-of-game transactions involving real money violate terms as I recall reading on these forums.
People have been buying and selling game-bound items since there were games where it could be done. It was done in text-based online games before the first graphical MMORPG ever hit the market. There is an entire industry based on those transactions. People make money levelling characters, and selling them off. They rent out “power levelling” services.. they sell items, money etc..
It’s just that in PE, it’s allowed within the set system. With EQ2, you go to a web site, pay money, and someone delivers money to you in game. Here, you give the money right to MA and get money in game.
Even EQ2 now has servers where people can auction items and even characters for real money through the Exchange system.
It’s a game.. nothing more, nothing less. Sure, it costs more than others (IF you choose to let it) but I also enjoy it much more so far than I have any of the other online games I’ve played over the past 14 years, except for one particular text-based RPG which still exists, but is a shadow of its former self.
Im just pissed that none of the female avatars look like the chick in that picture…game or virtual universe…who cares?? lets just get the avatars lookin like her and I will play double what I play now.
PE will cost you as much as you like, for me it’s a come with a monthly fee of 100 $, i have acepded with this and stick to this. If i get carryed away i add 50 $ more. The game itself is free and there is many plenty of features haw to make money, all you need is brains and huuuuge patience.
I didn’t come here for the money, but the amaising grafic, wich i havent seen before. I remember that i made ok many months chast with 10$. This is place where i meet with my friends and make new connections.
PE is chast amaising and i havent found any uther good as this.
Sharyn speaking for herself …why did I vote Gaming …it started as a game for me, but is it still one?..hmmm…feels like one
Now, on more serious grounds…
I started playing this game (I don’t pretty much fancy the Virtual Universe ideea) some 2 years ago, but I hadn’t had the possibility of depositing back then so, though I liked it a lot, I had to take a raincheck
As I got more skills IRL (reaching Trained Person with a JOB) I remebered about PE and decided to come back (or really start playing)…at the begining I was a bit confused as mobs had the “no loot” option…first impulse was to hit Esc and then Del on the PE folder…it passed
I slowly began to work my way up with the skill tree. For me, the skill tree seems to be the most appealing thingie in-game. I sometimes get the feeling that skills count more or less, the actual outcome of my actions beeing related more to the VU. But I still see PE as a game, meant to relax oneself, and it usually does that to me. There are times when I get a bit frustrated 'bout returns and such, but I never had any big ones really, and maybe that’s why…looking at that chatboard and seeing those k’s ped makes me want some too…
There is one place in PE where I feel like in a casino, and that’s the Component Crafting Machine :laugh: … I actually call it the Slot Machine as I don’t feel any thrills on using it, beeing more of an old lady in a Vegas Casino with coins (basic crafting resources) to last a whole day…
As aiming for a conclusion, I like PE as it is, though there’s always room for improvement. And I think that everybody who doesn’t take it too serious should feel the same way.
