Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land

Would you pay money for this virtual vista?
A 22-year-old gamer has spent $26,500 (£13,700) on an island that exists only in a computer role-playing game (RPG).
The Australian gamer, known only by his gaming moniker Deathifier, bought the island in an online auction.

The land exists within the game Project Entropia, an RPG which allows thousands of players to interact with each other.

Entropia allows gamers to buy and sell virtual items using real cash, while fans of other titles often use auction site eBay to sell their virtual wares.

Earlier this year economists calculated that these massively multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPGs) have a gross economic impact equivalent to the GDP of the African nation of Namibia.

Investment prospects

"This is a historic moment in gaming history, and this sale only goes to prove that massive multi-player online gaming has reached a new plateau," said Marco Behrmann, director of community relations at Mindark, the game's developer.

ISLAND PACKAGE

A unique castle (furniture not included)
Hunting
Mining rights
Taxation rights on hunting and mining activities
Income from the sale of land lots
The virtual island includes a gigantic abandoned castle and beautiful beaches which are described as ripe for developing beachfront property.

Deathifier will make money from his investment as he is able to tax other gamers who come to his virtual land to hunt or mine for gold.

He has also begun to sell plots to people who wish to build virtual homes.

"This type of investment will definitely become a trend in online gaming," said Deathifier.

The Entopia economy lets gamers exchange real currency into PED (Project Entropia Dollars) and back again into real money.

Ten PEDs are the equivalent to one US dollar and typical items sold include iron ingots ($5) and shogun armour ($1.70)

Gamers can theoretically earn money by accumulating PEDs through the acquisition of goods, buildings, and land in the Entropia universe.

MMORPGs have becoming enormously popular in the last 10 years with hundreds of thousands of gamers living out alternate lives in fantasy worlds.

Almost 200,000 people are registered players on Project Entropia.

I can't even master Pac-Man for fuck sakes.

Don't feel bad .. Pac Man is really hard.. try Ms. Pac Man .. I always found it easier.. and you have those nice intermissions to take a break.

you and me both chris

I was good at pong though

:okthumb:

The owners probably bought it themself - trying to spin the media (looks like it worked) :awinky:

But yeah - I would probably invest in some games - some people are living more in the virtual game world, than in the real world - can´t see that changing in the next years...

Some domains have high price tag todays, and they were also looked as crazy investments in the begining ;-)

OMFG!!!

These nerds do have money.

Therefore there must be someway I can part them from it :)

;-)))

WTF!!!!!!

75 Warrior/70 Ranger/64 Samurai! Awesome Gear, Tons of AF, Awesome Subjobs, Summons (Fenrir) and More!!!

$999.99

There is some damn good money to be made selling virtual items for the MMORPG arena. From special weapons , armor, and the coin of the realm to stuff like property mentioned here.

http://www.ige.com/

They have shops for buying high leveled characters, money, etc for several MMORPG games.

I figure by 2006, it'll be bigger than porn....

http://www.muchosucko.com/video-reno...rdscuffle.html

With all the high paying "nerd" jobs out there, then they have to use their money on something... :awinky:

I have a very reasonable Virtual Bridge for sale if anyone is interested... Or maybe the wonderful building plot in the Virtual Everglades. All offers concidered. :groucho: :hic:

And people will pay it because otherwise it would take a nrmal gamer 6 months to a year or more to gte a character leveled that high depending on how often they play.

Maybe we can create a virtual company in their world and shave them? :D

Oh no! But then, we could get caught and spend our days in a virtual prison! LMAO!!