17-12-2004 23:50									#1
	Gamer buys virtual Island for real $ Inflate your Upload Space

That's right!

quote: 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.

Any takers?

	17-12-2004 23:53									#2
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You mean it was you, and now you want to get rid of it?

	17-12-2004 23:54									#3
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"A fool and his money are soon parted."
-- Thomas Tusser, English farmer and writer, 1524-1580

	17-12-2004 23:54									#4
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That would make that seafront property in new mexico expression take a whole new meaning.

nerds

	17-12-2004 23:57									#5
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What's the problem?

After all, it's little different from spending thousands of $ for a painting.

	17-12-2004 23:58									#6
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor What's the problem? After all, it's little different from spending thousands of $ for a painting.

Equally stupid IMO.

	17-12-2004 23:59									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor What's the problem? After all, it's little different from spending thousands of $ for a painting.

that's a strong point.

I would point out that paintings are enjoyed by most people, though.

	18-12-2004 00:02									#8
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quote: Originally posted by Asher Equally stupid IMO.

There's nothing stupid with wasting your money where you wish

	18-12-2004 00:02									#9
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor What's the problem? After all, it's little different from spending thousands of $ for a painting.

Aside from a painting (usually) being art.

	18-12-2004 00:03									#10
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quote: Originally posted by Tattila the Hun You mean it was you, and now you want to get rid of it?

I'll say again: any takers?

	18-12-2004 00:04									#11
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quote: Originally posted by General Ludd Aside from a painting (usually) being art.

ppffft. opressor.

	18-12-2004 00:05									#12
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OTOH we may have a clue as to why Horsie has to move to Korea: Mrs. Horse may have just found out about this...

	18-12-2004 00:06									#13
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Really, I don't see what is "stupid" here, unless you consider buying a computer game, paying to see a movie, or spending money at an expansive restaurant instead of a cheap joint, is "stupid".

The guy values this symbolic good very much. It brings some contentment to him to have bought it. Y'all consider this island worthless, but he (and the other members of the auction) doesn't. The value of something is what someone else would be willing to pay you know

	18-12-2004 00:07									#14
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libertarianism

	18-12-2004 00:10									#15
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Actually, by reading the article, I'm more surprised at this. The guy has actually made an investment to earn money

quote: 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 become 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.

	18-12-2004 00:12									#16
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Yep: i predict that by the time this thread hits 200 views we'll have someone here who has signed on to this.

Hell: Asher may be there right now!

	18-12-2004 00:14									#17
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Yeah, we've heard about all of this, and many a libertarian creamed their pants over this.

Btw, can one conquer stuff, and drive him away from his island, in game?

	18-12-2004 00:15									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel Btw, can one conquer stuff, and drive him away from his island, in game?

	18-12-2004 00:15									#19
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor What's the problem? After all, it's little different from spending thousands of $ for a painting.

More like buying an unnumbered lithograph by a living artist, dont you think?

	18-12-2004 00:16									#20
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For anyone interested: https://www.project-entropia.com/Index.ajp

	18-12-2004 00:18									#21
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor

That would be only fair. Otherwise, where's the gaming interest?

* Az wants to spawn into the game with a party of storm troopers in power armors, to smite away those bow and sabre totting *******s.

	18-12-2004 00:21									#22
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Maybe you can buy your own militia or finance a revolution on his Island... But as it says: it's your own real money that you use...

For those who do have the $, i guess it can be interesting.

	18-12-2004 00:21									#23
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel * Azazel wants to spawn into the game with a party of storm troopers in power armors, to smite away those bow and sabre totting *******s.

Project Entropia is set in a sci-fi environment.

	18-12-2004 00:22									#24
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oh, damn. Well, I'll guess I'll need the bigger raygun, or something.

	18-12-2004 00:28									#25
	Re: Gamer buys virtual Island for real $ Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Kind of gives new meaning to the term 'ficticious capital'

	18-12-2004 00:39									#26
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quote: 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.

	18-12-2004 00:47									#27
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I'd like to see someone get a mortgage on this stuff.

	18-12-2004 01:01									#28
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I would love to play these games, but I would get too into it, and slack off in the real world. With real money it's like gambling I think. Even worse.

	18-12-2004 01:09									#29
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor What's the problem? After all, it's little different from spending thousands of $ for a painting.

I agree...

	18-12-2004 01:17									#30
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I've seen this game. Someone who spends real money on buying things in a game has problems. This is completely different from buying the game itself.

quote: Originally posted by Smiley I'd like to see someone get a mortgage on this stuff.

Imagine if the server crashed and all the data was lost