I haven't voted, because there isn't a third option; something along the lines of, "show me a prospectus, balance and cash flow sheets, etc. first"
I do a lot of investing and stock trading, and while I do sometimes take on a high degree of speculative risk (like the position I currently hold in MGN Technologies, a company that created a software platform for wireless online gambling), when it comes to a company like Mindark and its product, I'd want more information.
For a couple of years, shares of Mindark would probably do rather well, though I think it would mostly be a sentiment driven performance rather than a rise due to company fundamentals. The big stumbling block I would forsee for this hypothetical Mindark stock in the future would be the "one trick pony" phenomenon, as I like to call it: Mindark's whole baby is PE, and the MMORPG concept is not unique. Granted, the real cash economy aspect of it is, but that's not something they can claim an exclusive right to. Someone else can create thier own RCE-MMORPG and draw away players and money.
To avoid this, Mindark would need to keep coming up with new product, which they are doing in the form of updates and additions to PE. But they would also need to diversify into other merchandise lines, and even other games, or else the 'next big thing' someone else produces will take away the momentum. Case in point: look at how much griping and whining people do on these boards about how PE is "ripping them off" - do you think those people would jump ship and move to the newer, sleeker RCE-MMORPG? How about adding in that early adopters become "ubers" faster than late comers? My guess is that loyalties to PE would suddenly prove rather shallow...
Just my two pecs. Good topic though, very thought provoking and discussion worthy, so +rep in my book. And to echo what others have said: selling shares through the TT, not possible. The various securities and exchange agencies from one country to the next wouldn't let that fly, and for good reason - no regulatory oversight (in other words, if things were handled this way, Mindark could tell you anything they wanted to about the state of the company - United States circa 1929, anyone?
).
Much loot,
Zim