State of the Universe Address 2012

[Bertha Bot]

Fellow Entropians,

After an eventful and challenging 2011, Entropia Universe enters the new year with solid plans for growth and the opportunity to dramatically improve the user experience for current and future participants. Before detailing some of our upcoming development plans for the new year, let me first take a few moments to summarize the progress that was made in 2011.

Entropia Universe participants enjoyed many improvements and additions in 2011. One of the most anticipated of these was the launch in May of Entropia’s fourth planet, Planet Arkadia. Throughout the year, the existing planets of Calypso, ROCKTropia and Next Island received numerous content updates and patches to expand and improve the overall user experience and fun-factor.

On the platform side of things, work continued in 2011 on reimplementing some of the older game systems into the CryEngine2 environment, such as make-up and robot beacons. Several exciting new game systems were also developed and released, including an impressive achievements system, space travel and combat, fort PvP events, and wave spawn logic for boss-level creatures.

By far one of the most exciting events of 2011 was the announcement late in the year of Calypso Land Deeds, which allow avatars to become citizens of Planet Calypso and receive a share of the Planet Partner Gross Revenue. In addition, each of the 60,000 land deeds will provide the holder with voting rights in a new Political system scheduled for development later this year, which will allow avatars to have a direct influence on the future development of Calypso. Probably due to the high rate of return received since they were released (currently over 28% ROI), Calypso Land Deeds are being snapped up incredibly quickly on the Entropia Universe global auction, with less than half of the original offering of 60,000 deeds remaining.

While much was accomplished during the last year, 2012 offers even more opportunities and promises to be even brighter for Entropia Universe in terms of number of participants, active Planet Partners and the continued development of rich new game systems. MindArk is very much looking forward to welcoming two exciting new planets into the universe in 2012: the sci-fi themed Planet Cyrene, and the Arabian themed Planet Toulan.

To accomodate the increasing number of planets within Entropia Universe and to encourage the growth of local planetary economies, one area that will receive special attention in the coming months is space travel and interplanetary trade. Resources and materials will be rebalanced among the planets in order to enable each planet to develop a thriving and healthy local economy, while at the same time creating opportunities for participants to engage in commerce across multiple planets.

One of the main priorities for MindArk and its Planet Partners in 2012 will be improving the experience for new participants. Our development team is already hard at work redesigning the Genesis new arrivals area, with a focus on making it easier for new participants to become familiar with the user interface and Entropia Universe game concepts. Another priority during 2012 will be improving the balance and performance of existing game systems, along with finalizing the reintroduction of prior game systems disabled after the CryEngine2 conversion.

MindArk’s plan for maximising the potential of Entropia Universe in 2012 focuses on two key areas:

1. Upgrade existing game systems to provide an enjoyable and rewarding user experience.
2. Develop innovative and reliable new game systems to enable our Planet Partners to deliver engaging and immersive content for Entropia Universe participants.

As these planned improvements and developments are completed during 2012, MindArk will ramp up its efforts to promote Entropia Universe and expand the active user base.

Finally, I would like to thank you for your participation in Entropia Universe. The most important ingredient for a successful virtual universe is a dedicated and enthusiastic community of participants. Without a doubt, Entropia Universe would not be the vibrant and unique experience it is today without your involvement.

I hope that you share my excitement and outlook for the future of Entropia Universe. All of us at MindArk promise to do all we can to make 2012 the best year yet to be an Entropian!

Warm Regards,

Jan Welter Timkrans

Chairman of the Board, MindArk PE AB
Humble Creator of Entropia Universe


Originally Posted Here

 

[Ludvig|MindArk]

Thanks to Jan for releasing some information, although I do have a few question that I hope he can come here and answer (or have Kim answer for him)

To accomodate the increasing number of planets within Entropia Universe and to encourage the growth of local planetary economies, one area that will receive special attention in the coming months is space travel and interplanetary trade.

Will we see a roadmap on how space will be improved? Or at least a list of different ideas and improvements you are planning, like for example "More different types of ships", "Adding gravity", "Adding space hazards like black holes and asteroids", etc?



Will space be revamped so that there are actually different planet systems for the planets? Calypso is according to its background located in the Omega 16 Reticulum system, not some weird planet cluster as it is now


EDIT:

Another priority during 2012 will be improving the balance and performance of existing game systems

Would it be possible to release a priority list for this, or at least tell us how you set the priority? Is it based solely on PP requests, on what MA feels is more important, on how many use the system or on what you see mentioned the most on the forums or something?

 

[Magyar_Republic]

To accomodate the increasing number of planets within Entropia Universe and to encourage the growth of local planetary economies, one area that will receive special attention in the coming months is space travel and interplanetary trade. Resources and materials will be rebalanced among the planets in order to enable each planet to develop a thriving and healthy local economy, while at the same time creating opportunities for participants to engage in commerce across multiple planets.

The way I'm reading this it looks like certain planets will be rich in certain resources and materials, and others will be poor in them, thus requiring trade. I think that's a good move, and will spur the continued development of space over the long term.

Good to see updates like this. Keep them coming.

 

[RobVee]

Thanks for the statement! Always an interesting read and good to see that the old system (taming) is still not forgotten!

(...) Calypso Land Deeds are being snapped up incredibly quickly on the Entropia Universe global auction, with less than half of the original offering of 60,000 deeds remaining.

How is that possible when currently 24.1M deeds were sold through auction (including colonist to colonist selling) and an earlier statement told us that Calypso Land Deeds were exclusively sold through the ingame auction?

 

[Ludvig|MindArk]

How is that possible when currently 24.1M deeds were sold through auction (including colonist to colonist selling) and an earlier statement told us that Calypso Land Deeds were exclusively sold through the ingame auction?

Maybe it has something to do with this:

Q. What quantities of Land Lot deeds are available?
A. Land Lot deeds are available in single units, as well as in stacks for 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. For those interested in larger quantities of over 500 and need help or advise please contact info@mindark.com

(Quote from http://www.entropiauniverse.com/bulletin/buzz/)



EDIT: Actually, are you 100% sure that the tt value of 1000 land deeds is exactly 1PEC? Because I saw someone say otherwise and I only own one so I can't check

EDIT2: I checked, they have that TT value (used auction and markup to check, a land deed at 1PED is 10000000.00%)

 

[RobVee]

Maybe it has something to do with this:





(Quote from http://www.entropiauniverse.com/bulletin/buzz/)



EDIT: Actually, are you 100% sure that the tt value of 1000 land deeds is exactly 1PEC? Because I saw someone say otherwise and I only own one so I can't check

Exactly, and from the same page we can read this:

Sixty thousand land lot deeds offered at $100 USD each are available exclusively through the Entropia Universe global auction and can be acquired by anyone after creating a free avatar.

Which in fact is not entirely true either, since Calypso Land Deeds are also sold by MindArk through the Planet Calypso auction.

 

[Few Scars]

Thank you for the address. I look forward to improvements in space and space travel. Lets see what this year brings

 

[Ludvig|MindArk]

Which in fact is not entirely true either, since Calypso Land Deeds are also sold by MindArk through the Planet Calypso auction.

Hm yeah they started listing them there as well when people started reselling them on auction

 

[Leona]

How is that possible when currently 24.1M deeds were sold through auction (including colonist to colonist selling) and an earlier statement told us that Calypso Land Deeds were exclusively sold through the ingame auction?

One can buy deeds direct if it is a large enough quantity.

 

[RobVee]

One can buy deeds direct if it is a large enough quantity.

Fair enough. Maybe I'm too dumb to understand the meaning of the word 'exclusively'.

Sixty thousand land lot deeds offered at $100 USD each are available exclusively through the Entropia Universe global auction and can be acquired by anyone after creating a free avatar.

Or more simple: either the statement is false or the quote from the latest buzz is false.

 

[Leona]

Fair enough. Maybe I'm too dumb to understand the meaning of the word 'exclusively'.

The Q&A from November 16, 2011 is the latest info source we have on the topic. Seems they made some changes after the initial announcement how to distribute the deeds (local Caly auction and direct buy over 500 deeds). Makes sense, doesn't it?

 

[shoti]

wow..more comunication toward participants !.... you see ? one post cost nothing and bring so much happines

 

[RobVee]

The Q&A from November 16, 2011 is the latest info source we have on the topic. Seems they made some changes after the initial announcement how to distribute the deeds (local Caly auction and direct buy over 500 deeds). Makes sense, doesn't it?

I must have missed that Q&A then...

Too bad, really. I liked tracking sales progress through the ingame auction.

 

[Bjorn|MindArk]

I'd just like to clear up the confusion about the number of land deeds remaining-

The market history graphs only reflect auction transactions. As we made clear in the Land Deed Q&A, participants interested in larger quantities can contact MindArk directly to make arrangements for stacks larger than 100 deeds.

 

[helena]

Thanks for the annoucment, but there is not really concret stuff here

like

janurary: releasing planet cyrene
february : politic system

etc...

 

[RobVee]

I'd just like to clear up the confusion about the number of land deeds remaining-

The market history graphs only reflect auction transactions. As we made clear in the Land Deed Q&A, participants interested in larger quantities can contact MindArk directly to make arrangements for stacks larger than 100 deeds.

Thanks! That clears it up then. Would be nice to have the information when other milestones are reached, eg. 40K sold, 50K sold, 60K sold.

 

[billairboy]

Wow, MA likes to talk today, back from Christmas holidays?

Thanks for the annoucment, but there is not really concret stuff here

like

janurary: releasing planet cyrene
february : politic system

etc...

Politic/voty system will probaly not come this year.

 

[SpikeBlack]

To accomodate the increasing number of planets within Entropia Universe and to encourage the growth of local planetary economies, one area that will receive special attention in the coming months is space travel and interplanetary trade. Resources and materials will be rebalanced among the planets in order to enable each planet to develop a thriving and healthy local economy, while at the same time creating opportunities for participants to engage in commerce across multiple planets.

hmmmm. This could be taken in many ways, some good and some bad.

Are they going to remove certain resources from planets (more than likely Calypso) to force players to trade or add new semi-required items that use resources from multiple planets like welding wire.

In order to maintain a local economy each planet needs bp's that only use local resources and to encourage people to craft with them, rather than just being forced to trawl it all back to Calypso.

Space needs breaking up so that each planet has it's own area with a gate system for small ships while the motherships and privateers can use their hyperspace engines. It will make it far easier to add new planets rather than expanding the current version to squeeze in another one. If they can choose to make it unlootable or lootable we'll know purely by the amount of trade between certain planets what's more popular with the players.

 

[Etopia]

still no plan to make advert and get new player to game ?

 

[StarGlider]

To accomodate the increasing number of planets within Entropia Universe and to encourage the growth of local planetary economies, one area that will receive special attention in the coming months is space travel and interplanetary trade. Resources and materials will be rebalanced among the planets in order to enable each planet to develop a thriving and healthy local economy, while at the same time creating opportunities for participants to engage in commerce across multiple planets.
Originally Posted Here

Commerce across lootable PVP, nice 1.

Seen enough youtube video's of poor newbies being looted trying to engage in commerce across multiple planets.

Can stick that where the sun dont shine thank you very much.

Unless the 'Special Attention' you speak of, is the removal of this absurd design for space.

As to rest of the post, good luck.

 

[Norbert]

Can stick that where the sun dont shine thank you very much.

Bradford?


Nice address though, will be interesting to see what space will bring i guess.

Good luck in 2012.

....

 

[Ludvig|MindArk]

still no plan to make advert and get new player to game ?

They have plans to do that

From this thread (the OP):

As these planned improvements and developments are completed during 2012, MindArk will ramp up its efforts to promote Entropia Universe and expand the active user base.

If you check the MindArk and Dev Post areas here you also see Kim and Bjorn talking about how money from the deed sales will be used to market Entropia in general and the planets in particular... and Kim mentioning they need to greatly improve the newbie parts first.

I can't really tell you much about our upcoming marketing campaign however you can expect that MindArk will market Planet Calypso as a MMORPG while the Entropia Universe is marketed in a business to business fashion.

When will it start? Impossible to say because it depends on how long it takes for us to fix some problems that we have identified that causes players to leave the game early.

Cheers

Well the main thing I have heard that cause players to leave is the cost to play. And if we are waiting for MA to adjust that then we will never see the advertisements.

That's an entirely different subject which can be defined as player retention. What I am referring to is a much earlier process, when the player is completely new to the game.

It is not a specific problem its just that there is a lot to do on the game design front in order to make the learning / introductory phase better.

I'm sure that there is room for improvement in all of the above and we are working on it.

Q. How will the proceeds of the Land Lot deeds be used by MindArk?
A. The proceeds from the Land Lot deeds will help to finance a substantial Entropia Universe marketing campaign, along with further development of Entropia Universe and Planet Calypso.

Posted on behalf of Jan Welter Timkrans

One of the main reasons for introducing this new system was to finance a substantial marketing campaign for the Entropia Universe. We are committed to initiating a marketing campaign as soon as possibly at much larger scale then we have ever done before.

Also have the upcoming facebook app: https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?220124

And the screenshot competition to get screenshots for the advertisement: https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?219573

 

[Etopia]

They have plans to do that

From this thread (the OP):



If you check the MindArk and Dev Post areas here you also see Kim and Bjorn talking about how money from the deed sales will be used to market Entropia in general and the planets in particular... and Kim mentioning they need to greatly improve the newbie parts first.


Also have the upcoming facebook app: https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?220124

And the screenshot competition to get screenshots for the advertisement: https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?219573

i saw those here and there but when i read this :

MindArk’s plan for maximising the potential of Entropia Universe in 2012 focuses on two key areas:

1. Upgrade existing game systems to provide an enjoyable and rewarding user experience.
2. Develop innovative and reliable new game systems to enable our Planet Partners to deliver engaging and immersive content for Entropia Universe participants.

As these planned improvements and developments are completed during 2012, MindArk will ramp up its efforts to promote Entropia Universe and expand the active user base.

for me it mean: we will maybe start advert next year finally...

its just boring to see game as desert , loot very low , and auction with everything a TT because there is a big lack of player... specially when diablo 3 is on the way...

 

[trance]

i saw those here and there but when i read this :



for me it mean: we will maybe start advert next year finally...

its just boring to see game as desert , loot very low , and auction with everything a TT because there is a big lack of player... specially when diablo 3 is on the way...

They should start now. It is really boring to TT most of the ores and stuffs we loot. we really need tons of new players!

 

[Ludvig|MindArk]

They should start now. It is really boring to TT most of the ores and stuffs we loot. we really need tons of new players!

Yah but if they have problems with most newbies leaving due to the arrival part sucking, they really should wait until they have fixed that, right?

 

[trance]

Yah but if they have problems with most newbies leaving due to the arrival part sucking, they really should wait until they have fixed that, right?

hm, and while they wait we have to TT most of the stuffs? May time to stop depositing, whil waiting of new players. also none buy cloths or make up and such, and the deeds make ppl save cash to buy deeds. Realy not a good time to play eu.

sry, just my 2 pecs to the situation

 

[DavinFelth]

Another priority during 2012 will be improving the balance and performance of existing game systems,



along with finalizing the reintroduction of prior game systems disabled after the CryEngine2 conversion.



1. Upgrade existing game systems to provide an enjoyable and rewarding user experience.


Originally Posted Here

I hope BALANCE includes loot and loot returns.
I hope ENJOYABLE and REWARDING user experience includes loot and loot returns.

Sorry If I sound like a broken record... but this is the NUMBER ONE thing that I hear players concerned about... besides some bugs that occur. We looove new stuff, everything you have done is amazing and we are excited to see the new things this year. However, this game continues to be the most expensive one to really get into ever. New players sound like what you are focusing on.... I suggest making their money last longer and they will stay longer.

 

[Mega]

its just boring to see game as desert , loot very low , and auction with everything a TT because there is a big lack of player... specially when diablo 3 is on the way...

84K Levi today.

 

[DavinFelth]

84K Levi today.

Good point, but don't get started one one ATH....

 

[billairboy]

hm, and while they wait we have to TT most of the stuffs? May time to stop depositing, whil waiting of new players. also none buy cloths or make up and such, and the deeds make ppl save cash to buy deeds. Realy not a good time to play eu.

sry, just my 2 pecs to the situation

To by honest, i don't think more players change the "tt" situation much, with more players both the demand and supply increase, so the markup balance don't change much.