Virtual universe, its not a game?

The main reason why i play this game, or virtual universe, is because of all the opportunities i see in Entropia. I like the real cash economi, new oxford, the fact that there are just one world, the Customisation possibilities, and that there are no level limit. Those are things that make Entropia Universe unique.

Right now I think EU is to much like an ordinary mmorpg(its already uniqe, but I want more..).

Some of the things I would like to see in EU to make it more uniqe and more like a virtual universe and less like a game are:
-more use of the voting machines, a functionally democracy or something like it would be really cool.
-more shops who sell RL things such as clothes, and more opportunities to customise your avatar so it have the same measurements as you have. Then you can try the clothes on that you want to buy.
-things like new oxford. Maybe amature painters could have ther own hall to present their pictures at, it would be much more inspireing to go and look att the art if you know there would be some new one once in a while.
-more activities, right now I think there are mostly the most stereotype activities for mmorpgs like hunting, mining, manufacturing and so on. They are very important and fun too, but it would be nice to have more diffrent things to do, maybe sailing were you actually learn how to do it so you got some IRL skills, just an example..
-replicas of IRL buildings and stuff, for you to discover.
-more possibilities to design own things.
-more possibilities to customise your avatar, more clothes, maybe glases for example.


I now I wonder if there are any who agree or disagree with me.
Is it important to EU to develope in to a more virtual universe or should they focus on the regular activities?
Btw, it would be nice to hear about more ideas how to improve the virtual universe of EU.

ways to improve the virtual universe?

aside from rebalancing the loot so that return is *closer* to expense, new servers would be a great place to start!
can't count how many times i've heard people just logging in for the first time say, "WOW! this game looks HUGE!!...and laggy:/"
the lifeblood of any MMORPG-type system are new players. Entropia seems to have a bit of trouble holding new players interest. no problem *gaining* that iterest, mind you... but then they step into Lagg-lantis, and realize that they must either wear out a credit card, or sweat and hope for the best for some time.
as an avid mindforcer, i can't beleive i'm actually saying this, but one of the best ways i can think of to improve the situation for new players ( i.e,; raise the price of sweat to an acceptable level) would be to reinstate the sweat cap (IMO, of course)
*ducks the bricks being thrown*
aside from that, a VU dedicated exclusively to actually *fixing* bugs like rubberbanding and the now-returned 'blue-gun' bug, etc ( seriously long list here) would be an exceptional way to improve the universe...
i guess, in summary, what i'm saying is this:
Entropia rocks!... or could
but before more relatively useless new content gets added, how about fixing what's already here so that it becomes more tolerable, and starts to actually *grow*, instead of having (estimate here) 500,000 accounts being controlled by 200k players

Good points The Elf, I also see it as top priority to reduce the lag, fix bugs and get newcommers to stay. Those are the most basic problems, but I think more of "wich thing is more important to develope further?"(if you dont count the most basic problems). These basic things influence both what I call "the virtual universe" and "the regular things", so they shouldent influence this poll i think.
I hope I don´t express myself too confusing..

NathanLate said:

-things like new oxford. Maybe amature painters could have ther own hall to present their pictures at, it would be much more inspireing to go and look att the art if you know there would be some new one once in a while.
-more possibilities to design own things.
-more possibilities to customise your avatar, more clothes, maybe glases for example.

Click to expand...

I've thought of things like this before. Especially with Oxford and the possibilites of people uploading their own art, perhaps even designs to put on clothes or even decals for armour. I love the idea and it'd certainly add a lot more variation into the game. It'd be much better for example for a hunter to customise their armour - like being able to mount things like skulls on your shoulder pads or on your helmet. Have skins hanging from you... I dunno. It'd allow for more use of the parts you get from creatures.

But the problem is a big one - lag. Imagine TPing into somewhere like Twin and then the game has to load every little customisation people have done to themselves. People complain about lag now, but that's just with the relatively simple system thats in place now. Imagine what it'd be like with an extra heavy load on the MA servers. I guess things right now are in some respect limited to try and control that problem.

But I really agree for the Oxford galleries. Like an apartment, you should be able to rent a space (Paying say 10PED a month) and in that you can upload and display images of your choice. At least that'd get some more life into that place.

If anything I think we as players should have a hand in developing EU further rather than let MA do it all. Each player should have a chance to make their mark on the world in their own way.

I think they're trying too hard to pattern themselves on what the leaders in the industry are doing instead of developing and maintaining a unique product and being happy with the customer base that it would draw without being a clone of 2__ L_f_.

AG

Yeah Arokh, more personality to your avatar!
And concerning the paintings, i think there should be one place to set up pictures for free(too attract more painters), and one "better place" wich cost money(so our beloved mindark could put the money in new prodjects)

And AlphaGeek, really good point, I dont either think that EU has a chance to compete with bigger mmorpgs, because of the sick amount of money certain gaming companies have. And I dont want them too either, keep up the good works with making EU more uniqe.

I think there is a growing divide between people that 'play' for entertainment and people who seek to invest here. IMHO the poll options should have been:

How do you see EU?

1) Virtual universe
2) Game


Personally I think MA are exploring all the avenues in terms of a sustainable business. As someone who 'engages' purely for entertainment I have a few qualms about the way things are headed but I can always go and play another 'game' or play the profit game IRL if I so wish.

I have a lot of criticisms about things they have done but they have managed to balance the whole thing remarkably well since I first started (about 4 years ago now). Some of the fun seems to have bled out of the system as the years went by but I hope I will still be playing until the sky really falls

My biggest concern is that if it becomes too much of a virtual universe and not enough of a game then I may as well just hang out IRL and find some other games to play. I am looking for entertainment not investments so I hope they don't lose sight of that.

Well the ''next big thing'' is coming soon, Maybe it will be a good thing?
But id actually prefer more unique mobs like Eomon and stuff that rarely appear and could have goot loot and a better developed Storyline to be honest

Yeah demoniac, I agree the word "game" had been better.
There are so many opportunities with a virtual universe it isnt only about things that you can invest in, I think the most important is that you can do other things instead of the usual "gaming", and there are infact other things than standard gaming in a virtual universe that can be entertaining, and those other activities don´t exclude the traditional gaming.
And as said before, EU cant compete with the big gaming companies, they have to make it uniqe.

Jpearson, yes that would be good things to improve the "gaming part of entropia", concerning that, I would like more quests badly.. Hopefully we get improvements both to the game and the virtual universe!

I agree that what makes it a virtual univers is alot about the real world things like oxford where you can buy real life items ect.

But having spend 2 years hunting and seeing the regular professions getting worse (IMO) is kinda sad, I like that there actually is a "game" part which involves real economy to me that is unique.

I think they spend alot of energy on putting in new things which is good as long as they do not forget the things which already excists

NathanLate said:

There are so many opportunities with a virtual universe it isnt only about things that you can invest in, I think the most important is that you can do other things instead of the usual "gaming", and there are infact other things than standard gaming in a virtual universe that can be entertaining, and those other activities don´t exclude the traditional gaming.

Click to expand...

I agree and in some ways I welcome the way things are progressing. It's certainly fascinating to watch how things develop anyway. Most games bored me within hours and yet I have been in EU for years so it certainly still has it's attractions.

It just struck me though that sometimes I find EF more entertaining than EU. Maybe I need a long holiday somewhere quiet...

I think everybody think the gaming part is far more imoprtant in this stage, just because there are not enough other things that you can find more important. (maybe the social bit) But it´s not like you can run around in New Oxford a whole day and enjoy it..
I´m gaming and enjoy it, but a big reason why I stay are the possibilities that EU has, but the majority of the Entropians like the gaming most and of course is it important that the dont forget this part. But I dont think thats any chance because they focus som much on the gaming already, and the should, and I only want a little more focus on new exiting projects..

Hopefully the mall sales and "the new big thing" can give MA enough money to improve the gaming and work on some other projects, after they have fixed some bugs and lag that is..

virtual banking licenses

yeah, Mindark is still making a uniqe product. I think this banking thing is making EU more into a virtual universe, I hope there are some demand for banking.
Do you think it was a great step for a more virtual universe?

A new VU is here, and as said before, the banks will be a nice step in making EU a more virtual universe. But, the best thing with the new VU is that you could upload your own videos and pictures, this is really making EU a more virtual universe.

It doesnt matter how they try to make this game like a universe or a second life.
It can never be as good as my real life.
I think of EU as just a game, nothing else.

Offcourse it couldent be as good as real life. I dont want it to be too simular to real life either, because MA could never compete with it. I would like EU to be a complement to real life, and I want it to be integrated with real life. For example online shopping, or a as they implemented in the new VU, videos and picture upload, its much easier to reach a big audience on the web, or in EU than RL.