Project Progress - MGN Viperstrike - The cost to hunt and progress in Entropia Universe.

General discussion, concept creation and ideas.

Hi,

Cutting a long story short, I feel it is time to demystify that relating to the MindArk version of the RCE concept. What MindArk terms the "Real Cash Economy" concept, what most gamers term the "Real CASINO Economy" concept.

To make this clear from the start:

I am an average day gamer who enjoys many things in life. Including the occasional gamble. I have no love for MindArk as a company, in saying that, I will be taking an objectional approach to playing the game Entropia Universe. Following advise given in the developer notes and recording & streaming 100% of the time whilst in Entropia Universe when this project starts. This will allow for others to make up their own minds about Entropia as a game they should or should not play.

The main goal of this project:

Is to demystify the costs involved with hunting in Entropia Universe, being the number # 1 primary activity. 100%/All footage will be recorded and uploaded to youtube along with being streamed to every major global MMO site - 17 English based MMO sites at first count.

The purpose of this thread is to discuss what ground rules will be made before starting.

#1 - Why do we play games - Simple answer - To have fun, be challenged and to relax and get away from the real world. So following this philosophy, so shall be the case with Entropia Universe.

I have no intention of taking on the role of being a chartered accountant or a storeroom inventory tracker etc etc - That is no fun. People wanting to do that shit and do their head in can go elsewhere. This project is not for them.

I will be taking a very simple approach, Entertainment - Tracking only:
1. TT spent with TT returns by Mindark each session,
2. Markup paid out for items used,
3. Sales on noteworthy valued items looted. (Primarily Limited looted items of value 120% or greater)

In saying that I have no intention to collect 1000 PED worth of a resource item only to sell it at 102-103% or for that matter even 105%, that is for those who have the ideal of not playing for fun (In my honest opinion). Leave that shit at the door, this is about having fun, not hard work or doing your head in and stressing while playing a GAME! Especially since doing this collection of resources involves many thousands of PED/USD to be done properly considering the many dozens of stacks of resources obtained in each sitting.

What we are going to analyse is the COST to hunt in Entropia Universe based purely on the TT mechanics of the underlying MindArk developed loot system in what it returns TT back to the player each session/sitting.

It will be a very long and boring (imo) project but will fill in the hours of the day :)

People then can draw their own conclusion about MindArk and their game Entropia Universe.

Anyhow to system specs.

I run everything on Ultra-High settngs.
Since the game doesn't support 4k resolution yet. I will be playing at the old standard of 1920x1080.

- Intel 2011 Processor, 3.4GHz / 3.7Ghz turbo
- AMD 290X 4Gb Video Card
- 4K Samsung 55-inch TV as a monitor
- 64 GB Memory
- 2 x 512GB Samsung SSD (OS & Gaming drives)
- 6 x 4TB Western Digital SE drives in RAID-6 (24TB, 2 drives spare, 16TB useable for video storage)
- SoundBlaster ZxR

Current link ADSL 18M Down / 1M Up Async.
New link being installed in a few months, 10M/10M Sync Ethernet 8-wire over copper service.

Services running -
1. Forums - www.mmogamingnetwork.com
2. Online Store - http://tareecomp.mvinfotech.com.au
3. 250 port GPL-NFP TeamSpeak 3 server - Details and password granted on forum registration later.

Services to be run -
4. Streaming - twitch service.
5. Youtube - Background conversion and uploading.

Software overlays for in game control of services - www.overwolf.com

Anyway that is a small overview, I will add to this as time draws closer to start. Time to demystify Entropia Universe and either give value and weight to the complainers complaints on various MMO forums or bless the game in that it provides what the creators MindArk claim.

Whichever way the cookie shall crumble is the way it will crumble :)

Cheers,
Viperstrike
www.mmogamingnetwork.com

 

Considered financial input will be around $ 100 usd a week = over $ 5000 usd / yearly.
I strongly believe that less than this amount you will be wasting your time completely with the game.
That is based off hunting at my level within the range of 30 - 40 in profession standings.

Small fact, after 7 years of playing and more than 50,000 AUD spent on this game (actually it equates to almost $62,000 now), I have had my fun, made lots of mistakes and all the rest of that good stuff.

However, we will be following simple rules set out as advise from the developers of the game whilst still playing within the context of having fun. eg. Using maxed out weapons with 10/10 Hit and Dmg.

 

In game item usage.

MindArk developed (L)imited items within the economy for the reason of creating a sustainable economy. Not saying that it works or doesn't work in its currently implemented state in Entropia (In general it does work in theory, but strongly depends on how it is implemented - imo). Following this development and consideration, I shall be using 99.95% of the items as (L)imited equipment in Entropia.

 

Hi Sambo,

None of that bothers me to be honest, I run a 250 port Teamspeak 3 server myself too, so anything that adds to the gaming experience is great. I use overwolf in all games, not just Entropia Universe.

I have had no issues what-so-ever with the overwolf programs, and run strict security policies and network monitoring on my side of the fence. (Packet analyser, port monitor, traffic throttling along with endpoint protection). It is one of the advantages of being a comms engineer ;)

I have no intention of changing that.
Garbage in, garbage out GIGO.

 

Back to progress, I followed up numerous providers of EoC Ethernet over Copper providers in Australia that could service my household. After a chat with the manager of the division at TPG as to what I will be using the service for, he has agreed to lower the $399/month+GST charge down to $249/month+GST for a 10M/10M Sync Service. The install charge of $1099+GST however remains the same.

This will allow me to run all the proposed services and several more if needed simultaneously :)

 

Next up, I will be writing an email to David Simmonds a support ticket addressed to Jan and David @ MindArk to inform them of the project underway and the exposure it will be receiving. Sponsorship towards this project has already been offered;

I will ask MindArk as well if they would like to sponsor the project since they have offered sponsorship for other projects I have held in the past - Explicitly letting them know there are no favours attached to any sponsorship or alterations to any resulting outcomes - No matter what the outcome.

Stay tuned.

 

If that occurs, it will be noticed and I will commentate on that possiblity. I am requesting my account to have a final analysis done on it that everything is ok (As it should be). I am specifically asking them for no favours and if any sponsorship is offered to have no strings attached, no matter how good or bad it may turn out for them in the end.

Like I said, I have no love for the company itself. I still can not comprehend how such a clusterfuck of a company (reviewing events of the last 7 years as data to go off) can operate properly, it surprises me they have been in business for 10+ years already. Maybe it is just a lazy company culture thing they have going on, I really don't know.

 

Support case sent for the attention of Jan & David @ MindArk.

I got slightly distracted, but got most of what I wanted to say included.

 

Hi Aziphirael,

Yes, most loot will be TT'd,
I will be playing the game with the attitude and tolerance as to why we play games.

In my original post, i outlined the method by which I shall be playing, as like 90%+ of most gamers would:

Quoted above is the system and means I shall be undertaking activity in this project :)

 

Yes, I hear you on the low markups, I will be making a cut off of 120% on (L)imited item drops and 20 PED or greater, meaning if a 8 PED item drops with 140% markup, it will be considered a waste of time and TT'd. It must first be 20 ped or over to be worth listing on the auctioneer with fees attached. for the listing.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the support. I appreciate it.
I had a bit of a nap and thought a little more over my uncontained and unhealthy anger towards MindArk.

I decided when I woke up to give it a shot of writing down my feelings and thoughts in notepad.

Here it goes :) >

Ok time to be frank and completely honest about a few things.

Reflection and revelation time as to how I feel after having my life flash before my eyes having had a heart attack in the recent past weeks.

Most would have noticed that I am a bit rough and abrupt at this time towards the company MindArk. This is due to unresolved anger I have towards them in completely wasting their potential and their time, my time and most other peoples time and money in developing unnecessary shit and not listening to what people are crying out for over the years.

All in all MindArk keep shooting themselves in the foot - Most of their bad reputation and problems is self generated and inflicted. Not by the players, they are not to blame. The player anger and frustrations are a result (99.95%) of the actions MindArk take, its modus operandi and then lack of taking responsibility for these actions down the track.

Anyhow with all that said, like I said to Peter (Admin) here on EP when he asked me to use EP as the primary/central site:


----------------

Disclaimer:

I will do my best to keep this project as neutral as possible, but by the same token, I am human too and have feelings that need to be expressed from time to time. I will not hide what I think or feel about the project and its progress at any point in time while it is underway.

I will keep it constructive and as objectional as possible.

No promises however will be guaranteed in this regard.

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Maybe MA will grow up a bit and change their ways once they feel the needle of being under the microscope from the global gaming community on a daily basis and will hold responsibility for their actions, promises and wear these outcomes accordingly.

MindArk has a real chance here to either majorly fuckup and really destroy themselves as a company along with their gaming service offered or fixup a lot of their issues, problems and the rest of the shit they have been pushing up-hill for many years now.

It will be interesting to see which direction they take whilst being under the microscope of the global gaming & business communities.

They have a few months to get their act together as I will be setting the timeframe to start, not MindArk. They are incapable of setting any timeframes in my honest opinion and need to be told, your time is now!

The timeframe is dependant at this point in time on the installation of my new 10M/10M syncronous ethernet internet service to run all the proposed services from, including the streaming server which I am considering one of four packages to use. Twitch will also be used in tandem with my own streaming server.

Much of this will be streamed also to IT-Tech genre sites in countires around the world as well, the MMO sites is only a small starting point. (50+ MMO sites) I have much bigger plans if this all works out positively. What I have planned will honestly make the 50+ MMO site sweep look like a walk in the park.

If played out right, MindArk may, just may be able to reclaim a completely lost pioneered opportunity to properly re-develop the RCE/micro-transaction model for the industry again, setting new up-to-date rules and standards :)

Time will tell though one thing is for certain, this is the last time, even though it is mixed with a LOT of rough & tough love on my part, that I will go out on a limb to help out this game and company further its success at the expense of my time, energy and health.

I expect nothing in return, no favours and no special treatment - You can shove all that up your arse MindArk (Yes I am talking to you both specifically JWT & DS), I request only one thing - From now on, change your company culture to

Play and live it REAL!

Cheers,
Shadowsniper Viper Viperstrike.
It will be done, gonna doers will be shot on sight.

 

Hi Oztwo,

No point to be made, it is a simple due diligience as to playing the game in the context of gaming, ie. Having fun. Gaming is not about doing your head in being an accountant or a stockist or a data entry operator.

This will be kept straight to the point of what MindArk offers as a service on the basis of its baseline mechanics. Mindark has decided to confuse the shit out of everyone who plays this game by producing VARIANCE in everything it does, from TT returns through to damage dealt through you you name it, it varies, nothing is fixed.

This causes major issues for 90% of the gamers out there who are interested in having some fun and maintaining a healthy gaming dollar value to service provided ratio without being left with the feeling of being cheated.

MindArk have proclaimed that the service costs around $1 USD per hour to play since the early days through to around 2008 this was stated many times by MindArk officials ... even on their website at one stage and on wikipedia, updated by MindArk themselves at the time.

Unfortunately this has not been the case for many people - As they claim it is no where near this amount.

Without mentioning my own cost to play each day of 10-hour hunting all together, the $100/week is expected to last 2 days to 3 days maximum.

I have no expectations of outcomes, just to demonstrate to the global gaming and InfoTech business community around the world as to what to expect from playing the game, Entropia Universe, as an EVERYDAY GAMER which basically includes the greater 90%+ of the gaming community.

Of course I expect critics who will say, use excel to calculate 102-103% to even 105% markup on items, wear this armor piece, or no armor for this mob, use this item or that item for that mob - however this is not what the majority of gamers are geared to do mentally or even want ot attempt to do when playing GAME! to enjoy themselves in.

So this will demonstrate to people what to expect if they do not wish to be a propeller-head doing their head in as an on the go accountant and stockist in playing Entropia Universe.

It will then give them a better understanding and assessment of whether to pickup the game or not and play it. If they choose the entertainment path, then wear the outcomes of what is produced ....

HOWEVER ....

What we are going to analyse with a fine tooth brush is whether the cost to play from this perspective is realistic to what MindArk claim - ie. Is the system based on a standard return longer term, what sort of variances are involved, does MindArk steal from the player on a largely consistant basis then return portions at extremes (Meaning rarely). Is the system gambling .... (lol well personal opinion is if you think otherwise, your pretty much fooling yourself or you are someone who is not concious of all the precursors to gambling, which Entropia has all of them).

Alas outcomes will be recorded and it will be digested, compiled and left to be review in executive summary form by the gaming player / IT Tech site presenter/publisher to determine what they wish to derive and present about the gaming service on offer and then refer on to their friends and/or audiences :)

I will have little input other than the struggles expressed each day in the many long and 'potentially' boring hours of repetitively undertaken activity with little excitement and what I would consider substancial cost attached.

This is a time filler for me primarily and to resolve within myself something that has bothered me for a long time, many years, like an itch that I need to scratch before it becomes a permanent itch - That being all the unfounded claims of theft by MindArk and destruction of peoples lives financially in this cruel world which would be considered as borderline criminal and fraudulant acts in business by anyone with a moral fiber in their existence as a human being.

Personally it has not bothered me too much as the $62,000 AUD spent to date has not had any form of negative impact on my lifestyle or livelyhood; however I can see how large amounts can have negative impacts on others who feel they have been lured into a scam/trap by a company that makes claims about a service which it does not deliver on, be it vaguely or with certainty.

The purpose of this project is to on a grand global scale, prove or disprove these aspects claimed about MindArk and their service Entropia Universe as fact or fiction.

Many can say whatever shit they like, and MindArk can come with whatever shit they like as to who has reviewed their service offering, but until we have some real-time long term hard-evidence recorded and stored to be review at will, then none of it stands up.

I could not care less if Stryker came in here or Star Mercury and gave me years worth of spreadsheets. They mean nothing. I could not care less if David SImmonds or Jan Welter came in here and introduced bugalugs from the Swedish Lottery Authority who proclaimed the service is not gambling.

The simple question is - prove it to us all :)
Answer - We can't (or won't), you just have to trust us.

Video footage kept in the public arena forever as a reference point does not lie - We will test and determine the true outcome and present it from one playstyle perspective (Entertainment) - Digest, compile and provide proper data analytics (reports) upon the compiled data over time.

Everyone will be welcome to draw their own conclusions and all will have their own beliefs and opinions.

That is the goal of the project, to provide some substance to munch on to come up with their own conclusions, opinions and from that develop their own belief systems and rely on whatever crutches they need to to carry on with their lives with some form of resolution attached to their past and future actions with regards to using Entropia Universe.