MindArk Completes Euro Space Agency Study On Virtual Worlds

MindArk completes online games study
MMORPG and virtual world platform provider MindArk completes Online Games study contract for European Space Agency

Göteborg, Sweden – March 23, 2010 – MindArk PE AB, developer and publisher of Entropia Universe and Entropia Platform, announced today that a study on the use of online game technology for space-related purposes has been completed. The contract for the study was awarded to MindArk by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2009 and a film presenting the main findings is published on YouTube.

“MMO-based technology has strong ties to acquiring knowledge through discovery, collaborative problem solving and team-based learning. This is supported by the findings of the study and the project with the European Space Agency has been a great push forward for us in this area. MindArk´s interest in implementing educational content inside online games was sparked by our previous discussions with NASA about their online game plans.” said Christian Björkman, MindArk’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Besides applying our current experience from the global video game industry, tThe work on the study has helped MindArk in finding new means of mixing educational content with entertainment in Entropia Universe. Working with ESA has made us ready to move on to the next level, ready to work with learning industry partners in building qualitative, engaging and top-class game content for online environments that will be both entertaining and motivating”.

The study (“Online Game Technology for Space Education and System Analysis”) was performed to assess options for the European Space Agency with regards to using online game technology, specifically in the areas of outreach/promotion, education and collaborative engineering.

To illustrate the feasibility of the study findings MindArk has produced a visual mock-up based on a live game environment in Entropia Universe. This. Showing human planetary exploration on Jupiter’s moon Europa in a distant future, the mock-up demonstrates exploratory game play while highlighting learning aspects and multiplayer event possibilities in an immersive online game. The result is available as a video, “EUROPA”, from ESA and MindArk and is published on the MindArk channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MindArkPEAB.

For a presentation of the study findings, contact MindArk.

About MindArk
Sweden-based company MindArk are the creators of the Entropia Platform and Entropia Universe, a 3D virtual universe for entertainment, social interaction and e-commerce. The platform offers access to one of the most advanced Internet interaction venues available today, giving business partners the opportunity to create entirely new planets in Entropia Universe. Some of the themes in production by partners right now are shopping, games, social interaction, music and art.

Entropia Universe is a free download available at the game’s official website, http://www.entropiauniverse.com/.

For more information on MindArk and the Entropia Platform, please contact us at the numbers below or go to our website at http://www.entropiaplatform.com.


About ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organisation with 18 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.

Further information:
ESA General Studies Programme
Web: http://www.esa.int/GSP


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