MindArk: Moon sold for $150.000 in Entropia Universe

Once again Entropia Universe makes headline news by the sale of a major virtual estate. This time a newly discovered moon went for not less than USD 150,000 to a group of investors lead by player "Modified Akoz Power".

Comment by Akoz right after the end of the auction: "I was hoping for more of a contest, but me and my co-investors are really happy with the new purchase and must now get to work on making it a success."

Virtual property sales have a tradition in Entropia Universe, for example:

• Treasure Island for USD 26,500 in 2004
• The Asteroid Space Resort "Club NEVERDIE" for USD 100,000 in 2005
• Crystal Palace Space Station for USD 330,000 in 2009
• Club NEVERDIE for at total of USD 635,000 in 2010 and
• Calypso Land Deeds for a total of USD 6,000,000 in 2011/2012

But unlike the estates sold in the past whose incomes are based on taxes on various players activities on the estate, the now sold moon estate will feature a different concept: The income will be generated from sharing of the total revenues between MindArk and the new owner. The concept adds the opportunity for the owner to influence the development of the estate but also hands over the need of marketing to the owner. This concept can be considered a very light version of MindArk's planet partner concept that allows companies to create their own game world in form of a planet completely integrated in the Entropia Universe.

The sale of the moon estate was announced by MindArk in early March 2013 as a part of Entropia Universe's tenth anniversary celebrations. Not soon after several groups were formed by players to buy and operate the estate in a joint venture

One around "Jenna Star Mercury" who already lead a group of investors in 2009 to buy Crystal Palace Space Station ceased operation again. "I don't think the model suits paying over $150k and a bidding war was imminent if I got in too" said Star.

A few days after the Moon Estate Deed entered the ingame auction the group around "Akoz Modified Power" made the initial bid of USD 150,000. Like "Star" also Akoz is a well-known player and investor who lead the group that won the auction of the Medusa Islands for 30,000 USD in 2011. Akoz considers the moon estate a big chance but a challenge as well:

"What interests me the most about the moon investment is that unlike land areas the moon owner can truly be a part of shaping this rock into something of his own, rather than buying a static premade area. The moon's success will depend on what the owner can make out of it.
Out of the box the moon will not have a ROI to defend its price. It does however have a great revenue model where a successful moon rather than tapping into the pockets of existing players, will help promote Entropia to new players and in new markets for mutual benefit."

Since no one else turned up to bid on the moon estate it finally went to the group of investors around "Modified Akoz Power" for USD 150,000.

Gratz to the winner and good luck with the venture. The moon has meanwhile been named "Monria" and is supposed to be added to Entropia Universe in late Q2/Q3 2013.



The winning bid on expired auction:






Stats of the moon estate:

• A start room for new participants to become acquainted with the Entropia Universe user interface and basic gameplay.
• A Lunar Command Center with teleporters, terminals, storage, auctioneers, quest NPCs, four (4) premium shops, and portals to the subsurface caverns.
• Two (2) Lunar Habitats, each with 50 apartments and 5 shops. These apartments and shops are individual estates which can be traded to other Entropia Universe participants.
• Eight (8) subsurface caverns filled with unique creatures and rare resources.
• Four (4) unique creatures.
• Four (4) hunting quest chains, one for each creature.
• Mining within the subsurface caverns, including two (2) new mining resources, exclusive to the moon.
• Revenue Sharing: Revenue generated through participant activity will be shared with the Moon Manager as follows:
  • Activity on the moon estate by participants recruited by Moon Manager: 35%
  • Activity on the moon estate by all other participants: 10%
  • Activity elsewhere within Entropia Universe by participants recruited by the Moon Manager: 25%

Further information:

• Entropia Universe Official Website
• Basic information about Entropia Universe on EntropiaPlanets Wiki
• Monria - The Moon Estate on EntropiaPlanet Wiki
• Major virtual item sales on EntropiaPlanets Wiki

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