Following the recent announcement that Mindark, makers of Entropia Universe were partnering with Chinese game developer CRD to create a massive online universe capable of sustaining up to seven million concurrent users, details of the company's plans have started to emerge. In an interview with Mindark CIO Marco Behrmann, pointed out by Raph Koster we learn the following details about the new planned virtual economy. What stands out the most, is Behrmann's point blank refusal, claming "business secrets" to give any detail whatsoever on Entropia's current concurrency figures, or provide any kind of technical information which may support the credibility of their stated target of 7M concurrent users in the new system.
- Though individual planets will vary, the basic concept for the new world is the same as the existing Entropia Universe
- The new system is part of a strategic plan ot partner with other such groups to grow the virtual universe
- Yes, they will all use a unified login. Meaning you will be able to travel between universes
- The first planets should appear mid 2008
- Mindark will NOT give away any information on current concurrency figures for it's virtual universe
- Mindark willl NOT provide any detail on how they plan to acheive seven million concurrent users, making the claim just a tad implausible
- There have been no censorship related demands from CRD
Based on those refusals to go into detail on concurrency, the only reasonable conclusion one can draw is that Mindark are full of shit.
If you read some of the interviews with CRD, it seems that there will be no gaming aspect to the Chinese universe. It will simply be a framework used for commerce. They are not interested in attracting gamers. Marco is notoriously vague on that point as well.
The number of current users is something that every EU player wants to know.
We know that the number has increased over the years - we just don't know from what level to what level.
MA has plans to become a publicly traded company in the future. One hopes that more information will arrive when that time comes.
Other questions we want to know.
1. How much money is deposited into EU every year?
2. How much money is withdrawn from EU every year?
3. What is the lifespan of the average new player?
Yes, it seems rather archaic of Mindark to withold such information from the community... welcome to Metaversed thoreau!
I can't see why MA would lie, if they won't be able to pursue this goal,
they can pack their bags concerning virtual worlds. with a lawsuit following from CRD as they would break their contract agreement.
Behind closed doors, this info will undoubtly be released,
however normal players will never know these figures.
In any case ... time will clear it all up