A 22-year-old gamer has spent $26,500 (£13,700) on an island that exists only in a computer role-playing game (RPG).
The Australian gamer, known only by his gaming moniker Deathifier, bought the island in an online auction.
The land exists within the game Project Entropia, an RPG which allows thousands of players to interact with each other.
Entropia allows gamers to buy and sell virtual items using real cash, while fans of other titles often use auction site eBay to sell their virtual wares.
Earlier this year economists calculated that these massively multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPGs) have a gross economic impact equivalent to the GDP of the African nation of Namibia.
Investment prospects
"This is a historic moment in gaming history, and this sale only goes to prove that massive multi-player online gaming has reached a new plateau," said Marco Behrmann, director of community relations at Mindark, the game's developer.
ISLAND PACKAGE
A unique castle (furniture not included)
Hunting
Mining rights
Taxation rights on hunting and mining activities
Income from the sale of land lots
The virtual island includes a gigantic abandoned castle and beautiful beaches which are described as ripe for developing beachfront property.
Deathifier will make money from his investment as he is able to tax other gamers who come to his virtual land to hunt or mine for gold.
He has also begun to sell plots to people who wish to build virtual homes.
"This type of investment will definitely become a trend in online gaming," said Deathifier.
The Entopia economy lets gamers exchange real currency into PED (Project Entropia Dollars) and back again into real money.
Ten PEDs are the equivalent to one US dollar and typical items sold include iron ingots ($5) and shogun armour ($1.70)
Gamers can theoretically earn money by accumulating PEDs through the acquisition of goods, buildings, and land in the Entropia universe.
MMORPGs have become enormously popular in the last 10 years with hundreds of thousands of gamers living out alternate lives in fantasy worlds.
Almost 200,000 people are registered players on Project Entropia.
Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land
Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land
I still think this is fascinating! Creating wealth in a virtual world - and having the ability to transfer that wealth from a game to real life!
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Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land
I know that if it was me I would get bored after about 5 days.
Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land
Tombstone wrote: I still think this is fascinating! Creating wealth in a virtual world - and having the ability to transfer that wealth from a game to real life!
It is quite a concept Tomb.
Here is a update how Deathifier is hawking the land and how he claims to have updated the areas................
Do ya think this could be the future?
Publications Section Launched
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-8-10 at 5:28AM
A publications section has been added to the site which will be used to publish all sorts of articles in the future.
To begin with it has one article on Treasure Island that deals with the often asked question of where the island makes money and one article on items that covers the only truely unique item that exists at the moment - the Roman Ram Purifier Prototype.
The publications link has been added to the main menu, or you can click here.
Enjoy!
- Deathifier
Spotlight Sale on Estates - Lake View #13 and #14
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-7-23 at 2:46AM
The spotlight is being put on Lake View Estates #13 and #14 which are currently for sale!
Lake View #13 is situated on a tall hill, above every other northern estate. It boasts great views in all directions!
Lake View #14 is situated somewhat closer to the shoreline with a nice view of where the inlet extending east connects to the main lake.
Both estates are located quite close to the primary teleporter making them ideally suited for shopkeeper placement - particularly as facilities to promote your shops are being developed on this website
Both estatese are also located very close to the bar and although it is not yet known what role the bar will play there is a very high probability it will become an active area - bringing further foot traffic to nearby shops and other benefits.
Of course you can't forget the range of benefits to living on Treasure Island - benefits no other estate owner or apartment owner gets.
More benefits are introduced on occasion as well, such as the recent addition of low cost space flights for estate owners and their friends travelling as a group
So would you like to join the Treasure Island Community?
If so you can contact me to discuss pricing, or you can purchase them immediately for 5000 PED each in the Treasure Island Mansion shopkeepers.
For those interested in purchasing an estate, but don't quite have the funds on hand, there is a reservation option available.
Bye,
Deathifier
Estate Section Updated
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-7-22 at 4:59AM
The estate section of the site has been updated with new and detailed information about the lake view area including a map to the area, notes about the design of the estates (including a floor plan) and information pages specific to individual estates.
This is also only the first round of updates
Further updates will come that includes details on more of the estates, more images, an image gallery, improved hunting section detailing the mobs (damage, health, suggested equipment, known items) and, to top it all off...
A brand new shopping section that allows estate owners to upload the current contents of their shopkeepers (or services) for visitors to browse without needing to visit each estate
Enjoy!
- Deathifier
Land Area Update - Atrax area at 50%
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-7-14 at 10:34PM
Today the Northern Park Area received the first of several updates now that the fertilizer station is confirmed fully functional once more.
2 new Atrax DNA samples have been added, bringing the number of filled slots to 50% (3 out of 6)!
This brings us closer to providing a near-perfect hunting area for Atrax young and mature by having them spread evenly around the hunting zone rather then appearing in very tightly packed, yet sporadic, clusters.
If you wish to help bring the Atrax area up to 100% 3 more Atrax samples are required and I am offering 400 PED for each one.
Happy hunting!
- Deathifier
Fertilizer station usage temporarily suspended
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-7-4 at 12:43AM
The usage of the Fertilizer station has been temporarily suspended, following several weeks of it simply not functioning as expected.
An investigation is currently underway to determine if VU 7.5 has corrected some or all of the issues noted and the outcome of that investigation will be published here when it is completed.
Until that time all creatures controled by the fertilizer station will be running at minimum settings, creating generally sparse hunting areas. It does *not* affect the robots present on the island, as they are not controlled from the station.
Happy Hunting Grounds will be hopefully returning in the near future
Thanks for your understanding.
- Deathifier
Lake View Estates on Sale!
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-6-23 at 11:33PM
Lake View Estates 13, 14, 15, 18, 19 and 20 are now on sale!
Located on the northern side of the Treasure Island Lake each estate boasts great views, lots of interior space and excellent placement for shops!
The 6 deeds are currently in the shopkeepers at the Treasure Island Mansion, and they all have the same price of 5000 PED.
Don't miss the opportunity to live not only on Treasure Island, but right near the owner and entry point to Amethera
- Deathifier
It is quite a concept Tomb.
Here is a update how Deathifier is hawking the land and how he claims to have updated the areas................
Do ya think this could be the future?
Publications Section Launched
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-8-10 at 5:28AM
A publications section has been added to the site which will be used to publish all sorts of articles in the future.
To begin with it has one article on Treasure Island that deals with the often asked question of where the island makes money and one article on items that covers the only truely unique item that exists at the moment - the Roman Ram Purifier Prototype.
The publications link has been added to the main menu, or you can click here.
Enjoy!
- Deathifier
Spotlight Sale on Estates - Lake View #13 and #14
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-7-23 at 2:46AM
The spotlight is being put on Lake View Estates #13 and #14 which are currently for sale!
Lake View #13 is situated on a tall hill, above every other northern estate. It boasts great views in all directions!
Lake View #14 is situated somewhat closer to the shoreline with a nice view of where the inlet extending east connects to the main lake.
Both estates are located quite close to the primary teleporter making them ideally suited for shopkeeper placement - particularly as facilities to promote your shops are being developed on this website
Both estatese are also located very close to the bar and although it is not yet known what role the bar will play there is a very high probability it will become an active area - bringing further foot traffic to nearby shops and other benefits.
Of course you can't forget the range of benefits to living on Treasure Island - benefits no other estate owner or apartment owner gets.
More benefits are introduced on occasion as well, such as the recent addition of low cost space flights for estate owners and their friends travelling as a group
So would you like to join the Treasure Island Community?
If so you can contact me to discuss pricing, or you can purchase them immediately for 5000 PED each in the Treasure Island Mansion shopkeepers.
For those interested in purchasing an estate, but don't quite have the funds on hand, there is a reservation option available.
Bye,
Deathifier
Estate Section Updated
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-7-22 at 4:59AM
The estate section of the site has been updated with new and detailed information about the lake view area including a map to the area, notes about the design of the estates (including a floor plan) and information pages specific to individual estates.
This is also only the first round of updates
Further updates will come that includes details on more of the estates, more images, an image gallery, improved hunting section detailing the mobs (damage, health, suggested equipment, known items) and, to top it all off...
A brand new shopping section that allows estate owners to upload the current contents of their shopkeepers (or services) for visitors to browse without needing to visit each estate
Enjoy!
- Deathifier
Land Area Update - Atrax area at 50%
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-7-14 at 10:34PM
Today the Northern Park Area received the first of several updates now that the fertilizer station is confirmed fully functional once more.
2 new Atrax DNA samples have been added, bringing the number of filled slots to 50% (3 out of 6)!
This brings us closer to providing a near-perfect hunting area for Atrax young and mature by having them spread evenly around the hunting zone rather then appearing in very tightly packed, yet sporadic, clusters.
If you wish to help bring the Atrax area up to 100% 3 more Atrax samples are required and I am offering 400 PED for each one.
Happy hunting!
- Deathifier
Fertilizer station usage temporarily suspended
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-7-4 at 12:43AM
The usage of the Fertilizer station has been temporarily suspended, following several weeks of it simply not functioning as expected.
An investigation is currently underway to determine if VU 7.5 has corrected some or all of the issues noted and the outcome of that investigation will be published here when it is completed.
Until that time all creatures controled by the fertilizer station will be running at minimum settings, creating generally sparse hunting areas. It does *not* affect the robots present on the island, as they are not controlled from the station.
Happy Hunting Grounds will be hopefully returning in the near future
Thanks for your understanding.
- Deathifier
Lake View Estates on Sale!
Treasure Island - Posted by Deathifier on 2005-6-23 at 11:33PM
Lake View Estates 13, 14, 15, 18, 19 and 20 are now on sale!
Located on the northern side of the Treasure Island Lake each estate boasts great views, lots of interior space and excellent placement for shops!
The 6 deeds are currently in the shopkeepers at the Treasure Island Mansion, and they all have the same price of 5000 PED.
Don't miss the opportunity to live not only on Treasure Island, but right near the owner and entry point to Amethera
- Deathifier
"If America Was A Tree, The Left Would Root For The Termites...Greg Gutfeld."
Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land
Follow-up to this.
The game goes on.
The most recent big money news:
Gamer discovers $20,000 USD value of Zinc while mining in HELL inside ROCKTROPIA Virtual World | NEVERDIE News
This has to be a record Virtual Real Estate Purchase though:
Most expensive virtual real estate sales
Anyone here playing this game?
The game goes on.
The most recent big money news:
Gamer discovers $20,000 USD value of Zinc while mining in HELL inside ROCKTROPIA Virtual World | NEVERDIE News
This has to be a record Virtual Real Estate Purchase though:
Most expensive virtual real estate sales
Anyone here playing this game?
The home of the soul is the Open Road.
- DH Lawrence
- DH Lawrence
Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land
And I thought I was an idiot for spending $20 on crowns for Castleville.