Entropia to Expand Its Virtual World For China
MindArk, makers of the virtual world Entropia Universe, will build a virtual world for the Cyber Recreation Development Corporation, which is backed by the Beijing Municipal People’s Government, that will support up to 7 million users connected at the same time, according to a press release. The press release isn’t entirely clear on whether the 7 million concurrency figure is in a single shard, or copy of the virtual world (as in Second Life), or across many shards (as in World of Warcraft). A clue: “The cooperation agreement with China will generate hundreds of new planets and open up space for travel between the planets.”
It does sound like Entropia will be opened up to other companies and governments who want to build their own “planets” there: “The technology introduced with this project will enable other companies within media, film, music and gaming industries, or other content providers, to acquire their own planet within Entropia Universe. In turn, this will provide a diverse, entertaining and interesting three-dimensional virtual universe of vast proportions for participants to explore. A number of the world’s largest corporations within the aforementioned business sectors are currently in negotiations to purchase their own planet within Entropia Universe.”
A couple of odd claims appear in the press release:
Cyber Recreation estimates the project will create some 10,000 job opportunities in China, though it’s not entirely clear where these jobs will come from. The implication seems to be that they will represent people earning a living in Entropia: “An important aspect for this project is also the positive effects on our environment that we foresee. People will actually be able to work from home inside Entropia Universe, as many people do today, even from rural areas, thereby decreasing the amount of pollution generated by travel.”
Also, “The landmark deal was negotiated for almost a year and will bring an outside virtual world into China for the very first time.” I’m not sure what qualifies for “an outside virtual world,” but surely World of Warcraft and EVE Online, which both have a presence in China, do qualify? Interesting that the deal took more than a year.
And finally, “Entropia Universe was chosen over several other proposals, including one by Second Life.” I find it odd that the release would even mention other bidders. Such are the vagaries of MindArk, apparently.
[Via Nate Randall and this forum thread at RCEUniverse.]
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Hmmm… curious. This post has been up for 2 days now, and no-one has thought it worthy of comment. So here’s my 2cents.
This was considered sufficiently big news that it made a (near) full-page story in The Guardian (UK) newspaper on Saturday. The number of potential users in China is vast, with Entropia looking to 7million concurrent (compare that with SL’s peak of around 44K at the moment). I wonder whether this is intended to head off pressure for engagement in Cyworld (with its 18million Korean memebers). It is hard to imagine that China - with its strict internet controls - will allow its residents to mix freely in a global Entropia Universe.
But in any event, the numbers alone suggest a big leap on towards the Metaverse.
“But in any event, the numbers alone suggest a big leap on towards the Metaverse.”
Not to mention the quote: “The technology introduced with this project will enable other companies within media, film, music and gaming industries, or other content providers, to acquire their own planet within Entropia Universe. In turn, this will provide a diverse, entertaining and interesting three-dimensional virtual universe of vast proportions for participants to explore. A number of the world’s largest corporations within the aforementioned business sectors are currently in negotiations to purchase their own planet within Entropia Universe.”
It is definitly a bold direction for a project that up until now has stayed quite seperate and distint lacking many of the qualities of true “Meteverses”.