Planet Calypso sees 2nd amazing sale of the year
Unique Virtual Egg Sold for Over $69,000.00 USD
First Planet Company, developer and publisher of the largest real money Massively Multiplayer Online Game, announced the sale of a legendary Virtual Egg for an a stunning $69,696.00 USD. This comes on the heels of the Crystal Palace Station’s recent sale for a record-breaking $330,000.00 USD.
Jon “NEVERDIE” Jacobs held a public auction Sunday, inside Planet Calypso, and sold the Virtual Egg to David Storey aka Deathifier. Deathifier owns “Treasure Island” in the game, a tax generating Virtual World Destination. NEVERDIE purchased the Virtual Egg for $10,000 USD in 2006 from a gamer who completed a unique quest. The Final Chapter in the Egg’s History has yet to be written as thousands of players speculate what will actually hatch from the it and if it will be worth the extraordinary price tag.
Deathifier purchased “Treasure Island” with hunting and mineral Rights in 2004 for $27,500 USD and reportedly earned his investment back within the year. NEVERDIE mortgaged his home in Miami in 2005 to purchase an Asteroid for $100,000 USD. NEVERDIE turned the Asteroid into a NightClub dubbed Club NEVERDIE, which is now valued at over $1 million USD. NEVERDIE and Deathifier have both been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for their astounding Virtual Transactions.
“The sale of the Atrox Queen Egg is another example of the incredibly unique world and economy we offer in our game. While you don’t need thousands of dollars, or even tens of dollars to play Planet Calypso, it’s sales like these that truly separate our virtual world from any other on the planet,” said Marco Behrmann, CEO of First Planet Company. “We are introducing a new quest system soon and the epicprice tag of this Egg, which was a quest treasure itself, will energize a new generation of virtual pioneers looking to make their mark.”
First Planet Company is the developer and publisher of Planet Calypso, the largest real economy Massively Multiplayer Online Game in the world. Players have the ability to participate in a unique virtual world where they only pay for the game when they play. Its innovative real money economy uses a virtual currency which has a fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. This allows players to deposit and withdraw real funds for their adventures on Calypso or in the real world. It is also the first MMORPG to use CryTek’s stunning CryENGINE 2 for amazing graphics and physics. Planet Calypso is the oldest planet in the Entropia Universe and is free to download.
Planet Calypso is a free download available at the game’s website, www.planetcalypso.com.
Soul of the Ultimate Nation
2010 Update plans for S.U.N revealed through the official website
Plan to add the new character class and 1,000 quests
“Holiday Spirit in S.U.N” contribution donated to UNICEF
“Soul of the Ultimate Nation (S.U.N)” serviced by WEBZEN Inc. released update plans for the year 2010.
WEBZEN released its quarterly update plans for the year of 2010 on its official website, which included “Shadow”, a new character class, new quests and field maps.
The new class “Shadow” update is scheduled within the first half of the year along with playing field updates. “Shadow” is a runaway from the imperial army “Imperial Herald” with combined characteristics of “assassin” and “sorcerer.” Main weapons are daggers and whip swords, and dark and curse skills are available to give additional damage to the opponents.
Shadow is a specialized faction for gamers that prefer a single play—it has been successfully implemented and is the most beloved character among solo players in Asia
As for an integral component of S.U.N, the character transformation system and mounts will be added; and character level-up limits will also be increased proving continuous string of game updates.
WEBZEN also plans to launch multi-language service. The languages include German, Spanish, Portuguese, and English. The S.U.N official website is already available in French and German.
ChangKeun Kim, the CEO of WEBZEN, said “The accounted updates have been influenced based on the feedbacks and comments by our users. This year, we plan to apply our aggregated knowledge which we”ve accumulated since the commencing S.U.N in South Korea, into the game.”
And other note, this month WEBZEN will donate the proceeds from the in-game items sold during the 2009 Christmas Season to UNICEF. The fundraising promotion was the users” idea, which makes even more meaningful for WEBZEN. The donated fund will be used to help children all over the world.
More details on Global Soul of the Ultimate Nation are available at www.webzen.com.
Reference
1) About WEBZEN.COM Service
WEBZEN.COM is WEBZEN”s game portal intended for taking a role of “Global Digital Entertainment Leader” with its sole objective of becoming the comprehensive game service portal for all the game players around the world.
- The portal, WWW.WEBZEN.COM launched on April 2009
- Global MU beta test launched in May 2009
- Global MU commercial service launched in June 2009
- Global Archlord Service launched in September 2009
- Global Soul of the Ultimate Nation Service launched in October 2009
2) About Global “Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)”
- Launched in Korea, November 2006.
- Launched in Taiwan, April 2007 Webzen Taiwan.
- Launched in China, May 2007 through The9.
- Launched in Japan, April 2008 through GameOn.
- Started Global SUN Service in October in October
Win Big in the Dragonica Online Sweepstakes
Play DragonicaTM Online for a Chance to Win More Than $2,500 in Gift Card Prizes
THQ Inc. and THQ ICE LLC, the recently launched joint venture between THQ and ICE Entertainment focusing on free-to-play online games, announced the start of the Dragonica™ Online Water Series Game Card Sweepstakes giving players a chance to win a $2,500 Best Buy gift card and limited edition Dragonica Online Water Series Game Cards loaded with ICE Cash.
To enter simply register for a free THQ*ICE Passport account, download the official game client and log into Dragonica Online. Existing players will be automatically entered when they log in to the game during the month of January.
Sweepstakes Prizes Include:
· Grand Prize (1 awarded): $2,500 Best Buy gift card
· First Prize (5 awarded): $25 limited edition Dragonica Online Water Series Game Card
· Second Prize (10 awarded): $10 limited edition Dragonica Online Water Series Game Card
The Dragonica Online Water Series Game Card Sweepstakes runs through January 31, 2010. THQ*ICE will randomly select 16 lucky winners including one grand prize winner, five first prize winners and ten second prize winners. For the official list of rules, please visit: http://passport.thqice.com/ui_web/official_rules.html.
THQ*ICE has also announced today it is extending its rewards program for Dragonica Online players who purchase collectible Water Series Game Cards. The Water Series Game Cards, sold exclusively at Best Buy retail stores, are available in $25 and $10 values. Players who redeem a $25 Water Series Game Card will receive bonus in-game items including an Armor of Vries Set, a Water Series Wreath, and a Holiday Reindeer Randolph Pet Egg. Players who redeem a $10 Water Series Game Card will receive an in-game Water Series Wreath. These bonus items are for a limited time only and will be changed to new bonus items next month.
Developed by Barunson Interactive, Dragonica Online is set in a world of dragons and magic and takes adventurers across the windswept land of El Grego to the far reaches of the world. Gorgeous visuals complement lightning fast combat while 3D battlegrounds let you get the upper hand on opponents. Dragonica Online is the only fantasy action massively multiplayer game that merges innovative 3D side scrolling gameplay, arcade combat and a comical, yet devastating, skill system into a single MMO. Combining vibrant graphics and expansive player freedom, Dragonica Online breathes new life into the traditional side-scrolling MMO.
Dragonica Online is rated E10+ for Everyone over the age of 10. Register to play at http://dragonica/thqice.com.
World record for most expensive virtual object is smashed
Player pays $330,000 USD for Planet Calypso Virtual Space Station
First Planet Company, developer and publisher of the largest real cash economy MMORPG, announced today the results of the public auction of the Crystal Palace Space Station. The winning bidder acquired the property for a record-breaking $330,000.00 USD. The previous record was confirmed in the Guinness World Records book in 2008. It featured another piece of property in the Planet Calypso game bought for $100,000 USD as “The Most Expensive Virtual Object.“
“This is a stunning investment opportunity, and I have complete faith I will recover what I spent relatively quickly,” said Erik Novak, the winner of the Crystal Palace auction. “To say Planet Calypso has changed my life would be an understatement. I have even found the love of my life in the game, and now we live together in real life. I feel very confident about purchasing the Crystal Palace Space Station as I have already invested years of time, dedication, work, hope and love. All of those things have already paid off more than I could have ever imagined. With the new game engine, new features and almost ten years of experience Planet Calypso is one of the few safe investments in this economy.”
This auction was for Crystal Palace, an extremely popular hunting destination that is in orbit around Planet Calypso. It will now be privately operated by Erik Novak, the person behind the “Buzz Erik Lightyear” avatar. This is the third major property opportunity offered on Planet Calypso. The first auction, for Treasure Island, took place in 2004 and sold for $26,500 USD. Australian gamer, David “Deathifier” Storey recouped his full investment within 12 months and has continued to make a profit. The second, and much larger, auction took place in 2005 when American gamer Jon “NEVERDIE” Jacobs bought a Virtual Space Resort for an unheard of $100,000 USD. Due to his virtual nightclub and the profits obtained from mining/hunting rights and property sales on the resort, Mr. Jacob’s fortune was valued at $1.5 million USD in 2006. Operating profitably from day one the Club NEVERDIE Resort brought in over $50,000 USD in mining/hunting rights alone in its first five months.
First Planet Company is the developer and publisher of Planet Calypso, the largest real cash economy MMORPG in the world. Players have the ability to participate in a unique virtual economy where they only pay for the game when they play. Its unique real cash economy uses a virtual currency which has a fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. This allows players to deposit and withdraw real money during their adventures on Calypso. It is also the first MMORPG to use CryTek’s stunning CryENGINE 2 for amazing graphics and physics.
Planet Calypso is a free download available at the game’s website, www.planetcalypso.com.
2009 UK National Gamers Survey
Gamers want instant pleasure.
Digital distribution booming on all game platforms.
Online distribution and direct sales of games is rapidly expanding into the console and PC game market, traditionally serviced by retail. For the business of mobile games and games accessed via game portals direct online sales and distribution has always been key.
New data coming from the UK National Gamers Survey 2009 and identical surveys in the US and other EU markets confirm this and reveal new facts on different aspects of games industry’s hottest topic: “digital distribution”. Conducted by TNS and Gamesindustry.com, the survey found that 25% of all console users in the UK have downloaded and paid for complete games or extra levels via their console. 7% state that, when acquiring new games, they usually buy the game directly via their console. For PC games this figure is double: 14% of PC gamers are accustomed to buying and downloading directly online. Figures from the identical survey held in the US shows even more dramatic figures: 16% and 23%, respectively.
Game portals and mobile
19% of the UK population plays games on their mobile phone. 44% actually downloads new games and pays directly via their handset. The enormous reach of casual game portals – used by 32% of the total UK population – is due to the fact most games are free, but 20% of UK game portal players state they spend money on the portal. In the US this is even 33%. Paid subscriptions are the most popular in both countries but already 6% of all UK and US game portal players frequently buy premium games online.
Console and PC games
55% of the UK population plays games on consoles and 35% state they play PC games. 27% of UK console players state they download levels or complete games via their console, almost all have experienced paying for this. For Xbox 360 and PS3 the figures go up dramatically: 51% and 55% respectively; 25% for Nintendo Wii. When buying complete new games, 7% of all console players states they usually do so directly via the console. 14% of PC gamers pay and download games directly. As can be expected percentages are even higher in the younger age groups.
Video content and demos
Online distribution is not only a factor in purchasing games. Almost 25% of UK console game players state that the availability of a downloadable trial version or demo is a crucial factor in their buying decision. This is close to the 30% for PC gamers that traditionally have online access. 45% of PS3 users downloads or accesses video content via their console. This is 41% for Xbox360 and a mere 22% for Nintendo Wii.
Game market revenues
Fast growing segments of the game market such as MMOs, mobile games and game portals are already attracting significant revenues through direct online payments. With the addition of console and PC game revenues shifting away from traditional retail, additional tools and approaches are needed to get the full picture of the games market.
Peter Warman, from Gamesindustry.com adds:“With the growing part of games being played and paid for online, a key way to monitor the complete games business is by asking consumers directly about their overall game behavior and spending. An additional advantage of this approach is insight across all platforms as the traditional divide between the online casual and core console market has evaporated.”
MMO Calendar 2010
It is officially that time of year again. The 4th annual MMO Calendar is now on sale!
MMO Calendar is an annual, non-profit fund-raiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
With the help of amazing developers we have put together another one-of-a-kind calendar featuring original artwork from some of your favorite MMO’s. MMO Calendar 2010 includes:
• Age of Conan
• Dungeons & Dragons Online
• Eve Online
• EverQuest II
• Free Realms
• Guild Wars 2
• Lord of the Rings Online
• Runes of Magic
• RuneScape
• The Secret World
• Warhammer Online
• World of Warcraft®
As a special thank you to everyone that purchases a calendar we have a bag full of prizes to give away! Upon placing your order you will be entered to win 1 of 10 prizes for each game featured in the calendar!
List of Prizes
• Age of Conan – 30 Day Subscription
• Dungeons & Dragons Online – 30 Day VIP Subscription
• Eve Online – 30 Day Subscription
• EverQuest II – 30 Day Subscription
• Free Realms – 90 Day Premium Subscription
• Guild Wars 2 – Boxed Copy of Guild Wars Trilogy
• Lord of the Rings Online – 30 Day Subscription
• Runes of Magic – 30 Day Subscription
• RuneScape – 90 Day Subscription
• The Secret World – Closed Beta Slot
• Warhammer Online – 30 Day Subscription
• World of Warcraft® – 30 Day Subscription
Keep in mind though… even if you don’t win a prize in one of the drawings you are still a winner! As always, 100% of the proceeds of the sale of MMO Calendar go directly to the amazing people at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helping them in the fight for children’s lives.
Reserve your 2010 MMO Calendar today at http://www.mmocalendar.com!
*All calendars will be shipped on Dec. 5, 2009, ensuring Christmas delivery worldwide.
**10 of each prize will be given away in a drawing to be held on Dec. 7, 2009 at 8 pm CST. Winners will be notified by email immediately following the drawing. Odds of winning are dependent on the number of people that purchase the calendar.
Mass Effect 2 Sequel landing in the UK on January 29th
Unique Armour and Weaponry Available with Pre-Orders
Mark your calendar and lock in your copy of Mass Effect 2 now! Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. announced that the epic Shooter/RPG Mass Effect™ 2 will be on store shelves in the UK on January 29. With its larger-than-life hero Commander Shepard, intense shooter action, nuanced characters and a rich storyline, the sequel to the original award-winning opus is one of the most anticipated titles of 2010. In support of the launch, BioWare is releasing unique Mass Effect 2 pre-order incentives* at key retailers in North America and across Europe. Codes for downloading these items will be provided to players who have pre-ordered, usable when the game is released.
“Our fans are in for a genuine thrill in the New Year with Mass Effect 2 – the second installment in the trilogy will be of amazingly high quality,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “BioWare’s fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting this epic sequel, and we couldn’t be more excited to reward them for pre-ordering by delivering some awesome bonus content!”
Pre-order bonuses include special-ops armor and weaponry that are designed to boost Commander Shepard’s skills and abilities. Terminus Gear includes the powerful Terminus Assault Armor and the M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon. Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions, increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an additional magazine of reserve ammo. The M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat missions in Mass Effect 2.
Inferno Armor will also be available as a separate pre-order incentive. This item is used by officers to monitor battlefield conditions by recognizing elevated heart rates, and regulates sub-systems with extreme efficiency to allow for greater response times – together these abilities translate in-game into a negotiation bonus for Commander Shepard and an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat powers.
Specific UK retail partners for the two pre-order bonuses will be revealed soon.
The Mass Effect trilogy is an emotionally charged science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will once again step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, space exploration and emotionally engaging character interaction, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.
Mass Effect 2 will be available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/masseffect2. For more information on Mass Effect 2, go to http://masseffect.bioware.com or www.eagames.co.uk
*Restrictions apply.
Video Game Show says Gamers Are Highly Effective People
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Highly effective people improve their lives through things that they can influence. What more influence do you want than that which is obtained playing RPG games?
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Ever met a gamer that began a game without the thought of ending their opponents?
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Spend time doing what fits into your personal mission, observing proper balance between production and building production capacity? Gamers spend all day and night doing what fits into their games’ mission, observing proper balance between good hand and eye coordination.
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
I think it goes without saying that all gamers think about is winning and a bit about shooting & blowing stuff up.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Gamers always seek to understand the game, and only then kill all that gets in his or her way for the sole reason of being understood.
Habit 6: Synergize
Through online communication, gamers find ways to leverage individual differences to create a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. Body parts that is.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Gamers take time from game play to buy more games. Marinating a balance among these two dimensions isn’t easy when you don’t have a job. Luckily for gamers, petty task like sharpening saw blades, knives, swords, and spears aren’t necessary in virtual game worlds. Reloading seems to be the more annoying thing gamers deal with.
Analogy over!
Executive producer Jace Hall & Director/ producer Todd Roy of the video game show “The Jace Hall Show” seek 5-6 hardcore video gamers. i.e. 80-120 hour a week gamers who know their stuff. Our goal: To help outsiders understand who / what we really are and daily sacrifices made to live in a world where almost no one gets it.
To qualify you must:
– live with at least one interviewable parent.
– have one or more siblings that aren’t gamers.
– be between ages of 18 and 35.
– divide some attention for interviews during game play.
– be available to fly out to our green screen studio in Los Angeles for 2 days.
– believe that the world is full of people just wasting time working 9-5 jobs.
CONTACT: Phil Guye, +1-323-851-3825, phillipguye@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.atomicstudios.com/
http://www.jacehall.tv/
SteelSeries introduces new Siberia v2 Headset
New Version of SteelSeries’ Best-Selling Siberia Headset Delivers Superior Sound Isolation, Comfort, and Design for Gamers and Audiophiles
SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of gaming peripherals and accessories, introduced the new SteelSeries Siberia v2 Full-size Headset. As the successor to SteelSeries’ signature Siberia Headset which launched in 2004, the new Siberia v2 offers gamers and music enthusiast’s superior speaker and microphone technology that delivers impeccable sound quality, integrated control capabilities, and enhanced design for greater comfort and improved passive noise reduction.
The original SteelSeries Siberia Full-size Headset became a huge success in the professional gaming community and also extended its reach into the music world being used by professional musicians in several high-profile international music videos.
As an upgrade to the original Siberia, the v2 sports an “invisible” retractable microphone system that pulls out from the left ear-cup, allowing for a more convenient and travel-friendly headset especially for tournament players.
The Siberia v2′s increased 50mm speakers will amplify the bass and overall volume as well as improve the frequency response to 10-28,000 Hz. Optimized for professional gaming, where crisp detailed sound can mean the difference between winning or losing, the soundscape features crystal clear high, low, and mid-tones. Tournament players and gamers that battle with loud households will appreciate its new closed ear-cup design which features thick leather padded cushions built from sound dampening foam to increase outside noise isolation, especially important for first-person shooter (FPS) games when footsteps and grenade pin-drops are so important to hear.
“Every element of the Siberia v2 has been optimized for pro-gaming, making this headset a preferred piece of equipment for the world’s best competitive PC gamers,” said Bruce Hawver, CEO of SteelSeries. “What’s even more impressive is that the headset is multifunctional with its ability to deliver an unparalleled audio experience for music lovers and VOIP users.”
Key product specifications of the SteelSeries Siberia v2 Full-size Headset include:
- 50mm speakers
- Impedance: 32 Ohm
- Frequency: 10-28,000 Hz
- SPL@1kHz: 112dB
- Cable: 1m + 2m extension
- Jacks: 2* 3.5mm
- Retractable microphone: 50-16,000 Hz, unidirectional
Along with the new thicker leather ear-cups for sound isolation, the Siberia v2 remains lightweight while its trademark headband suspension construction makes it extremely comfortable for use over long periods of time. The volume regulator, the cord and its base have also been upgraded. The primary cord is shorter in length for optimized use with portable gear and comes with an additional extra cord for use with stationary computers.
The Siberia v2 will be offered in two versions, with and without a USB soundcard. The virtual surround 7.1 soundcard offers a consistent sound experience, ensuring gamers the exact same sound and settings no matter where they are in the world or at what computer they are playing. With the easy to use software provided with the headset, the user can easily customize equalizer settings, profiles and other output settings.
SteelSeries Siberia v2 Full-size Headset will be available all over the world in November 2009. Pricing will be announced at that time as well.
64.9 million Chinese online gamers will spend $52 each on average in 2009
Niko Partners’ 2009 Chinese Gamers Study Provides Essential Information for Companies Interested in Selling Goods and Services to Chinese Gamers
Niko Partners, the leading market intelligence firm on China’s video game industry, today announced key findings from its latest report, the 2009 Chinese Gamers Study, a report on gamer demand, behavior, preferences and usage based on a survey conducted in 20 Chinese cities. Niko forecasts 64.9 million online gamers by the end of 2009 who will spend $52 per person on average, a growing audience who support the robust nature of the Chinese market for games and the mandate to offer a wider range of games to serve a broader and discerning Chinese gamer audience. The audience prefers free-to-play online games over the subscription model, but also spends a great deal of time on PC offline games.
The 2009 Chinese Gamers Study provides essential information for anyone interested in targeting Chinese gamers with games, digital content, hardware, or services. The report delivers an understanding of gamer demographics, Internet café, usage, spending patterns, and hardware awareness among Chinese gamers. 84 percent of Niko’s gamers sampled own a PC at home – far outpacing the national rate for all consumers.
“There’s no doubt that the market for games is growing at an incredible rate in China,” said Lisa Cosmas Hanson, managing partner of Niko Partners. “The economics of the market are shifting from supply-driven to demand-driven, which means that game publishers, hardware makers and service providers must understand their users behaviors and preferences in order to offer products and services that will be very popular in this hit-driven business.”
The 2009 Chinese Gamers Study is the second report in Niko’s 2009 annual market research subscription on China’s video game industry, or is sold alone for US $3,500. It is based on Niko’s broadest gamers survey of 1,850 gamers in 20 cities in four Chinese tiers and provides information that will enable decision makers to intelligently plan for success in China.