" A 22-year-old gamer has spent US$26,500 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.
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."