Entropia Opens Planets to New Business Partners

Entropia Universe signed up with the China Recreation District in May to help develop a national infrastructure for virtual worlds and e-commerce, all centered around a planet dedicated to China in the virtual universe. Details recently emerged pointing to a massive real-world sales focus from the district as well. Now MIndArk is looking to connect with more business partners in the same vein. "We're looking at using Entropia  as a platform for companies and corporations to come in and use our basic systems, our entertainment systems, social systems, and, obviously, trade systems, to build their own environment," said MindArk Chief Business Officer Frank Campbell who is at the E for All Expo looking for new partners. "They can build what they want on it and develop content. We are having some discussions with other partners, and I hope we will be able to announce a few more partnerships by Christmas."

While no names have been released or contracts signed, Campbell said a major area of interest for both MindArk and partners, is in  brands that already have a significant amount of content to add to the universe.

"Media companies are very interesting because they already have a lot of content and ideas and can really bring something of value to Entropia Universe," explained Campbell. "We're also interested in other types of companies, from banking to building. But maybe a planet would not be the best option for them. Maybe an office on an existing planet would work better."

As deals progress, the business model that MindArk is looking for is based on profit sharing. While in Second Life, companies make an initial purchase and then pay rent on their islands, MindArk wants to give away Entropia planets as long as the partner will provide value to the universe as a whole.

Partners will then be largely responsible for their own planets.

"We're also interested in having them come in and get to know our culture," explained Campbell. "We provide them with the base technology. We provide them with the training and education to bring the objects into Entropia. They do the 3D modeling themselves, though obviously we guide it the whole way."

Just as the CRD is looking to sell both virtual and real goods, Entropia is open to any source of revenue for new partners. It's previously worked with clothing designers who sold virtual apparel along with the option to have the real outfit shipped to the buyers door. While those companies may not be able to fill up planets, they're ideal fits for offices in existing worlds, explained Campbell.

The other principle of design behind the partnerships is that Entropia is looking to bring in professional architects to help design the worlds and offices.

"We're working with a few people now to build, building new towns," Campbell explained. "We'd like to get architects involved to get that rich content as well. Obviously we're a game developer and not architects ourselves. We can make them functional, but not as architectural."

All that comes with the extra freedom that being set in the future on an asteroid brings. However, one of Entropia's self-defined benefits for business is the content restrictions that it places on users. The CRD, for example, was reportedly attracted to the safe, porn-and-gambling-free world. So while some brands may seem out of place in the sci-fi world, Campbell isn't concerned.

"That's something of course we'd have to think about," he said. "But the science fiction element, while it is there, isn't the defining attribute of Entropia. It allows us to be creative more than if we were set in the present day."