Nobel Prize Celebration Hosted by Entropia Universe
Virtual World Honors Nobel Laureates in Both Virtual and "Real" Worlds; Event to Take Place Online and in Stockholm December 10, 2006
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN -- (MARKET WIRE) -- December 5, 2006 -- Entropia Universe, the fastest
growing and original virtual world with a real cash economy, today
announced another world's first -- the hosting of both a virtual and real
world party celebrating the outstanding Nobel Prize winners on Sunday,
December 10th, in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nobel Laureates, their guests,
members of the Swedish Royal family, the Nobel Foundation and the Swedish
Academy will celebrate at the official Nobel NightCap party at the
Stockholm School of Economics after the prize giving ceremony and banquet
at Stockholm Town Hall. MindArk is issuing an open invitation to the
world's online partygoers to join the festivities for free.
Jon "Neverdie" Jacobs, the world's most prominent virtual "cylebrity," will
be on hand in the Entropia Universe to DJ sets live from Club Neverdie, the world's first
virtual nightclub which he founded and promotes. Scenes from the live
virtual party will be projected onto walls of the live party in Stockholm,
creating an unprecedented combination of live and virtual events giving the
impression of the Nobel Laureates and guests in Stockholm dancing and
mingling with the Avatars from the Entropia Universe.
"We are honored to have been invited to participate in the Nobel Prize
celebrations and are excited about welcoming the Nobel Laureates into
Entropia Universe," says Jan Welter, CEO of MindArk, developer of Entropia
Universe. "As the world of video games evolves to become more than just a
means of two-dimensional entertainment, we are seeing a demand for the
integration of real-world features in virtual environments. Individuals are
joining the Entropia Universe (EU) community to interact, meet new people,
learn and exchange new ideas, reach entrepreneurial aspirations, create
societies and even foster new relationships in everyday reality."
The Entropia Universe, innovative since its inception, offers a variety of
entertainment and social interaction for its citizens. Users can create
their own persona (avatar) via a unique character generation system. They
then have the option of choosing from a wide range of professions supported
by the colonists on the bustling frontier of the planet Calypso. The
Entropia Universe offers opportunities completely different from those of
the users' real-life occupations. Entropia uses a system based on Skills
and Experience which allows for occupational proficiency in areas ranging
from event promotions and store ownership to hunting and mining. The level
of trade in Calypso's main cities is an astounding mix of open-air fares
and hectic stock exchanges. Entropians buy and sell property, become
financially successful, and have even found mates in their virtual world,
some of which have resulted in real life marriages. The Entropia Universe
is the only virtual entertainment platform that actively supports sales of
virtual products with actual cash value within its real economy system. The
economy offers the user a secure and safe way to purchase, sell and
exchange a multitude of items and services
Real-life currency can easily be exchanged for PED (Project Entropia
Dollars) and back again into real money, at a fixed exchange rate of 10 PED
to 1 US Dollar. PED allows members to invest in personal development and
growth through the acquisition of goods, buildings, and land in the virtual
universe.
In December 2004, Entropia Universe set a world record, certified by the
Guinness Book of World Records, when it sold the virtual Treasure Island
for $26,500 USD (the largest virtual dollar amount spent) to 22-year-old
Australian David Storey, a.k.a. "Deathifier." The recent sale of the Space
Resort for $100,000 USD to famed gamer, Jon "NEVERDIE" Jacobs, set a new
record for the most valuable virtual item ever. In 2005, the Entropia
Universe GNP was an estimated $165 million US dollars and is expected to
reach over $300 million in 2006.
About Entropia Universe and MindArk
Entropia Universe is a registered trademark of MindArk PE AB. MindArk
supports and monitors the services and maintenance of the Entropia Universe
site. MindArk began in April of 2003 in Sweden, and has expanded to have
partners throughout the world. Entropia Universe was launched in 2003 and
has reached over 500,000 registered accounts. MindArk offers the Entropia
Universe software to users free of charge with no monthly costs or
associated subscription fees. For more information or to download the free
Entropia Universe software please visit www.entropiauniverse.com. For more
information about EU's developer, MindArk, please visit www.mindark.com.
Contact Information: Contact:
Jennifer Fader
Terpin Communications Group
Tel: (310) 821-6100, ext. 112
jfader@terpin.com