In space, nobody can hear you scream, but the sound of cash registers ringing is able to echo across the distant stars and planets. In Entropia Universe, you find yourself a settler on a recently established colony, and much like in the real world, you're going to have to work hard for the money if you want to have any social standing in this brave, new world, because in Entropia Universe everything has a very real value and where real money is actually on the line. We got to talk with Marco Behrmann - the Chief Information Officer/Community Relations Director over at MindArk - to find out some more about the game and how this real world economy actually plays out online.

MPOGD: Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got involved working with Entropia Universe and what drew you in about the project?

Marco: My name is Marco Behrmann and I am 33 years old. I have been with MindArk since January 2002 and am currently the Chief Information Officer/Community Relations Director. I was the marketing director for a Swedish lifestyle magazine called Codex when the opportunity to join MindArk emerged. They needed a writer to do concepts, background, characters, plot and story, and as I had a background with pen-and-paper-RPG-development since 1993 I was a very suitable person for this. Most of the weapons and other items are my creations, and the various bits of history given on the background on special items are my doing as well. Nowadays we have more people involved in the process but I still feel I had a big part in the foundation of Entropia history.

My role includes marketing activities but I also function as an ambassador between the community, the marketing team and the development team. Given that Entropia Universe is an online experience much of the development of the system is based on what the Entropia participants want and desire. It is important to interlink these with MindArk's short- and long-term vision and how to proceed into the future in the best possible way.

The vision of Entropia Universe was just overwhelming when I checked it out. To create a virtual universe with a real cash economy that had the ambition to be free from recurring costs and that was to become a part of history and be a big part of the future as we know it. Who could say no to that?

MPOGD:  For those who might not know about the game, can you give us some information on Entropia Universe and what it is all about?

Marco:  MindArk operates, develops and markets the entertainment platform called Entropia Universe, which gives people from all over the world the opportunity of becoming members in a common 3d virtual universe. Entropia Universe offers a unique mixture of online entertainment, social interaction and E-commerce through a ground breaking concept; the connecting of a real cash economy to a gigantic three dimensional virtual universe.

The Basics The Entropia Universe client software is free to download over the Internet and doesn't involve any subscription fees what so ever. Entropia Universe utilizes a "real cash economy", which means that the internal Entropia Universe economy is linked to the real world economy. This is achieved using a virtual currency called the Project Entropia Dollar (PED), which has a fixed exchange rate, guaranteed by MindArk, to the US Dollar, where 10 PED equals 1 USD. By enabling this kind of currency exchange, both to and from Entropia Universe, a participant has the opportunity to earn real money while in essence partaking in an online computer game. Real currency is entered into Entropia Universe using mainly credit cards and pre-paid cards. The virtual PED currency may then be exchanged back into real world currency using either a direct bank transfer, or the Entropia Universe Cash Card, which essentially is an ATM card that can be loaded with PED from inside the Entropia Universe and used to instantaneously withdraw real funds according to the exchange rate mentioned above, from over 1 million ATM machines worldwide.

The Virtual Universe The Entropia Universe is set on the distant colony of Calypso, the first habitable planet mankind has ever found. Participants assume the roles of colonists that strive to build a new world together, under threat from the natural elements and a marauding robot force out to destroy the fledgling colony. As Calypso is a recently discovered planet, the colonists - players - must establish their own society and economy. This requires a lot of cooperation and specialization - one person cannot do it all. This means that colonists need to collaborate when it comes to advancing the level of development; it is better to have a specialized miner searching for minerals and an expert tools manufacturer making tools. Should colonists choose to leave the safety of the cities and towns on Calypso, they may have to defend themselves against wild animals, hostile mutants and invading robots. However the risk can be worth the reward with pristine new land areas to survey and extract minerals from. Upon entering Entropia Universe, one creates an alter ego, an avatar (a 3d character which represents the participant in the virtual universe), which can be modeled completely according to the participant's wishes regarding gender, appearance, skin color etc. One is then transported to the virtual planet Calypso where In-World adventures and social interaction with other participants begin. As a participant in Entropia Universe you use PED to acquire virtual land and equipment in order to invest in your avatar's growth and abilities. MindArk expands and develops Entropia Universe continually, much of which is based on participant feedback and initiative. This means that the individual, together with others, has the opportunity to participate in the creation of a new civilization, the exploration of whole continents and the establishment of new communities.

Virtual Items and Values Virtual items are items that exist in the Entropia Universe, like a shirt, a house, or a tool. They are intangible assets, which in Entropia Universe have a real value as they can be bought and sold for PED. The concept is not as strange as it seems, as people have already paid for virtual items, or experiences, for decades. When you go to a store and buy a CD, do you buy a shiny, physical plastic disc or is it the content in form of music - the experience, sensations and mood, from listening to something you deem valuable? The same theory applies to the virtual items in Entropia Universe - they are valuable in the context they exist, and as the real cash economy is a fundamental part of Entropia Universe, they also become valuable in real life. Most items are traded on the free market in Entropia, either through direct participant-to-participant interaction, or by use of the auction system which allows for global trades, or through the numerous shops, marketplaces and shopping malls scattered around the virtual universe. The market imitates the real world where supply and demand determine price and availability. Some of the rarer virtual items in Entropia Universe have a market value of over 25,000 USD. This may seem a lot, but the perceived value, both in function and/or status warrants it. Just like in the real world, where you live virtually is also important. If you can find a nice three room condo next to one of Entropia's celebrity players, you will have to be able to afford paying premium money for the estate, compared to an apartment of equal size somewhere in the virtual suburbs. As the virtual universe is composed of real human beings behind every avatar, real world mechanics, psychology and social patterns are imitated in the society built by Entropia participants.

MPOGD: One of the big things about Entropia Universe is that though there is no subscription cost, the game is a fully supported by a Real Cash Economy, where everything you are buying in the game you are actually buying it with real life money. How popular have you found that mechanic in the game? Because in a gaming world where more and more people complain about microtransactions in games, it seems as if many would be opposed or look unfavorable on a Real Cash Economy.

Marco:  We have found the Real Cash Economy model successful. It is still a new thing for many people to pay real money for virtual items, but more and more grasp the idea. One very big difference between Entropia Universe and the rest is that in Entropia Universe you can sell and trade the items again for real money on a free market, while in most other games you just pay for additional premium play content - you get play items for real money. In Entropia it is more like you invest your funds rather than just spend it.

MPOGD:  If there is no subscription fee and no cost to download or purchase the game, how are the developers and creators of Entropia Universe making any money to keep the game running?

Marco:  All items in Entropia Universe have a re-purchase value guaranteed from MindArk. Every time you use a tool or a weapon, the items re-purchase value is decreased by a tiny amount. This value is real as the PED has a real dollar value attached. From this MindArk makes money.

MPOGD:  Obviously purchases are a big factor in the game, where if you want something - as long as someone else has it and are selling - you can buy it as long as you have the real money in the bank to back it up. For those who perhaps don't have the money to do something like that, will they still be able to jump into the game and interact and have a good time, and if so what all will they be able to do in the game for free?

Marco:  Yes, Entropia Universe has several activities that can generate PED by utilizing one's time. In order to feed tamed animals you need certain food which can be found by exploring the lands. Also, one of the key parts in using the magic-like Mindforce powers is gathered by extracting sweat from animals. This is a time-consuming enterprise, and is quite boring to be frank. But the sweat has a real dollar market value to other participants who buy it from the sweat gatherers, thus meaning the sweat gatherer gets paid in real money for essentially playing an online game. It is up to everyone who joins which path to choose - transfer real money and get started right away or take it slowly and transfer no real cash. It is up to you.

MPOGD:  Is it theoretically possible to view the Real Cash Economy of Entropia Universe as a virtual one wherein no real money is exchanged, or must money be spent at least at some point during the game. For example, if I want something I can buy it with real money. If I never spent a dime of my own money from my own account, could I perhaps do something like train a skill, use that skill to earn money in the game from other players, and then use that money to make the purchase - though others are departing and using their money, there is almost a dissociation there if you never actually spend any of your money.

No, the connection is always there. The total balance of the economy is based on value added by MindArk, the Entropia participants and from third party sources, like Massive Incorporated in regards of in-world advertising. One of the pillars of Entropia Universe is maintaining security and stability, thus there is no way to virtually "print money" that has no real world backing. If that was a possibility the inflation rate will shoot through the roof. But, on the other hand, you as an individual can still elect to partake without entering real funds yourself, but using funds others have, by earning wages or partaking in the low-level activities like sweat gathering or dung collecting.

MPOGD: Since the came if supported by real money, there has to be skills and jobs people can use to make money in the game. What type of skills and jobs can people learn or have throughout their time in Entropia Universe?

Marco:  Entropia Universe is a skill based experience. Anyone can perform any action any time and gain experience in the skill by using it. But you need to specialize to get real benefits from your avatar skills - being a jack-of-all-trades kind of person will cater for more varied gameplay while being a master in a field will get you advantage in that field, compared to others. You can be a hunter, miner, prospector, mindforcer, tailor, carpenter, weapons maker, armor manufacturer, tools builder, artist, explorer, gatherer, transporter, attachment assembler, medic, assassin, engineer, teacher, real estate agent, DNA manipulator, land owner, trader, banker, etc. There are many, many various fields open the participant. And again, there are no classes or levels in Entropia Universe, it imitates the real world more as to when you do things you get better at it.

MPOGD:  With real money involved, have you found players treating the game more like a job than a game? In other words, are there people perhaps not experiencing the full facet of the game, and instead focused only on making real life money, since the things you can do in the game can lead to real money in your pocket by withdrawing game currency to your real account?

Marco: For some people yes, absolutely. Others see Entropia Universe as exciting entertainment, others as social networking. But MindArk supply Entropia Universe as a dynamic platform for commerce, entertainment and investment. Like the real world, different people have different tastes and possibilities to use Entropia to their personal liking. For the hard core entrepreneurs, they have the most fun doing their stuff, while casual gamers who like killing monsters and finding loot worth real money get their kicks out of that. It all works in line with the idea of the virtual universe where the colonists arrive to create a new world.

MPOGD: With real money involved, the law of consumer has to be applied, which accounts for both the buying and selling of goods or services. Are there brokers in the game, auction houses, or honest to goodness storefronts where all purchases can be made, just as if you walked down the street to a local store?

Marco:  Yes, there are several ways for the participants to conduct business and trade. Street vendors shouting out their offers to the average Joe in the busy square, shops and stalls where items can be stored and sold automatically, shopping malls with high end stores, display windows and advertising, as well as a global Ebay-like auction system, for commerce over vast distances and continents. The ability to trade is a backbone in Entropia - all items have a value for someone, you just have to find the right person.

MPOGD:  When money is involved, greed isn't usually far behind, and neither are cons or theft. How safe is Entropia Universe to play? Will players (have players) have to be cautious and worry that perhaps another user is taking advantage of them in some way within the game for the sole means of ridding them of their money. Are there any policies, steps, or moderators in place to make sure dirty dealings or theft doesn't happen within the game?

Marco:  Entropia Universe is built for maximum security and safety surrounding the platform, the user-interface and technical exploits and we maintain a very high level of security. We even have a Gold Smart Card solution for logging on to Entropia not even all banks have (the Gold Card is a one-time code generator completely separate from the PC, with a credit-card sized card and a reader that displays the code). As Entropia is a platform used by human being behind the avatars, normal human behavior is mimicked. Most people are honest and upstanding but there are always those that prey on others, trying to fool people, offering deals too good to be true, etc. As in the real world you have to be wary of such suggestions or offers. I mean, why would I lend my $200 rifle to a stranger in a virtual world after a five minute chat when I would never behave in the same way in the real world? MindArk's policy is that all trades between avatars are final and we will never go in and reverse such deals.

MPOGD:   How easy is it for new players to jump in and get started with the game? Are players going to feel completely overwhelmed and like a small fish in a big pond or are they going to have a chance to make a dent?

Marco:  As Entropia Universe is a complete virtual universe with a real cash economy the sensation from the get go can be overwhelming. But if you try it out first, as it is free to download and play for as long as one would like, and check out the various aspects of Entropia, read up on the background and newcomer hints and tricks, you can quite fast get a position in the game.

MPOGD: Entropia Universe sounds a lot like an investment, in both time and money, which seems to be something more geared towards the hardcore player. How inviting or available is the game for the more casual gamer?

Marco:  It is actually very inviting! Most MMOG's just reward real time spent online, meaning a working 35-year old never will have the time to get ahead with the 17-year olds who has much more free time. As it is illegal to buy equipment or an avatar of higher level it is a very high risk if you want to get to a higher level of game play without actually spending the time. In Entropia Universe we support the selling and buying of items. We also have the teacher system which allows for anyone to gain skills quickly in a field. Both these areas usually come at a cost, but that cost is usually something quite affordable for a working person who has more money but less time to spend on an online game experience. So in essence, Entropia Universe allows people who have money and little time to experience higher level content quicker than they would usually in other online games. I believe this to be excellent, as it allows for more equal experiences between those with money and those with time.

MPOGD:  What type of expansion plans or future content are in the works/you see coming down the pipeline? Whether they are plans for a month from now, a year from now, or a decade from now, where is Entropia Universe heading and what do you want to see it accomplish and have its players remember the most?

Marco:  Entropia is updated all the time; we have a Version Update, or VU, once every six to eight weeks. Each VU contains new content, new systems, fixes and tweaks and technical updates. In the near future we are focused on introducing real world banks into Entropia through virtual banking licenses. On a longer term we have put a lot of focus onto enhancing the look of Entropia Universe. We have come some way but as we strive to have state of the art graphics it is a continuous battle against new technology. Looking further into the looking glass shows many interesting content systems, as well as the ability to travel between planets - something really exciting! All in all, the future for Entropia Universe is looking brighter and brighter for every day that passes!

Some would say with the way we are heading, it will only be a matter of time before we completely waste Earth and leave it nothing more than a shell of what it used to be. Should that day come, we'll have to head to the stars looking for other planets capable of establishing life, so why not get a leg up on the competition and learn capitalism and what it might be like running a business and establishing yourself on a future, alien world. We'd like to thank Marco Behrmann for taking the time to answer our questions and shed some light on what makes the world of Entropia Universe spin.

"Interview instigated from an old acquaintence who now "lives" in EntropiaUniverse: Genesis gen Yang - http://www.ola32.com"

For more information on Entropia Universe please visit http://www.entropiauniverse.com/.