A new record has been set for the most money ever spent on a virtual item, after a player of the MMO ‘Entropia Universe’ shelled out $330,000 USD for a space station which was put up for auction by the Swedish developers, MindArk.
Buzz “Erik” Lightyear, a well-known player in the Entropia community, bought the plot in the game, which is said to have over three quarters of a million registered users. The space station, named Crystal Palace, is one of two such constructions. Apparently, owning the station will allow Erik to earn real-life cash from the in-game currency that players spend there.
” I was really hoping to win this auction.” Said Erik on the game’s forum. “I believe Crystal Palace can be amazing since it won’t just be owned by some investor, but instead by a very active, and very old player who loves Entropia Universe.”
This isn’t the first time Entropia Universe has been in the headlines for expensive virtual items; In 2004 and 2008 it also featured in the Guinness World Book of Records for the most costly virtual world objects.
Published: Jan 4, 2010 01:03 pm