Entropia+Universe

Entropia Universe is an online multilayer game in some ways similar to World of Warcraft. It is set on other planets of an alternate universe. the world is based mainly on hunting and mining. Entropia is a virtual world with a real cash economy. the money in the game is directly linked to real world dollars. players can deposit money and use it to purchase all sorts of things. there are the normal items you would find in any game like weapons, clothing and vehicles. But you can also buy art, apartments, houses and property. every thing you purchase can be resold at markets or in auctions. most things have appreciated in value over time and some people have made hundreds of thousands of dollars in virtual real estate. Players also get randomly rewarded through hunting and mining. most of the time the prizes are small but occasionally items of high value are won. this game could be seen as some odd way of gambling but it is much more. it is very social and active. players can go on missions to gain experience and levels. you as the player can build up a character and join societies that work together to gain property and collect taxes.



to play this game you must create a character. this is a complicated process where you can make a unique person that will be the beginning of who you will be in the game. the game has a lot of terminology that must be understood in order to be able to navigate the game. due to the social aspect of the game understanding the language of the game is important for communication. as a new player there are many ways to learn how the game works. you can do missions that walk you through the game and teach you how to do things like hunting or moving through the world. since this is a real money economy it is important to understand how the economy works. you must learn how to buy and sell things and what is available. the real money also means that there will be real thieves or people that may try to take advantage but there are also many nice people that are willing to help. beyond the game play this game requires you to navigate a complicated social world that has many aspects.



There are countless numbers of blogs forums and online news sites dedicated to the world of Entropia. one such site is called Planet Calypso, which is the name of the main planet in the game, this site has history, directions on how to play and news from the world. this is just one of many similar sites. some sites are more specific and deal with individuals in the game or societies.

I think that the game has all of the aspects of learning that Gee talks about in his book. it is very engaging and I spent hours playing and creating my avatar. the look of the world is amazing and there is an massive amount of interesting creatures to discover and to hunt. the fact that it is dealing in real money directly makes it unique. money is not required to play so anyone can get started and make money with out ever paying a cent. this game has all of the learning principles that Gee believes could be used in schools and I think that it could be used in a classroom to connect students to many subject,