Swedish developer and publisher First Company Planet has recently announced an upcoming auction of massive proportions. Well noted for their record setting virtual property sales, Planet Calypso is off to repeat history, but naturally, raising the bar in the process. This time around, Planet Calypso will see the auctioning off of the Medusa’s Head islands. The lucky winner of this auction will also receive a place in the record books for largest virtual property ever sold, and has the opportunity to reap serious financial rewards, as evidenced by previous First Company Planet real-estate purchasers. And while most gaming companies seem to be focusing on smaller and lower priced content, read:microtransactions, First Company Planet appears to be enjoying their road of revolution, specializing in the exact opposite, macrotransactions.
The Medusa’s Head Islands are the fourth of such offerings from Planet Calypso, and will be available for viewing as of tomorrow, December 7th, 2010. Bidding is open to both current Planet Calypso players, as well as those who are new to the experience. On December 13th, Planet Calypso will officially put the Medusa’s Head islands up on the auction block. There is no opening minimum bid, however, Planet Calypso is waving their normal 1% withdrawal fee for potential investors bidding $50,000.00 or more.
The virtual island chain contains 8 unique land masses, each capable of revenue generation, according to Planet Calypso. 3 main islands and 5 satellite islands make up the geographical formation, and contain 2 individual creatures, both of which are sure to be on any Calypsian hunter’s list. Additional revenue incomes can be derived from the islands’ other indigenous species, rich mineral deposits, retail, and residential assets. Making it easy for potential shoppers to reach said islands, First Company Planet is kicking in a teleportation system, however players may also reach the islands via air or boat.
If $50k or more seems like a steep price for a virtual investment, consider this: in 2005, Planet Calypso saw an asteroid containing shops, hunting, mining, and a (rather successful) nightclub sold for $635,000,000. The original purchase price was $1,000,000. That’s not a bad Return on Investment by any standard. The original $1M was recouped via various in-game fees from other players in a short 8 months, and was previously noted by Guinness World Records as the most expensive virtual item in the world. Considering that the Medusa’s Head islands contain 8 unique development opportunities, Planet Calypso is expecting some serious investment interest.
While the figures from previous Planet Calypso investments and purchases have carved out their unique slot in the gaming world, it’s important that these high numbers be taken with a grain of salt. Sure, recouping your initial investment may be achievable, based on previous virtual properties sold, however, all profitability hinges upon the First Planet Company’s whims. They could, if they so choose, close the operation tomorrow. Likewise, the popularity of said title could wane overnight, and then what? Don’t get me wrong, if there’s serious money to be made, then it is what it is; an investment. However, if we’ve learned nothing else from Zynga, it’s quite dangerous to put all your eggs in one basket, i.e. Facebook.
Authored by recent PhD graduate Rob Hooker from the College of Business at Florida State University, the study results aimed to determine how a consumer’s activity with a brand in a virtual environment may or may not influence his/her decision to purchase the brands’ offering. Conducted during the Planet Calypso “Miss Calypso” beauty pageant, researchers found that the more immersive a virtual world/environment is, the consumers intention to purchase a product that they interact with rises accordingly. Additionally, the study found that virtual worlds have a significant level of immersion, or “Flow.” When measured within the studies’ parameters, researchers found that virtual worlds have a marked higher level of Flow than similar studies based on traditional advertising formats.
This past Sunday, Jon “NEVERDIE” Jacobs put his virtual egg up for public auction. The winning bid was placed by David “Deathifier” Storey. The Atrox Queen Egg is not a new addition to the virtual economy, as NEVERDIE originally purchased the egg in 2006 for $10,000 from a player who had received it as loot from a completed quest. However, the story of the egg doesn’t end here, as according to Planet Calypso, eggs are bound to hatch, and thousands of players are now left speculating if the outcome will be worth the high price tag. In other words, is Deathifier set to double his investment, or, quite literally end up with egg on his face.
Boasting the world’s largest real money economy within an MMORPG, 
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