Today we are happy to announce the winner of the Kevin Rudolf Video Competition.

It has been a long and difficult journey to find a winner, with over 230 entries to judge, but we now have a clear winner for the grand prize of 1 Land Area, and 1 full set of Supremacy Armor (Unlimited).

We had great fun looking through these videos. It’s pretty safe to say that everyone at MindArk/FPC now know the lyrics of this song very well.

After viewing over 230 entries we managed to break it down to 100, and then with the help of everyone here at the office finally down to 26 and here is when the process became very slow and difficult, so we have decided to add runner up prizes in three more categories.

First Prize

Congratulations to our winner Baxter Bugsy Ewing who will receive 1 Land Area, and 1 full set of Supremacy Armor (Unlimited) for his clear and well-produced video that in a consistent and creative way showcases the core of Planet Calypso.

Runners up

These two entries will receive one Tiger Armor (Unlimited) set each for their very good videos that deserve credit. (click to view)

Bambuco BAM Vuitrago
lex mr chips pringle

Consolation Prize

These eighteen entries will receive one Martial Armor (L) set each for their great and creative effort. (click to view)

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The “Making The Office Laugh” awards

These seven entries are awarded one Boar Armor (L) set each for their humor and creativity! (click to view)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The full names of the winners of the consolation prizes and the funniest videos will be listed soon.

Thank you to all who participated in this competition!

It all started with the official birth of the MMORPG “Project Entropia” in January of 2003. Now, some six years later, it is called “Planet Calypso” and it’s a time of re-birth, using state-of-the-art technology. A lot has happened since 2003. Both the virtual and real world has evolved. This is also true for MindArk – the company behind it all.

MindArk’s mission

MindArk’s goal is to create a fully immersive 3d virtual universe capable of delivering high-quality entertainment, education, e-commerce, and social networking to everyone, together with a unique Real Cash Economy component for driving real business. The way this is done is using a standardized development platform which is available to planet partners. Each planet partner has presence in the universe through a virtual planet. This planet can contain a variety of activities devised through the planet partners’ preferences. All the planets available together constitute the Entropia Universe. The idea is that a person who has an Entropia Universe account may travel between the planets available without the need to create a new account for each new planet added to Entropia Universe.

First Planet Company’s mission

In January 2009, MindArk created a wholly owned subsidiary called First Planet Company (“FPC”) to develop and market Planet Calypso – the first and the oldest planet in Entropia Universe. Separating this group from the platform developers allowed them to define their own goal of providing a top class MMO, and shed its role as a “test bed” of sorts for the development of the Entropia platform.

The way this goal is intended to be realized is to refocus on game play, storyline, events and an overall engrossing and engaging experience for the user. The most short term reflection of this will be seen in a tidying up of open storylines. Medium term development will be the release of Version Update 10.0 which will be a major infrastructure update and transition to the CryENGINE®2 graphics motor.

Version Update 10.0 – the launch of the CryENGINE2-powered Entropia Universe

MindArk has been highly focused the last year with the integration of the licensed CryENGINE2 into the Entropia Platform. As with most major software development a huge amount of effort and time has been put in the project and MindArk recently entered what is commonly known as “crunch time” – the last stage of a development cycle. Our internal deadline for the final test phase of VU 10.0 is set in late May 2009. Depending of the evaluation during this test period we could expect a public release during the summer.

The integration process has been more of a conversion than an upgrade when it comes to software systems and game play activities, in order to save resources and reduce time. New game play systems and big content additions to Planet Calypso will emerge post-VU10 – some of which will be influenced by community wishes.

Up till VU 10.0 FPC will continue to host events which will have exclusive prizes and loot that is only going to be found during this time period. We will also have several contest and community-based feedback sessions which will influence future development of Planet Calypso. During the VU10-period will have a “Second Golden Age of Calypso” with some of the best prizes and loot ever seen, to celebrate this glorious occasion!

This is a very exciting time for everyone involved. I want to express my sincerest thanks for the very patient Entropia community who has been with us for all this time. We will make the utmost to make your future Calypso experience as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.

Highest regards

-Marco Behrmann

-CEO First Planet Company

Shelly Nakajima: And now to the matter that made people talk last week: Genesis Star, the corporation that in a bold move made mining “chique” with their eMINE brand. With me here at the Genesis Tower is Maximilian Wolfe, CEO of Genesis Star Calypso. Welcome!

Maximilian Wolfe: Thank you.

SN: We’ve seen this new skyscraper for some time now. It’s a beautiful building, but what’s it for? We’ve just seen the atrium and the exchange.

MW: Parts of the building will be our offices when we expand. Other parts we would like to lease to the public, but we can’t say how and when.

SN: So you’re planning to expand your business?

MW: Oh yes. I mean, what corporation isn’t? I think it is time for Calypso to make some progress. We’ve been stuck in the frontier town dogma too long.

SN: At the inauguration, you mentioned a special drive for the new eMINE brand.

MW: Yes, we have two plans, Shelly! You don’t mind if I call you Shelly?

SN: Not at all, Mr. Wolfe…

MW: Please, call me Max.

SN: …Max. So what’s the drive?

MW: First, we’ll randomly release a number of blueprints to crafters to get local production going. That raises awareness of our products. Second, we release a number of tuned eMINE PG armor sets to the public in return for some lost packages from R&D. We’ll use the packages as tickets– get the tickets and turn them in, and you’ll get a tuned eMINE PG set.

SN: So what do we need to get?

MW: You need one Genesis Star Visual Display, two Genesis Star Encrypted Holders, and three Genesis Star Com Units.

SN: Can anyone get them?

MW: Sure, but they will probably be found by the miners.

SN: How many prizes are there?

MW: There are as many prizes as there are Visual Displays. Inventory says that we’re lacking ten of them, so there are ten prizes. When all ten Visual Displays are found, we’ll have a prize ceremony.

SN: And when will that be?

MW: (laughs) Damned if I know! That depends entirely on when they are found. When they are, we’ll announce a date for the ceremony.

SN: Last question: what will happen at tomorrow’s presentation?

MW: I’ll personally showcase the tuned unlimited eMINE PG. We’re proud of our work and our product, but there’s still room for improvement, and we’ll show what we can do tomorrow.

SN: Can we expect these improvements to be available to all in the future?

MW: (laughs) You’ve already asked the last question, Shelly. Anyway, that’s a question I can’t answer at the moment, because the decision is not made. It depends a bit on how the market receives this new line.

SN: Well, I guess we have to be content with that reply. Thank you, Mr. Wolfe… Max, for attending.

MW: A pleasure, Shelly.

After the inauguration ceremony at Genesis Tower in Twin Peaks and the revelation of the new eMINE brand, Genesis Star Calypso CEO Maximilian Wolfe has suddenly become one of the busiest people on Calypso.

EBN has managed to get a peek into his schedule. On Monday morning, Mr Wolff will attend an interview with Shelly Nakajima which will be broadcasted on Entropia Gateway, and on Tuesday at 18:00 UTC, there will also be a special presentation of the eMINE PG armor for miners in Genesis Tower.

Axly McBride: Despite promises from CDF, the orbs have not disappeared. According to CDF, “logistics disturbance” prevents the close-down, but not everyone buys that story. There are people blaming various parties, most often PGC, for sabotage. Others think that CDF are unable to close the orbs, that their scientists are wrong. Still others claim that there is a stand-off between Major Carramone, the High Commander of CDF, and the Office of Colonial Affairs on Earth.

As a guest in the studio, we have governor Dumpty. Governor, why is the close-down delayed?

Governor Dumpty: There is a reason for the delay, and I think that it’s the science. They’ve got it wrong, and they’re trying to fix it. The question is whether they can. I don’t think so. I hope they can, but I don’t think so.

AMB: What do you think of the rumours of a stand-off?

GD: No, I don’t think so. Carramone has mandate to run the defence as she sees fit, and it’s a long distance anyway. If she could, she would, and Earth wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

AMB: Thank you, Governor. With us at the CDF headquarters, we have Shelly Nakajima. Shelly, what can you tell us?

Shelly Nakajima: Not much, Axly. CDF is closed-lips as always, and Major Carramone ran out of her office just a few minutes ago heading for Twin Peaks and the inauguration of the Genesis Tower. However, I would put my money on a power struggle with Earth or that there actually are problems with the logistics.

AMB: How is that?

SN: As Major Carramone stormed out, she shouted to an aide to… wait, let me quote her. She shouted “I don’t care what that slimy Earth worm says, get me a (beep) lorry that can (beep) handle the mud!”

AMB: So CDF could be telling the truth?

SN: Basically, yes, but I also think they’re not telling all of the truth. Something is going on here, and it’s almost impossible to dig anything out of anyone. Especially not the Major.

AMB: Thank you, Shelly.

In an open letter, the Duchev log collectors have expressed concerns about some aspects of CDFs actions in the recent past. I would like to respond to some of the allegations of the letter.

There is no secret mission to infiltrate the Calypsian government. CDF is, according to the contract of colonisation between the Federal Empire and private partners, the military branch of the Calypsian government.

The decision to study the Duchev logs was based on a strategic need to get an understanding of mutant activities, mindset and plans. To this end, the Duchev files have to be analyzed and correlated with several other sources. At no point, it was indicated that the intel gained would be shared to the public; the information we are looking for is of strategic nature, and thus there is every reason for secrecy, as is the matter of all military information of strategic significance. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that CDF would not be willing to share this information, in the same way that we would not share information regarding war plans, troop deployment et cetera.

CDF concedes to the point that the files should be open to the public for research, and not locked away. However, CDF believes that private corporations are even worse custodians of the files, as they only have interest in profit. They want return of investment, not open research. To them, the files would constitute a market opportunity.

CDF decided to buy the files in order to get unlimited access to them. For that, we offered what we considered to be a fair price. I do not agree with the Duchev collectors that the price is not fair, but it is not an impassable obstacle.

To that end, CDF makes this offer to the Duchev collectors:

• CDF gets access to the Duchev files.
• For this, CDF pays the aforementioned price plus one Isis LR53 (L) rifle, i.e. one set of Jaguar Foot Guards (Unlimited), one Ach-O Torment’s Tainted Whip (Limited) and one Isis LR53 rifle (Limited) for files #1 to #19; and one Ach-O Torment’s Tainted Whip (Limited) and one Isis LR53 rifle (Limited) for files #1 to #14.
• When analysis is complete, the files will be returned to their owners.

If these terms are not acceptable, the offer is withdrawn.

Major Jenny Carramone, High Commander CDF

In response to public inquiries about the orb close-down, CDF states that they are currently experiencing logistics disturbance that so far has prevented the successful closure of the orbs.

The CDF spokesman estimated that a new attempt would be made on Wednesday morning, UTC. “It will probably be a quiet affair”, the spokesman said. “According to our scientists, the orbs will be there one minute, and gone the next. If there is any danger, then it is the power vacuum that exists as the Umbranoids and Mulmuns were routed, so we can probably expect a rise in Thorofoid, Argonaught and Feffoid activity.”

Today, CDF published the following press release:

“The elimination of the mutant leaders Mulmun Demp and Mulmun Vigg had greater effect than anticipated. The mutants are routed, and we expect them to hide or disappear shortly.

CDF will use this opportunity to close down the orbs. Close-down is estimated to happen at around 10-11 MA time.”

Dear High Commander Major Carramone, Dear CDF members,

In the light of the recent events, the log owners gathered around and discussed about the Duchev Logs Collection that they have been gathering since months.
We have been analyzing our samples for some time now and so far it seems our combined brainpower unfortunately doesn’t suffice to find the meaning of it all.
That’s why we would like to thank CDF for their offer to help us in our quest to find the meaning of the logs.
However after long and intense discussions we have decided to reject your offer.

Let me explain you our reasoning:

We feel that handing over the Duchev logs to CDF will make CDF too powerful, we noticed in the last Robot Wars that CDF seems on a secret mission to infiltrate in Calypsian Governments and uses dirty tactics to achieve this.

We also find it rather strange that so far all investigations of CDF gave no new intel, we were never told about any results! This makes us wonder, are they even capable of investigating mysterious items like these?

On top of this we got multiple advises from private companies not to hand over our logs, they say the prizes CDF pays are too low. We are currently negotiating with A&P Weapons, Genesis Stars Interstellar, Mechel and Lock and Omegatech inc. to see what can be done. We are highly considering working with the private sector, because we believe this will give us better results and more rewards for our hard labour.
We were also recently contacted by Alexandra deWinter (PGC – Provisional Government of Calypso) and have started negotiations with them.

All these contacts lead us to believe that the Duchev Logs contain far more valuable information than CDF wants to admit.

At the same time we are wondering why CDF refuses to give the logs back to their owners after the research is done. We believe dangerous information like this should be kept open for the public. The citizens of Calypso should have the right to know what happens with the logs and to check up on them.
The logs are part of the history of Calypso, we don’t want to see them locked away in a black box. Therefore we suggest the logs will be given back to their owners after investigations are over!

Every day our belief is growing stronger that CDF only wants to buy these logs because they believe they have the power to undermine their authority.

I hope this letter can be the start of new negotiations and bring us a deal that will be better for everyone, we the log collectors, you CDF and all the people of Calypso.

Best regards,
The Duchev Log Collectors.