Online game to allow ATM withdrawals
Posted 5/3/2006 8:48 PM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this
By Matt Slagle, The Associated Press
DALLAS — Who said you can't make any money playing video games? The makers of the online sci-fi game Entropia Universe have come up with a way to let players withdraw the virtual cash they've amassed in the game as real money from select ATM machines.

The game's 400,000 registered users will be eligible to obtain a bank card from "Entropia Universe" maker MindArk PE AB of Sweden.

With the card, players can view their virtual currency — called Project Entropia dollars — at select Versatel cash machines around the world.

And since PED are convertible to real-world dollars at a fixed exchange rate, gamers could also withdrawal real money, MindArk chief executive Jan Welter said.

"The ATM system is a crucial and significant element in the true monetization of virtual currency, by supporting instant and convenient conversion to real cash," Welter said in a statement.

"Entropia Universe" is the same game where some players have spent thousands of real dollars to acquire virtual property. In one case, a Miami resident recently spent $100,000 for his very own space station.

These players, in turn, have reaped the benefits by charging others to mine for ore, hunt for monsters or rent out buildings on their land.

Most persistent online games, including "World of Warcraft," actively discourage the practice and routinely ban users caught selling and buying items for money.

Last year, Sony Online Entertainment Inc. reversed a long-standing ban on such sales in "EverQuest II" and created an auction site where players can pay cash to buy better virtual swords, armor or other items.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

So wait, you can go to the rl bank to check your in game bank balance?
or is it
You can use the in game atm to check your rl bank balance?

I believe you can go to RL bank and check your online Balance and also be able to withdraw game money for Real Cash

What Prizim said
hehe

Both, basically , in this game, ingame coin has RL value. SO you can deposit or withdraw by converting your in game coin to RL dollars or back to game coin.

*wants her very own space station*

Can anyone lend me 100K?

I think that is just crazy... and I don't want a space station I want a Island of my very own.. and it has to be bigger then Dot Island.

I think that has to be the dumbest thing I've heard in a long time. They are basically making online game pixels have real life values and well we all know how badly that can turn out. The story about a man killing another man over a sword that was stolen in game comes to mind. I can see the courts getting overun with lawsuits pertaining to who holds legal rights to some pixel crack on an account that 2 friends or even family members are sharing. They will be fighting to own the most value items because they have real world value. It just sounds stupid to me.

i wish i woulda thought of that idea id be rich!
ooo i want a space station too!

LMAO I so agree!!! I want a island that's as big as Dragon Isle.