United States : SEE Virtual Worlds™, an entertainment company developing a virtual reality universe of connected planets tied to licensed franchises, and MindArk, the company behind the virtual 3D environment Entropia Universe, has announced SEE Virtual Worlds has procured the rights to Planet Calypso, the first planet in the Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) Entropia Universe, for $6 million USD. Taking place in a distant future, Planet Calypso is home to a human colony working to establish a new virtual civilization. The planet has been successfully running since 2003 with more than 950,000 registered accounts from 200 countries and territories with $428 million USD processed in player-to-player transactions in 2010. Additionally, SEE Virtual Worlds’ has acquired the assets of First Planet Company, a subsidiary of MindArk.

The acquisition follows news late last year that SEE Virtual Worlds plans a rollout of new planets in the Entropia Universe, beginning with Planet Michael™, a game being developed with the support and involvement of the Michael Jackson Estate, and a Universal Monsters world featuring Van Helsing and Universal Studios’ legendary line of cinematic monsters. First Planet Company will be rebranded as “SEE Digital Studios,” and will continue to enhance Planet Calypso while taking on new staff for the development of Planet Michael.

“As we move into 2011 and beyond, SEE Virtual Worlds will continue to bring its innovative product offerings to the virtual world marketplace,” said Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Virtual Worlds. “We know that virtual worlds are extremely lucrative and much of our success will be strengthened by working with MindArk and the added experience that First Planet Company brings to the process, having developed the most successful planet in the Entropia Universe to date.”

“SEE Virtual Worlds is an excellent addition to the Entropia family due to their commendable reputation in the entertainment licensing space and their impressive list of upcoming entertainment properties such as Planet Michael,” said Jan Welter Timkrans, founder and CEO of MindArk PE AB. “As a platform provider in interactive online entertainment, we are focused on sharpening and expanding the highly successful Entropia Universe working alongside partners as they create and run new planets.”

Planet Michael will be an immersive virtual space themed after iconic visuals drawn from Michael Jackson’s music, life and the global issues that concerned him. Entire continents will be created to celebrate Michael’s unique genius in a way that underscores his place as one of the greatest artists of all time. At its core, Planet Michael will be a massive social gaming experience that will allow everyone, from the hardcore fan to the novice, to connect and engage in collaborative in-game activities with people worldwide.

MindArk has spent over a decade developing and investing in the technological advancement of the Entropia Universe, providing a unique opportunity to transform new and existing IP into interactive entertainment. With SEE Virtual Worlds’ acquisition of Planet Calypso and First Planet Company, MindArk is committed to fine-tuning their business model as a platform provider in 3D interactive online entertainment.