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| | Introduction |
The global Ad System allows colonists to create and display advertisements all over the planet Calypso.
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Basics
|  The main elements of the Ad System are:
1. The AD TERMINALS (complete with preview screens) where you create ads,
2. The main AD DISPLAY BOARDS - where ads are displayed.
There are roughly 10 AD TERMINALS distributed throughout the main cities and outposts on Calypso. There are double as many AD DISPLAY BOARDS, again spread throughout the most highly populated regions of Calypso.
In order to create an ad you must first be an estate owner (see the Homes & Estates Guide). This means you must own either a shed, an appartment, a house, a castle, a shop, or a spacecreaft hangar. Each estate comes with an estate deed, which you must have in your INVENTORY when creating an Ad.
Once this requirement has been fulfilled, click on the AD TERMINAL to access the Ad System. You will be presented with an option to CREATE a new Ad, or MODIFY an existing Ad.
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Details
|  The CREATE ad process is fully supported with help windows at every stage to make creating ads a simple process.
An ad is always, and is restricted to, 30 seconds. Ads are made up of SEQUENCES and each ad may consist of up to 5 SEQUENCES. Each SEQUENCE can have its own text and background image which can be set using the SEQUENCE OPTIONS alternative.
The SEQUENCE OPTIONS alternative also allows you to format your text and add effects, as well as manage a range of other options. The SEQUENCE TEXT alternative allows you to enter the text you wish to display during the particular SEQUENCE you may be editing. A PREVIEW alternative is also included to allow you to preview your ad on the preview screen before going live.
An INVESTMENT must be made in your ad, and the minimum INVESTMENT possible for any ad is 30 PED. You may also set the DURATION that you wish to run the ad. The minimum DURATION available for an ad is 1 day. The maximum DURATION is 30 days. The LENGTH of your ad (combined SEQUENCES) is also displayed, enabling you to increase or decrease SEQUENCE lengths in order to maximise the 30 seconds of AD LENGTH available.
The ad system is based on a DYNAMIC DISPLAY PROBABILITY. The DYNAMIC DISPLAY PROBABILITY is displayed as a percentage, and shows the current probability of the ad being run on the main AD DISPLAY BOARDS. The probability will continually increase or decrease depending on the number and INVESTMENT value of the other ads in the system.
When you feel satisfied with your ad, and you've previewed it, simply click on the CREATE button and you'll have created advertising on Calypso. The INVESTMENT will be drawn from your PED card and your ad will be displayed exactly as you saw it on the preview screen.
Once created, ads may be modified. By clicking the MODIFY option in the initial AD TERMINAL window, the INVESTMENT and DURATION settings of an existing ad may be altered. You may wish to modify these elements in order to increase the DYNAMIC DISPLAY PROBABILITY of an ad you have created. You may also remove an existing ad using the REMOVE alternative.
Once on Calypso, please use the help texts included in every window if you experience difficulties.
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| Real World Advertising |
The Entropia Universe also includes Real World advertising provided by Massive Incorporated. An option is included in the Login Window to enable or disable these ads. However, enabling the ads allows access to higher loots. When you disable ads in the Login Window you disable both participant ads and Real World ads.
All the ads can be viewed on the AD DISPLAY BOARDS located in all the major outposts on Calypso.
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| Private Signs & Screens |
Private Signs and Screens are also available for colonists on Calypso. These crafted items can be used to display local messages outside shops, homes or anywhere a colonist with an Estate may wish to create a local Message. Again, in order to create messages you need to have an ESTATE DEED in your INVENTORY.
Signs are able to show preloaded images and static Message text. This means you can display one text on one background. Screens are able to show preloaded images with dynamic text. Screens utilize the Sequences options available for Ads meaning a Screen can display several different texts in one Message.
Both Signs and Screens are available in a range of different shapes and sizes, including flat mounted and side mounted models. An operating panel similar to that of the Ad Screens allows administration of the Signs and Screens.
All content for Private Signs and Screens is created from the preloaded background images and participant created text. Advertising from Massive Inc. and other global participant created advertising is not be displayed on Private Signs and Screens.
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| Participant Content (PC) |
Participant Content (PC) in the form of images and videos can be uploaded and shown on Private Signs, Screens and Displays in the Entropia Universe.
Images in jpeg, dds and tga formats can be uploaded into Signs, Screens and Displays with (PC) after their name e.g. Xlite-S Sign (PC).
Videos in bink format can be uploaded into Displays with (PC) after their names e.g. Xlite-S Display (PC). Read more about the bink format and conversion tools here.
Once you have purchased a Sign, Screen or Display an Archive folder will be created on your hard drive in the local disk\\Documents and Settings\\user name\\My Documents\\Entropia Universe\\Archive directory.
Place files you wish to use in the Entropia Universe in this folder. The files will then be accessible from inside the Entropia Universe where you can upload them from your Archive into your Content Files. Once in your Content Files, the material can be used in Signs, Screens and Displays.
N.B. It's very important to have your files correctly sized, otherwise they will not be displayed when you view your local Archive from inside the Entropia Universe. Read the following info and examples, or go directly to suitable sizes list below. Here's the important sizing information:
Signs, Screens and Displays in the Entropia Universe come in four different aspect ratios: 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 4:1
For best results when uploading your own images and videos, you need to use the aspect ratio and the power-of-two format.
Example 1:
You've just bought an Xlite-W Display (PC). Looking at the display you see its aspect ratio is 4:1 - its width is four times its height.
As it's a Display (PC) you know you can upload your own images and videos (Signs and Screens can only use static images).
Now you need to make sure your video has the right dimensions according to the power-of-two format. In other words its width and height must conform to:
2^x pixels by 2^y pixels, where x and y are any power from 1 to 11. Let's use 10 and 8.
2^10 pixels by 2^8 pixels
1024 pixels by 256 pixels
As the aspect ratio is 4:1 this would be a very suitable size. The width (1024) is 4 times the height (256).
Example 2:
You've got a Reon-S Screen (PC). Its aspect ratio is 1:1 - its length is the same as its height.
It's a Screen (PC) so you can upload your own images (only Displays can show videos).
Now you need to make sure your image dimensions are correct according to the power-of-two format.
2^x pixels by 2^y pixels, where x and y can be any power from 1 to 11. Let's choose 8.
2^8 pixels by 2^8 pixels
256 pixels by 256 pixels
As the aspect ratio is 1:1 this would be a suitable size, although you could make it bigger (max. size is 2048 by 2048 or 2^11 by 2^11)
So, the range of suitable sizes would look like:
Aspect Ratio 1:1 - Size 64x64, 128x128, 256x256, 512x512, 1024x1024, 2048x2048
Aspect Ratio 1:2 - Size 64x128, 128x256, 256x512, 512x1024, 1024x2048
Aspect Ratio 2:1 - Size 128x64, 256x128, 512x256, 1024x512, 2048x1024
Aspect Ratio 4:1 - Size 256x64, 512x128, 1024x256, 2048x 512
Fees
A standard upload fee of 30 PED.
A dynamic upload fee of 5 PEC/Kb based on the size of the uploaded content.
An content value deposit (25 percent of the standard plus dynamic fees) which is paid when uploading files to your content files. This deposit is refunded when the content is removed.
Deterioration of Signs, Screens and Displays when content is applied.
Upload Fees are only paid once, regardless of how many Signs, Screens or Displays are showing the content. Content can only be removed when no Signs, Screens or Displays are showing the content.
Condition Limit
Please note that Signs, Screens and Displays cannot be administered, placed on walls etc. or dropped if their condition is below 90They need to be repaired to above 90n order for these tasks to be carried out.
Participant Content is regulated by the Entropia Universe EULA (ยง9 Participant Content).
N.B. Please make sure that port 30583 (TCP Outbound) is opened in order to load Participant Content (PC) into your (PC) capable equipment.
Summary
1. Participant Content (PC) can only be uploaded to equipment that has (PC) after its name.
2. Place correctly sized files in your local Archive map.
3. Access your Archive from the (PC) capable equipment inside the Entropia Universe and upload your files to your Content Files. The files are now transferred from your local disk to an Entropia Universe host server. Pay the necessay fees.
4. Create a new message on your (PC) capable equipment. You'll find your newly uploaded file as a Background Image.
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| Support |
If you have any further questions about the ad system on Calypso please read the Ad System FAQ.
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