Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

 

This is quite possibly the most ridiculous premise for a posting I have ever seen.

 

Developers make game, game uses Micro transaction model. Players realize they have to spend money on entertainment, rants on forums.

This is just a sign that this model is working, because you really want that banana suit, you just dont want to pay the 2$ for it.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh wait you read it wrong its one Banana Suit for $15 but it last for 7 days..haha

Kaeleen21,

I think at the heart of it all what you are saying is true.  Every bit of it, but at the same time it is also showing the exact problem without even detailing it.

Having a plan on how to make money is wise.  Creating a handful revenue models for a product as a main design focus isn't a good idea.  In order to get all those dollars, people have to actually play the game.  Gluing a few mmo features, some flash web games and some concepts from popular console games doesn't really make a great game that people are going to open their wallets for. 

Nor does releasing it feature and content light. 

Designing a game around a revenue model doesn't make great games.

Designing a game around great gameplay is what needs to be the core concept of a gaming company. 

Greed got in the way of making a good game.

Originally posted by Daffid011

Kaeleen21,

I think at the heart of it all what you are saying is true.  Every bit of it, but at the same time it is also showing the exact problem without even detailing it.

Having a plan on how to make money is wise.  Creating a handful revenue models for a product as a main design focus isn't a good idea.  In order to get all those dollars, people have to actually play the game.  Gluing a few mmo features, some flash web games and some concepts from popular console games doesn't really make a great game that people are going to open their wallets for. 

Nor does releasing it feature and content light. 

 

Designing a game around a revenue model doesn't make great games.

Designing a game around great gameplay is what needs to be the core concept of a gaming company. 

 

Greed got in the way of making a good game.

What a lot of people are forgetting is that the game is meant for the 7-14 age group first before any other age group. Short mini-games and quests that allow the player to play for around 30 minutes at a time. It's the equivlent of a child tugging on the back of their parent's shirt and trying to have them buy one of those virtual fish tanks or pocket pal type of games at the store. You know, the ones with the LCD screen that you know they will only play for 10 minutes and put it down.

Personally, I think they did a good (not superb) job of doing this. However, I have never seen advertising on TV channels that my girls watch or a physical product to bridge the target audience into the game (like WebKinz). So, not many kids even know about FreeRealms until they have grown out of the target audience range.

 Curse you SOE! Trying to make money and all!

Free realms had tv ads plastered all over cartoon network and other kids channels.  For every wizard 101, toon town there was at least one free realms ad.  That is how they got to 5 million unique accounts in a few months time.

I suspect they don't advertise the game anymore, because it isn't doing them any good.  Free realms has 10 servers and can barely get 1 or 2 of them to medium capacity.  Think about what needs to happen to get 5 million players and not be able to fill up 1 server.  Just 1.

Keep in mind a server has such a small land mass that 1,000 or so players would completely fill the server to the rim with activity. 

Originally posted by midmagic

Originally posted by thexrated

Well, micro-transaction models are in their infancy, but of course companies like SOE do what is most profitable for them. They are a business and responsible not for the gamers, but to their shareholders.

 

They are not responsible to the gamers but are responsible to the shareholders? Really? I strongly hope business people have not fallen so far. Without a happy customer base there are no shareholders because you sell nothing and the stock is worthless because no one believes in the company. Always, customers first (quality product, fun stuff, blah, blah), the more successful game companies live by this motto. This is the same random nonsensical cliche being touted around as the new "we are your boss and you answer to us" by silly people whining about the government.

Yeah....and by that logic the happiest customer is the one who gets something for nothing.  Sure, companies spring up from nothing to give away their product for nothing, all to make the "customer" happy because that is the company's job.  Not really -- every game designer who makes a game and sells it is doing it for the "greed", not just to make you happy.

I do not like microtransaction way of funding games.

One thing is the responsibillity a game company has. I mean. If I  buy loads of stuff over the years. And suddenly that company decides to pull the plug?

I  mean. If you pay a subscription. Its almost like renting a movie. You pay for the fun that you have, you see it and deliver it back. When you buy a movie you expect to keep it and be able to access it as long as you want.

In game, You pay for a month and when that month is done you have got what you payed for.  So you can either pay for a new month or leave. But when buying virtual items. You have invested in a total different way. Its a much more long term commitement by the companies that are operating the games.

And yes. Microtransactions in a game marketed towards Kids is a big no from my perspective.

Subscription based model is a much more honest way to operate any game in my opinion.

I dont mind SOEs idea to sell stuff like your characters avatar printed on a t-shirt etc. Thats creative and cool.