I would support a developer like this for sure. HOWEVER.

I won't be kickstarting or supporting anyone without showing me, with a lot of detail, how the game plays and looks. Maybe even offer a demo or beta. I need to know exactly what the mechanics involved, not only a developer's dream but actually very SPECIFIC points on how every single aspect is going to be implemented. If I like that, I'm in. If not... well, I won't support a potential vaporware or a game that I might even like to play to begin with.

@ Company uses World of Warcraft business model with 100% of the profit rolled back into the game you pay for.

- By this you mean that Blizzard Spends/spent  ~15m per month devoloping WoW patches and expansions? i don't think soo =)

correct me if i miss understood something

Originally posted by Paulolino34

@ Company uses World of Warcraft business model with 100% of the profit rolled back into the game you pay for.

- By this you mean that Blizzard Spends/spent  ~15m per month devoloping WoW patches and expansions? i don't think soo =)

correct me if i miss understood something

I wish Blizzard actually put the money we pay/paid them directly back into the game.

What I mean is if this hypothetical company used a business model like Blizzard which charges for everything under the sun (Subscription, Expansions, Original box cost, Transfers, name change, race change, server change, etc.) and actually did put the money into the game. 

I dont even know what would be possible with such a large development budget...but I bet there would be very little concerns for content lol.

To OP,

   You should check out Code Club AB based in Sweden -  www.wurmonline.com

Such a company already exists and has been steadily increasing in player base over the last 6 years.(1500+ active accounts daily)  

Sure pure Crafting, Terraforming(yes you can actually change the land), Mining, Building Your very own designed house(within the limits of your skill) , PvP, KvK(RvR) battles,  "Hunt of the Ancients"  PVP battles to control totems to win,

With the latest release of multistory buildings on 12/12/12 the potential of the sandbox has greatly improved. There's a few unofficial trailers out that can explain Wurm better. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlKF6eXTNXQ&list=UU6Ju00QIPQw2mCcUSrbyQKQ&index=1

The company itself does take polls from the community and tries to code new stuff according to popularity as long as playability isn't broken. Game moderators and Chat moderators are pretty active in the community

In fact New Staff sponsored event is coming up on Feb. 2nd - PvP event open to all skill levels

http://forum.wurmonline.com/index.php?/topic/72473-5th-akhenaten-tournament-looking-for-prizes-and-fighters/

Come Join the Fun and "Create" your own Destiny in this totally immersible Sandbox

Forgot to mention - Free-to-play model which you can check out Wurm totally free, Can try and check out every skill up to level 20

Originally posted by Suraknar

Originally posted by Quizzical

Who is going to pay to create a game that promises that it will never make a profit for them?

And how are you going to get players to create artwork for you?  You can't just take arbitrary artwork, stick it in a game, and expect it to work.

It is actually very possible.

Pirates of the Burning Sea did this, most Ship models were made by the players. And also players can make thier own Sails and Flags.

He's not talking about models. He's talking about consistency and continuity in theme and appearance. The players made many of the ship models, but could you imagine what the world would look like if they made the textures for their ships? Or the towns? or the cllothing? Imagine the icons if they were done in 30 different art styles.

It's all rather moot, as the OP's suggestion completely ignores the realities of business.... well, it ignores reality altogether.

I voted no because of the "voting by the community".

Originally posted by azzamasin
I wouldnt support a sandbox with 1 red penny of my hard earn money.  It's the worst gameplay imaginable and it fosters the worst community possible.

If your idea of a Sandbox is open FFA Full Loot PvP, full crafted world with minimal support for anything combat then your sandbox ideas are bad! Sandbox means open world, non-linear gaming PERIOD!

Obviously has "Not" tried :  www.wurmonline.com

Originally posted by krage

For the sake of your discussion, lets assume it is a solid game to your specific standards of gameplay in the fantasy setting since that is very common.

Not necessarily a good game then, just well-sellingpoint-marketed?

Those haven't really been doing too well, following opening day, for the last decade or so.

Originally posted by mmoguy43
Does putting 100% of excess profit into the game mean no marketing?

 Good, point.  How to market without a budget?

How about a player reward system that is like a pyramid scheme.   A person can get other players to join the game with a special passcode.  These joiners will earn the inviter points per hour they play.  Joiners are players so they to can invite new players to the game and earn points for themselves.  Extra points would be passed up the pyramid.  These points can be used to buy things like guild housing, gear, unlockable appearances, etc.  So it would be a player based marketing.

Originally posted by krage

So in summary this company :

-Crowdsources+Subscriber votes on aesthetics/cosmetic items/lore/soundtracks for faster and more custom implementation

-Rolls all excess profits into expanding/bettering the game 

-Very anti pay to win

-Interested in creating a vast virtual world with sandbox and themepark components

If that company was going through kickstarter + private funding + a playable/viewable tech demo that made all financial records public to prove profits rolled into the game, and adhered to majority vote for crowdsourced creative content...would you support this with you wallet?

Please comment your thoughts comments and concerns for discussion.

 

 No, you cannot PROVE your game is going to be that until its deep into development and thus I would not throw my money at companies giving "promises"...ive seen that far too many times while major studios are making MMOs to drum up hype the game never lives up to due to the lies.

Also, things like subscribers vote on things to impliment, merely opens the door for majority rule, just because the majority wants it, doesnt mean I want it...in fact, going by majority, I dont like PvP...yet I have been in a mostly PvP guild since Meridian 59...

I would support a non-profit MMO developer with the following stipulations... 

A portion of the excess revenue is used to start and fund a scholarship program for game design. 

The developer would have to have heavy ties with schools and hire students as well as allow accredited internships for students. 

If this is to be a non-profit developer and MMO then it should serve some purpose beyond making an MMO. 

Reduce the fee to 4.99 to 9.99 a month. Allow a broader community development setup (Allow the community to vote on a wider selection of things to be introduced into the game world such as mechanics, classes, etc.) to give a better range of experience opportunities for the hired students and interns. 

Use the MMO as a launching pad for future game designers and you'd have my vote and support.