tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994726481220201755.post870723157284601635..comments2023-06-30T22:41:31.789+10:00Comments on Word of Shadow: When the business model effects the game designCrimson Starfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03764422983380987864noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994726481220201755.post-23032164057436536232009-04-09T01:36:00.000+10:002009-04-09T01:36:00.000+10:00@Tesh awesome comment. I agree completely. I reall...@Tesh awesome comment. I agree completely. I really jsut wish there was more variety in pricing and stuff. I love the lifetime membership program and I love monster play in lotro because then I can start at max lvl and pvp if I want to. I'd love a "start at max level just to try the raiding" system too because most of the time by the time I get to max level I no longer feel like playing a game much anymore, let alone put in the time and energy for a tiny bit of gear driven progression. (and story, don't forget that the best raids still have storylines)Thallianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05906461308866998300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994726481220201755.post-37008802907865366882009-04-08T14:46:00.000+10:002009-04-08T14:46:00.000+10:00Don't forget the social cost of having WoW as a "m...Don't forget the social cost of having WoW as a "mistress", as Big Red Kitty so poignantly pointed out recently. A subscription game will naturally have stronger pull to play (with concurrent addictive design) than a GW model.<BR/><BR/>GW and W101 have money from me that no subscription game will ever have. They recognize that I'm looking for a good game, not another commitment.<BR/><BR/>Anton's right, in that GW does bank a bit on being an alternative to the "mainstream", but I don't think that it's as big an effect as it might seem. GW offers exceptional gaming value per dollar spent, compared to either WoW or something like a Star Ocean.<BR/><BR/>It fares well in any value calculation in gaming, in other words, and would thrive even if there were no subscription games, simply because it's serving a different audience than the sub games serve.<BR/><BR/>As for the Blizzard level capped characters, they could just sell level capped characters right out of the gate (the Death Knights have cracked open that door), and recoup the money "lost" from those who don't want to grind for months to play with friends. Also, it may very well be that they would earn *more* money, since there must be those players who would love to play the endgame, but don't want to bother with grinding up a character to the level cap.<BR/><BR/>That's one of the themes that I keep coming back to; choice. If you give players the choice to skip ahead by paying for it, you're making customers happy and making money. Some will inevitably get their proverbial panties in a knot, but that's a social issue, and as with anything else that makes the company more money, it comes back to "suck it up; what someone else does with their progress doesn't affect your own".Teshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760350503235227686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994726481220201755.post-15450532121348331832009-04-08T13:04:00.000+10:002009-04-08T13:04:00.000+10:00@YshMultiple games to the one sub will definitely ...@Ysh<BR/>Multiple games to the one sub will definitely become a reality once companies get a few MMOs under their belt. Can't see it happening cross company for quiet some time though.<BR/><BR/>@Anton<BR/><I>Therefore, the existence of other MMO's that DO have monthly fees could be considered a part of their business model.</I><BR/><BR/>That's a really good point. It doesn't have much to do with game design, but I see what you are saying. The Guild Wars business model relies on making other business models look less appealing. Nice observation.Crimson Starfirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03764422983380987864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994726481220201755.post-12295857259104691582009-04-08T12:46:00.000+10:002009-04-08T12:46:00.000+10:00I can see your arguments in regards to WoW and Wiz...I can see your arguments in regards to WoW and Wizard 101.<BR/><BR/>Guild Wars is an interesting one, though, because the business model simply relies on people buying another expansion and getting their friends to play it.<BR/><BR/>I hear there is an actual storyline in Guild Wars, so the motivation for getting a new expansion is probably to complete another storyline. And I bet some people buy the game because it is one of the few that doesn't have monthly fees...Therefore, the existence of other MMO's that DO have monthly fees could be considered a part of their business model...Antonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12470259020714818820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1994726481220201755.post-12176277400969673712009-04-08T09:08:00.000+10:002009-04-08T09:08:00.000+10:00I still really want a model that lets me be subscr...I still really want a model that lets me be subscribed (to whatever extent) to 5-6 games instead of the 1-2 (or, at a stretch, 3) I manage now. Even if it's only partial access or time-limited access or what have you, it would make it a lot easier to keep up with my ever-more-scattered online friends. I'm nostalgic about the days where we all seemed to play the same thing, but that was before there were 30 MMOs to choose from and I doubt those days are coming back (nor would I want them to!).Ysharroshttp://stylishcorpse.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com