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Darkfall should have taken a page from Taleworlds

rideyarideya Member Posts: 39
in Darkfall

As some of you may know, Taleworlds is the name of the company that created and owns Mount and Blade. Mount and Blade is not an MMO, however it was also developed with a TINY dev team (think it was originally a man and his wife). Two indie developers, with two very different tactics on how to fund their game.

Here is how Mount and Blade funded their game, and marketed it to individuals. Usually by word of mouth, users would come across the Mount and Blade website. Upon entering the site, the potential buyer would see in flat terms, the current beta state of the game. And on the side there would be a purchase now option.  By being upfront with the fact that the game was still in development, and being HONEST with it's potential userbase, it was able to garner many purchases before it ever left beta state. It never pretended to be something it wasn't, and basically said "try our demo. If you like it, support us and buy our game so we can continue".

Now, I am not so sure about you, but I would gladly help fund an indie game, MMO or FPS or whatever, as long as I feel the developers are being truthful. Taleworlds managed to gain the trust of it's community with it's honesty. This in itself allowed the game to slowly grow and grow, and build up it's niche audience.

I feel Aventurine could have done much better if it had gone this route with it's game. If it had allowed a demo, and allowed people to purchase the game to fund developing, all while keeping things honest, then we wouldn't have to deal with this whole server blowing up, overhyping crap. It would have allowed Aventurine to let it's hardcore followers play the game early, and let it build up it's audience over time.

Any ideas on this?

Comments

  • GaladournGaladourn Member RarePosts: 1,813

    the problem is, MMOs need the server infrastructure to run, and no developer would be paying for that during all the years in development.

  • jordank23jordank23 Member Posts: 95
    Originally posted by rideya


    As some of you may know, Taleworlds is the name of the company that created and owns Mount and Blade. Mount and Blade is not an MMO, however it was also developed with a TINY dev team (think it was originally a man and his wife). Two indie developers, with two very different tactics on how to fund their game.
    Here is how Mount and Blade funded their game, and marketed it to individuals. Usually by word of mouth, users would come across the Mount and Blade website. Upon entering the site, the potential buyer would see in flat terms, the current beta state of the game. And on the side there would be a purchase now option.  By being upfront with the fact that the game was still in development, and being HONEST with it's potential userbase, it was able to garner many purchases before it ever left beta state. It never pretended to be something it wasn't, and basically said "try our demo. If you like it, support us and buy our game so we can continue".
    Now, I am not so sure about you, but I would gladly help fund an indie game, MMO or FPS or whatever, as long as I feel the developers are being truthful. Taleworlds managed to gain the trust of it's community with it's honesty. This in itself allowed the game to slowly grow and grow, and build up it's niche audience.
    I feel Aventurine could have done much better if it had gone this route with it's game. If it had allowed a demo, and allowed people to purchase the game to fund developing, all while keeping things honest, then we wouldn't have to deal with this whole server blowing up, overhyping crap. It would have allowed Aventurine to let it's hardcore followers play the game early, and let it build up it's audience over time.
    Any ideas on this?

    I agree with you, but your point is mute..you can't compare MnB to an MMO.  I ilove MnB and my hopes for Darkfall is grim, but your argument is mute...

    Played: Shadowbane, UO, PlanetSide, SWG, EQ 2, City of Heros, AO, AoC, Daoc, WOW, lotro, Eve, GW, Tabula, Pirates of the burning sea (yup), Vanguard, Warhammer, Lineage 2

    Out of all those I loved Shadow Bane, SWG (it had its issues but those first few months were great) and AO after about 5 months I was in love) RIP..not since then have I loved a MMO...

  • CathaloCathalo Member Posts: 50

    The state of MMO's right now is so piss poor that people are still willing to pay in order to beta test Darkfall.  That should tell you just how watered down the MMO market really is right now.  People cling to DF because its a game that promises to break the trend.  While its not a finished product, i would still rather play an unfinish DF than AoC, WoW, EQ2, SWG, you name it.  All of those games suck balls.

  • rideyarideya Member Posts: 39

    By allowing potential buyers to essentially buy the game in it's beta stage, there should be enough startup to fund at least those that buy it. And to think the game was being tested for years on nothing? There was always at least one server up for testing services. Open that up to people who would buy into beta. As more money comes in, you can upgrade the servers or buy a new one.

    Only problem I see is that beta single player games are easier to stomach than beta multiplayer games. However, what if there was a limited "Founders Price" for those who would purchase the game while still in beta? Perhaps no box price, and only 10 dollars a month or so?

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