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Why/ how is it free????
Bukkerz
Member UncommonPosts: 177
I'm hoping this does'nt appear to be a stupid question and I am genually interested in the game and downloading it at present. I just can't understand coming from a background of paid retail and subsequent monthly payment structures with WOW, WAR and LOTRO which I am strongly considering re rolling, how is Allods Online free.......and if so how can it be as good a product without finacial support. I can appreciate advertising space can bring in the loot, but apart from this with no defined micro payment structure muted.................how is it possible for this game to be good without capital going in?
I need to know because it seems to be so well liked even at it's early stage I am utterly intrigued by it and as a result want to play it myself. ...Could someone far more clued up than I please enlighten me..
Comments
Item malls.
If you start buying things, you'll end up spending way more than a monthly fee on item malls.
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Is that like buying kit in a similar fashion to Battlefield Heroes...If so could that really sustain a development team and investment required to produce a thumpingly successful MMO...or will it be a quick in and out temporary fix.....
people spend $100+ on some not so good F2P MMOs. so even if it's not great, but at least good, it should make enough cash to hold up for a few years. and by the looks of it, it should be a great game.
I think I understand now and thankyou for all answering. I know it must seem obvious but I had to ask. I do think therefore the game will have something to offer and I will give it a go...even if it does cost me £10.00 for some 10 plus all stats, Walrus war Bootz of the Izen Orc.....
If u are not familiar with microtransaction-based MMORPG's, they only have other payment method, other than p2p games. Making in-game account, downloading client, and logging in game server is free of charge, but u are limited from some gameplay mechanics, if u dont spend "real life" money on some in-game items.
The case with Allods online is, that during closed beta test, appeared Fear of Death mechanic, which resembles death penalty (imagine it like some kind of resurrection sickness). Main thing that caused roar of huge part of community is that "fear of death" debuff can last around one hour or so in endgame. On other hand, there is a potion that cost "real life"money and removes "fear of death" effect. I wont tell you, not to try game because of this, play it a bit, and imagine buying that kind of potions like some sort of monthly subscripton.
Main MMO at the moment: Guild Wars 2
Waiting for: Pathfinder Online
the way they will make money is when people are doing endgame 75 percent of allods cash shop are potions or perfumes that increase health for tanks and stats for other classes and the other items that will make them money are respecs which are found in chests w/o paying for them or in the cash shop.. But you can play the entirety of the game w/o spending a dime as of ob launch tommorow http://www.keenandgraev.com/?p=3520 has a great blog on allods and the cash shop
Cash shop games havent become that popular in the west as of yet. In the East that is the prefered model. It mostly has to do with the stigma (deservedly or undeservedly) that cash shop games are grinders, where programers make the game so slow that you have to buy items to get any enjoyment out of it. I am not sure if this hold true for allods, i havent checked it out. But so far I havent really seen a mainstream accepted cash shop supported game in the west, Atlantica might come close though.
I did read about the timed death penalty and can definately see when PVPing with the help of Mr Budweiser how many of those paid potions you might go through........very clever. I suppose it's not that differnet from buying ebay mounts for WOW, just taken to a more obvious level. I can imagine many wrestling with the temptation of awarding themselves with better kit after weeks of window shopping.......you can only imagine how many female characters would be queuing up for buffs if they were embued within the sole of graphical stillettos's.........
Let me state one more thing if i can.... be very wise when u invest money in this kind of games... They can be very tricky and like the dude above mentioned, if u are not cautious, you may end up spending more money monthly then on one p2p's subscription.
Main MMO at the moment: Guild Wars 2
Waiting for: Pathfinder Online
Yes the item mall can be tricky, but you just have to be carefull about you are doing. I played Allods CBT for few months now and since the item mall wasn t online you could reach lvl 40 and enjoy the game without it.
I really hope that the mall will be as fair as Atlantica one. Meaning that you don't HAVE to buy anything but it is more confortable to buy some stuff from time to time.
Here's a video that does a good job of explaining how F2P games make their money:
http://gigaom.com/2008/02/03/the-gigaom-show-k2-networks-joshua-hong/
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
Actually, Allods is on EU website advertised not as "free" but as "subscriptionless". Even more correct name, used also by MMORPG site is "micropayment".
What exactly you pay for is up to the games. WoW etc charges per month, EvE charges per month but subscription is treadeable between players for in-game assets, RoM charges for gear unlocks, DDO charges for zone unlocks, Maple story charges for comestic changes, all MMOs above charge for convenience too, Allods - we do not know yet.
So far it seems that past level 25 (out of 40) the game has hourly fee, which is not necessary (unlike WoW montly fee that is absolutely mandatory yet none seems to argue) but the game gets annoying and very hard without. The rest of the item shop will indicate how reasonable the pricing is compared to games with monthly subs.
Personally I feel that game does not need much aside from treadeable subscription item to be profitable (see also EvE, Atlantica) and that more unfair cash shop will only drive western customers away but it is dilemma of less players playing more vs more players paying less (which gives you much better publicity in every regard on top).