Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
For anybody still having doubts about the success of micro transactions
Gameloading
Member UncommonPosts: 14,182
There are many uninformed people who claim that there are no succesful micro transaction MMORPG's. Ofcourse this is completely incorrect, many "item shop" games are doing quite well.
This Fox report is about Maple Story, and it shows how the business model works and how (mostly kids) get hooked and pay a lot of money for those items.
Hearing the numbers of what some people pay for a game like this, its not surprising to see so many MMO's using this alternative payment model.
Comments
Doesn't make it any less BS tho. Also differences in game chances depending on someone's wealth IRL are also BS. A game's its own world, let people be successful or not depending on their actions in game. ~.~
EXACTLY ... how KIDS get hooked...
In my opinion, to be a god in an MMO you have to work hard and work your way through, in micro transaction games lil kiddies just steal their parents credit cards and buy all the imba gear and run around pwning everyone.
I dont think it WONT be successfull, it very much will ... But I just think the game will suck because of that. Imagine having an item shop in WoW, you grind your ass off trying to get full gladiators. VOILA! 1-3 months of grind and finally! and some gay kid walks up to you in full green gear and says "WOW I WANT THAT!" pays a 100$ and gets the same gear and you go like "WTF?!" and that definately makes you instantly quit the game.
Played almost everything...
Currently playing nothing...
Waiting for: Darkfall, WAR, Guild Wars 2.
It really depends on what you want out of the game. If you want to buy your items then I guess free to play is for you. If you want to pay for good customer service, server maintenance, and constant updates to the game pay by month is for you. I can't bring myself to play a game with an item store and for some reason I also don't play free games even though some of them may be very good. Paying by month makes me feel like I some rights with regards to my experiences within the game. If it's free I can't really complain about anything.
Not entirely correct, at least not when it comes to Maple.
Far as I know all the cash-shop gear in MS is purely for looks.
Wich makes it even worse in my eyes, I would understand if someone wanted to to pay for "imba" gear as you call it, but to pay for a new hairstyle?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Jerek_
I wonder if you honestly even believe what you type, or if you live in a made up world of facts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It doesn't work like that. Its a common misunderstanding, so don't worry about it, but one that could have been prevented by doing a bit of research.
In most item shop MMO's, you can't buy equipment. In fact, in most of them, you can't buy any equipment at all.
Items you will be able to buy are usually things like:
- outfits
- XP boosters
- buffs
- Microphone to talk to the entire server
- pets
- extended inventory/storage
- stat/skill point reset
things like that.
Oh come on, sure these games are having limited success, but again, name me one major title that uses them( I acede that the asians seem to like this, I am talking about the US/European Market) ? Right again zero, zip, nada.
Granted there are some that like this form of play, but I have seen poll after poll after poll that indicates 75% of the playerbase in the US/Europe does not like this method of play.
Letting someone buy their way through a game with cash instead of actually playing the game is just something most of us abhor and the reason why none of the major titles now or upcoming are going to use them. Don't try to pawn off agent in this category either, it will exist strictly in a niche market.
Maybe you should try another topic where you can find some facts to actually support your arguments.
The method is still new in the US/European market, so ofcourse not many western companies are using it.
However, Sony Online Entertainment, arguably the biggest western MMO publisher, is using the payment scheme for 2 MMO's, Free Realms and The Agency. Its gaining more and more terrain.
And you can't buy your way through out the game. In fact, I'm going to ask you to find me ONE item shop MMO, just ONE, where you can buy your entire way through out the game. In return, I can show you a whole list of item shop games in which you can't, and I'm willing to bet my list is going to be a heck of a lot larger than yours. In fact, I'd be surprised if you can actually make a list.
yeah, you have seen poll after poll on this forum, you know, the same forum that says that Everquest 2 is the most popular MMORPG, the same forum that says WoW is not even in the top 10 most popular MMORPG's.
I can show you plenty of facts that show that those games are indeed succesfull. In fact, I have shown you those many times in previous threads. But you have your own view of how you want the market to be and you stick to that view, Facts that go against it be damned.
The fact of the matter is that a lot of companies are importing MMO's (Because its simply a lot cheaper to publish an asian MMO then to get one from an expensive western developer) and run them on cash shop MMO's. You have to take it to a whole new level of ignorance to claim that they are not succesfull.
Lets see off the top of my head. Bots has passed the 1 million users mark. 2 moons which launched recently has hit the 500,000 mark already. Thats just 2 from acclaim not factoring in the many other games of this type out there. As for facts. You do not buy your way through these games that is a false statement. So please do yourself a favor and perhaps support your arguments with a bit more fact than fantasy.
It doesn't work like that. Its a common misunderstanding, so don't worry about it, but one that could have been prevented by doing a bit of research.
In most item shop MMO's, you can't buy equipment. In fact, in most of them, you can't buy any equipment at all.
Items you will be able to buy are usually things like:
- outfits
- XP boosters
- buffs
- Microphone to talk to the entire server
- pets
- extended inventory/storage
- stat/skill point reset
things like that.
Oh... Well thats cool then.
Played almost everything...
Currently playing nothing...
Waiting for: Darkfall, WAR, Guild Wars 2.
I agree with Ozmodan as far as the point of the thread goes. It seems like you're trying to say that its successful in the relevant markets but asserting that its brand new in the same place at the same time. I'll yield the point if The Agency is fantastically successful.
Using Maplestory, however, is a little akin to using RuneScape as an indicator that low cost Java applet based games made in England are the market's future. Free Realms is essentially an imitation of RuneScape by admission from Smedley too.
However Runescape is just one succesful game, I don't know of any other MMORPG that is as succesful as Runescape. Now this Fox report just focused on Maple Story, but there are many, many success stories with this business model, Examples are Silkroad,Rappelz, Flyff, and many, many more. Both of those games are very, very popular. And considering the companies behind them (Such as Gpotato and Game&Game) keep importing more and more of those games, its safe to say they are quite succesfull. There are many western companies who publish these MMO's under the free to play model, and it works.
Lets get to the real issue ... these kids need to get spanked by mommy and daddy for stealing. tsk tsk
So is it new to this market or not? You seem to still want it both ways. The reason why we're only now seeing Sony do it is because its a new concept here but it's already a run away hit. I reiterate, I'll be willing to concede the point when/if an MMORPG targeted locally takes off with it.
Importing it seems spurious because the cost of development is already covered in foreign markets. They have to make enough to support translation and hardware, that doesn't mean its a run away hit.
Also, they do need a fair amount of profit. Many of those MMO's are imported by publishers. the better the game is doing in another market, the more publishers in the west have to pay for them. while those are still cheaper then western MMO's, they are not exactly cheap either.
Do you have numbers?
Nexon, the makers of Maple Story, had 2005 revenues of $230 million with a net profit of $75 million. 80% of their revenue came from in-game item sales! Source.
I won't even consider playing a game that uses the micro-transactions business model, but don't be fooled: this model works and you will see it being used more and more in the future.
Nexon, the makers of Maple Story, had 2005 revenues of $230 million with a net profit of $75 million. 80% of their revenue came from in-game item sales! Source.
I won't even consider playing a game that uses the micro-transactions business model, but don't be fooled: this model works and you will see it being used more and more in the future.
I personally think that microtransactions and other methods of payment are going to prevail over the traditional monthly subscription model in years to come. It just comes down to the fact that people like to save a buck when they can. Personally, I like monthly subscriptions because I feel like it equalizes the playing field a bit. Everyone pays the same amount from the get-go so everyone in game has the opportunity to access all the same elements of the game. I also dont want to be bombarded with ads when I'm enjoying my game time, so I also like how the monthly subscription negates the need for in-game advertising and that sort of tacky stuff. That being said, I think microtransactions benefit people who love MMO's but can't necessarily make the time investment to get a particular item and/or access certain content. Admittedly, it is nice how microtransactions can give these folks the opportunity to lay down a few bucks to experience what that might not be able to in a tradition monthly sub game due to time constraints. There are pros and cons to both sides, but I'm definitely a monthly sub guy.
Not exact numbers, No. But popular things that are doing well are always more expensive for publishers. I can however, show you how many games are imported from Asia to the west in a year. its quite a big number.
IMO micro-transactions are FINE as long as they dont affect others in PvE or PvP in any way. Cosmetics ... meh go ahead.
Played almost everything...
Currently playing nothing...
Waiting for: Darkfall, WAR, Guild Wars 2.
However, Sony Online Entertainment, arguably the biggest western MMO publisher, is using the payment scheme for 2 MMO's, Free Realms and The Agency. Its gaining more and more terrain.
And you can't buy your way through out the game. In fact, I'm going to ask you to find me ONE item shop MMO, just ONE, where you can buy your entire way through out the game. In return, I can show you a whole list of item shop games in which you can't, and I'm willing to bet my list is going to be a heck of a lot larger than yours. In fact, I'd be surprised if you can actually make a list.
yeah, you have seen poll after poll on this forum, you know, the same forum that says that Everquest 2 is the most popular MMORPG, the same forum that says WoW is not even in the top 10 most popular MMORPG's.
I can show you plenty of facts that show that those games are indeed succesfull. In fact, I have shown you those many times in previous threads. But you have your own view of how you want the market to be and you stick to that view, Facts that go against it be damned.
The fact of the matter is that a lot of companies are importing MMO's (Because its simply a lot cheaper to publish an asian MMO then to get one from an expensive western developer) and run them on cash shop MMO's. You have to take it to a whole new level of ignorance to claim that they are not succesfull.
As it has been stated many times before. Numbers isnt everything.
I like a good burger, some say the best burger one from McDonalds, since they sell the most. But i beg to differ.
I dont like the mini transaction scheme, simply because i wouldnt want to play a game, where everything is affected by the outside. Yes, you say that most of the things you can buy is purely for looks. But you also mention XP Boosters, which in the end will ruin the game.
I have a grp of friends, that play together. And i know that one of us, if we get our hands on some extra cash, one of us would buy alot of XP boosters, and suddenly we arent social with eachother.
I would rather pay once a month, than not pay at all, because i wouldnt pay anything for a F2P game. I do hope The Agency turns out well, because then other companies may open up their eyes, and we can get some innovation going in the MMORPG genre.
But im still a fan of P2P games.
Futilez - Mature MMORPG Community
Correcting people since birth.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Quoted and edited for clarity from another interesting thread here in The Pub.
I'll leave the above to stew for a few minutes....Guild Wars are FAR and AWAY from what we can consider as an MMORPG, but it's still an MMO nevertheless. Before anything else, let's get these out of the way:-
- YES..A typical f2p MMORPG has global recognition for its MASSIVE grind factors.
Last time I checked, WoW's the only thing right now in the p2p heap that seems to address this part (arguable at some points maybe) with 9mill satisfied subbers as proof. Along with scores of confirmed findings from Ultima Online and SWG (NOT because both are WoW-like..HARDLY that, but the game play is done to fluidly accommodate grind). I barely see any more similar opinions on other p2p titles to really see where's this glaring differences that warrants for such strong prejudice in this regards towards f2p?
- YES..You can hardly customize your toons as much as you'd like or had done previously in most p2p titles.
Silkroad Online provides 13 different looks/templates for each male and female gender specs, which is honestly a step in the right direction to start. Upcoming Perfect World now holds the top spot with the best customization options available in a f2p.
- YES..It's hard to see that EQ2 vs. CoH vs. EvE kind of game play diversities/diffs from combinations of most f2p MMOs.
And yet on a daily to almost hourly basis, we still see recurrences of threads with titles like "Which MMO for me?", "Which is the BEST at the moment?", "Which MMO has open PvP?", "Any skill based MMOs?" that's largely centered on?......p2p titles.
- YES.. Most f2ps are P&C moves.
Bear in mind that Granado Espada has finally rectified and immensely improved P&C fluidity that only non-players with common hearsays can have any complains about that. Risk Your Life had for years demonstrated the 'fastest' feeling WASD moves ever for a PvP-centric play to me and upcoming Perfect World has BOTH WASD and P&C support.
- NO...The common misconception of game/balance breaking items are available for purchase from any typical f2p item malls as a norm NEEDS to end right now. The last time I left Risk Your Life and that was years ago, it was one of the only very rare few f2p titles SO FAR that exemplifies money leeching attributes by facilitating AAA grades (grades you acquire from enchantments) top to bottom gears from its item mall that severely gimped fair PvP. There is NONE of that in the majority of known Korean produced f2p MMO to date.
Now I'll try to discard some more undue prejudices towards Asian originated microtransactions' model.
To be blunt, the ones responsible in fucking it up so far and painting a BAD name for newer f2p/alternative microtransactions initiatives are in fact from ones coming out (or due TBA) from the Western/non-Korean stables by doing craps nearly unheard of in this Asian side of the pond:-
1. Dungeon Runners reserves not only 'mythics' and 'rainbow' items with godly stats but also stackable items' functions!
AND character banks! 
for membership holders. Yeah I got it on my sig and I still enjoy it because my ideas of fun differs greatly from a typical hardcore but that don't mean that I can't point out what's ridiculous since I'm betting that no one here can name me 1 Korean/English f2p title that went this far. You'll be hard pressed at best..
2. Fury had just confirmed that it'll not only be b2p but also comes with monthly 'options' at $9.99 for 'Immortal' membership that yields the following:-
- Quick travel in the Sanctuaries and Schools
- VoIP talk privileges
- One additional Item Roll Slot
- Extended “rested gold bonus”**
Get MORE gold from MORE log offs! Woohoo!
** What is a rested gold bonus?
While a player is logged off, they earn a bonus for the hours they are resting from battle. When they log on again, they will earn a bonus percentage of gold for each battle until their rested bonus has expired. The longer you are logged off, the longer you will receive your bonus gold when you log back on.
Immortal players earn their rested bonus for longer than Hero players. If you plan to play Fury for more than a few hours per week, it makes a lot of sense to become an Immortal. Not only can you earn more gold, but you will have access to many other cool features as well. And, of course, you are helping support Fury by contributing to the cost of servers and creating new content for all players to enjoy.
- Selling privileges on the Auction House.
**Archlord (regardless of criticisms) has an AH by default as a matter of fact =p - chakl337
- Priority log-in queuing
- Entry into weekly and seasonal Ladders
- Personal player battle statistics
- In-game Customer Service access
- Elite access to the test server to preview new content
And it doesn't end there!
:-
Fury Game Cards:
Both Heroes and Immortals may purchase additional in-game gold through Fury Game Cards. The cards can be purchased online or from participating retail stores. Gold can be used to purchase new items and abilities; repair or recondition old items; dye armor and customize your avatar’s appearance; send mail and so on. Game Cards available in multiple denominations: (shown here in USD$)
- $4.99 (60 Gold)
- $9.99 (130 Gold)
- $19.99 (300 Gold)
Say hello to truly legalized RMT! Yup they beat the Koreans in figuring this 1 out, bravo?
Kinky prices though ain't it? 
3. Hellgate:London will feature both f2p and Elite modes: Here's what's in store for Elites:-
- Regular content updates, small ones every month and large ones every three months. (ie. new quests, dungeons, weapons, monsters, etc. that can only be accessed by elite players.)
- Elite content will access higher
- Can create guilds.
- 24/7 Cust. Supp.
- More character slots/larger shared stash
- Additional play modes, hardcore, pvp, rp, etc..
- Hopefully there will never be server ques but -if- there are then elites get priority.
******************************************************************************************************************
Love it or hate it, only Acclaim so far has been emulating the RIGHT ways in going about with microtransactions for NA/global market. AFAIK from every Korean/English f2p MMO I've been in, NONE had or about to pull any of the above-mentioned crap stunts. So don't be too quick in handing out those "This is why I hate Korean grinders" retorts.
In comparison (yes I can't believe that I'm saying this either but let facts be facts), K2Networks are Gods for what they're doing with Sword of The New World; ditto for character banks FOR ALL, EVERYONE gets all zones, EVERYONE gets to see updates and events,EVERYONE gets PvP, EVERYONE can create guilds,EVERYONE gets the same login priorities and NO ONE are being left out of any specific types of equips (naturally..as Granado Espada is Korean originally)...as it's NORMALLY done for years and years in a lot of Asian f2p titles until now. Is K2N doing OK so far? That's another debate and I'll stress that it's NOT GE's fault if any.
In short, quit the Asian stereotyping when it comes to microtransactions' concerns and start scrutinizing on these upcoming f2p initiatives from non-Asian/Western outfits 1st. It seems like straight up ports like what K2N has done with GE makes better sense from designs to market standpoint as opposed to original ideas.
I'm not proclaiming that f2p titles AND business model are Gods..far from that or f2p is probably the new 2nd money God. I'm just in tandem with Gameloading's stance that some (or actually most) ignorants here needs correcting as they're CLEARLY clueless about stuff they shouldn't have prejudiced against too much in the beginning.
I'm waiting out for The Agency just for its planned spy/espionage theme and I'm leaving my SOE hate out the door for that 1. If they don't learn anything on how to get that right in delivery, I have already compiled 3 different more upcoming (and already semi confirmed compared to TA) potential busts above that saves SOE's ass from some flames. No guarantees though =p
Futilez - Mature MMORPG Community
Correcting people since birth.
WoW added micro-transactions in the form of a card game