Online Games - Get Hooked For Free

Thanks to Wired News for their story discussing online games trying alternatives to subscription fees, including extended free trials, in order to ensnare gamers. The article points out: "Online games are adding millions of new players each year, but business models haven't adapted to accommodate the new playing population... casual gamers wary of shelling out monthly subscription fees are the driving force behind this growth." Nexon's Shattered Galaxy is the featured example, with Paul Philleo from the company also mentioning another development in online titles, that of (alleged) specialization: "We're not trying to operate like Asheron's Call or Ultima Online. We're going for a new, niche audience."

Comments

Re:This is no surprise

[KDan]

You're joking, but I think we'll see this become a real societal problem in the near future. Better-Than-Life was a visionary idea in Red Dwarf - it's going to happen for real. If you already consider the sorry state some people get into after basically investing their entire lives into things like EverCrack, if that starts happening to a significant percentage of the population we will see it put at the same rank as hard drug usage.

Daniel

I'm glad Shattered Galaxy is free

[cgenman]

...because it isn't finished.

Seriously, it is a game with 5 resource types, only one of which is available in-game. You can purchase units, except that they don't cost anything. Units have available slots for special attacks, except that they don't have any special attacks. You can upgrade units, if you can get the severely bent interface to work.

Really, It's painfully obvious that this game isn't finished, yet they were (are) trying to sell it to the hungry masses. I wonder why they are doing so badly? Top that off with horrible graphics and controls, randomly generated level designs ripped straight out of Starcraft's playbook, Action-oriented gameplay that pauses for several seconds every time someone enters an area, and a design that shouts "Diablo in space, with 6 characters!", And it is no wonder they need to give it away. Honestly, at this stage in their development I'd be ashamed to charge anyone for it.

While the concept of a MMPORTS is appealing, this version falls far short of the mark. And sadly, it isn't the only MMP game that does. Second Life? Sims Online? If you want to know why so many are doing so badly, first look to how badly so many are made.