Russian-Targeted MMORPG Faces Unique Obstacles

Thanks to the Moscow Times for their article discussing the rise of the Russian-based PC MMO title Sphere, which "is the first MMORPG developed in Russia and catering specifically to Russian players." According to a spokesperson, there are markedly different limitations to Western titles: "From the beginning, we faced a big technical problem -- how to make a game that would work well over our absolutely abominable phone lines." In addition, some of the economic problems are also intriguing: "Since few Russians have credit cards, 1C developed another scheme for online payment... [using] Yandex-Dengi, a ruble-based payment service similar to the dollar-based service PayPal. Players interested in a low-tech alternative can also re-subscribe by buying a fresh Sphere CD for about $6 every month." Overall, the MMO's subscription "costs about half as much as EverQuest's, opening the door to cash-strapped Russian gamers", and it's attracted over 15,000 players in the first 3 months.

Comments

Re:First soviet russia post (and fp)

[Anonymous Coward]

In soviet russia, the world plugs into you!
In soviet russia, you target the game!
In soviet russia, the phones break you!

In Sovite Russia...

[Anonymous Coward]

MMORPG plays you!

Ahh...never mind. Too bad it isn't a game about actually being Russian. Waiting for soup and bread in long lines, freezing your arse off in Siberian winters, drinking vodka...

Biggest problem is making the game depressing enou

[ageoffri]

After taking some High School Russian and having a brand new immigrant teacher for one year, if the game isn't depressing, then they won't like it. The teacher had stood in a line just because it had been so long since she had stood in a long line! Then look up some of the folk songs, back breaking work is what they sing about.