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

English website.

[Anonymous Coward]

Their English website is here.

The link to the English site on their Russian web page (as linked in the Slashdot article) - is broken.

Re:It really doesn't look all that great.

[Anonymous Coward]

Um... but none of the "giant conglomerate-made games" are available in Russian? Some of these "giants" wouldn't even know where to begin translating, selling and marketing to a completely new market like Russia. Their time and effort is better spent on keeping their existing user base happy.

An English language MMORPG is going to sell as well in Russia as a Russian MMORPG will in America - you'd have about six customers, one of whom would never play it, one would be Russian language students, two would be Russians who were now living in the US, and the remaining two would constantly complain about not being able to read Russian.

Okay, so you've played a Korean-made MMORPG, but the average American gamer on the street probably hasn't. Heck, 99% of American MMORPG gamers haven't even *heard* of the most popular MMORPG in the world - Lineage (which has over 2 million active players).

Re:It really doesn't look all that great.

[Errabes]

"An English language MMORPG is going to sell as well in Russia as a Russian MMORPG will in America"

Not sure about it.
In Europe, as we haven't a lot of choice of localized MMORPG, most of the friends I have are playing US MMORPGs on US servers. One goal is to learn the language at the same time.

But maybe me and my friends aren't representative (and I'm playing Japanese beta of Lineage 2 too, so...)

Nice idea.

[SmallFurryCreature]

Biggest problem for me with current mmo games is that I don't have a credit card. Had a case of bad debt and although it is now paid off and I make a decent income I am reluctant to make a debt again no matter how small. Cash and debet only please.

There are other reasons as well. As a dutch person I am used to free debet cards. Why should I pay a bank to hold my money? So no CC for me and for plently of others. How many kids can use their parents credit card outside the US?

Selling the game instead through stores would solve all that. Mobile phones really took off with prepaid cards. There is now even a very simple infrastructure in place for that. You go the cash register and say the phone brand you want and how many minutes. The receit has a special code printed on it that you can use to upgrade your phone. Flawless.

So why not the same for games? It would also solve that pesky problem of charge backs.

Oh well I wish them good luck.

Red Dawn?

[Eklypz]

Meanwhile, the Defenders of Light call on players to battle the forces of darkness, which include a few elements from a more familiar world. In particular, the Defenders hope to defeat the United States of America -- "a beachhead," they say, "for the invasion of the Devil."

I say get a bunch of American clans over there and kick some commie butt!