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Fortnite is Generating More Revenue Than Any Other Free Game Ever (recode.net)
Fortnite: Battle Royale has brought in more revenue in a single month than any other game of its kind, industry estimates suggest. Recode: The free-to-play game hit a new revenue record of $318 million in May, according to SuperData Research. That puts Fornite well ahead of other breakout games like Pokemon Go and Clash of Clans, and it's all the more spectacular when you realize the multi-platform game launched on consoles just eight months ago and on iOS just three months ago. Since then, Fortnite has brought in more than $1.2 billion in revenue, all of which comes from nonessential in-app purchases, for stuff like clothing and dance moves.
I'm fine using the default skin for my beer, and my FortNite characters. That's all you pay for in the game: cosmetics.
"My wife wears a fine cloth coat!"
"My wifi character wears a fine brown outfit!"
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
Well fortnite is as legit free to play as it gets. I don't like the game but can't knock their business model.
..for $20 cosmetic items. Yeah, as in two-zero.... ten plus ten.
People that work at gamestop cant believe how many kids are dragging their parents in just to purchase these gift cards that let you buy skins.
Not to mention the fact that the game is on nearly every platform now. It's a digital clothing store in the form of a video game.
It's also pretty fun. I grew tired of it fairly quickly, but I'd never say it's a bad game. When you consider epic is pouring all their resources into it, it better be doing okay
Back in the 1980's and 1990's we had Shareware. These were programs that you can download, copy with other and use. Some of them had a Trial Time Period, where you can use the full version for a period of time, then you have access to a reduced features, or not work at all. But most others Offered additional Levels, and other goodies if you were to actually purchase the software.
I see many of these free to play games with extra purchases as just an extension of the Shareware concept. However the problem that I feel is most concerning is the lack of a cap in how much you are going to pay for it. Say an $80 fee (The cost of a good console game) where everything is unlocked, and you can use the game and stay current. But that isn't the case, because it is easy to nickle and dime your way into people paying much more. Often for just something fun at the moment.
Granted this is still probably better then what people will pay for beer where they drink it, get a buzz, and then feel sick in the morning.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
I think you get the beer for free well chilled, well carbonated, in a nice high quality bottle, and comes with a free bottle opener.
But if you want it served in an elegant stein, a decorative glass, or delivered by a hot barmaid, then you can pay $$$$ for it.
The fact that they've made $1.2 Billion off that business model is amazing. Good for them, but damn the average person is a complete idiot.
FortNite Battle Royale is such an epic success that Epic Games pulled everyone off from finishing the next version of Unreal Tournament.
More like "free as in soda". So you tell your kids that they can have a soda. And then they spend 5 grand on bendy straws and colored ice and stickers for the cup upgrades. Only they get them from trading card packs, so there's fun gambling involved too, causing some adults to put everything into getting that one skin.
Your ad here. Ask me how!
How pointless does your life have to be to see value in buying, with actual money, no less, some fancy virtual clothing for your virtual character? Some 3D model that's probably re-used again and again with different textures, took half an hour for some game artist to produce a shitload of them that the company can now charge you premium for, and extra-platinum if you get the one with the golden pixelated stars on the right side, just under the virtual pocket. No, you can't really wear it or put anything in that pocket, but look at the face of the other players when they see how fabulous your character is looking now!*
Note: Other players' faces may or may not be visible. Virtual belt and virtual shoes sold separately. We will totally release the same clothing model with a mildly different texture soon enough and we'll offer it for a "special price" for early adopters.
"My wife wears a fine cloth coat!"
"My wifi character wears a fine brown outfit!"
As long as your wife is real, and not just a wifi character. The days when someone will have a wedding ceremony with an AI character online are surely not too far away.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
I really like freemium games that push cosmetics only such as skins, dance moves, and other non-essentials. It opens up the game to the most people, levels the playing field between players who pay and those who don't, and still allows a fun incentive to invest in the development of the game. I can't stand and refuse to become invested in games that use loot boxes using actual currency as the method to obtain end game content, must have equipment, or are the only way to get it in a reasonable amount of time.
So to start with, I think Fortnight is doing this free to play right. You can truly play as much as you like, any items you can buy are pretty much just fun graphical enhancements for your avatar.
However I would quibble slightly that the graphics only re-skins give a small advantage - simply from a camo standpoint, if you buy a darker outfit you are going to be harder to see from a distance against the landscape or in a shadow. Almost all of the really good players I've seen have darker outfits... with the occasional exception of someone showing off wearing a hot pink teddy bear or something else really vibrant.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Its not all that fun to play
Its fun for the first few match, but its boring to play and community sucks.
The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
It's better than the Loot Box system for extra in-game revenue that EA came up with.
Hell... EA does that shit with both their paid games and their "freemium" ones now.
I'm not sure about a wife with artificial intelligence. I'm still working on one with artificial boobs. You know, the big, round, nice kind.
You are welcome on my lawn.
After the last slashdot adstory for this game, i decided to download it and fire it up to try it. My advice? don't bother. The game does not have text chat. You have to use voice. And are banned (allegedly) for turning off voice because you don't want to hear a bunch of prepubescent american teenagers talking to eachother. This was a conscious decision by the developers apparently.
This is a new thing to me in games, that they would not have text chat. Is that the way of the future? totally sad.
As a potential lottery winner, I totally support tax cuts for the wealthy
Exactly this. They aren't withholding anything central to the game from players. They're simply charging for inessentials. The AC's take on the analogy is significantly more apt than the GP's.
Some games like MMORPG's already do that.
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
there's no loot boxes/ trading cards in this game, guess you never played it
Why is the average person an idiot (I assume you're referring to players who buy cosmetics in the game).
Are they any worse than a person that pays $50-$100 for a game outright? Sure they don't have to, but it increases their enjoyment of the game and/or supports the company which will likely result in game improvements, or a future version.
All are equally stupid wastes of time.
Good for them, but damn the average person is a complete idiot.
Just proves there are thousands of suckers born every minute.
WTB [sig], PST!!!
Micro-transactions in games isn't inherently bad. If it's implemented the way that Fortnite (the game mentioned in this story) has done it, it seems like the best-possible business model for any game (and clearly it's working). The game is entirely free-to-play for everyone, you never have to spend a penny on the game if you don't want to (meaning there are far more players in the game -- which is essential in a PVP game), but those who are willing to shell out a little cash for some cosmetic items can do so and support the continued development of the game in the process. It's a complete win-win.
The issue is that most games don't stick to this model and allow people to purchase items that affect the game play, giving them an advantage over other players who don't spend money. And / or add gambling loot boxes so people have to spend a lot of money to get the particular item they want (if they get it at all).
Wouldn't it be easier to get a RealDoll?
#DeleteFacebook
Good for them, but damn the average person is a complete idiot.
Just proves there are thousands of suckers born every minute.
This is a country of people who literally buy a religion from a SciFi writer who wrote "The way to get rich is to stsrt a religion." and select political candidates from reality TV stars who writ "The art of the deal is to tell people what they want to hear."
"I'm not sure about a wife with artificial intelligence."
Une femme stupide est donc votre marotte ? - Tant, que j'aimerais mieux une laide bien sotte, Qu'une femme fort belle avec beaucoup d'esprit
MOLIÈRE,
Nah, man. French women don't shave under their arms.
You are welcome on my lawn.
I've been following one person, but there are many out there making a living off of Fortnite.
Since graduating this year, decided to spend all their time streaming, putting college off till next year.
Renting a 2 bedroom very nice apt with the donations they make. People are throwing money at these streamers.
I don't think it's entirely unavoidable - for instance you could have different skins for purchase, but let the player chose a basic color tint so any outfit could be tinted black (or rainbow or neon pink).
However it is a pretty minor point, I don't think it's a big deal, and I hate to take away design freedom from a game that does a good job with variety in art and color. So nice to play a game that is not all browns.
Really my only issue is simply in saying "items offer no competitive advantage" which is not wholly true. I don't mind that different outfits you can obtain are slightly harder to see; just don't claim there is truly no difference.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Fortnite purchases are purely cosmetic, they don't help you win. And they aren't random loot boxes either, you buy a specific item, not a random item.
You don't need to pay a cent to play Fortnite, and there's absolutely no disadvantage for players who spend nothing.
Were LRH and Trump wrong? Clearly they were right in their assertions, not to comment on whether it is just or anything else.
It's only free once you can get it on Linux. Currently you still need Windows to play it.
Get off your high horse and accept that Windows is usually a sunk cost when buying a PC.
Using your rules, Fortnight on Linux wouldn't be free as you need hardware to install Linux. Even if you scrounge enough hardware for a working system that Linux may support, you still need to get internet access somehow to get the Linux ISO or install something like Gentoo.
If you take your scrounge built PC to an internet cafe and don't buy a coffee, use their free wifi, download, install and update Linux, well you still needed to get to the cafe somehow, so that probably cost money via fuel used in a car, or the cost of public transport.
Plus, you probably live somewhere that costs someone money to provide and maintain, and you need food to live, and electricity for your PC, so somewhere in there you're spending someones' money to play Fortnite.. Ergo, Linux isn't "free" either.
I think what a lot of games do is they also give these cosmetics out as rewards for winning, early adopting, and so forth. So you want to look like a winning or early adopting player you can by buying a cosmetic.
I think this pulls the issue out of the realm of stupidity and into the real of poor priorities.
"His name was James Damore."
I'd like an invisibility skin. That should make it easier to win.
On slashdot ... if it moves, it's an idiot.
Or a racist.
Nah, nobody needs the benefit of the doubt.
I'm guessing you don't either.
Maybe, but it's still Windows. Ugh.
I can see how people form their whole opinion about something based on political ideology or about Jesus or if it got their parents laid off or whatever.
But microtransactions? That's like not buying a home based on whether the surrounding school population is a hair above or below average.
Micro-priorties seems to be how you are calling your shots.