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Captain's Log: Old reruns, a new currency, and time-gates frustrate STO players

Terilynn Shull — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Captain's Log

Recently Cryptic Studios' Star Trek Online team has pressed forward with a mix of new releases and old reruns in an effort to entertain the playerbase while we await the anticipated release of Season 6 in June.

Some of the recent releases, such as Spotlight on the Foundry, a new Klingon mission titled Alpha, the new Caitian Atrox carrier for the Federation faction, and a duty officer commendation XP bonus weekend, have all been fairly well-received. We have also seen the return of the Ask Cryptic blogs, and apparently we will also be seeing the return of the fan-favorite Engineering Reports at the end of this month.

The question remains, however, whether or not the those relative successes can overcome the controversies that seem to surround the game's other recent releases -- namely, the introduction of what is arguably a new currency and the infusion of yet another time-gated mission.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Old reruns, a new currency, and time-gates frustrate STO players

Captain's Log: Old reruns, a new currency, and time-gates frustrate STO players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cryptic answers Champions Online Questionite questions in latest dev blog

Matt Daniel — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online

Unobtainium? Forget it. Vibranium? Old hat. Eludium? So passé. Champions Online's next update, Champions On Alert, will introduce a new element that will put the absurd naming convention of all these fictional substances to shame. The element in question is known as Questionite, and it will be the latest in-game currency available to CO players. The new currency will be used to procure "high level gear, Top Tier Costume Pieces and other special items like Travel Power Skins."

The newest Champions Online dev blog addresses some common question(ite)s pertaining to the new currency. Questionite can be acquired through a variety of in-game methods, all of which are listed on the blog. The substance can also be bought from other players in exchange for Cryptic points (and of course, this also means that players can sell their Questionite to other players for Cryptic Points), which provides players who don't want to part with their hard-earned real-world cash an avenue through which to acquire C-Store exclusive items. It's certainly an interesting system, to say the least, so Champions players would do well to head on over to the official blog post and check out the full details.

Cryptic answers Champions Online Questionite questions in latest dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New WAKFU dev diary highlights player freedom, sandbox features

Jef Reahard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries, Sandbox, Crafting

If it's true that MMORPGs have become more linear as the genre has grown, it's also true that Ankama is setting out to do something different with WAKFU. The French development firm has released a new video dev diary titled Power to the Player, and it outlines how the free-to-play game is tackling some of the challenges inherent in sandbox design.

"We really wanted to make WAKFU a game based on freedom, a game which puts the player in control," says Ankama designer Azael. "Most current MMOs create a game and then insert the player. With WAKFU we aimed to create the game around the players."

WAKFU features very few NPCs (and no traditional vendor NPCs at all), and it also boasts mobs that don't drop money. Players create the game's currency themselves by harvesting ores and making use of minting machines, and players are also responsible for seeding the world with monsters since they don't respawn on their own. You can learn more about WAKFU by viewing the video after the break.

Continue reading New WAKFU dev diary highlights player freedom, sandbox features

New WAKFU dev diary highlights player freedom, sandbox features originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE offers triple Station Cash for one day only

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Promotions, Miscellaneous

Are you hanging onto a Sony Online Entertainment game card? Then today's the day you want to register that baby! SOE announced that for today and today only it is running one of its rare Triple Station Cash days -- but the offer ends at 3:00 a.m. EST tomorrow morning.

Triple Station Cash works much like you'd imagine: Any game card redeemed or Station Cash purchased will register as three times that amount. So that 1000 Station Cash code you've got lying around is now worth 3000 points.

Station Cash is SOE's multi-game currency that's used to purchase premium benefits, in-game items, and game time.

This promotion is part of SOE's "12 Days of Holidays," in which the company is offering a different promotion or activity every day through Christmas Eve.

SOE offers triple Station Cash for one day only originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard's Battle.net Balance boasts big business

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Economy

Choo choo -- the Blizzard Micotransactrain is leaving the station! Whether or not you're aboard with Blizzard's increasing fixation on monetizing all aspects of its games, this train is certainly picking up steam. Its next station is called Battle.net Balance, and with it comes a whole new paradigm for the Blizzard empire. (Many apologies for using the word "paradigm.")

In effect, Battle.net Balance is a virtual wallet where players can purchase -- or "charge up" according to Blizzard's parlance -- points to then spend on items and services in World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and elsewhere. Diablo III players who earn Battle.net currency in-game can save those points through the service to spend later. The system can also be used to pay for WoW gametime.

However, the system comes with an important caveat: Once you've converted real-world money into Battle.net Balance, there's no getting it back as cash. So if you've got plans to make a living playing Diablo III, you might want to think again (although "certain regions" will be able to cash out via PayPal).

Battle.net Balance is heading our way in the near future, and if this affects your game, you might be interested to read the informative FAQ that goes into more detail.

Blizzard's Battle.net Balance boasts big business originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online hits warp factor Season 5 today

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play

Hey Trekkers -- got your phasers charged to full? Have you stocked up on Romulan ale and plenty of Klingon qagh? Done all your homework by watching every Star Trek season ever made, including those weird 1970s animated episodes? Then you might, might just be ready for Star Trek Online's Season 5, which is going live today.

Season 5 contains a cargo hold full of features and changes, starting with organizing what subscribers (now "Gold members") get as part of their service. The update also includes a duty officer system, an improved space skills system, a revamped tutorial, a currency consolidation, and several other events and activities.

In honor of the launch, the team has put subscriptions on sale and is even offering $100 off the price of a lifetime sub.

You can read up on all of Season 5's details in the release notes as Cryptic's space baby takes one more step toward its free-to-play conversion.

Star Trek Online hits warp factor Season 5 today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Thoughts on Update 5

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

Update 5: Saruman's Obviously Not Compensating for Anything With That Tower will undoubtedly be the last hurrah of Lord of the Rings Online -- this year, that is. It's an interesting update that looks to patch in the rest of Rise of Isengard's content (namely, the instance cluster) and provide a little something-something for players who have already reached the end of the epic storyline and are looking for more.

Earlier this week I took a dev tour through some of the main parts of the update, and while I wasn't able to see all of it (such as the non-raid instances), what I did preview certainly filled my head with opinions, analysis and further questions. Generally I came away pleased with what we're going to experience next month, although the comments section of the tour showed split feelings on what's in store for the patch.

Is this a case of too little, too late for those dissatisfied with Rise of Isengard's release? Will it breathe new life into dungeon-running, especially for the many soloers out there? Is it what this game needs right here and now? Hit the jump and I'll give you my honest thoughts on it all, both the good and the bad.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Thoughts on Update 5

The Road to Mordor: Thoughts on Update 5 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online opens up testing for the dilithium exchange

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play

The economy of free-to-play games can be a tricky business. Usually, they're managed by keeping a strict distinction between in-game currency and purchased currency, but Star Trek Online is taking a slightly different approach. The upcoming overarching currency dilithium can be traded for Cryptic Points via the new dilithium exchange service, which has just gone live on the Tribble server for players to test. But the trade isn't a straight one, instead working on an auction-type system.

The newest Path to F2P blog outlines the means for players to use the exchange system, which works both ways -- players can look to buy dilithium or Cryptic Points and are able to browse the overall market and see what other players are offering or asking. It's not quite as simple as being able to swipe your credit card and then grab some in-game money, but it's certainly blurring the lines between real currency and game money.

Star Trek Online opens up testing for the dilithium exchange originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: More on the economy

Brandon Felczer — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Economy, Game mechanics, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Captain's Log

Captain's Log, Stardate 65303.9...

Hello, computer (and players)! As I discussed last week, heated discussions surround Star Trek Online's change to a F2P hybrid model and planned game mechanics updates. While new updates are being pushed to the Tribble server for testing and feedback, many aspects are in a state of flux as such feedback is collected, evaluated, and implemented. The biggest area affected is the economy. While everyone has his own thoughts on the matter, Cryptic is leaving no feedback forum post unread -- the players will help shape these changes.

Last week, we saw the push of another patch that seems to have made some giant strides toward solving some of the biggest concerns, including significant reductions in prices for most items and the return of free ship tokens for most ranks. Stephen D'Angelo, acting Executive Producer and Emergency Executive Producer Hologram (EEPH), explained: "Based on how rapidly we're getting data and revising the game, we're still probably two more weeks away from having the economy in a state that is close to good enough." Since he said a lot more in his recent dev blog post, I thought I should take some time to expound on it.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's take a look at what else the EEPH had to say and break it down...

Continue reading Captain's Log: More on the economy

Captain's Log: More on the economy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online dev blog clarifies free-to-play currency trades

Brendan Drain — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries

Ever since Cryptic announced that Star Trek Online is going free to play, developers have published regular "Path to F2P" dev blogs discussing upcoming changes designed to restructure the game for its new payment scheme. In the latest dev blog in the series, STO Executive Producer Stephen D'Angelo looks at the in-game economy and how going free-to-play will affect the various currencies in use.

Energy credits will be used for practically everything encountered in normal gameplay, functioning like gold in most fantasy MMOs. Players can expect to use energy credits every time they play, and receive them as rewards. Dilithium will be used by hardcore players to get high-end gear, but the average casual player will never need it in significant quantities. Cryptic points will be reserved for cash shop items like new ships, but Cryptic aims to let players trade their cryptic points to other players for dilithium.

When the system goes live, players will be able to grind for dilithium in order to buy cash shop items without paying cash. At the same time, hardcore players will be able to short-cut the dilithium grind and quickly obtain high-end equipment with an injection of cryptic points. This system mirrors the diamond trade in Runes of Magic and the PLEX trade in EVE Online, both systems that have proven highly effective at allowing cash-rich players to shortcut grind and letting time-rich players play their way to everything the game has to offer.

Star Trek Online dev blog clarifies free-to-play currency trades originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newest F2P blog for Star Trek Online talks about dilithium

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play

Star Trek Online has always had a variety of currencies for players, each allowing access to different stocks of items. But another form of money is coming into the game, and much like gold-pressed latinum, it's something that has a long history in lore. The rare and valuable dilithium is being introduced as a new form of reward, and the latest entry in the Path to F2P series discusses just how the new form of money will work.

The most important role that the ore will play will be in replacing the existing free ship tokens that had previously come when players achieved a new rank. Earning a new ship will now be a more difficult and involved task, with a discount coupon and a free offering of refined dilithium to make it easier to earn a ship on a rank increase, but it won't be automatic. The entry goes on to state that the current implementation on the test server is not quite right, and it includes more discussion about how much effort is meant to be involved in getting a brand-new ship.

Newest F2P blog for Star Trek Online talks about dilithium originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: Testing out the future

Brandon Felczer — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Previews, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Captain's Log

Captain's Log, Stardate 65264.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! As you have must have seen by now, open beta testing of Star Trek Online's new F2P model is well underway; the developers have been posting dev diaries about the impending changes for the last couple of days. Because testers on the Tribble test server were required to start new characters, and because character transfers will not be an option for at least a few weeks, many players have begun a mad dash to level up their test characters in order to test out some of the retooled endgame content.

Since testing, especially in this manner, can be confusing, I have decided to dedicate this week's Captain's Log to those who are willing to take on the challenge. Past the jump, you will find a checklist of sorts that you can use while testing (or, ultimately, playing) the new content and updates. I suggest reading each section and then checking it out in-game. While some recommendations may seem less interesting than others, I suggest you give each a fair shot so you can provide feedback on what can make the game better.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's give our dedicated Tribbleites some structure to their testing time...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Testing out the future

Captain's Log: Testing out the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy

Jeremy Stratton — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Lost Pages of Taborea

For months now, it's been no secret that Runes of Magic's economy has been out of whack. I've been sitting on this article, watching and waiting to see what would happen next. The assumption, of course, is that I think something will happen. I keep thinking that Runewaker, Frogster and RoM will align like stars to zap the economy back to its previous state, or that RoM's economy will act like a large, slowly deflating balloon, but nothing's happened for months. That's not to say the something that could happen will never happen. This period of severe inflation is a drop in the bucket compared to the life of the game. But what if the economy stays the way it is?

I've stopped asking questions that pointed and started asking how this new economy makes sense. I don't think anything is more wrong with the economy now than it was before. Prices are higher, much higher, on everything. For some, that's enough of a problem, but is it a problem for the operation of RoM? In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, follow me down the rabbit hole to see how the weird might actually be normal.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy

Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy

Karen Bryan — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Recently, Trion Worlds CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman talked to Gamasutra about how gold farming is a much bigger threat than we assume, particularly because of the large amount of credit card fraud. Those who played RIFT at launch probably recall the large wave of hacked accounts early on. According to Hartsman, the hacking attempts were so quick and so intense that the game could have been "denial-of-serviced off the internet" when it launched.

As I was browsing the Auctioneer the other day, I was reminded of Scott's statement because gold farming has sucked a lot of the fun out of in-game economies in virtual worlds. Markets early on were lively, unpredictable, exciting, and full of freedom but very vulnerable because of the growing illegal trade of in-game currency for real money. In an effort to combat the rising real-life value of gold, games like RIFT have moved away from gold toward a system of non-tradeable tokens. But while these tokens have helped to curb the value of gold and reduce the demand for third-party RMTs, they've also removed a lot of the freedom from players. After the cut, we'll take a closer look at how exactly that's happened and why it hurts the economy.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy

Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds

Jeremy Stratton — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Lost Pages of Taborea

It's been a long time since we've heard anything about Diamonds being reinstituted into Runes of Magic's auction house. Since that fateful day they were removed, a lot of new players have joined, veterans have left and some things that should not have been forgotten... were lost.

Having Diamonds in the auction house is an important feature that was planned from the get-go. It allows for seamless trading and player-controlled price fluctuations that keep all items obtainable for everyone. It's about having the freedom to play multiple ways. Options are more numerous than simply paying and having everything opened up or not paying and being stuck. With RoM's cash-shop items being integrated into the title's gameplay, there's a grayscale that lets players have many more options in how they want to play.

It's not an overly complex issue, but one worth looking back on. Getting Diamonds back in the auction house isn't a lost cause, but the issue has dragged on to the point that long time players may have given up all hope. This edition of Lost Pages of Taborea is all about looking back at the beginning and bringing players up to speed on diamonds in (or not-in) the auction house.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds

Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wargaming.net's World of Warplanes to share currency with World of Tanks

Matt Daniel — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Economy, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks

Whether you feel more comfortable on the ground or in the skies, Wargaming.net has you covered. The studio announced today some new details on the economic system for its upcoming title World of Warplanes. According to the press release, it will follow the model of its predecessor World of Tanks with gold, credits, and experience as the primary forms of currency.

With the addition of World of Warplanes to its stable, however, Wargaming.net plans to allow "global interaction" between the two titles. This means, in case you couldn't guess, that all of those different forms of currency will be shared between the two games. This, in turn, means that any player that has racked up an obscene amount of gold/credits/experience in World of Tanks can put their excess currencies toward their advancement in World of Warplanes. If you want to get a jump on the competition before World of Warplanes' launch, you can sign up for World of Tanks at the official site.

Wargaming.net's World of Warplanes to share currency with World of Tanks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DUST 514 may go true F2P in the future

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Free-to-play, Consoles, MMOFPS, DUST 514

While we've known that DUST 514 won't be as free as originally thought, there's still hope for a true free-to-play version to come. CCP's Hilmar Veigar Pétursson told GamesIndustry.biz that while PlayStation 3 owners will have to contend with a "cover charge" -- estimated to be between $10 and $20 -- before accessing the game for the first time, the company may drop it entirely in time.

This fee is meant to help with the initial start-up costs for DUST 514, and will be refunded to players in the form of in-game currency that can be spent on unspecified in-game microtransactions. Pétursson isn't ruling out the possibility that the game might go completely free-to-play in the future, however:

"You're really getting the game for free but you have to pre-buy credits in the beginning. We might go fully free-to-play down the line, but in the beginning we have a cover charge just to manage the initial launch of it. We have always been a big believer in growing up a social network behind the game in a slow and predictable way. Because we have seen that if you don't do that you can end up with a very unstructured experience, where there's no cohesion to the community. By growing it at the beginning we help to make a healthy environment initially."

We first reported on this cover charge during last month's E3. Pétursson says that CCP will see how the cover charge plays out during the game's testing period. The company is just now recovering from a hotbed of controversy involving EVE Online's approach to in-game item sales.

DUST 514 may go true F2P in the future originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bounty Hounds Online coming in both boxed and digital versions

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Free-to-play, Promotions

Bounty Hounds Online, an upcoming sci-fi action MMO, is going to give you a choice how you want it packaged: paper or plastic. Er, we mean "boxed or digital." The retail box will be released under the name Bounty Hounds Online Pro and will arrive in European shops this October. For the price of 10 Euros, players will get a leg up on this free-to-play title with exclusive content and in-game currency. Multiple language versions are planned for the box release as well.

The game puts players in the role of mercenaries tasked with cleaning up an intergalactic war on a planet known as Clear Sky. You'll get to choose between five classes and four military companies before heading into the battle, not to mention the awesome-sounding CTU transformable combat pets.

Recently out of closed beta, Bounty Hounds Online is slated for open beta on August 2nd. You can sign up by visiting the official website.

Bounty Hounds Online coming in both boxed and digital versions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

I have a confession to make. My name is Justin, and I'm a Lord of the Rings Online altoholic.

I know. I have a problem! I'm weak! DON'T STARE WITH THOSE ACCUSING EYES!

I always start out in games with the best of intentions: I'm going to stick with just one character, at least until I hit the level cap. I'll only make new characters to reserve names I like. I won't get class envy and wonder what's on the other side of the fence. I'll stay strong! I'll be an oak!

And then I turn out to be a willow tree, blowing about in the winds of whimsy, and suddenly I end up with alts staggered all over the leveling track. It's all right; I've come to embrace my altoholic tendencies because it really is who I am as a gamer. I like to sample everything, to try out different approaches to the game, and if I don't end up with a maxed-out uber-raider, then I can live with it.

If you follow this pattern and are prone to rolling up a lot of alts in LotRO, there are several advantages you can gain over the monogamous players out there. Today I want to take a look at how you can make your alts work for you, if only to give you an excuse to keep rolling them!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you

The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Chat: Dollars and cents edition

Rubi Bayer — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture, Economy, Opinion, Global Chat, Miscellaneous

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Global Chat this week is all about money. Be it real-world cash or piles of virtual gold, money is the foundation of much of our MMO experience. Ready to see what some of our best commenters had to say about all sorts of transactions this week? Follow along after the jump!

Continue reading Global Chat: Dollars and cents edition

Global Chat: Dollars and cents edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are you in favor of alternative currency?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

It seems to me that more and more MMO developers are utilizing alternative types of currency in our games. Whether they're tokens, barter scraps, or golden leaves, we're now having to chase down all manner of currencies to get the goodies we want.

Our subject for discussion today: Is this a good thing or not? On one hand, I can understand that alternative currency helps to limit the amount of damage that gold sellers and farmers can do, and it provides incentives for players to participate in certain zones or activities. On the other hand, it feels as though these alternative currencies are cluttering up our bags, confusing our minds, and devaluing the standard currency in the game.

So looking at your favorite games, are you in favor of barter systems and tokens as an alternative to gold, silver and copper? Should every game have a barter wallet if so? Or do you wish that devs would cut it out and stick with one type of money as the standard?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Are you in favor of alternative currency? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Does game currency matter?

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind

They say that money makes the world go 'round, and this used to always be true in RPGs. Without solid bank, your character would be swinging a cardboard sword at enemy dragons and weeping from the humiliation. But once you performed enough virtual muggings, you'd be rolling in dough and able to equip the very best gear and weapons.

It struck me the other day that MMOs used to be more like this as well -- that the acquisition of gold, platinum or credits was a necessity to fund your character's gear. Older titles, like Anarchy Online, still function under this premise. However, it seems to me that with the rise of usable dropped loot, the value of money has decreased to the point where vendors are, in fact, a joke. Even stranger is the rise of alternative currencies in MMOs for decent gear that are gained through specific tasks instead of just picking it up off any old mob.

So does game currency matter to you? Is it there merely for a few pricey items (i.e., money sinks like mounts) or do you feel it has more purpose? Do you see some MMOs that give more worth to currency over others? Do you focus your time on building up wealth, or is money merely for travel costs and repair bills?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Does game currency matter? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP staff offered the option of being paid foreign currency during economic crisis

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Culture, Economy, MMO industry, News items

During our troubled economic times, one sometimes forgets that currency is in a constant state of fluctuation. When times get really harsh, the value of the currency can wildly go back and forth between numbers, creating a sense of unease as people don't know what their currency is worth.

CCP Games, however, took up a new approach to paying their employees when the Icelandic Krona was volatile earlier this year -- paying their employees in foreign currency.

Employees were offered the option to accept paychecks in foreign currency, if they so wished, to provide employees with a stable income from a stable currency rather than receiving checks with the Krona. The move was easy on CCP's part, as the company is located in China, Iceland, and the United States and makes most of their revenue in foreign currency anyway.

Continue reading CCP staff offered the option of being paid foreign currency during economic crisis

CCP staff offered the option of being paid foreign currency during economic crisis originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic offers surveys for diamonds

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Business models, Culture, News items, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic

Frogster America has recently partnered with Peanut Labs Media to bring Runes of Magic players a new way to earn diamonds without paying money -- surveys! Yes, yes, we know, everyone hates surveys. Yet, you have to admit, everyone hates paying real money for virtual currency more.

The surveys that Runes of Magic will be implementing are going to take between 5 to 10 minutes, will keep the user's identity completely anonymous, will reward diamonds on completion, and will be completely optional. Both sides are working to seamlessly integrate the survey option into the game experience without it becoming a barrier to gameplay or becoming hard to use.

As long as this option remains simple to use and non-intrusive, it looks like a nice alternative for players who are looking to pick up some diamonds without having to commit their cash.

Runes of Magic offers surveys for diamonds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monato Esprit launches out of beta

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, Launches, Free-to-play, Casual

Monato Esprit, a game that has been gracing our Betawatch column for some time now, has recently skipped completely over the open beta stage and jumped right out into the open world.

For those not in the know with Monato Esprit's premise, the world is a fantasy dreamland corrupted by the powers of dark, evil nightmares. Players get to take on the role of an archon, a winged hero who is tasked with fighting against the evil of the nightmares to restore the dreamworld of Monato Esprit.

The game's graphics fall into the "chibi" style of anime, taking on a very cute and simultaneously whimsical appearance. The game is free-to-play and will be supported with a cash shop powered by developer Reality Gap's new currency, MetaTIX. Seattle based Reality Gap will be extending their MetaTIX services beyond Monato Esprit, however this game marks the versatile currency's first use.

Interested in jumping in? Sign up with a MetaTIX account first (a bit backwards, hence why we're telling you) and then go to Monato Esprit's website to download the client.

Monato Esprit launches out of beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer getting a token system for RVR gear

Brooke Pilley — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Warhammer Online, News items

Since Warhammer Online's launch, obtaining powerful RvR gear has been subject to lots of luck and a broken contribution system. Mythic intends to supplement this by adding a new token system that will reward players for RvR participation and dedication.

Players will soon be looting common medallions and rare crests from player kills (in oRvR and scenarios), keeps, fortresses, zone locks, campaign locks, and various city siege phase completions. These tokens can be used to purchase RvR set gear (e.g. Annihilator, Conqueror, etc.) and special potions from quartermaster merchants.

Tokens will not be tradeable but they do scale throughout the tiers. For example, players can convert 5 common T1 medallions into 1 common T2 medallion. Players can also backwards convert 1 rare conqueror's crest into 5 common T4 medallions. Higher rank set gear will require a combination of rare crests and common medallions for purchase.

Mythic is currently seeking feedback on this proposed new token system on their official forums, so head on over to have your voice heard (game account required). They plan to initially launch with tokens for RvR set gear only but future patches will bring expansions to this new currency system (e.g., PvE dungeon gear).

Warhammer getting a token system for RVR gear originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Can we solve problems intertwined with MMO economies?

James Egan — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Game mechanics, Crafting, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Legal, Virtual worlds

In-game economies can make MMOs more vibrant places to play, lending depth to these games that generally isn't found in regular PC or console titles. Then again, the perceived value attributed to virtual currency and items can lead to a slew of problems, not limited to acts of real world violence, the plague of gold spamming, and the slippery slope of ownership in the virtual space.

At least one company out there is working with MMO publishers to create a regulated secondary market, the hope being that it's possible to reclaim the black and grey market commerce so often attached to massively multiplayer titles. Do you think this approach is a viable solution to some of the problems associated with MMO economies? What are your ideas on how these issues intertwined with virtual currency and items should be resolved? Is there even a solution at all?

The Daily Grind: Can we solve problems intertwined with MMO economies? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Real world economic impact on MMOs and virtual worlds?

James Egan — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Economy, MMO industry, Opinion, Academic, Virtual worlds

Given the drastic real world economic shifts of late, is it unreasonable to assume that there will be repercussions in virtual worlds and MMOs? That's the gist of a question posed by CBBC, a longtime commentator at the Terra Nova blog, but specifically he asks: "What now for virtual economies? What happens to EVE now that Iceland's economy is collapsing?... Will my WoW gold be worth more or less? Will games go under taking their value with them? Will we see a run on games the same as a run on banks?"

While his questions aren't focused solely on EVE Online, and are more of a general inquiry, CCP's title is not surprisingly the main example cited by both the CBBC and Terra Nova's readers. As expected, the responses to the question are intelligent and shed some more light on how real world economics might affect MMO economies, namely that of EVE Online. Some speculate that real world issues will result in increased escapism, imbuing virtual worlds and their economies with greater significance. Others related financial scenarios that affect CCP Games and its virtual economics. If you're interested in the economies of MMOs and virtual worlds, you might want to get involved in the discussion of "Whither MMO economies?" over at Terra Nova.

Real world economic impact on MMOs and virtual worlds? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Podcast interviews two Star Trek Online guys, gets lots of new info

Samuel Axon — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, New titles, Star Trek Online

Star Trek gaming podcast Hailing Frequency interviewed Cryptic Studios Chief Creative Officer Jack Emmert in the wake of the big Las Vegas unveiling of Star Trek Online. The two part interview is available in both audio and video, and it's one of the best sources of details beyond the unveiling video itself at this point.

There are a lot of reveals and hints in the interview. Some examples of interview topics: post-launch plans for user-generated content, an economy without a monetary currency, and details about starship combat. Emmert speculates that cross-platform play and non-region-specific servers are possible, but that no final determinations have been made. Listen to the interview for more!

Hailing Frequency also spoke with STO's new community manager, JR Sutich, who is better known to folks in the MMO community as Razor. He was a regular writer at WarCry before he started with Cryptic. That interview, also available in both audio and video, deals exclusively with the game's community and forums.

Podcast interviews two Star Trek Online guys, gets lots of new info originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RF Online server rollback combats cheaters and 500% inflation

James Egan — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Exploits, RF Online, News items, Free-to-play

RF Online in the Philippines recently had serious issues with dupe hacks, prompting an unannounced rollback of the servers. PlayNoEvil writes that the operator of RF Online for the Philippines, Level Up Games, discovered a dupe exploit and tried to purge it from the servers as well as those who used it. However due to time constraints with unraveling the intricacies of the exploit, the company decided to roll back the game to a point before the exploit was used.

Level Up Games issued a statement on the problem: Based on DB evidence, numbers as well as feedback from the community, the GMs, the Vanguards and also from our field agents, there was an oversupply of in-game currency and gold - as high as 500 %. GMTristan of RF Online Philippines clarified the situation further on his blog:

Continue reading RF Online server rollback combats cheaters and 500% inflation

RF Online server rollback combats cheaters and 500% inflation originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are tolls the cure for mudflation?

Chris Chester — Sat, 17 May 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Economy, Making money, Endgame, Opinion

A couple weeks ago we introduced Steve Williams' notion of mudflation, its causes, and a general framework for its eradication. On Friday, he posted part two of his three part economic plan, suggesting that the best way to remove currency from the player economy was to replace large money sinks like item repairs with frequent, small, invisible tolls for things like entering a city, using reagents, and changing zones. By making these sorts of things invisible instead of up-front, you can stem the devaluing of your currency without pissing off the players, or so the argument goes.

This blogger is far more fond of having money sinks that yield tangible results. Things like player housing (and the subsequent decorating that goes along with it), guild cities or hang-outs (CoX's Supergroup Base system works quite well), or more types of crafting always seemed to yield better results. Even though the concept of an invisible toll system is really in the players' best interest , we can't imagine the response being anything other than vitriolic. In any case, we're looking forward to act three of Williams' economic treatise to see how he wraps it up.

Are tolls the cure for mudflation? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mabinogi hacked by a 16-year-old for $325K of virtual currency

Mike Schramm — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Events, real-world, Making money, Free-to-play, Mabinogi

A sixteen-year old boy allegedly hacked the website of Nexon Japan, and made off with about $325k worth of game points for Mabinogi, a free-to-play MMO that's inspired by Celtic mythology (and on its way to North America soon). He reportedly was able to obtain the password of a former Nexon employee, and then used that info to log on to the game servers and load himself up with virtual cash.

Some of which apparently then turned into real cash, as he was able to sell it (as least that's what it seems like) for "web money," which he used to buy books and other software. The bottom line here seems to be not that the kid is a genius, but that the company and/or its employee made a dumb mistake, allowing the password to get nabbed by simple hacking software.

No word on what punishment, if any, the kid faces, but Nexon claims they've "re-evaluated" their security software, and created a "24-hour monitoring system." Well that's good -- when they get hacked again, at least they'll be able to monitor it.

Mabinogi hacked by a 16-year-old for $325K of virtual currency originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Areae explains MetaPlace's MetaBucks

Samuel Axon — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Economy, New titles, News items, MetaPlace, Browser, Casual

The MetaPlace developer blog was updated with a description of Areae's plans for "MetaBucks." Unsurprisingly, MetaBucks will be the currency of MetaPlace. They will be exchangeable both ways for real-world currency, and will be used to buy tools and assets with which to build worlds. Also, MetaBucks will provide a system for creators of virtual worlds made in MetaPlace to charge subscription fees.

If you're thinking, "gee, that sounds very Second Life-esque," you're not the only one! MetaPlace seeks to bridge the gap between gamers and virtual world residents by providing tools (like MetaBucks) that will be useful to both. For a browser-based title, MetaPlace is unusually ambitious in terms of scope.

If you're curious how all this fits into Areae's business plan as a whole, check out the business plan FAQ. Basically, MetaPlace is free until the world you create crosses a certain traffic threshold. After that, it costs money to continue hosting your world there, but you can use MetaBucks to charge players or take donations, and use that income to cover the costs.

Areae explains MetaPlace's MetaBucks originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Financial bigwig says virtual worlds leading digital currency charge

Samuel Axon — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, News items, Second Life

Andy Kyte, vice president of Gartner, Inc., told Gartner Symposium attendees last week that virtual worlds such as Second Life are "contributing to the drive to use electronic currencies." This comes from a ZDNet report on Kyte's talk about the potential of electronic currencies to reduce overhead costs for pretty much every one. He said Singapore has already introduced an electronic currency and that the rest of the world is watching what happens there.

He also said, though, that online currencies like Second Life's Linden Dollar carry with them security issues that create "phenomenal opportunities for money laundering and tax evasion." Those issues would have to be resolved before online currencies similar to the L$ or EVE Online's ISK can be used with confidence in the real world.

[Via Worlds in Motion]

Financial bigwig says virtual worlds leading digital currency charge originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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