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Ask Massively: This is a sneaking mission edition

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

Let's get something straight: Even though I'm late to the party with Metal Gear Solid 4, I'm a fan of the series. It's not perfect by any means, but it's one of my favorite franchises of all time. That having been said, why is it always a sneaking mission? Just once, I'd like to be told that this is a march-in-with-an-automatic-gun-and-shoot-people-in-the-face mission. But no, solo sneaking mission, every single time. I know, it's the series hallmark, but since my second playthrough is already going to be a bloodbath with a stealth unit equipped, part of me wants to do that on the first playthrough. Just once.

Appropriately enough, this week's questions for Ask Massively involve stealth in MMOs. They also involve subscription fees, but that doesn't really segue naturally. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, feel free to leave it in the comments or mail it along to ask@massively.com.

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Ask Massively: This is a sneaking mission edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: Non-reactive

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, News items, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

As pretty much everyone reading this column knows, there was a big bombshell dropped on the community on Friday of last week. As at least a few people reading this column also know, this column is written on Thursday. This isn't the first time that this has been relevant to the discussion, but what might seem a bit unusual is that last week's column did not discuss 2.0 or the billing cycle at all. It just continued on with my impressions of 1.19. To be quite honest, my actual Friday was spent at the local casino for dinner and some shopping.

I could have, of course, written a new column for last week by virtue of that breaking news. Certainly it was big. But as it stands, I looked at it, considered it, and realized that I didn't actually have a strong reaction to what had been announced. I was vaguely excited about 2.0, of course, but for the most part all of the big sweeping announcements about the future of Final Fantasy XIV didn't make nearly the impression that one might think. And there's a good reason for that, I believe -- it's because these announcements weren't as sudden or shocking as they look at face value.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Non-reactive

The Mog Log: Non-reactive originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square-Enix announces end of Final Fantasy XIV's free play and roadmap for next year

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

The latest patch for Final Fantasy XIV brought some major changes with it, but there are more coming. In a new series of announcements, Square-Enix announced that the unbilled period of the game will be coming to a close between late November and early December in recognition of the large-scale work done by Naoki Yoshida and the game's team. But the announcement was more far-reaching than that -- no, the entire game is going to undergo a major process of changes well through next year, including a graphical engine and UI overhaul as well as major changes to the game's maps.

Several design documents have been posted along with this update, making it clear that the changes will be observed and influenced by players taking part in content during this time period. And these changes will be massive -- the new UI will not only look much cleaner but also be able to support player add-ons. With a promised redesign of maps, changes to the landscape, the upcoming PlayStation 3 version, and major updates to the battle system and armoury system, it's going to be very busy over the next few months as Final Fantasy XIV moves toward version 2.0.

Square-Enix announces end of Final Fantasy XIV's free play and roadmap for next year originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you like the idea of monetizing third-party utilities?

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Between licensing issues and the general way of the internet, we've gotten used to the idea that MMO services outside of the company don't cost anything. World of Warcraft players might rely on Wowhead's database services, but that's free to anyone who knows where to look. But with the recent EVE Online move to allow third parties to make money on applications and services, there are some interesting questions to be asked about the way things work now.

On the one hand, charging money for services means that it's possible for good services and databases to go professional, helping to ensure a higher level of quality. On the other hand, no one likes paying money for something that used to be free, and the idea that said free services may not always be free is a bitter pill to swallow. So what do you think? Are you happy with the idea that independent developers can make money off of a game, or does the EVE Online change fill you with apprehension?

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: Do you like the idea of monetizing third-party utilities? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Third-party development acquiring monetization options from EVE Online

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, MMO industry, New titles

If you're running a service in EVE Online at the moment, you're running it for free. If you're developing an application for the game, you're doing it for free. This isn't unusual, really -- pretty much any fan-developed application or service is done free of charge. But that's soon to change for fans of CCP's cutthroat game, as a new developer blog outlines upcoming changes that will allow developers to charge for services, applications, and website access.

For a $99 license fee, developers and service providers will be able to sign up and start charging money for their products while having full access to the EVE Online API. The entry itself goes into more details on the restrictions of the program and what it will mean for non-commercial sites (which will not be required to pay any sort of fee). It's an interesting move, one that means that the game will be able to develop a more robust real-world economy to complement the in-game activities.

Third-party development acquiring monetization options from EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are multi-month subscriptions worth it?

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

When Trion Worlds offered RIFT pre-order packages, all of them granted players the option to buy into special "Founder's Subscription Plans." While pre-orders players could opt for the normal $14.99/month pricing, by purchasing multiple month subscription packages, they could get a decent discount. So if you pay $35.97 for a three-month package, you're effectively getting a $11.99/month subscription price; likewise, a $59.94 payment for a six-month block translates into a $9.99/month fee.

RIFT is hardly the only MMO that offers discounts on multi-month subscriptions. DC Universe Online and Warhammer Online tempt players with discounted fees when game time is purchased in bulk, for example. While the studios stand to lose some revenue from these discounts, they can come out ahead by enticing customers to purchase time they may or may not actually use, especially when you consider that the average retention rate for an MMO is around six months.

So what do you think: Are multi-month subscriptions worth the cost up front in exchange for the discount? Or is it a risky proposition that locks you into a game you may not be interested in after a few months just to save a few bucks?

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 multi-month subscriptions worth it? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What do you think about lifetime subscriptions?

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Champions Online made a bit of a splash when the development team announced that lifetime subscriptions would become available once again... albeit at the rather steep price of $299, right as the game is preparing to go free-to-play. It's not that it's a bad reward for players, but the price is a bit steep for many, and requires quite a bit of expected playtime for one to make back the investment. On the other hand, permanent access to a game is always tempting, and lifetime subscriptions always carry some weighty perks.

Not many games offer a lifetime plan, but those that have done it have received mixed reviews. The up-front investment is a bit daunting, but the result is never having to worry about how you'll pay the subscription fees. Of course, some players prefer having that fee in their minds to help ensure they make the most out of their in-game time, rather than knowing the game is always there for whenever. Would you purchase a lifetime subscription to your favorite game? How much would you be willing to pay?

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: What do you think about lifetime subscriptions? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doubling season comes to Global Agenda

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, Global Agenda

With Global Agenda's switch to a subscription-free format earlier this year, the game was put on track to begin launching content updates and small additions to replace the subscription fees. Up until now, the team at Hi-Rez Studios has been focused on the long-running Sandstorm series of updates, but the game has now begun selling boost packs as the first added service. And what do these packs do? They double your enjoyment -- assuming that you enjoy gaining experience and tokens.

The packs -- available in 10-day, 30-day, and 90-day flavors -- double all experience and tokens earned for the duration for all characters on an account. Not coincidentally, the 30-day boost costs just under $15, the same price as a monthly subscription in most subscription-based games. Each boost runs for the specified length of time and is activated immediately upon purchase, which makes the benefits and drawbacks rather transparently obvious. Players of Global Agenda can purchase packs on the official site, with a small guide available for the new feature.

[Thanks to Caleb Goh for the tip!]

Doubling season comes to Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The catch point of the free-to-play model

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Opinion, Free-to-play, Academic

With the successful transition of Dungeons and Dragons Online to the free-to-play model, there's a lot of talk about why other games don't move over to the same model, with Warhammer Online frequently being cited as a game that would enjoy a great benefit from the switch. It would bring in more players, certainly, but there's more to the business than just bringing in new blood. The Ancient Gaming Noob makes an excellent point in a recent entry regarding the inescapable paradox of any game offering a free-to-play model -- that razor-edge split between giving the game away for free and making it entirely unreasonable to play it for free.

The obvious idea is that more people will try the game if they don't think they have to commit, and if they feel they can keep playing without having to pay money they're more likely to stick with it. However, every player that isn't paying money is essentially a cost - and as the entry points out, your paying playerbase will frequently be a small percentage of your overall subscribers. The entry uses Battlefield Heroes as an example of a game where the equillibrium needed to shift to make it profitable, which is causing serious rumbling in the gaming community, but the example can apply for any free-to-play game. As the model becomes more and more popular, it's important to remember that it's not a certain hit -- and can turn what could have been a moderately-successful subscription game into a failed game if done wrong.

The catch point of the free-to-play model originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square-Enix sued over "hidden fees" in Final Fantasy XI

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Business models, MMO industry, Consoles, Legal

A class action lawsuit has been filed earlier this week against Square-Enix North America for intentionally deceiving customers regarding hidden penalties and fees associated with the PlayOnline and Final Fantasy XI service.

The suit, filed on behalf of Esther Leong of San Francisco, is seeking over 5 million in damages. The suit also goes on to specifically list the penalties for the late payment of fees, the interest charges for unpaid fees, charges that occur while the game account is suspended, termination of game service for unpaid fees, and the termination of game data due to the late payment of fees as the specific causes of this lawsuit.

In Square-Enix's defense, however, the suit also lists the standard monthly subscription as being intentionally decieving. Final Fantasy XI's case does, in fact, say that additional online fees would be required and it also has a large sticker announcing "Free subscription for 30 days!" on the front of the box -- something more than most online games provide regarding their subscriptions.

We have contacted Square-Enix, and are currently waiting for their response to this matter.

[Via IGN.com]

Square-Enix sued over "hidden fees" in Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Is $15 a good fee for your MMO subscription?

Michael Zenke — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, The Daily Grind

Most of the AAA MMOs we play right now charge about the same price: $14.99 a month. Some titles offer discounts for multiple months purchased in advance, and Turbine offers a unique offering in their lifetime subscription to Lord of the Rings Online. Most MMO gamers, though, are paying that $15 fee every month for the game or games of their choice. Our question this morning is simple: is that a good value for your game?

Now, obviously nobody would turn down something for free. The microtransactional business model has made big inroads into the US by allowing players the opportunity to hop online with their friends without an up-front cost. Blizzard recently announced they have no intention of changing their pricing any time soon, and seems to think that they offer a great deal for the cost. Most AAA developers don't look like they'll be moving away from monthly fees any time soon. Do you agree that's a fair value? Or, alternatively, do you wish that every game offered a free-to-pay model? Let us know.

The Daily Grind: Is $15 a good fee for your MMO subscription? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Internet payment plan based on usage to be tested in Texas

Chris Chester — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Economy, MMO industry

In a chilling bit of news for any net aficionado, Time Warner is reportedly planning to try out a new billing scheme where they would charge customers based on the amount of bandwidth they consume, instead of the more traditional flat service fee. According to the report on MSNBC, the measure is aimed at keeping the internet tubes clear of traffic caused by a small minority of "heavy users" who, while making up only five percent of total internet users, account for more than half of the total traffic. While bittorrent users are the most conspicuous target of this policy, gamers would most assuredly feel the pinch as well.

What I find particularly striking about this announcement is that they are testing it out in Beaumont, Texas. Now, I can't say I know anything about Texas first-hand, because I've never had the privilege of visiting, but for some reason my intuition tells me that a town in southeast Texas between Houston and New Orleans isn't going to be the most connected area of the country. For all we know, their internet might very well be on a truck. It just seems like a bit of a sneaky tactic on the part of Time Warner to garner favor for a plan that will affect groups like gamers (and especially MMO players) disproportionately.

[Via Guild Cafe]

Internet payment plan based on usage to be tested in Texas originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Games Radar lists five things MMOs are doing wrong

Samuel Axon — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items

The following slipped through the cracks a few days ago, but like Lewis Black we're going back to it because it's worth a look. Games Radar ran a feature called "Saying no to the MMO," listing five evils embedded in the genre's culture and design that have really got to go.

Read it for yourself, of course, but the five things include gold farming, elitist endgame content, unhealthy addiction, drab action-bar-and-auto-attack-based combat, and the continual bleeding of players' pockets via monthly fees and microtransactions.

The genre needs an infusion of fresh ideas to progress, but Games Radar's list is controversial. For example, a lot of people like the elitist endgame content. But maybe raiding games don't need to go away; maybe there should be new (or old) types of MMOs with different philosophies, and maybe those MMOs could co-exist with the EverQuestian standards. It's food for thought.

Games Radar lists five things MMOs are doing wrong originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft picks up advertising partner for Dungeon Runners, Exteel

Chris Chester — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:36:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeon Runners, Business models

NCsoft has raised the curtain on a new advertising deal with Double Fusion that will pave the way for new in- and around-game advertising in both Dungeon Runners and the as-yet-unreleased giant robot game, Exteel. Evidently, the idea is to open up new sources of revenue for these titles, where they were previously relying entirely on a small monthly fee charged to players for tiered services like voice chat, access to banks, and stackable potions.

The specifics of this advertising-based approach remain cloudy. It's unclear whether players can continue to pay the optional monthly fee to opt out of the ads, or whether playing the free, advertising-supported version will now net you membership benefits. We support advertising as an alternative revenue stream in principle, as long as we don't start seeing billboards hawking deodorant in the middle of dungeons. Regardless, Dungeon Runners is a heck of a lot of fun for a free game (though the verdict is still out on Exteel), so we'll keep you posted on the specifics of this deal as it develops.

NCsoft picks up advertising partner for Dungeon Runners, Exteel originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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