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Just wondering, but have you guys considered making a free version of the game like at WarRock?
WarRock's game is free to play, but you can't get all the new weapons and whatnot without buying most of them. The free version has no time-limits, just limits the weapons you can have.
Just wondering because this game seems pretty good, but I can't get a subscription even though I would like to keep playing :(
WarRock's game is free to play, but you can't get all the new weapons and whatnot without buying most of them. The free version has no time-limits, just limits the weapons you can have.
Just wondering because this game seems pretty good, but I can't get a subscription even though I would like to keep playing :(
WarRock's still pre-release until later this month.
So far there are just a few weapons that only the pre-release purchasers have (smoke grenades and 2 types of heavy machine gun that are cool but slow to fire initially), but I'll be curious to see how non-subscribers fare against the arsenal available to the subscribers after release.
I'll be interested to see how their business model works after 6 months.
So far there are just a few weapons that only the pre-release purchasers have (smoke grenades and 2 types of heavy machine gun that are cool but slow to fire initially), but I'll be curious to see how non-subscribers fare against the arsenal available to the subscribers after release.
I'll be interested to see how their business model works after 6 months.
i have to concur with this gentlemen... i'm so broke that homeless people give me pennies out of pity... i won't be able to get a subscription for at least another month. other games limit how much you can do with a free version... you could do that... only basic ships and supplies... limited missions... and maybe even boundaries??? like you can't go out of your nations systems or something? limit the number of characters to just one. leave noobs craving but not stranded? for sure i want to keep playing and would gladly shell out the cash (once i have some) to be able to do the extras... but until then my character will just sit and i won't even get to tease myself... and honestly if i go long enough without the game i'm gonna realize that i don't need it and not want to subscribe when i do have the cash... unlimited free trial tease is a good way to hook continoues players who will upgrade every time they have the money to do so...
Okay then, how about Rappelz? Its an MMORPG just like WoW, but free with some small paid-for options. The company also released several other games which I believe are on the same concept.
I believe this is a good method - offering a truly free portion of the game is like getting free advertisement. What are you more likely to say to friends, "Check out this game, decent graphics, just pay 10 dollars every month" or "Check out this game - it's free too!". Clearly the second one is not only more likely to be said, but it'll also be more likely to actually get your friends to play.
Sure it may increase server load due to the increased players, but in the long-run, if done properly, should likely begin to allow you to pull in more/enough profit.
EDIT: I just want to state that I don't plan on arguing this. I just want to state some ideas as this is the suggestion board.
I believe this is a good method - offering a truly free portion of the game is like getting free advertisement. What are you more likely to say to friends, "Check out this game, decent graphics, just pay 10 dollars every month" or "Check out this game - it's free too!". Clearly the second one is not only more likely to be said, but it'll also be more likely to actually get your friends to play.
Sure it may increase server load due to the increased players, but in the long-run, if done properly, should likely begin to allow you to pull in more/enough profit.
EDIT: I just want to state that I don't plan on arguing this. I just want to state some ideas as this is the suggestion board.
Who was arguing? I'm literally curious to see what will happen to War Rock. I had a level 18 staff sargenty thigamajig guy there up until they closed the beta this week.
I'm curious, lostsoul...
Do you wish for a free game because you don't think Vendetta is worth the $10, or because you don't have access to credit cards or pay-by-cash or paypal?
Now, please don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to be condescending - I have a working theory that most of the people who keep asking for free versions of the game and/or longer-length trials beyond 8 hours actually have no way to pay anyway.
Thank you...
Do you wish for a free game because you don't think Vendetta is worth the $10, or because you don't have access to credit cards or pay-by-cash or paypal?
Now, please don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to be condescending - I have a working theory that most of the people who keep asking for free versions of the game and/or longer-length trials beyond 8 hours actually have no way to pay anyway.
Thank you...
Actually, I have 2 reasons.
I asked online earlier how many people were playing. There were 30-ish people online, some were bots. That's a little boring. A free versions would certainly increase popularity greatly.
Most MMOs that I've played have 100s to 1000s of people playing at nearly any given time.
Other reason is, not that I don't think the game is worth $10, but that I don't think the game is worth $10/month. I'd have no problem shelling out $50 for a game like this if I could just play it.
@Whistler: Who said anyone was arguing?
I asked online earlier how many people were playing. There were 30-ish people online, some were bots. That's a little boring. A free versions would certainly increase popularity greatly.
Most MMOs that I've played have 100s to 1000s of people playing at nearly any given time.
Other reason is, not that I don't think the game is worth $10, but that I don't think the game is worth $10/month. I'd have no problem shelling out $50 for a game like this if I could just play it.
@Whistler: Who said anyone was arguing?
Ok my two cents.
First, I pay for two accounts, mine any my sons, and do so even during months we don’t play. I love this game, and want to see it succeed, and the $20 is a small price to pay to keep that hope alive.
Second, I know much of the background and the current situation with the game. If paying players left to use a free version it would probably kill it off. So anything that could result in less players paying, and more playing for free, is very very bad.
The limitation discussions (Levels, time, etc...) have most likely been done to death on other threads I haven't bothered to search up. Needless to say they all most likely revolve around more time, level equipment limitations etc. I am not going to comment on these ideas. Many have merit, and do not in any way affect what I am about to propose.
How about a potentially new approach, one I hope has not been brought up?
Free players can play the hive after the trial period. The character they play is a “hive” character, and does not affect any other character.
All hive players get is a waiting screen. When a hive sector becomes active due to players entering the sector; they “jump” into one of the newly spawning hive ships and take it over. Hive players have many restrictions that take them for the most part out of the games economy. All they contribute is less static behavior from the existing hive ships, and all they basically get is the chance to fight in ships against real players.
Any player can have a single hive character; it is not limited to those that don’t pay.
All players may only have one hive character.
Hive characters may not be deleted to avoid anti social hive behavior penalties. (See below)
They do not earn or need experience or money.
When they die, they go to the back of the “hive line”, and wait for the next available slot to jump into.
Line preference is given to paying players that are acting as hive, so that they move ahead of any free player.
Logged in players must always be in line, they can only step out of line for 3 min once per ship before being forced back in and then take a ship when their turn comes.
Their displayed name is the same random name any hive would have.
They have no way to select what type of ship, or what sector they jump into.
Free players of hive characters have no access to send chat except with other hive players.
They can however see all chat.
They can not jump or use wormholes.
They are limited to 20 destroyed ships per day. (This limitation is removed for paying players)
They can exit the ship and go back in line without ship loss only if the sector contains no “real” players.
When the 20 ship count hits zero, they are logged out.
If they destroy another hive ship, the ship they are in self destructs. If they do this 3 times, in a 2 hr period the character is locked for 2 hrs to prevent them from being any real help to live players.
They must follow mission orders, so if the player’s mission ends and the hive group starts a warp out; they are dropped back into line with their ships per day unaffected.
If they kill a player, they get +5 ships added to their daily allotment if applicable.
If they are a survivor in a group that defeats a players mission attempt, they get +10 ships added to their daily allotment.
You would have a way to add in free play, allow those to play in a very limited way and use them to make the hive combat more interesting, as well as giving paying players another way to play the game.
First, I pay for two accounts, mine any my sons, and do so even during months we don’t play. I love this game, and want to see it succeed, and the $20 is a small price to pay to keep that hope alive.
Second, I know much of the background and the current situation with the game. If paying players left to use a free version it would probably kill it off. So anything that could result in less players paying, and more playing for free, is very very bad.
The limitation discussions (Levels, time, etc...) have most likely been done to death on other threads I haven't bothered to search up. Needless to say they all most likely revolve around more time, level equipment limitations etc. I am not going to comment on these ideas. Many have merit, and do not in any way affect what I am about to propose.
How about a potentially new approach, one I hope has not been brought up?
Free players can play the hive after the trial period. The character they play is a “hive” character, and does not affect any other character.
All hive players get is a waiting screen. When a hive sector becomes active due to players entering the sector; they “jump” into one of the newly spawning hive ships and take it over. Hive players have many restrictions that take them for the most part out of the games economy. All they contribute is less static behavior from the existing hive ships, and all they basically get is the chance to fight in ships against real players.
Any player can have a single hive character; it is not limited to those that don’t pay.
All players may only have one hive character.
Hive characters may not be deleted to avoid anti social hive behavior penalties. (See below)
They do not earn or need experience or money.
When they die, they go to the back of the “hive line”, and wait for the next available slot to jump into.
Line preference is given to paying players that are acting as hive, so that they move ahead of any free player.
Logged in players must always be in line, they can only step out of line for 3 min once per ship before being forced back in and then take a ship when their turn comes.
Their displayed name is the same random name any hive would have.
They have no way to select what type of ship, or what sector they jump into.
Free players of hive characters have no access to send chat except with other hive players.
They can however see all chat.
They can not jump or use wormholes.
They are limited to 20 destroyed ships per day. (This limitation is removed for paying players)
They can exit the ship and go back in line without ship loss only if the sector contains no “real” players.
When the 20 ship count hits zero, they are logged out.
If they destroy another hive ship, the ship they are in self destructs. If they do this 3 times, in a 2 hr period the character is locked for 2 hrs to prevent them from being any real help to live players.
They must follow mission orders, so if the player’s mission ends and the hive group starts a warp out; they are dropped back into line with their ships per day unaffected.
If they kill a player, they get +5 ships added to their daily allotment if applicable.
If they are a survivor in a group that defeats a players mission attempt, they get +10 ships added to their daily allotment.
You would have a way to add in free play, allow those to play in a very limited way and use them to make the hive combat more interesting, as well as giving paying players another way to play the game.
i have to say that i really like that last idea... it's restrictive enough that i'm pissed that i can't play for real and yearn to pay for the full... yet liberating enough to keep me interested in the game even after my trial is over... a well put together idea! granted i personally like the idea of restricting because i really want to play more but that is personally driven reasons.... from a business perspective this hive idea would be the way to go...
I'd like to point out that VO doesn't have massive amounts of players because there has been zero advertising. There also won't be advertising until the Devs feel the game is ready for the masses ti flood in.
Fair enough Scuba, but how many non-masses of players have seen, then left because the game didn't look ready?
How many of those might have kept checking in, if they had a way to play that let them have a bit of fun without the financial commitment?
Incarnate wrote in this thread
http://vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/15857
"As for the general idea of marketing the game.. the big problem at present is that our new user turnover rate has been (to date) rather terrible. It's only within the last six months or so that our new user experience has become something better than abominable"
Perhaps giving new users a reason to come back and check progress would at least keep them around until they felt it was worth the price.
How many of those might have kept checking in, if they had a way to play that let them have a bit of fun without the financial commitment?
Incarnate wrote in this thread
http://vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/15857
"As for the general idea of marketing the game.. the big problem at present is that our new user turnover rate has been (to date) rather terrible. It's only within the last six months or so that our new user experience has become something better than abominable"
Perhaps giving new users a reason to come back and check progress would at least keep them around until they felt it was worth the price.
They can make as many trial accounts as they want, I think.
That's a "free game", but you don't get to progress past 8 hours of gameplay, and every 8 hours you need to log out, make a new player, and learn how to buy a bus again ;)
That's a "free game", but you don't get to progress past 8 hours of gameplay, and every 8 hours you need to log out, make a new player, and learn how to buy a bus again ;)
props to PsyRa! that is one of the best POV i have seen... honestly if you want to keep people interested who aren't ready to commit to the game financially then you need to let them be active in some way... plain and simple... and that hive idea is brilliant... it ads a whole new level to the game that i think would prove very beneficial.
lol GTFO people. If you are really as poor as you say you are, you should go out and get a job rather than looking for free MMOs to play.
I actually think the Hive idea is pretty brilliant.
You get space-quakers involved at a very limited level, and make the gameplay much more fun for paying customers.
You get space-quakers involved at a very limited level, and make the gameplay much more fun for paying customers.
Ha.
The last thing VO needs is vets pwning n00blets from the helm of an orun collector...
The last thing VO needs is vets pwning n00blets from the helm of an orun collector...
Excellent point Dr. Lecter.
There are a couple of ways to avoid it.
One, hive players never get collectors, only the attack type craft.
Two, hive players never enter ships in "newbie" sectors. In the PCC location controls ""Newbie" combat zones" is one of the options available, so there must already be a definition of those kinds of sectors.
Three, the spawn trigger is more sensitive that just player, and only activates if at least one player in the sector has a license above 2 or whatever.
Four, this play is limited to the actual hive missions from Sendia, and those other areas that start to see more of these types of missions show up as things progress.
There is almost always a way to work out problems, thanks for pointing this one out.
There are a couple of ways to avoid it.
One, hive players never get collectors, only the attack type craft.
Two, hive players never enter ships in "newbie" sectors. In the PCC location controls ""Newbie" combat zones" is one of the options available, so there must already be a definition of those kinds of sectors.
Three, the spawn trigger is more sensitive that just player, and only activates if at least one player in the sector has a license above 2 or whatever.
Four, this play is limited to the actual hive missions from Sendia, and those other areas that start to see more of these types of missions show up as things progress.
There is almost always a way to work out problems, thanks for pointing this one out.
Hey, great idea! There is only one problem... Despite being completely 'new-age-wise' in terms of advertising, the developers currently DO NOT want to advertise! They want it to develop for testing purposes currently, and do not want to spread the game too thin before it has significant flavor!
i think the devs have been doing some advertising recently!
PsyRa wrote:
"As for the general idea of marketing the game.. the big problem at present is that our new user turnover rate has been (to date) rather terrible. It's only within the last six months or so that our new user experience has become something better than abominable"
Perhaps giving new users a reason to come back and check progress would at least keep them around until they felt it was worth the price.
When incarnate was discussing the "new user experience has become something better than abominable" he was referencing the other changes they have been making to the tutorial and the interface. Apparently they've seen immediate improvement with that already. These are steps that begin to make it worth the price - today.
thelostsoul wrote:
"@Whistler: Who said anyone was arguing?"
I thought you were implying that I was arguing when you wrote:
"EDIT: I just want to state that I don't plan on arguing this. I just want to state some ideas as this is the suggestion board." Apparently you were not implying, but I was inferring.
"As for the general idea of marketing the game.. the big problem at present is that our new user turnover rate has been (to date) rather terrible. It's only within the last six months or so that our new user experience has become something better than abominable"
Perhaps giving new users a reason to come back and check progress would at least keep them around until they felt it was worth the price.
When incarnate was discussing the "new user experience has become something better than abominable" he was referencing the other changes they have been making to the tutorial and the interface. Apparently they've seen immediate improvement with that already. These are steps that begin to make it worth the price - today.
thelostsoul wrote:
"@Whistler: Who said anyone was arguing?"
I thought you were implying that I was arguing when you wrote:
"EDIT: I just want to state that I don't plan on arguing this. I just want to state some ideas as this is the suggestion board." Apparently you were not implying, but I was inferring.