Alternate game revenue model: the game is free to play, but there is a small fee to create a new character or rez (or every third rez, whatever). This would not be a new model, since it was how we used to play games in the arcade before this wacky internet.
Thoughts?
: Zubon
Welcome again to the single, introverted, heterosexual males. We are still committed to applying your gaming experience to the romantic sphere. Remember: with a name like Kill Ten Rats, how can the dating advice be bad?
In this issue of our occasional series, let us consider the relevance of level differences. For those of you shaky on game lingo, “con” is short for “consideration,” the system by which you determine if something is an easy (blue, green, grey) target or if you are about to suffer horrible pain. The only deception we will be discussing is self-deception.
If you are reading this, there is a good chance that you are a single, introverted, heterosexual male. As a public service, we are pleased to present some advice for gamers on Getting the Girl. You can get lots of dating advice out there, much of it conflicting, but you come to Kill Ten Rats because you know you can trust us. Also, we are tired of hearing you whine in /gu about how you cannot get a date.
In this occasional series, we will consider how your experience from games relates to the romantic sphere. None of these may apply to you, but how well have your romantic instincts served you so far? First, let us consider the importance of buffing and equipment.
If you change everything that works in your game but ignore everything that has problems, is your game, on average, perfect?
: Zubon
Because it was superfun last time, let us once again look at game development through the prism of song. This week, our song is Cooking by the Book from LazyTown. (They also have a song that Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates! fans might like.)
In case it is not immediately clear, we are using baking a cake as a metaphor for making a game. Can you beta test cake?
Not to get political, but gamers may yet save Western society. Ongoing debates about same-sex marriage frequently touch on polygamy, and it is argued that polygyny creates a large pool of unmarried men who either cause social unrest or are sent off to war. This is just background; we are not going to debate the issue here, because we are not that sort of blog (Lum might go there, but we moderate comments; jokes about accidental online same-sex marriage are fine, if sometimes obvious).
We know, of course, that no such problem exists for the current generation of young men, who are all playing World of Warcraft. Instead of being sent off to war, they will be sent to raid Onyxia. Who has time for weddings and all that stuff when you are running Molten Core and UBRS this weekend? Everyone is counting on your priest to show up.
Indeed, when America legalizes polygamy, it will probably be because World of Warcraft has removed so many marriageable men from circulation. The women are out there looking, and they are hungry.
: Zubon
[City of Heroes] This weekend, City of Heroes/Villains is doubling experience gains for 60 hours (also prestige and influence/infamy). [discussion thread, I have not read it all] As a player, I do not need a reason for free candy, but having an interest in development and economics, I wonder why this is happening. The official “why” of “This is a special thank you, because we really do appreciate you all-through the thick and thin” is meaningless (sorry).
Would it be good for the game to have twice-as-fast leveling, but for some reason this is only good for the game for one weekend? The most likely reason is to recruit some re-subscriptions, since an e-mail went out to all current and former subscribers; this could work better than that free weekend. Is there a reason to want to get a great many players logged on at once, beyond the usual? It could be hard to set any records on a big convention weekend. Any relation to recent NCSoft financial issues?
Feel free to comment on the subject, or how subscribers’ incentives would differ under constant double-xp, periodic (power hour/day), or occasionally-by-random-announcement. I think that predictable incentives lose much of the impact here.
: Zubon
Today, we are going to discuss the design of online games, to the tune of the international pop hit “Don’t Save Me” by Marit Larsen.
Yes, I am structuring a post around song lyrics. We are going to take the words and just run in a direction that the author never intended in the slightest. My high school English teacher would love this.
Since my post about community managers is still getting comments, I thought I would point out that many community managers have said, yes, we the won’t-shut-up playerbase are worth the trouble. You are hereby worthwhile. It is an awesome power, and I trust you not to abuse it.
If you have not read through the comments, you might. We may have something from everyone who still works at NCSoft. (Too soon?)
: Zubon
When was the last time someone thanked you for doing your job in-game: your healer who saved someone, your tank who took a death for the team, your mage who devastated the boss mob? We have all been pleased by others’ simple thanks or annoyed by people who are demanding or lack gratitude.
In our continuing theme of improving our in-game happiness, make yourself happier by making others happier. Show some gratitude and let happiness resonate through the ten thousand things. Thank someone, not for doing something really unusual, but just for doing a job well.