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Raising the quality bar: gamigo CEOs talk F2P success
If you want to get the full scoop on how to make a free-to-play publishing studio work, there are few better people to talk to than the guys running Germany-based gamigo. Co-CEOs Patrick Streppel and Rainer Markussen have had years to experiment and learn from the free-to-play market, as gamigo has been involved with dozens of titles across the globe. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, the duo says that the studio splits their attention between self-produced titles and already-made Asian MMOs that are transplanted to a different market, and the two are quite different indeed. "With our self-produced titles we are trying to merge the two branches, so in a game like Cultures Online you have traditional browser-game monetisation like saving time, spending a little bit of money here and there. But they also have the more Asian-style revenue streams like crafting, enchanting, and paying for increasing the probability of success," Streppel said. The CEOs state that F2P actually caters better to hardcore players since those players will presumably be around for a long time and F2P will save them money over subscriptions. They also discuss how gamigo's had to "raise the quality bar" to stay competitive. The free-to-play world isn't about cutting-edge graphics, Streppel says, but instead "balancing, more about features, about gameplay depth." Because of their experiences, the CEOs have said that they've had to abandon complete genres such as sports and racing that proved to be failures for the company. They also predict that F2P will be coming soon to consoles in a big way, just as the iPhone and iPad market has embraced it.
The Daily Grind: Is an MMO's origin important to you?
MMOs fall into two main categories: eastern (titles like Aion and Perfect World International) and western (AoC, WoW and EVE Online). I've noticed over the past week's Daily Grind columns and a piece I did on Perfect World International that a lot of our readers seem naturally wary of any MMOs not made in the west, barring familiar franchises like Final Fantasy.Now part of this I can understand, eastern MMOs usually have very anime-like visuals and often borrow from unfamiliar Asian mythologies. This can often scare off western players. At the same time, players in Asia seem to lap up western MMOs like WoW. I'm curious, readers, do you judge an MMO the location of the company which made it? Do you prefer western MMOs or are you just as curious to try eastern games which other players just don't get?
NCsoft announces martial arts MMO Blade and Soul
Given the news of titles in jeopardy, MMO cancellations, and title delays, it's always great to hear about another new game in the works. This past week NCsoft let slip information about an upcoming title aimed at the Asian marketplace. Called Blade and Soul, it looks to be a unique combination of fantasy MMO and fighting game. It's being developed by Team Bloodlust in the Unreal 3 engine, giving it the visual aesthetic of a high-quality console fighter and the persistence of any of NCsoft's numerous MMO titles.Traditional swords and sorcery Western fantasy seems to be out the window as an Asian aesthetic permeates the game. Martial Arts are the focus, with the themes of justice and chivalry apparently very important to the games' practitioners. The world itself is based on the Korean myth known as 'Song of Genesis', with other mythologies from that country playing a part in the game's backstory. The title will allow players the opportunity to manipulate their environment, while the the environment around them also changes gameplay possibilities. To really get a sense of what the game is like, check out the lengthy trailer below the cut for all your martial MMO needs. It's probably the only bit of the game we in the US will see for a long, long time. Thanks to Yin for the heads up!
Cute and scary glimpses from Florensia Online
Check out the above glimpse from Florensia Online's vast dungeons, dark secrets, horrifying monsters, sinister nightmares, and infernal bosses. Oh no, what will you do? Combine efforts and lead your band of cute and merry anime-inspired adventurers to victory of course! If you want to dare the impossible join the open beta that is underway.In all seriousness, the Japanese import is free-to-play and will sustain development from a micro transaction "itemshop" model. Florensia does feature a somewhat unique leveling twist. The dual battle system gives players the freedom to choose if they want to level at land or at sea, as well as the ability to specialize in both areas of combat. The sea system is more difficult to master, but the catch is that sea based gameplay is unavoidable if you want to visit other islands. There's a new dungeon preview on the official website along with other news updates. If you thought the trailer was a bit cheesy and left you lingering for something like some ship action, there are several other official clips available.If you're looking to download a copy and check it out, our sister site Big Download has the files waiting for you!
