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The Daily Grind: What's the sneakiest cash-shop trick in MMO land?
Casino chain Harrah's could teach MMO cash shops a thing or two. The casino famously employs a complicated system of tracking and metrics to estimate when precisely an individual losing player will walk away from a gambling game... and right before that predicted moment arrives, employees swoop in with complimentary food and free currency to encourage the loser to stick around (and lose more, of course). I don't know of any MMOs that use this exact trick, but they certainly could. An MMO could easily track how many mobs you're willing to kill for a drop or how many lockboxes you're willing to buy before you stop playing and stop buying altogether, then trigger a drop custom-tailored for you just to keep you around. The thought of it is a little creepy but not entirely unwelcome after all the Dragon Chests I've opened to no avail lately. That day is not yet upon us, so today, we're wondering just what is the sneakiest cash-shop trick in MMO land? 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!
Win $10K, meet Ringo during 2nd annual Rock Band casino competition
Harrah's casinos and MTV games are teaming up for the 2nd Annual "Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band Competition." The winners will receive $10,000 and the opportunity to kiss the starry rings of Ringo Starr. The competitions will take place between now and June 13 at "Harrah's Total Rewards Casinos" and 15 additional US locations that host "Rock Band Bar Nights." The top scoring bands from each venue will have an opportunity to compete in the final copetition at Bally's Atlantic City on July 1-2. But wait, there's more: an online competition at Harrahs.com will find one band flying on a private jet to the finale. So, if you think your band stands a chance, get registered.
Harrah's Casinos herald in month-long Rock Band competition
Harrah's Casinos is inviting gamers to visit its gambling hotspots and spend all their cash on slots show off their Rock Band skills during the free, MTV Games-sponsored Total Rock, Total Rewards Rock Band Competition. The seafood buffet, however, will cost extra.The musical event kicks off in March at 17 Harrah's casinos in the US and Canada, with weekly Rock Band competitions offering up various prizes. Come April, four regional contests will take place, with the most talented group receiving $10,000 and the opportunity to open for The B-52s in Atlantic City. Registration details and a list of participating casinos can be viewed here.Note that no Harrah's Rock Band competition band of any talent level will match the musical prowess that was Robin and the Stiqers or the E3 '08 Joystiq Band. Just be glad that team Joystiq isn't entering the casino rock-off.
Microsoft and Harrah's confuse B-list celebs with Surface
We were originally supposed to see a "limited rollout" of Surface in 2007 at various Harrah's casino properties, which obviously didn't happen -- but despite the delays, Microsoft is apparently now feeling confident enough in the tech to let B- and C-list celebrities grope at it during the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship Drawing Party at Caesar's Palace. Unlike the standard demos we saw at CES which involved relentlessly upbeat hipster presenters doing things like making custom snowboard designs, the motley crew at Caesar's was apparently only allowed to crudely write their names on photographs of themselves. You can almost see the joy in Jason Alexander's face, can't you? Sadly, it looks like Don Cheadle wasn't able to erase whatever's printed on his jacket (seriously, uh, cool jacket, Cheadle) and poor Shannon Elizabeth didn't seem to be able make anything happen at all. Maybe Microsoft should have fired up that Hungry Hungry Hippos clone and let these fools battle out instead. All the photos at the read link for the crazed VH-1 fans in the house.
