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Monato Esprit switches to a traditional free-to-play model
Although we're not yet finished with 2010, it seems to have developed a pattern of games going free-to-play. Add Monato Espirit to that list, as the game has recently moved from its own rather unique model for payments to a more traditional setup. Conversions of the sort usually come with mixed excitement and trepidation from the community, but it looks as if the response has been fairly uniform in its positivity, as the game's prior model was at once more open and more restrictive. Under the old model, the game used purchasable MetaTix as its main currency -- it eschewed NPC vendors and gold drops in favor of tradable MetaTix to fuel the economy. The changed experience offers a far more traditional setup with in-game money and an in-game cash shop to facilitate microtransactions. While new business models are always interesting, it would appear this one wasn't tremendously beloved by Monato Espirit's players, meaning that the game's shift has been welcomed with open arms. [Thanks to Alex for the tip! ]
BattleSwarm hosts 100,000 MetaTix tournament this Sunday
So we've talked about BattleSwarm: Field of Honor in the past, but here's a little refresher for everyone. It's a game that features two sides, bugs and humans, and plays like a RTS (Bugs) or FPS (Humans) depending on what side you take. It's like Starship Troopers, only a video game... and not the Starship Troopers video game...Anyway, this Sunday, October 2nd, is a huge tournament for the game, and it's featuring real prizes! Starting at 10 AM Pacific (1 PM Eastern), all accounts are going to be wiped (as this game is still in beta) and all set to the same place, except for chips/genes (modification items) for all players. Then, at Noon Pacific (3 PM Eastern) the tournament will begin and run until 9 PM Pacific (Midnight Eastern.)
US free-to-play MMO market oversaturated?
With new free-to-play titles, like Earth Eternal, in development while other titles are being ported over from Asia to the US at a rapid-fire rate, the question of oversaturation is being spread amongst the lips of the industry. Are we looking at a market too filled with low-budget free to play titles?The answer is yes, if you're speaking with Reality Gap's J. Mark Hood, co-founder of the company specializing in free-to-play MMOs. Thanks to a AAA game market mostly locked down by the immense budgets of Blizzard and EA, the small developers turn to the F2P market as a place to compete. However, the market is now crowded with all sorts of titles not only developed here, but also many titles ported from Asia.The Asian titles, however, don't seem to strike the same chords here as they do in Asia. Our market is more focused on gameplay, while theirs can be focused on a number of other different options."Things that are more important here are actually how the game plays, getting yourself more advancement and skill," Hood said to Gamasutra. "So, it is really different."For Hood's full comments, check out both his thoughts on free-to-play MMOs and the entire Gamasutra interview.
First video of Battleswarm arrives
click to embiggen We're not exactly sure what Battleswarm: Field of Honor dev Gameworld Tech is trying to show us with its first trailer (found after the break) -- other than low production values, that is. We've got some generic space marines running around and shooting things in a third-person camera view, we've got some generic space bugs attacking the space marines, and we've got a generic battlefield that looks to be ripped from an MMO. Most importantly though? The logo is shooting itself with electricity. If you're really hankering to get in on the free-to-play action from the mind of Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, the developer has just announced Battleswarm's open beta registration. If you do, feel free to let us know how it is in the comments below. And remember: The only good bug is a dead bug.%Gallery-69185%
Monato Esprit launches out of beta
Monato Esprit, a game that has been gracing our Betawatch column for some time now, has recently skipped completely over the open beta stage and jumped right out into the open world.For those not in the know with Monato Esprit's premise, the world is a fantasy dreamland corrupted by the powers of dark, evil nightmares. Players get to take on the role of an archon, a winged hero who is tasked with fighting against the evil of the nightmares to restore the dreamworld of Monato Esprit.The game's graphics fall into the "chibi" style of anime, taking on a very cute and simultaneously whimsical appearance. The game is free-to-play and will be supported with a cash shop powered by developer Reality Gap's new currency, MetaTIX. Seattle based Reality Gap will be extending their MetaTIX services beyond Monato Esprit, however this game marks the versatile currency's first use.Interested in jumping in? Sign up with a MetaTIX account first (a bit backwards, hence why we're telling you) and then go to Monato Esprit's website to download the client.
