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The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's launch week
It's been a week now since the start of early access in Final Fantasy XIV, and it's been a weird launch. Partly because it's not really a proper launch, it's a relaunch of a game that hadn't been playable for several months and is now back in a form that has changed so much that it's almost unrecognizable. And partly because the servers have sort of been a force of unfettered malevolence; that's definitely an issue as well. Playing the game this week has ultimately been a verbal tug-of-war between two separate but equally important groups. There are the players who can't get in and hold very strong opinions about not being able to get in, and there are the players who can get in and are just playing the game. So it's impossible to talk about the launch week without talking about the launch issues and the servers... which also requires a bit of perspective on MMOs as a whole.
The Daily Grind: Do you take time off work to play games?
Holy shitaki mushrooms! There are a lot of cool MMOs coming out this year! If 2011 was kind of a downer for new AAA titles, 2012 is more than making up for it with the likes of Guild Wars 2, The Secret World, and TERA (at least two of which will release within a month of one another). The only problem is finding enough time in the day to play all these gems (not to mention making time to keep up with old favorites). Heck, I'm even contemplating a brief vacation of sorts, the better to have some uninterrupted sessions with all these new games. What about you, dear readers? Have you ever taken time off from work for an MMO? 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!
Vindicia CEO: MMOs are launching with the wrong business model
Chances are you've never heard of Gene Hoffman, CEO of Vindicia (which may or may not ring a bell, either). MMO companies have heard of him, though, as he's something of a veteran when it comes to online content distribution and payment models. His industry experience dates back to the founding of eMusic, a subscription-based digital music retailer that popped up in 1998. Now he advises companies regarding online business models, distribution, and monetization, and he casts a critical eye on the MMO industry and its slow march toward more flexible payment schemes. "Look, some of these MMOs are launching and they're really bad," he tells GamesIndustry.biz. "You don't want to say that too loudly to them, but seriously, these guys need to do a lot more content before they launch. So why not price it that way?"
