Comments on: Virtual World Business Models part 2 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/ A blog on virtual worlds, games, and digital content, from Matt Mihaly Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:40:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Michael Chui http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-3029 Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:46:03 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-3029 Cael points out a government-sponsored model. I don't know if that qualifies as an actual <i>business</i> model, though, but it is a way to pay for it. http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/11/27/microtransactions-getting-a-bad-name/#comment-64574 Cael points out a government-sponsored model. I don’t know if that qualifies as an actual business model, though, but it is a way to pay for it.

http://www.raphkoster.com/2006/11/27/microtransactions-getting-a-bad-name/#comment-64574

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-757 Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:06:43 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-757 Thanks all! I'll incorporate the feedback in the next iteration. Thanks all! I’ll incorporate the feedback in the next iteration.

]]> by: Tide http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-726 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:21:45 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-726 As mentioned in the first comment, expansion as optional warranties should be included. All software licenses come with either optional or mandatory maintenance to hold the lifetime support of the product. Most MMO's come with free maintenance, but you can consider expansions and maintenance maybe as well. As mentioned in the first comment, expansion as optional warranties should be included. All software licenses come with either optional or mandatory maintenance to hold the lifetime support of the product. Most MMO’s come with free maintenance, but you can consider expansions and maintenance maybe as well.

]]> by: magicback (frank) http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-696 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 21:05:53 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-696 I think a whole new category for direct models, which is an expansion for #3, is Fees, all sorts of fees. Some mentioned so far are: 1. Character transfers 2. Name changes 3. Server changes Typicall they are for out of game services and effects and are one-time transactional fees. Frank I think a whole new category for direct models, which is an expansion for #3, is Fees, all sorts of fees.

Some mentioned so far are:
1. Character transfers
2. Name changes
3. Server changes

Typicall they are for out of game services and effects and are one-time transactional fees.

Frank

]]> by: Thom http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-679 Sat, 19 Aug 2006 09:03:29 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-679 "7. Selling Recognition (A hobbyist text MUD named Carrion Fields sold characters a permanent ‘tombstone’ in their forums.)" Similar but different is selling Name change. It is basically the opposite, in buying something to be anonymous. EQ does it: https://store.station.sony.com/eq_char_renames/ "Up to 8 characters (all of which must be in a single account) per request - $49.95" As a rule of thumb, selling extra services/features. You don't list Guild Wars character slots sales either - unless it is considered space? “7. Selling Recognition (A hobbyist text MUD named Carrion Fields sold characters a permanent ‘tombstone’ in their forums.)”

Similar but different is selling Name change. It is basically the opposite, in buying something to be anonymous.

EQ does it:

https://store.station.sony.com/eq_char_renames/

“Up to 8 characters (all of which must be in a single account) per request - $49.95″

As a rule of thumb, selling extra services/features.
You don’t list Guild Wars character slots sales either - unless it is considered space?

]]> by: Krenn http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-674 Fri, 18 Aug 2006 23:08:47 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-674 WW2OL has what I suppose you could call a "targetted donation" - you can opt for a one-time payment equal to a month's subscription, which is to go towards advertising the game. WW2OL has what I suppose you could call a “targetted donation” - you can opt for a one-time payment equal to a month’s subscription, which is to go towards advertising the game.

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-673 Fri, 18 Aug 2006 18:45:09 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-673 Thanks for the comment Joe. We've considered that before, but I don't think we're ever going to allow it. Thanks for the comment Joe. We’ve considered that before, but I don’t think we’re ever going to allow it.

]]> by: Vesence http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-670 Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:12:43 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-670 The only possible thing I could imagine would the the transfer of Character assests that are bound to the character. I for example have considered retiring Vesence from Achaea for a few weeks now, and creating a new character. That way I could start a new story without making all the mistakes I made with Vesence. Repeated class/city/house changes, poorly thought out artefact purchases, so on and so forth. It would be nice for a fee to allow a player the option to transfer his or her characters assests that were purchased OOC to a new character owned by the same player. It's merely a thought, but something I'd definately pay IRE to be able to do at this point, either that, or simply purchase a "character reset." This would allow a player (only once per character) to revert his age and level back to 18 and 5 respectively (in the case of Lusternia where starting age can be chosen, that choice would be given again). The character also must undergo a name-change. All lessons would be refunded, minus the characters level *5, and any artifacts would be either kept or traded in at 2/3rds price. That probably should have gone to support@achaea.com, but as it could be instituted across all the games, it might as well be here. -Joe/Vesence on Achaea The only possible thing I could imagine would the the transfer of Character assests that are bound to the character. I for example have considered retiring Vesence from Achaea for a few weeks now, and creating a new character. That way I could start a new story without making all the mistakes I made with Vesence. Repeated class/city/house changes, poorly thought out artefact purchases, so on and so forth. It would be nice for a fee to allow a player the option to transfer his or her characters assests that were purchased OOC to a new character owned by the same player.

It’s merely a thought, but something I’d definately pay IRE to be able to do at this point, either that, or simply purchase a “character reset.” This would allow a player (only once per character) to revert his age and level back to 18 and 5 respectively (in the case of Lusternia where starting age can be chosen, that choice would be given again). The character also must undergo a name-change. All lessons would be refunded, minus the characters level *5, and any artifacts would be either kept or traded in at 2/3rds price.

That probably should have gone to support@achaea.com, but as it could be instituted across all the games, it might as well be here.

-Joe/Vesence on Achaea

]]> by: Joseph Monk http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-668 Fri, 18 Aug 2006 04:42:48 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-668 From what I had heard Cywolrd was still just doing beta tests of their US site. I know what you mean about having tried it... that's why I highly doubt they'll do good in the states. Their set up and just over all look and feel fit Koreans quite well(like like crowded stuff with irritating background music...) but they just don't seem to understand that not everything likes things laid out that way. From what I had heard Cywolrd was still just doing beta tests of their US site. I know what you mean about having tried it… that’s why I highly doubt they’ll do good in the states. Their set up and just over all look and feel fit Koreans quite well(like like crowded stuff with irritating background music…) but they just don’t seem to understand that not everything likes things laid out that way.

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-666 Fri, 18 Aug 2006 02:27:14 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/08/15/virtual-world-business-models-part-2/#comment-666 Ahh, thanks Thomas. I guess in a way charging for lives is the equivalent of charging for decaying items, but using 'health' instead of 'charges' or 'time.' I'll add that in. I think Character Sales could go under the one-time fee as a sub-category. Note that UO does or did this as well. Ahh, thanks Thomas. I guess in a way charging for lives is the equivalent of charging for decaying items, but using ‘health’ instead of ‘charges’ or ‘time.’ I’ll add that in. I think Character Sales could go under the one-time fee as a sub-category. Note that UO does or did this as well.

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