It seems Vogster’s mediocre crime-themed “MMOG” is getting the finger in Australia because of it’s content…specifically, the drug use and how the game promotes it…
I don’t know what’s worse? The fact that a country with drugged out Koalas is unhappy with a game that uses it in a fictional environment? Or that a game as uninteresting as CrimeCraft is important enough to care. At the same time, if you were Vogster, would you care? Sure you’re losing “legal” access to a potential market but the friggin game is about being a criminal. You can’t go into the fray thinking everyone’s going to welcome your game into their “perfect” homes.
On the plus side for Vogster, I noticed they’re listed on Steam now so that might open them up for more business. Though, I think they need to do something better than the description they have for the different monthly subscription types:
The major differences between the two subscriptions are the extent of customization, skill slots, speed of experience gain and inventory capacity. Standard and Premium subscription features will also be showcased behind “velvet rope” areas to allow players to make a fully-informed subscription decision.
What the fuck? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?!? Granted your fees aren’t that high $5/10) compared to everyone else out there (that require a fee) but that’s the best description of the differences you can give me? Here’s what’s on the CrimeCraft web site. Holy shit. What does it all mean to a new player who has no idea how your game works?
And what does “limited” mean for some of these things? Auctions? What’s being limited? Number of items? Cost of items? What I can buy? What about Text Chat? Limited? What? I can’t use the letters M-Z? 120 character limit?
If you want to know how not to create a tiered subscription model, check out CrimeCraft.
How’s about considering something different? I love that the free subscription people can’t skill up higher than the first level. Huh? If it’s a trial, make it a trial. Give them the taste they want (we’re talking about criminals here)…even if it’s a couple weeks…then juice them with the premium sub. The “standard” sub is fine but it should limit things like character slots, access to certain areas, access to certain items for free (basically that “gold bar” system), etc.
There’s talk of a “velvet rope”. What does a velvet rope mean when you’re at a club or some event? It’s all about VIP access…something few people get and most people there want. So, make it worth it and tantalize people with the details. Let them see the “movie star” behind the lines…meaning, tell them about this great feature (a special map to fight on, some fancy gang house for your gang, a “members only” store with special items that can’t be traded) that they’re missing because they’re just a standard user.
This isn’t rocket science. Leave the friggin Jerry’s Deli-sized menu of features for microtransactions. Need more character slots (and the premium sub doesn’t cut it or you’re not that interested in it)? Pay $0.50 a month for a slot. Want that primo outfit for your toon? $1.00 buys it for you (one-time fee; not tradeable).
It’ll be interesting to see what happen when APB comes online. They aren’t exactly the same but they share the one common criminal theme. The difference is the cops-and-robbers idea of APB versus the gang v gang model of CrimeCraft. We’ll see come Spring 2010.
g afk
