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Micro-transactions vs. subscriptions in MMOs: A debate that practically lead to a fistfight

By Geoffrey . February 22, 2008 . 7:09am

Most of the panels at the GDC have been fairly civil, but on Thursday there was a brawl (of words, not of Nintendo characters).

Jack Emmert, CCO of MMO producer Cryptic Entertainment, took the offensive against Min Kim, Director of Game Operations at Nexon, who published Maple Story. As soon as the question of subscriptions vs. micro-transactions came up, Emmert blurted out that anyone who thinks micro-transactions are the future of MMOs "needs to get their head checked," and continued railing against the economic system. His main argument was that World of Warcraft is by far the world's biggest, most successful MMO and every other game is not. Therefore, the market is dictating a subscription-based system. After a barage of insults, Kim calmly pointed to the success of Maple Story in selling items to players, especially kids who might not be able to afford a monthly subscription. Emmert had never heard of Maple Story, but dismissed its success since it's way in the shadow of WoW.

Some of the panelists were suggesting that a combined approach might be best. It was brought up that WoW offers some microtransactions — like server switching and name changing fees. However, Emmert's stance remained unchanged. What do you think? Is he right to proclaim subscriptions as the only solution? Or are micro-transactions going to be an even greater presence in future MMOs?

TAGS: MMO, PC

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TacoBeaver

micro transaction is better LIVE WITH IT, btw WoW will fall on mabinogis shadow soon... MUAHAHA, VIVA NEXON

Darrien

Truth be told, I can't ever see me playing a free game and paying for an item in it, so myself would always gravitate to a subscription based service.

However, Emmert's reaction is enough to make me seriously regret that, because a philosophy like "it's not WoW so it doesn't matter" is simply inane, and I'm rather shocked that he ever became a CCO with that kind of attitude. It's personally insulting to me even more so since I don't like WoW in the first place.

At this point, I'm seriously hoping he faces at least some kind of reprimand, because that's not the kind of publicity one wants to present for one's company ("My product sells so it is right and perfect")...

Hello Hello

I honestly prefer Micro-Transactions. If I spent $100 on items a year, I'd still be paying less than the poor sap who is subscribing to World of Warcraft every month.

JeremyR

While clearly WoW is the most dominant MMORPG, I think the next two biggest MMORPGs are microtransaction - Maple Story (as mentioned) and Runescape.

I think new MMORPGs almost need to be free to play in order to compete with WoW. Because really, what can they offer that WoW can't? Maybe a different genre, but all in all, most non-Wow MMORPGs get maybe half a million subscribers at most. (I should note, Mr. Emmett's MMORPG, or former MMORPG, has only 125,000 subscribers or so.)

That said, micro-transaction MMORPGs can actually end up costing you more. Even those that don't necessarily require you to buy stuff to advance in the game, it can be awfully tempting to buy goodies for your characters. I play Sword of the New World (aka the US version of Granado Espada) and I just dropped $10 just to buy one of my characters a new outfit.

Still, I Like them better because there's not any time pressure to play. Like if you play $15 a month, you feel like you are losing money when you aren't play the game.

Irrelevant

Microtransactions are only good if they are: A. about the same as paying a monthly subscription or B. Cheaper than paying a monthly subscription.
They way I see it being done (with xbox live) is that this is simply a way to nickle and dime gamers to death, I think a future of micropayments will be the kiss of death of free modding (why pay for that +30 awesome sword of righteousness when I get it for free?)
It is good for paying for optional things that are not really needed in the main game or for things that one would be able to get anyway, however, if I am paying a subscribtion for a game I had better not end up having to pay extra for some exclusive item that I cant get through other means.

TacoBeaver

I play all nexon games, my folks dont let me buy NX and Im still alive, maybe when I go to US ill buy a NX card. Its less than neccesary to make a MT

AshStampede

I think micro is best, I can enjoy play a mmo like albatross18 months apart simply by the fact i am not being charged for it or bound to play. I have bought items in that game but would have been the equivalant of one month subscription on WOW but I have play albatross far longer. that panel also raised some good points mainly about piracy and second hand game market. I think what would be best is a guild wars love child, buy the item at retail or digital distrubution and then players choice how far the rabbit hole goes. If they want to buy that wand of uberness or play the game till something rare drops.