That's the key though, isn't it. For good or bad, free-to-play is immensely profitable, which is obviously why ngmoco is going that way. http://www.businessinsider.com/zygna-revenues-are-closer-to-250-million-says-banker-2009-10 arn
Yes, I'm not 'that' concern about ngmoco continuing with this model, I can always chose not to buy their games or dlc or energy or food or awe or followers or whatever they want to call their 'consumables' WHAT scares me is IF ngmoco's financial success influence other DEVS to switch to this model. In reality I do more offline gaming in my iphone since I play in the bus or train, I do my online gaming at home in ps3 or 360, so for me it would really suck for me.
Very true. I meant if a lot of other companies start adopting this model also and are also as successful as ngmoco this will become the norm and it will definitely suck.
Made a fortune? They made a fair amount I'm sure, but running an online FPS server is not cheap, especially when that's the only server that exists for that game. Intensive online games like Eliminate are a case where I do think "freemium" payments are justified (I'm actually surprised to see their CEO describe it as "clumsy") But like I said previously, this kind of strategy could easily blow up in their faces if done wrong and with the wrong type of game. Again look at what happened with Spore.
They have good games, but if Rolando 3 goes freemium, I will lose hope in ngmoco. True, the freemium model makes money, but it won't work well for polished, high-class games like Rolando. I hope they make it awesome - and fully paid upfront. As for Freeverse, I am quite surprised. As long as Trainz turns out well though, I'll be happy.
They said they're not making Rolando 3 because they couldn't think of a way to make it fit their freemium system, so I would assume it owuld not include that
Well Ngmoco said Freeverse will still run like it is an independent and make their own games. Ngmoco only owns them and will influence them to go freemium, so technically they are employees of ngmoco but not much has changed for them. I may be wrong here, but I think they will still be publishing games on the app store under the freeverse name (quote me if I'm wrong)
It's a business decision. I don't like where they're heading too, but if it works and brings big bucks for them there's nothing we can do. I do wish after their success they decide to give us the 'normal' Rolando 3 though.
Wait guys I'm confused. Why is ngmoco such a bad company? They give you full games for free. you don't like the freemium plan? Then don't buy the dlc. I'm just very confused as to why some don't like that.
You don't have to be confuse just read back and comprehend. A lot of members gave detailed reason why they hate freemium games.
Contrary to what was said on the podcast, I thought Touch Pets was one of the WORST examples of freemium game I have ever seen on ANY platform. A freemium game should be fully playable for free and not time limited or require the purchase of things in order to continue playing. The latter part of the portmanteau word freemium, premium, should account for things that are actually premium, and 'dog food' and 'battery cells' are not really premium items are they? To top it off, the gameplay for touch pets was horrendous, whilst eliminate gameplay was good, but the logging in times in the main menu was bad. The other reason I do not play ngmoco games anymore is due to privacy concerns, every time you play a freemium game by ngmoco, it sends data on usage, how long you played for, your UID, what time you played, how many levels you completed etc... If you have not jailbroken your ipod/iphone, and therefore do not use a firewall, you should realise all your data on your usage is being gathered and sent to ngmoco on these types of games, in order for it to be analysed and therefore even more games targeted in future to scrape every nickel you have. Sure a lot of games track information, but ngmoco freemium games are by far are the worst culprit, and that is why I avoid ngmoco games like the plague.
the same thought came to my mind when I read the article last night, I don't like NGMOCO, I don't download their games and I said this when Eliminate came out: That this "freemium" model, would change the story of how apps are sold in the appstore and maybe someday we would have to pay for updates too. That's why I'm worried now thinking that other devs are going to follow this path...if they do it, I just won't buy their games.
How the hell did ngmoco buy Freeverse? Isn't Freeverse bigger than ngmoco. Seems like they have released a lot more games. Oh and this freemium model is the death of creativity and competition on the ap store. Never though I would say this but here's hoping Gameloft kicks their ass! And even if they said whatever they said, if Warpgate is anyway affected by this a lot of people are going to be pissed off.
I hate Ngmoco's freemium! I'd better buy all the Freeverse games I can buy before they turn them into money hoarding but boring games...
There are a multitude of reasons, but mine is the waiting. I should be able to play games on my own time and not have to wait for the game to recharge, produce more, food, and whatnot. God Finger and We Rule seem to make this even worse in that if you don't log on when the game wants you to your crops or your followers die messing up the game
