catacomb: could it happen?

[Dannyalcatraz]

And that, in a nutshell, is the problem. That's apt to be an unsatisfying adventure game.

I don't agree- I think as long as the overall play experience is the same for all players, the game would find an audience.

If the goals are equivalent in difficulty & rewards, everyone will be OK with it. If the quest for the Firemark is essentially equivalent to the quest for the Earthen Chalice, people will play...especially if those challenges respawn over time (and are mutually exclusive). If the goblin hordes invade annually, riding their winter wolves when the first snows hit, people will play.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be a challenge to program, but it's not impossible.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

It would be fun, in a balanced game mitigated by things like level, gear, and skill (and an absence of hacks) to have something "on the line" in a pvp setting.


But, I'll say that those are some hard to reach ideals. Ideals that WoW, which has some really fun and awesome pvp components, has not met.




BUT, if it could be done? I'd plop $5 down that my uber toon would beat your uber toon. Whole mini-economies could (perhaps sadly) develop around this.




I think it's a viable idea, given certain constraints, but I'm not so sure it is an actual GOOD idea...because of the abuse and harm people could bring to it, unfortunately.

 

[Scott DeWar]

I have heard that for wow you can "buy" in game items and gold with real money through pay pal.

 

[Argyle King]

There's another model is simulated economy. I can't remember the game's name but you can build things in it and sell it to other players. One guy bought a piece of "real estate" for the real price of $335k. Now for people to convert their fake money back into real money, the company charges an administrative fee which is their revenue.

I too read that story.


IIRC, there's also a company in Europe working on a game which allows people to buy and sell (with real money) virtual real estate.

 

[Scott DeWar]

just finshed reading it. great story. wish it could happen.

 

[Stormonu]

There's another model is simulated economy. I can't remember the game's name but you can build things in it and sell it to other players. One guy bought a piece of "real estate" for the real price of $335k. Now for people to convert their fake money back into real money, the company charges an administrative fee which is their revenue.

Second Life?

I don't think it would be too hard for an MMO to bank on the idea of charging a subscription fee and then allowing players to offset some of the cost with in-game acquired treasures (possibly to the point where someone plays hard enough they can make some real money). Topped with an occasional big prize/contest/sweepstake. A lot of people already play despite the fact they do nothing but pay. Incorporate a method they can get some of that money back, and I think you'll make the game even more popular.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Great story, which I remember quite well.

I'm with others, though: this is already happening.

 

[messy]

Second Life?

I don't think it would be too hard for an MMO to bank on the idea of charging a subscription fee and then allowing players to offset some of the cost with in-game acquired treasures (possibly to the point where someone plays hard enough they can make some real money). Topped with an occasional big prize/contest/sweepstake. A lot of people already play despite the fact they do nothing but pay. Incorporate a method they can get some of that money back, and I think you'll make the game even more popular.

excellent point!