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GC '07: Sony wants free play for Agency

By Emma Boyes, GameSpot UKPosted Aug 23, 2007 11:39 am PT

The PlayStation 3 maker's online division believes that microtransactions and other models are the future of MMOs, not subscriptions.

LEIPZIG, Germany--Sony Online's latest massively multiplayer online game, The Agency (which has not yet been dated), will feature a number of differences from other MMOs currently on the market. Firstly, it will not be an "orcs and elves"-style game within a fantasy universe, but a modern-day universe featuring two different factions of spies.

Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley told attendees at his talk on "Subscriptions vs. Micro-Transactions" that, "There are quite a few 'men in tights' games out there; we alone have five, and we didn't want to do that."

After showing a short "making of" video of the upcoming Sony spy-themed MMO, Smedley explained that, "We worked to create a world where adults live out their fantasy of being an elite super agent."

The Agency will combine a number of different business models, including in-game ads, and the 'velvet rope' model, with some areas off-limits unless players gain access. Smedley also says that The Agency will eventually be following the business model of Free Realms. He said, "We also see this game going a similar style to that of Free Realms, although I think that the velvet rope model in this case, we're also going to be bringing that in quite a bit because this is also appealing to a more hardcore gamer."

However, he is aware that although gamers are now very accepting of the subscription model for playing online, they are resistant to certain alternatives, like paying for microtransactions such as new outfits, weapons, or characters. He said, "We believe very strongly that this is the future of MMO gaming, but we also know that it is something that players have an issue with... There's going to be an aftermarket, and we want to control it so that players don't get duped into having something switched out from them."

The Agency will also have an in-game collectible card game featuring characters that players can recruit for their team through the purchase of the appropriate card.

The Sony executive also talked about the 2008 MMOG Free Realms. As the title suggests, the game will be downloadable gratis and will carry no subscription fees. The aim is for the game to install itself in under one minute on a broadband connection.

Instead of the traditional subscription model, "we're going to be selling clothing and other items which players can buy," said Smedley. The title will also include in-game advertising with "whimsical placing," and if users do decide to subscribe, the ads disappear.

He explained, "It's designed for a younger gamer and is an optimistic place where everything is fun." The online game will feature a variety of minigames, as Smedley continued: "You can go into an inn and play a game of chess with a person as a quest. If you see some racing karts on the side of the road somewhere, you can get on and race on them like you can in games like Mario Kart."

He concluded by saying that he thought that the online subscription model would continue to decline. "We do believe that if you allow people to play for free, in many cases they will choose to spend more than you would think so," summarized Smedley.

190 Comments

  • esqueejy

    Posted Aug 4, 2008 11:34 am PT

    Not a bad idea really. Anyone who played WoW from beta like I did can attest to the failings of the subscription paradigm. It lends itself to a very unhealthy game-time commitment on the part of the player and a completely skewed design perspective on the part of the developers, who spend their time thinking of ways to require players to commit incredibly substantial amounts of time in order to progress in anything close to a cometetive manner. It's the only way to make subscriptions work, because you have to force the time commitment on the players so their subscriptions don't stop when they've "completed" the game....there really is no completing it...only walking away. Playing 8-12 hours straight and pulling all-nighters on weekends to grind whatever you are doing is absolutely ridiculous and most people, like myself, who stopped did so because they realized they simply had to put it down and walk away before it ruined the other aspects of their lives any further. It strains RL relationships, taxes your health, etc., and anyone who denies this but was running around in T6 PVE and PVP gear like I was last January is a total liar. Everyone knew what Blizz was doing to them in that respect, but we bought right into it for love of the game. That still didn't make it right. It was a good first shot to get MMO's to break thru and become a staple of the game industry, but it's time for game designers to have a little more respect for the people who are really paying them....the consumer.

    So yeah, maybe microtransactions will work, maybe it won't, it's all about balance...but it's certainly a good thing for companies to start exploring a different paradigm. Out with the old, in with the new. Maybe someone will figure out a way to do it that still allows for fun and intense competition, but doesn't require an unnatural time commitment to your computer chair or force your to make sacrifices in order to play it, rather than being solely an added enjoyment, enriching your life for the entertainment value, which is what games should be.

  • Greyfoxx082

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 11:29 pm PT

    i prefer the micro transaction model over subscription. I cannot afford spending countless hours going through the same mission over and over just to get my gear. I like a challenging game but not a grinding one. I also prefer a game that can be beat through skill, not items.

    Some folks complain that the model fails to reward players who work hard and persevere in the game. Fortunately, unlike WoW, this game plays like a shooter, and if Sony does not screw things up, better aim and tactics should still beat items and equipment.

    Also, we all work our asses off at something. It just so happens some of us do it in the real 'physical' world where we actually earn real 'physical' money. If you can't afford the game, get a better job or live within your means.

    As for me, I'll wait for the reviews. If it's worth it, then I'll get it.

  • xboxgamer3

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 5:10 pm PT

    sounds cool

  • tron563

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 10:22 pm PT

    i am looking forward to this game but thing is they didnt confirm whether its f2p or p2p well wait for their announcement and see well its gonna be in my waiting list of mmo

  • streetthug

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 12:28 pm PT

    the future looks nice and i cant wait for this game to come out its on my wish list

  • DanteDiPasquale

    Posted Oct 29, 2007 11:42 am PT

    3055 I understand your idea but it wont work like you suggest. Infact that would completely upset anysort of ingame economy -- RMT would run rampant. Why pay $5 or grind to One Million ingame curency when you can buy One Million in game currency for $3 from a RMT?

  • 3055

    Posted Oct 21, 2007 2:58 am PT

    if SOE were smart, they'd look at the different options that microtransactions have to offer. The best (possibly the best solution for all this muck) solution is have the game free, and, for example, say there is a rocket launcher you want to buy. You can buy it $5 in real money, or you can buy it for a million dollars in virtual money. The latter option is obviously going to take you longer, but for impacient people, they'd obviously go for the $5. This system probably would work best. And for item wise, they should just have fashionable items (dresses/suits, pretty shoes, etc) should be purchased with real money (or obviously people buying them from other players using ingame money). They could just not be stindgey and have the option to pay to play, or play for free. Perhaps pay to play will give you more item slots, more character slots, access to better vehicles, x2 more pay (virtual money for finishing quests) then non payers and slightly more updates. Whereas free players can get the standard item slots, standard character slots, access to standard vehicles, get standard pay, and get the standard updates. I for one think this option would be best.

    But, if SOE were not to listen to what the community wants (as they havent in the past) then I would be all for microtransactions. Monthly fee's are blurgh. SOE need to think more about the long term effects, rather then the short term effects. Sure, they could make a lot money quickly, but that will inevitably die away because of the monthly fee/microtransactions. But if they were to do the option of pay to play, and free play (as I wrote about earlier) they'd make more money in the long term, due to people being kept of interest, and such. Monthly fee's always take away interest of the game, which will cause SOE to lose money.

  • azianryda

    Posted Sep 5, 2007 6:08 pm PT

    The issue of free vs pay has always been a prickly issue, and so many publishers work to create the perfect model for the standard MMO. I personally don't mind subscription fees (as I do play WoW). And I am skeptical about the microtransaction model (similar to many Korean onliners) and definitely against the pay once and play forever (Guild Wars) model. One model I am interested in (and SOE should look at) is the Hellgate: London model. Which is free + subscription. From what I read, it seems the subscriptions (maybe locked at minimum 1 year) would get you all content updates for that year. That way ppl who are not as hardcore would be able to fully enjoy the game that they bought, while subscription payers would have access to new missions, content, and rewards. Just a thought.

  • Mr_Cynical

    Posted Sep 3, 2007 8:27 am PT

    Why don't they just use the business model of Guild Wars (second most popular non-free MMO after World of Warcraft)? You know, the one also used by every other game genre. Where, once you've paid for the game, you get to play it!

  • CapcomGroove2

    Posted Sep 2, 2007 11:15 am PT

    This game sounds truly great, i cant wait to see how it turns out, the modern edge put into mmorpg fantastic. I also heard that they have something like over 300 animations for the hands alone....i'm anxious. very anxious.

  • legandary_ACE

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 6:42 pm PT

    Demmi_Argo, they mean that real advertisments will be placed on billboards and TVs and any other area you would find advertisments in real life in the game......they would never put advertisments in unrealistic areas like your sniper scope

  • Demmi_Argo

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 3:00 pm PT

    The Agency really never caught my attention, it really doesn't seem like my type of game. But one thing that makes me raise my eyebrow is what Smedley said about the in-game advertising being "whimsically placed". How will it be whimsically placed? When I'm aming with my sniper rifle will an ad appear at the bottom of my scope in loud colours, cutting off my concentration? Will a billboard pop up from the ground and bar me from proceeding down a hall? Smedley could have been less vague with this.

  • legandary_ACE

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 2:09 pm PT

    lol, i just watched a trailer for Free Realms....its reminds me of the good old PS1 days

    http://www.gametrailers.com/player/23176.html

  • legandary_ACE

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 1:56 pm PT

    well if its anything like syphon filter or metal gear then i'll check it out.

  • tbbx

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 1:55 pm PT

    I can't believe how many people are bashing micro-transactions... Have you guys ever played any games that use micro-transactions instead of a monthly fee? I would guess most if not all of the bashers haven't because it doesn't really give that great of an advantage. I mean look at games like Rakion, Ran Online, Albatross 18 and etc... It works great for them and there are usually items or equipment that are almost identical to items you can buy with money through normal quests or just the in game money. So people stop bashing until you actually see how it works...

  • Merikov

    Posted Aug 30, 2007 8:53 pm PT

    So, yea.. I think I'll be overlooking these titles...

  • cupsta

    Posted Aug 30, 2007 5:15 am PT

    It kills me to hear 360 guys talk about sony milking some one of their money lol. You paid $100 more on your console than the cheaper 360 to be able to play online with out a memory card, you pay $50 a year to play online each month. You paid prolly $100 less for your 360 than a ps3 but no HD player, that was a steal huh. Anyone upgrading your 360 hard drive? If so enjoy that $100 40g hdd even if thats what it is lol. Oh yea that is a nice $100 or so dollar steering wheel also you got from MS. Man alot of $100's being thrown around, oh while I'm at it let me get myself a $179 hd dvd addon to lay beside my console. But yea you saved on the cheaper console and don't get money sucked from you with the 360, keep up the great posts. lol

  • reverendyates

    Posted Aug 29, 2007 2:55 pm PT

    I gaurantee you will be spending more on micro transactions than you would have on a subscription. $40 for a pair of virtual pants? Screw that.

  • enciem

    Posted Aug 29, 2007 1:35 pm PT

    Ooh, I've got an idea. I can go on holiday to China or something and get a paid(ish) job for playing the game characters to the highest level so they can be sold on e-bay. Maybe I'll be able to make enough money after a few years to buy a ticket home. Bring on subscription games, down with micro-transactions. Good point though 10054254, social divides are for the real world, leave games alone, there escapism

  • 10054254

    Posted Aug 29, 2007 4:40 am PT

    I wonder if we petition against things like this would it help? I mean why not release GTA IV with no speach,only 1 weapon, 2 cars and 1 character model. then ask us to buy the bits we want. If your going on a quest but havnt paid £10 for the new armour you cant go cause you will get owned. So in order to not be 'the poor kid' you have to spend spend spend. soon there will be social divides with 'the rich kids' horse riding through lush valleys while plebs like us dont want to spend £50 to get a nice horse, or access to nice areas. We're taking the train...reading all the ads telling us to watch NBC at 9. Seems like making this game more like real life is taking away from the fact that...Its still a game. its not real life. If your life sucks because you dont earn enough money then playing this game will make you feel the same way.

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