Dev wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 05:36:
Why do you think blizzard made the game free now for up to level 20? Previously they only had time limited game trials.

Which had a level block at 20. They just removed the time restrains. And considering how MUCH faster you progress nowadays, there isn't much sense in a time limited trial anymore. Blizzard made only cosmetic changes to clear up the trial offer, they do not offer MORE game content for free.

Btw. i had a good time with WoW, even with all the changes. But i didnt prolonge my WoW subscription last year. I need a long absence from this game. I need to forget how to play WoW that i can re-discover it

FoxAlpha wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 03:49:
Why limited themselves to billboards if they could get that level of advertising in the game maybe that wouldn’t need to charge players any money subscription fees.

Because its far more work to texturize items in the game with decals than just to throw up ads on billboards. Not just more work for the game devs, but more work for the ad agency too. Like I said, I don't think ads have been a very good paying thing for games so far. If it was such an amazing source of income, everyone would be doing it with every game. As I recall, didn't EA put some in game ads with a battlefield game? Do you think EA would miss a chance to put it in every single subsequent game if it paid well? Even if it was paying well, why the heck would they get rid of any other potential income source for this?

How often do you see some place lowering prices for something that they saved money in doing? Digital games save ton's of money over physical retail games in manufacturing, and give a much bigger chunk of the pie to the devs compared with physical retail games, yet they typically are released at same price points.

Kajetan wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 03:49:
Blizzard has to act, sure, but they are in no need to hurry.

I disagree. For business reasons they should hurry. And ever since they've gotten bought out by activision they've been ever more focused on money at the expense of the games.

They are starting to lose subscriber numbers in a downward trend (up until now, its been normally expected churn, and new subscribers tended to outnumbers the cancellations). Why do you think blizzard made the game free now for up to level 20? Previously they only had time limited game trials. They are seeing the writing on the wall and trying to slow the loss. The leaving subscribers are likely going to competitors. Blizzard needs to get something new out there to attract the ones leaving to stay with the company. Every month they delay Titan is another month that more subscribers may leave. Sure they will stay king of the hill even if it drops to 2 million instead of 12 million, but thats a huge chunk of income they are missing out on. It would be far better for them as a company if the people leaving went to a different blizzard product instead of another.

I think we'll see titan within a couple years.

This comment was edited on Jan 24, 2012, 05:51.

Agent.X7 wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 03:28:
I seriously think Titan is going to be to World of Warcraft what Warhammer 40K was to Warhammer. In other words, the future version of WoW. Tauren and Orcs and Gnomes and Elves with space guns and powered armor and what have you.

I mean, think about it. They stole the whole design from Warhammer in the first place. Why not go ahead and rip off the future version as well? Also, Titan? The Titans were their lore version of the gods in WoW. Makes sense to me.

They already did that...Starcraft. I wouldn't be surprised if ActiBlizz decided to MMOize it either.

Dev wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 03:43:
The subscription numbers have started dropping.

Most other MMOs would be glad to have the numbers WoW lost as an active player base. WoW ist still THE leading MMO, lightyears ahead of the rest. Blizzard has to act, sure, but they are in no need to hurry.

I don’t see product placement as adverts or links to real world items I see digital versions of real world items, so when your character stops to drink it won’t just be glass of water it will be a bottle of branded water or maybe at higher levels it would a branded energy drink.

When you go in to towns and cities General vendors might famous convenience stores and you would buy your equipment from well know sporting goods establishments, your food could come from burger or donut chains. They could go on on like having bar tenders selling branded drinks so all the little kiddes could run round smashing stuff up while off their faces on vodka redball’s.

Why limited themselves to billboards if they could get that level of advertising in the game maybe that wouldn’t need to charge players any money subscription fees.

El Pit wrote on Jan 23, 2012, 23:56:
Titan? Guys, why bother? It won't be out for another 10 years or so.

No, titan won't take that long. They need a replacement for WoW, fast. The subscription numbers have started dropping.

A big reason why other games have taken longer is their focus on WoW (I seem to recall blizzard has even admitted this).

I guess I can understand why ad's in games could be appealing, It covers such a large spectrum of demographics. The possibility of Titan energy drinks spring to mind.

Well I have learned to mentally shut out ad's, the only ad's worth even noting anymore are "this is on sale" ads. So putting ads on Titan, or any other game will have no affect on me. I already picked my favorite brands based on what I have experienced with them, not what ads promise anyways.

I seriously think Titan is going to be to World of Warcraft what Warhammer 40K was to Warhammer. In other words, the future version of WoW. Tauren and Orcs and Gnomes and Elves with space guns and powered armor and what have you.

I mean, think about it. They stole the whole design from Warhammer in the first place. Why not go ahead and rip off the future version as well? Also, Titan? The Titans were their lore version of the gods in WoW. Makes sense to me.

There is a reason Microsoft sold Massive, their in-game advertising unit, nearly two years ago. In-game advertising is not THAT profitable than expected. Studies showed that gamers do not perceive the advertising, that they can hardly remember any advertising after the game. Potential advertisers lost interest, this once booming market has become a minor revenue stream.

It will prolly be more like this:
Shields that look like a huge iPhone, clubs that look like a certain brand of tampons, mounts that are named BEEEMER (or look like one), facebook like-buttons on every item, NPC and zone entrance, Items that magically turn into something different and make the "Transformers sound", an inn called McDunolds... you name it.

deqer wrote on Jan 24, 2012, 01:24:
"that enhances the gameplay experience"

How do ads enhance gameplay? ...

By having a direct link to Bed Bath and Beyond. Wherein you can order a snuggie directly from within the game. Then, once it has arrived, you can be much more comfortable while playing the game for 18 hours straight, therefore enhancing the gameplay experience.

"that enhances the gameplay experience"

How do ads enhance gameplay? ...

The Futureweapons billboards in BF2142 didn't bother me at all. EVE has has a similar concept(billboards at stargates), but they front fake ingame products and news. If they're forced interactive ads then I would have a real problem.

It'll be cool to see ads for the 2024 Olympic Games in Titan. :p

Anyone surprised at this after the Cash Auction House in Diablo 3? Blizzard cares about the money. Nothing else.

Creston

Titan? Guys, why bother? It won't be out for another 10 years or so.

Frijoles wrote on Jan 23, 2012, 21:03:
Oh god, I'm having flashbacks to Tabula Rasa.

Hellgate London's ads weren't bad...

Both of these games met their demise rather quickly, didn't they?

Additionally, anyone else agree that it is ironic that the only kinds of games that support advertisements are games about the future where advertisements are everywhere? If you think carefully for a moment, the only world where advertisements rule the world are worlds where advertisements sprung up in the past, probably through video games and other media. I.e. building games about a future full of advertisements leads us to the future full of advertisements!

is it possible this is a free to play mmo?
That would make sense to have ads in it.

Looking at what they've done with monetization in both Wow (Store pets to ingame AH) and the upcoming auction house for diablo, it is plausible that they're going all down that road for the casual market.

Say for example if Titan was (just for shits and giggles) a futuristic game with a Deus Ex Human Revolution feel, or Blade Runner feel, then yeah I could see advertisements working, IF they are done to enhance the feel of the game.

Maybe instead of quests like kill trolls and collect 10 tusks, the barkeep will tell you he need's you to buy 10 rolls of Bounty paper towels. Or kill a raid boss and it'll say "click now to buy exclusive boss plushy!"

Kitkoan wrote on Jan 23, 2012, 20:04:

Quboid wrote on Jan 23, 2012, 19:45:

product placement and licensing [...] that enhances the gameplay experience

Credit where credit's due, they've got some great big brass balls.

Never confuse stupidity with bravery.

Oh come on, you have to have a little bit of admiration for anyone who can bullshit so emphatically.