Over on the website for Realtime World's cops 'n robbers MMO, APB, the FAQ area has some information on what players of the game won't be paying: subscription fees.
I think it's great that they're making the game available without a monthly charge, but it begs the question as to how Realtime Worlds is going to pay for keeping APB's servers up in the long term. With Quake Live unable to support itself on in-game advertising, what revenue stream will be available so that players can be confident that the game will still be around in a year's time? Perhaps paid DLC?
If the developer knows, they aren't talking yet as the only confirmed information in the FAQ on the subject is that subscriptions aren't part of the plan.
Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work.
Likes
Mega Man 2, Arcade Games, Books about games, Board games, Having cultural interests that aren't games
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
15 comments | showing # 1 to 15
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
7:40 PM on 08.17.2009
| 
Or, more realistically, a mix of in-game paid items (Second life, Battlefield: Heros), Ads (Quake Live) and maybe a "Premium" level of service for a month or so (Hellgate: London).
Or a government bailout. I dunno.
I mean, it's getting a sequel, right? What's to say APB can't do the same?
Guild Wars is heavily instanced, to the point that the online is pretty similar to an expanded version of Fable 2. APB always has all the characters of that district in that one instance, so unless the netcode is extremely refined, it's not really feasible.
In fact, Quake Live isn't financially viable, according to a post I read here earlier. They're adding subscriptions etc now.
I'm pretty sure APB is heavily instanced, also. I think I remember reading that you won't be running into crimes all over the place, and instead you'll be seeing very few opponents once you pick up a mission.
A lot of ppl looking for this MMO...that is really awesome to hear.