How to 'Monetize' the Costume Creator
By
AmazingMOO,
Posted on: 2010-09-18 18:44 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
So a free version of CoX where you can make costumes, socialize, and play mini games but not do "super" human things in exchange for viewing ads?
This seems like the sort of thing that would increase the sell emote packs.
As long as subscribers get to enjoy the mini games without ads I think this would be great.
Not sure how this would work with trial accounts though.
Maybe City of Civilians could be free generated codes that could be used to either add civilian options to existing trial and paid accounts or create civilian only accounts.
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The doublefusion folders/files are still there. Silent. Immobile. Waiting. Until, perhaps, the stars are right...
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Originally Posted by AmazingMOO
Now the BIG PROBLEM with this scenario is that NCSoft has already dropped the ball in a HUGE way with their optional in-game advertising system. NO Ads show up after the initial run of sports drinks and shoes.
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So...basically it's Farmville only in Paragon City? (In before "Paragon is already Farmville hurf durr".)
Ick. I'm very wary about anything that involves social media. Don't think I want to see dev time wasted on this nonsense.
I would also politely point out that you may have posted this in the wrong subforum, although an argument could be made for it belonging here.
"You don't lose levels. You don't have equipment to wear out, repair, or lose, or that anyone can steal from you. About the only thing lighter than debt they could do is have an NPC walk by, point and laugh before you can go to the hospital or base." -Memphis_Bill
We will honor the past, and fight to the last, it will be a good way to die...
For a lot of people, the costume creator isn't the most important part of the game. It IS the game. The costume makes the character, period.
That said, it always seems to this kind of player that costumes get short shift when compared to other aspects of the game. I could go into some recent discussions based on what kind of goodies were offered with the 'Party Pack', but instead, I'll discuss what kind of goodies were offered with the 'Going Rogue' expansion. We got a half dozen 'suits' of futuristic armor. These are great pieces, but don't really change the way that people can wear costumes. Frankly the more generic pieces offered with the Magic, Science, and Ninja super-boosters seem to find their way into more costumes.
I have a suggestion for NCSoft to both expand the amount of generic costume pieces available while, at the same time, making it profitable and drawing more people to the game world.
"City of Civilians"
Now wait. I know what it sounds like. Hear me out.
What's the most popular use of the internet these days besides gaming?
Okay, yes, the 'P-word', but aside from that?
Social Networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are currently the 'Killer App'. People seem to crave online social interaction and go to great lengths to explore what's new. They share info, personal news, and play social games.
There's a LOT of that built into any given MMO. On top of that, 'City of' layers on top of that the most creative character creation system ever built.
So build a few new areas that are primarily targeted at 'civilian' players. Shopping areas where you can put your credit-card in to get real goodies. Include some basic games, like card games, collection games, or the like. Court sellers and advertisers. Make a 'Free to download/Free to play' type 'City of' account where prospective players can make a few characters-- 4 to 6, maybe, use a limited selection of 'civilian appropriate' costume options, and set them loose.
Add a calendaring system and basic 'Latest Info' posting system, and sell it as a social media system. Heck. You could even include a rotating banner ad into the client, since it's 'Free'.
Now, if any of these civilians wander into the 'combat' areas of Paragon City, the Rogue Isles, or Praetoria, they're warned ahead of time that dangerous super-powered criminals might attack them. They also get a button to instantly teleport them back to 'safe' areas if they feel too put upon. Heroes get 'real' civilians to save. Villains get 'real' civilians to accost. NCSoft gets to show off all the super-powered goodness of 'City of' for free, to customers who are already paid for by advertisers and can allow them to upgrade to 'City of Heroes/Villains' for a fee. They also get a new, entirely voluntary way of showing advertising and online sales venues to existing customers by allowing paid heroes and villains to wander into the 'free' areas.
The extra money can be funneled into providing more costume options for both the civilians and supers.
Now the BIG PROBLEM with this scenario is that NCSoft has already dropped the ball in a HUGE way with their optional in-game advertising system. NO Ads show up after the initial run of sports drinks and shoes. If they were going to make such an advertiser supported system work, they'd have to get back on top of that ball and not drop it again. I'm not sure that's entirely doable.