Funcom Adds Virtual Item Sales to Anarchy Online

[GameBanshee News]

Funcom sent out a press release this morning announcing that they have launched a new system that allows players to purchase virtual items in Anarchy Online.

Funcom launches virtual item sales in Anarchy Online

– Progressive new business model introduced on all AO servers -

Durham, USA – October 12, 2007 – Funcom has now launched the virtual item sales in Anarchy Online. In yet another progressive move from Funcom, the players on Rubi-Ka are now able to purchase sets of points which can be used to acquire virtual items inside the game. The first virtual items introduced with the program come packed inside a new mini-expansion. Amongst other things the new pack includes hover-bikes, hover-boards, social clothing, pets and a luxury apartment. Our focus is to ensure that the virtual items do not affect gameplay balance.

The points are available in three different packages which can be purchased for 10, 20 or 40 USD / EUR, where 100 points is the equivalent of 1 USD / EUR. A new hover-board starts as low as 300 points, but the players can also purchase an entire range. As an introductory offer the players can purchase the entire new collection of boards and bikes for 2000 points.

“This kind of system puts the choice in the hands of the players by allowing them to take as little or as much of the new content as they like,” said Craig Morrison, Game Director on Anarchy Online. “It really adds an extra dimension to what we can provide in terms of fun social items, designed to look cool while being something players don't feel forced into. That extra element of choice has allowed us to add a much broader range of items than we might if we were simply targeting it into a self contained expansion.”

Players who are paying subscribers of Anarchy Online will get a set of monthly points included in the subscription price, and longer pricing plans like 6 and 12 months gives extra points. Funcom would also like to point out that the points are given in full to each character the player has in the game. They are thus able to freely test different virtual items on different characters.

Please visit http://www.anarchy-online.com for more information about the game, or to read an update from Game Director Craig Morrison.

ABOUT FUNCOM - Funcom is an independent developer and publisher of online games for PC, consoles and mobile platforms. Funcom has provided outstanding entertainment since 1993 and continues to expand its track-record of more than twenty released games. Recent titles include 'The Longest Journey', 'Anarchy Online' and 'Dreamfall: The Longest Journey'. For corporate information please visit http://www.funcom.com. For information about Funcom games visit http://www.anarchy-online.com, http://www.dreamfall.com, http://www.ageofconan.com or http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com. Funcom is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker FUNCOM.

MMORPGs are really getting out of hand.

[Xandax]

Originally Posted by GameBanshee News

MMORPGs are really getting out of hand.

It is actually more a matter of "gold" and 3rd party virtual items sales have gotten out of hand, and more so that customers are actually willing to shell out money instead of playing the game, which makes these companies go into the market as well.

It was extremely predictable that this would happen in a larger sense, once SOE started doing it on some Everquest servers some time ago, and I fear it is a business model which we'll see much more off, as companies attempt to force out (or minimize rather) illegitimate gold/item selling to get more money of the punters themselves.
I for one, however, would never buy items or golds for these type of games, and I'm a long time MMO player.
I think these companies have looked a bit to much at the hype around Second Life in general, and I'd rather leave the genre altogether then support it.

It however, also goes nicely hand in hand with Funcoms "we are only going to produce online games" some time ago.......Online games and virtual item store.