What payment model will the Korean MMORPG Blade and Soul launch with in the West?
For Asian imports, an important question is: “What about the payment model?” Blade and Soul is actually considered a “Free2Play” game. However, things are handled differently in Asia, where a lot happens in internet cafes, in which publishers are involved in the revenue. The internet cafes there originated from the arcades, while in the West gaming has moved into homes.
So far, little is known about the payment model for Blade and Soul. The head of a major western fan site “Blade and Soul Dojo” spoke with an employee from NCSoft at Gamescom. It was stated that Blade and Soul will be “Free2Play, but not fully Free2Play.”
An example of what such a model could look like can now be seen in Taiwan. There, Blade and Soul will launch on November 26 with much fanfare and a somewhat unusual payment model: It is Free2Play with a cash shop, but there is also a type of “premium” membership. Those who sign up for a corresponding quasi-subscription become members of the “Dragon Silver” club. Membership can be purchased for either 30 or 90 days, and upon joining, you receive a costume.
While membership does not provide preferential treatment in queues or any direct bonuses, there are several exclusive items such as boosts or unique costumes available for purchase with the currency “Dragon Silver”. Upon signing up for this membership, you receive a basic amount of Dragon Silver and later another sum for each day you log in.
A similar payment model may also be considered in the West. The trend for Free2Play games in the West clearly leans towards such a “multiple” model consisting of Free2Play, a cash shop, and a quasi-subscription that provides additional benefits. The details then become crucial, depending on how important this quasi-subscription is and whether items from the cash shop can also be obtained “reasonably” through other means.
So far, quasi-subscription and cash shop have mostly conditioned each other: With the currency obtained through a quasi-subscription, one could shop in the cash shop. However, in Blade and Soul in Taiwan, these appear to be two separate markets, similar to ArcheAge with the loyalty points.
The Korean action MMORPG Blade and Soul is set to come to the West next year.
Sources: mmoculture.com
