In a press release today, Hi-Rez has announced the development of SMITE, a free to play, arena based combat game set in the mythological sector of gaming. According to the press release, the game will be a DoTA-style RTS, created on the Unreal 3 engine, and will provide much of the same mechanics in games like League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth (stats, matchmaking, etc).
“At this point we already have a really fun playable version of SMITE and we look forward to sharing additional details about the project in the coming months”
I’m not entirely sure that “freeer” (the comparative term for “more free”) is a word, but if it isn’t a simple phone call and bribery of my glass D&D dice should get that added into Webster’s Dictionary toot sweet. Global Agenda technically went free to play back in June last year, following its February launch. In a post today, Hi-Rez announced that Global Agenda will be going entirely free to play, removing previous restrictions on free players. For a one time fee of $20 (with those who had purchased the game already receiving this bonus) players are upgraded to Elite Agent, and receive bonuses to experience and loot.
Free players are not entirely devoid of restrictions, however. Going by the news post, free players will have limited or no restrictions to various features, including the auction house, mail system, chat, agencies, and will also receive ads over the in-game voice feature, as well as being lower on the login priority list.
“Global Agenda has never required a monthly subscription to play and, for a while now, we have offered a generous free trial for the game.” said Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios COO. “Our experience with the limited free trial has demonstrated to us the great demand among free-to-play gamers for a AAA-quality Shooter MMO like Global Agenda. We believe this latest change will further broaden the game’s popularity and appeal.”
This comment from the news article confuses me, unless Todd Harris is spinning words. On second thought, I get it now. Global Agenda never required a subscription, in the sense that my crab legs at Red Lobster didn’t require me to pay, if all I wanted was the free water. The side of the game no one would have paid a subscription for anyway, the lobby-based shooting, was free. With restrictions. It does remind me of what I said last year, however:
I do get the hunch that, much like a certain Cities XL game that came out in 2009 and shut down in March, Global Agenda’s paid MMO side is not doing as well as the company had hoped. Oddly enough, this seems to be a trend with games that release with one half free, one half paid content, unless the game’s name is Guild Wars of course.
If it is any consolation, I still stand by that Global Agenda is a game worth getting into, and if you want to get into the game, the best time to do so may be before the game goes free to play. There is no guarantee that the coupon codes will still work after the game transitions, so you still have an opportunity to purchase the game (and obtain Elite Agent status) for $10, using one of the 50% coupon codes below.
Pitting companies in competition with each other over who can donate the most money to charity is a cruel, rude, and disgusting way to advocate for more donations by offering publicity as a reward. But hey, where there’s smoke there is fire, right? With news of CCP reigniting the PLEX for Good campaign to aid the Red Cross in their mission to help the Japanese, Hi-Rez has joined in to offer their own contribution:
Anyone who purchases Global Agenda between now and the 28th will be able to get their hands on the game for $10, but also knowing that 100% of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross. Yes, a 66% discount and a charitable contribution to show for it. If I didn’t already own Global Agenda, I’m sure I would have bought it during this sale.
Again, the sale lasts until the 28th. The $10 sale lasts until Sunday. More on Global Agenda as it appears.
Since launch, Global Agenda has seen a myriad of updates and content releases along with the transition to a free to play title with boosters in the cash shop. Those of you still on the edge for buying Hi-Rez’s game will be happy to hear that the game will be 50% off for the next four days, until November 29th.
Up to the 29th, you can find Global Agenda in the Global Agenda store for 50% off, so $14.99 USD. Meanwhile, those of you who already own the game will be happy to hear that boosters are on sale for 25% off. A ten day booster is now about six bucks, and so on.
Back in my “autopsy” of The Matrix Online, I mentioned that the game’s poor reception had a lot to do with timing: the game being released in a time where the third movie had come out and did its part trashing public interest in the franchise. Adding to that, the game was never advertised on a major scale, and many of you may have never heard of it. Of course, the Matrix Online was online for four years which many would bill as a pretty successful run.
“If you’ve never heard of the Matrix Online, that wouldn’t be surprising. The game had very little advertising going for it, leading to the low sales that eventually brought the game down to cancellation four years later. The poor reception of the following two Matrix movies did little to ignite enthusiasm for the game, and eventually the number of players leaving outweighed the number of players entering.”
I’ve seen a few MMOs announced this year that have me worried about timing and its effect on the longevity of these titles. Earlier this year, The Mummy Online was announced by Bigpoint for release this winter, and I noted that the game’s possible only saving grace was that it will be free to play with a cash shop, as well as powered by the UNITY engine, making it browser based. There isn’t much research into the Mummy video game franchise, although the movies have done pretty well (not by critic’s standards, but the latest iteration sold over two million dvds).
Hi-Rez Studios, makers of Global Agenda, announced that they not only own the rights to the Tribes series, but they have an MMO in the works for the jetpack-induced shooter, and the only thought running through my mind at the time was: disgruntled fans. If there is any fan-rage to match that of Star Wars versus the New Game Enhancements on Galaxies, it is Tribes vs Tribes: Vengeance. In fact, asking a Tribes fan what they thought of Vengeance is likely to put you at just as much danger as asking a Star Wars nerd his favorite line from Jar Jar Binks.
The Mummy Online will only be a two year dead franchise by the time The Mummy Online launches this winter, assuming it hits its release date. Tribes won’t be going into alpha until 2011, likely for a release in 2012, by which time the IP will be eight years dead (Tribes: Vengeance was 2004). Couple the last title’s performance with a franchise thought dead, and you have a recipe for a blasé launch.
Then again, hopefully I’m wrong. The quality of the game isn’t what I’m worried about, the naturally warm embrace of the MMO community *ahem* is what scares me, especially with what I said a few weeks ago about how one project tanking can financially destabilize the entire company. How about a new non-MMO Tribes game to test the waters? The initial cost is much lower, and it’ll be a nice gauge of the market.
I apologize to any ex-Realtime Worlds employees or APB players who might be offended by the above picture, but I had to repost this. Those of you on Global Agenda’s mailing list will likely have received the above email, taking a sharp stick and poking the still-warm remains of All Points Bulletin, and inviting its players to come join up the action, with a promo code!
An Open Letter to Shooter/MMO Fans from Hi-Rez Studios
Dear Shooter/MMO Fans:
The last few years have been rough for many fans of the Shooter/MMO genre.
Several innovative game titles with great communities have folded as they sought to bring together those of us who enjoy the fast-action, intense pace of a shooter, but also the character progression and persistence offered by MMOs.
Today, we mourn our latest fallen colleague, APB. In making APB, Realtime Worlds had a bold vision to make an MMO devoid of traditional tab-targeting, cast bars, and die-roll combat. We honor their effort and innovation, and greatly mourn the game’s closing.
Sadly, the APB server shutdown leaves their entire community with nothing to shoot or blow up tonight!
So between today and Friday, September 24, 2010, we are offering refugees from APB and other Shooter/MMOs an opportunity to join Global Agenda’s growing community more easily and affordably than ever.
We figure you deserve it. And you’ll fit right in since you already know how to aim.
All players that purchase Global Agenda on the game’s official webstore prior to September 24, 2010, using the promotion code “LongLiveShooterMMOs” will receive a 30% discount off the game. That’s $20.99, £13.12 and €15.75!
This one-time purchase gives you full access to the game’s content, with no monthly fees.
And, remember, you can try the game before you buy by playing the free trial, available here..
We at Hi-Rez Studios believe strongly in the Shooter/MMO genre. We celebrate and thank all developers advancing innovative Shooter/MMO concepts, as well as the fans that dedicate their time to playing and supporting these games.
Todd Harris
Executive Producer, Global Agenda
Just wait, APB fans. If Epic Games does purchase All Points Bulletin and revitalize it, you can take this email and tell Todd Haris exactly where he can shove it.
I apologize to any ex-Realtime Worlds employees or APB players who might be offended by the above picture, but I had to repost this. Those of you on Global Agenda’s mailing list will likely have received the above email, taking a sharp stick and poking the still-warm remains of All Points Bulletin, and inviting its players to come join up the action, with a promo code!
An Open Letter to Shooter/MMO Fans from Hi-Rez Studios
Dear Shooter/MMO Fans:
The last few years have been rough for many fans of the Shooter/MMO genre.
Several innovative game titles with great communities have folded as they sought to bring together those of us who enjoy the fast-action, intense pace of a shooter, but also the character progression and persistence offered by MMOs.
Today, we mourn our latest fallen colleague, APB. In making APB, Realtime Worlds had a bold vision to make an MMO devoid of traditional tab-targeting, cast bars, and die-roll combat. We honor their effort and innovation, and greatly mourn the game’s closing.
Sadly, the APB server shutdown leaves their entire community with nothing to shoot or blow up tonight!
So between today and Friday, September 24, 2010, we are offering refugees from APB and other Shooter/MMOs an opportunity to join Global Agenda’s growing community more easily and affordably than ever.
We figure you deserve it. And you’ll fit right in since you already know how to aim.
All players that purchase Global Agenda on the game’s official webstore prior to September 24, 2010, using the promotion code “LongLiveShooterMMOs” will receive a 30% discount off the game. That’s $20.99, £13.12 and €15.75!
This one-time purchase gives you full access to the game’s content, with no monthly fees.
And, remember, you can try the game before you buy by playing the free trial, available here..
We at Hi-Rez Studios believe strongly in the Shooter/MMO genre. We celebrate and thank all developers advancing innovative Shooter/MMO concepts, as well as the fans that dedicate their time to playing and supporting these games.
Todd Harris
Executive Producer, Global Agenda
Just wait, APB fans. If Epic Games does purchase All Points Bulletin and revitalize it, you can take this email and tell Todd Haris exactly where he can shove it.
I have decided to retire the Month In Review sessions in replacement for what I call “Looking Back, Moving Forward,” essentially a recap of the month and a look forward into the coming month.
June, like any decent bridging sequel, brought more questions to the table than it did answers…
My favorite picture of the month.
I have decided to retire the Month In Review sessions in replacement for what I call “Looking Back, Moving Forward,” essentially a recap of the month’s highlights.
June, like any decent bridging sequel, brought more questions to the table than it did answers. There was plenty of recaps to be had, such as this one! All in all, June was an excellent month for information regarding previously low-key MMOs. We received a lot of information on Warhammer 40k, the new Star Wars MMO, an upcoming Mummy MMO, Jumpgate, Lego Universe, Project V13, among others.
Foremost, happy birthday to some of our old geezers who are still running around.
WWII Online: Battleground Europe (2001-Present)
Anarchy Online (2001-Present)
Star Wars Galaxies (2003-Present)
Sony kicked off the month with the “official” announcement of Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures. Intending to offer players an experience more akin to Free Realms (and built on the same engine), Clone Wars will follow a similar pricing format, with a multitude of mini-games, activities, pets, and houses for players to engage in. Aimed at a slightly lower age group than your Star Wars Galaxies or The Old Republic, Clone Wars is aiming to hit the net sometime later this year.
Lord of the Rings Online and Global Agenda are getting a lot more accessible, with the announcement of both games changing subscription models. Lord of the Rings Online will be taking on a freemium model, with the original game offered for free with bonuses, expansions, and more content available in one time purchases, or for a subscription fee. Global Agenda, on the other hand, is going the Guild Wars route, offering the entire game after purchase for no subscription fee.
June 9th saw the launch of Mortal Online, after a number of delays on the part of Star Vault, with issues of desynchronization, among others, plaguing the servers. Server stability is still an issue with Mortal Online, with a form of compensation on its way from Star Vault.
All Points Bulletin launched this month, with lead designer EJ Moreland taking a shot at the MMOs opening cash shops, by claiming that APB would not feature a cash shop, ever, before quickly retracting on his statement and saying that Realtime Worlds would only consider cashing in if the community asked for it. Given the response to other cash shop inclusions, expect a cash shop coming to a police department near you.
Darkfall still loves you, and here at MMO Fallout we love us some Darkfall. Since the title launched last year, Aventurine has been working around the clock trying to bring in new players, and keep them. Those changes have removed the $50 paywall and introduced initially a paid, now free limited time trial. New players will find themselves offered extra protection during their first days of game time, as well as the game constantly being balanced to lower the time it takes for players to become competent in PvP combat.
And while we’re on the subject of tweaking content to balance gameplay, how about removing a chunk of content for the sake of balance? Such is the case when Flying Lab Software announced that the higher end ships will be removed from Pirates of the Burning Sea for the sake of balancing the lower tiers of ships.
Not all was great on the western front, however, as this month marked the grand server merger in Everquest, leaving just fourteen of the original servers remaining. With what may just turn 2010 into a year for mergers, Sony later announced mergers for Vanguard, with NCsoft announcing Aion server mergers, both game’s mergers to occur in July.
There is plenty more that occurred in June, and you can read all about it in the MMO Fallout archives. Until next time, this is Looking Back, Moving Forward.
Before I go into the news story, I’d just like to make one of my opinions public: I have a very big hunch that the era of B-list MMOs keeping the $15 a month fee is moving towards its end. Obviously I can’t predict where the market will wind up, but I earnestly believe that we are in the beginning of a shift where we will see a number of MMOs lower their subscription price, go freemium, or entirely free to play. Developers are seeing how many more players they can grab at a lower price, with the influx of new people paying far outweighing the group who was willing to pay the full price. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and despite complaints by a very vocal minority, the benefits can far overshadow the negatives if done correctly.
Global Agenda, being a part-MMO title that launched this February, became so successful that Hi-Rez had to add a new server to accommodate overseas players. I do get the hunch that, much like a certain Cities XL game that came out in 2009 and shut down in March, Global Agenda’s paid MMO side is not doing as well as the company had hoped. Oddly enough, this seems to be a trend with games that release with one half free, one half paid content, unless the game’s name is Guild Wars of course.
Hi-Rez Studios announced today that Global Agenda is going free to play (well, the subscription portion was), and speaking of Guild Wars, Global Agenda will be channeling Arenanet’s policy of having the game itself be free to play, with option paid expansion packs. Expansion packs are expected to release only once or twice per year, at rates similar to non-subscription game expansions (I haven’t purchased a non-subscription expansion since the Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons. Twenty to thirty dollars sounds about right). Token awards for pre-subscribers will end on the 25th of June, and Hi-Rez has assured us that if the level cap expands, players will not need to buy an expansion pack to access the higher level cap.
Global Agenda is one of the few MMOs I don’t follow too closely, and I’m quite certain that the community will fill in the blanks behind this change, but look at it this way: At least Hi-Rez didn’t take the path of Cities XL and simply close up shop because not enough people were subscribing.
By the way: Global Agenda is 33% off on Steam until July 5th. What great timing.
↓ – “Activation and download may take up to 48 hours after purchase.”
♣ – Paypal is not accepted if paid in pounds or Euros.
♥ – 30 days only applies to new Station accounts.
MMO Fallout 