A Growing Space for MMOs?
Posted on 05. Feb, 2009 by starg in Gaming News
Over the past six months it has become painfully obvious the videogame industry is not, in fact, recession-proof. Recent revenue reports and layoffs coming from EA and THQ have only driven home the fact. But according to a recent Reuters article, the economic crisis may be an opportunity for MMO publishers.
There are a few reasons online multiplayer games may be more resistant to downtrodden market pressures, however I don’t think Michael Pachter is right in thinking MMO players are addicts. Though I’ll admit, if I were fired tomorrow it would definitely free up some time for me to finally hit level 80. A much more compelling reason for potential growth is that a persistent world, with a multitude of open-ended goals and feedback mechanisms, just makes economic sense to gamers with empty wallets. A sixty dollar game on any of the major consoles can vary in length dramatically, some providing as little as six hours of gameplay.
Even if the game contains multiplayer elements, these segments can become dull through repetition. The length of an MMO is only limited by how long you are willing to put into it. At only fifteen dollars a month, World of Warcraft can be a very cost effective experience. If you include multiple class options and continuous updates, a money-strapped gamer could find an MMO world very appealing.
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