How exactly is NCSoft...

Oui

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

Wisconsin

W/E

...Going to make money? It seems weird consider the high cost of servers... Please inform me.

gwden

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

You make it sound like they're giving the game away for free.

Valin

Valin

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Order of the Stick

N/Mo

a) by selling chapters.

b) the servers aren't as expensive as other typical MMOs because of the district technology used.

Principa Discordia

Principa Discordia

Site Contributor

Join Date: Apr 2005

England.

Valin is correct. With the new district technology, they can limit their number of servers adn the load on them, killing two birds with one stone.

They're also planning to release a new expansion (or chapter) roughly once per year at the same cost of the original game, most MMOs charge you a monthly fee which covers the cost of any new content streamed to the user that is not released on CD (new quests, monsters, weapons/items, locations, etc.) While NCSoft do this too, and for free, the good stuff will be on disc.

Oui

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

Wisconsin

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Principa Discordia
Valin is correct. With the new district technology, they can limit their number of servers adn the load on them, killing two birds with one stone.

They're also planning to release a new expansion (or chapter) roughly once per year at the same cost of the original game, most MMOs charge you a monthly fee which covers the cost of any new content streamed to the user that is not released on CD (new quests, monsters, weapons/items, locations, etc.) While NCSoft do this too, and for free, the good stuff will be on disc.
Only once per year !

I heard every 2 months... Hmm...

Id rather have 30$ expansions every 2 - 3 months to keep it fresh...

Dumahim Ashenbane

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Steel Horse Men

R/E

Just to post something to contradict what's been said, but I heard an expansion every 6 months.

Ramus

Ramus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

Zero Tolerance

W/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dumahim Ashenbane
Just to post something to contradict what's been said, but I heard an expansion every 6 months.
I think it is, "6 to 12 months" pretty much. I doubt the first expansion will come that soon though, i'd say at least 8 months. (since the game was opened)

Spirit Firefly

Spirit Firefly

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

LFG

Mo/N

I heard.....sheep

Shagsbeard

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Wonder how long until this thread turns into the inevitable "this isn't a MMORPG" thread.

Dumahim Ashenbane

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Steel Horse Men

R/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramus
I think it is, "6 to 12 months" pretty much. I doubt the first expansion will come that soon though, i'd say at least 8 months. (since the game was opened)
yeah, probably. Hopefully it doesn't take too long. I hope to have 2 characters work their way through to the end. I suppose I'll be bored by then and get a bit of a break before the expansion comes out.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dumahim Ashenbane
yeah, probably. Hopefully it doesn't take too long. I hope to have 2 characters work their way through to the end. I suppose I'll be bored by then and get a bit of a break before the expansion comes out.
the OFFICIAL statement is first half of 06 for the next chapter with following chapters planned twice a year