UKTerrorist
Posted by Space Cowboy at 10:45 10/2/2001.
It looks like the future of online gaming will be on a play per pay basis. With the liquidation of Barrysworld, other companies are having to consider their future seriously. Here is what Wireplay have to say on the matter:- First in case you hadn't worked this out yet..Wireplay will be going subscription based. There is no set date at the moment but it will be within the next few months.- This will involve peple buying monthly or yearly subscriptions to use the Wireplay servers. The servers will be using an authing technique that will allow users to use any type of connection and also any type of software server browser..Gspy WP3 PingTool etc, but still restrict access to only those who have payed subs.
- There will be no 0800 deals or such like. This is econimcally out of the question and impracticle to run.
- There will be a limit to the number of subscribers. This will be well below the capacity of the network thus meaning that the load on the servers/connections will be reduced and performance increased
- When the service goes subs initially the clan servers will be left open and available for people without subs. However in the future they may well be incorperated into the subs scheme. This should not affect the wpcsl3 and that should continue as planned.
- With servers going closed..community sizes will drop. Some may stay the same some may grow and a lot will decrease in size. As such dependent on who plays where, the servers are likly to be redistributed to some extent.
What is happening to the free internet? Perhaps advertising could be introduced into games. Sounds far fetched, but I would be happy to have advertising actually in game, if it meant a free service. Many websites/TV channels/Radio stations use this formula, so why not extend it into the world of gaming?
Want to discuss this? Pop on over to the forums.
