The Agency: monthly fees not likely; in-game ads, microtransactions instead

Posted Nov 29, 2008 at 12:09PM by QJ Staff Listed in: PS3 Tags: Kevin O'Hara, SOE, Sony

The Agency - Image 1

Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming pseudo-MMO shooter, The Agency, is catching the attention of some gamers - not to mention advertisers too. In an interview, SOE's Kevin O'Hara reveals that the game might opt to do away with monthly subscription fees (a big sigh of relief there). However, there's still revenue to be made - that's where in-game advertising and microtransactions come in.

It sounds fair enough though. Here's a quote from O'Hara:

WeÂ’re acutely aware that shooter players are not used to playing monthly fees, so I doubt weÂ’ll go for an outright US$15 a month, which works on some of our other projects.

So weÂ’re checking out Free Realms to see how theyÂ’re going to do with their microtransactions, and we might incorporate some of that. WeÂ’ll definitely have some ad revenue models. The AgencyÂ’s the perfect place for some in-game product placement.

Yeah, not everything in life is free. People still need to make money. Life goes on. Golden arches are everywhere now.

SOE announce microtransactions in The Agency, Free Realms

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Comments

# Some Ads — LightAce 2008-11-29 08:39

I can live with in-game ads. They just have to be subtle, like a pepsi ad at a bus stop.

# nothing wrong with in game ads — lee123 2008-11-29 10:46

makes it more realistic i think

as long as its not to in your face like...

'QUICK shoot him with the McDonalds® ray gun NOW!'

# hey... — RexNox 2008-11-29 10:53

because you have to be 18 to have participate in microtransactio ns we should see Playboy and Hustler ads. Wouldn't mind those.

# .... — Silver-Tiger 2008-11-30 01:41

some good well placed ads make the game more realistic.

For example place them on the ingame-billboards LOL....

# bah... — RexNox 2008-11-30 05:08

they did that with MxO it looks stupid and is annoying.

# no problem with it at all. — NarooN 2008-11-30 14:36

I'm fine with it. What's better, looking at some short animation on a sign or some static image, or paying $15 per month?

That's what I though.

# Thank you Sony — Justingraziano 2008-11-30 15:13

Thank you very much. Since I've already sworn I will never pay for a game with ads in it, I will be saving tons of money! Time to bookmark a good torrent site and let the downloads begin!

# ... — Justingraziano 2008-11-30 15:15

That will never happen because

A. Nobody cares what a little EULA says about age limits and

B. Pornographic ads set a bad image for the company.

# idiocy at its best. — NarooN 2008-11-30 16:05

Yep, I guess glancing occasionally at a texture that has one of your favorite fast food joints on it somehow persuades you to not buy the game, but to illegally download it. Go ahead and download it; I hope your PC gets some new virus of doom that'll make your PC get the RROD. No, that wasn't a typo.

# ... — Justingraziano 2008-12-02 13:21

Why because I choose not to pay for things that should not be payed for? I pay for software to help the developers because if people pirate it then the company looses money but, with ads, the company gets loads of money. Why pay for it? Thats like finding a game on the street and then throwing 50 bucks into the street just to pick it up.

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