Confusion over Star Wars MMO model

By Oli Welsh Published 10 December, 2008

Could it be "micro-transaction-based"?

Electronic Arts chief John Riccitiello suggested to investors yesterday that Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare's recently-announced MMO, will earn money from micro-transactions rather than subscriptions.

However, EA has subsequently distanced itself from his comments, according to Shacknews. Apparently there's been a "misunderstanding" and "no statements have been made about the Star Wars business model".

Riccitiello's description of Star Wars: The Old Republic as a "mid-session", "micro-transaction-based" game certainly came as a surprise.

Although it's true that business models weren't discussed at the game's unveiling in October, everything about its presentation suggested that it was a big-budget, premium MMO intended to compete with Blizzard's World of Warcraft for lucrative player subscriptions.

But Riccitiello's description aligned it more with the likes of free-to-play shooter Battlefield Heroes and trading-card RTS Battleforge in EA's lineup, or FIFA Online, which it operates in Asia.

"We are continuing to stick to the plan relative to building out our direct-to-consumer models which include micro-transactions and subscriptions," he said in a conference call. "The recent launch of Warhammer [Online] is a great example of that.

"Other initiatives we've announced, for example [the] Star Wars online MMO, are mid-session games which are micro-transaction-based," he continued. "You’ll be hearing more about those in the February [conference] call."

Has Riccititello let the cat out of the bag, or is he just a little confused? Either way, it seems we'll have to wait until February at least to clear up this "misunderstanding" from the silver-locked boardroom potentate.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is in development for PC, and has no release date as yet. More info at the Old Republic gamepage.

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • SliderNL #1 3 years ago

    I would love this business model "Stop making MMO-games no one wants to play-model" I liked KOTOR, didn't like Mass Effect and don't want to play an MMO ever again.

  • Xerx3s #2 3 years ago

    They can shove this mmo crap up their arse. Give us a real sequel to kotor or don't bother.

  • Eraysor #3 3 years ago

    I'd much rather pay a subscription fee than pay £1 for every sword I buy.

  • Evolution #4 3 years ago

    @Xerx3s

    Hear hear!

  • sneetch #5 3 years ago

    @Eraysor
    "I'd much rather pay a subscription fee than pay £1 for every sword I buy."

    OMGOMGOMG!!!!! Look in this shop! Only £50 for an epic Jedi tier IV raiding kit including "The Lightsabre of Qual'bleeck'olirs'bloch... Q'tan"! Oh but it's last seasons style. :(

  • the_mtfr #6 3 years ago

    I love SliderNL's business model! :)

    I see someone at Eurogamer doesn't like Ricitello too much. First he spells his name "Riccitiello" and then "Riccititello". We should see this more often!

  • hulahoops #7 3 years ago

    @Eraysor

    If you don't buy more than 30 swords when you start and 8 extra swords a month, what's the difference? In fact the likelihood is that you'll only drop a pound here and there on something you really want.

    With free to play if you spend 8 pounds a month on your character you're king of the realm.

    With subscription you pay 30 pounds + 8 pounds a month to be just another schmuck.

    That's why, IMO, free to play will eventually push through as the way people choose to play. It's the flexibility of it.

    Our parents' generation don't get games.

    Our generation don't get virtual items.

    The next generation do.
    Edited by 4 at 10/12/08 @ 11:56

  • skullstorm #8 3 years ago

    The next generation is here. MMO's are made for 10 year olds now.

  • sneetch #9 3 years ago

    @BlankOBlank!
    "If you don't buy more than 30 swords when you start and 8 extra swords a month, what's the difference? In fact the likelihood is that you'll only drop a pound here and there on something you really want.

    With free to play if you spend 8 pounds a month on your character you're king of the realm.

    With subscription you pay 30 pounds + 8 pounds a month to be just another schmuck."

    I don't think so, especially not in competitive games, and this is the problem: with micro-transaction games where you can buy kit you spend 8 bucks a month on your character and you get pwned by the guys who pay 16 bucks a month. Or 30. It becomes less about the game and more about whoever can afford to buy the best kit. Not to mention that buying gear devalues it. For example, I can raid for months to get my epix0rs or I can spend £20 and get better than it. That's an extreme example as it will be unlikely that you can or would buy kit like that month in month out.

    Personally, I believe these games should be about the games themselves and not about peoples resources outside that game.

  • Discalceaterabbit #10 3 years ago

    Its EA. Expect a monthly subscription PLUS microtransactions. And You will probably have to have a new account for every character, and then another account for every PC.......

  • azizur #11 3 years ago

    I think some people here need to grow up a little. Yes, Xerx3s, I'm talking to you :)

  • Lamont #12 3 years ago

    Just make it great (i.e. as good as WoW was at launch) and I'll happily pay a monthy subscription.