Turbine looks to micro-transactions News

6 January, 2009

MMO developer Turbine is to move from its traditional subscriptions to a micro-transaction-based business model on a future game.

The news came in the form of a job advertisement for a micro-transaction and e-commerce manager, as spotted by Massively last week.

Players feared this might mean the introduction of item shops to Turbine's subscription games Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online and Asheron's Call. Sony Online Entertainment recently made this move with EverQuest and EverQuest II, much to the consternation of fans.

But a Turbine representative reassured the public that this wouldn't be the case. "We know the recent job listing has caused a bit of a stir, but please be aware that this posting is for an unannounced future project," the rep said in a forum post.

The new recruit "will be responsible for delivering and maximizing the revenue derived from Turbine's micro-transaction-based in-game store", according to the ad.

Perhaps Turbine is looking to use micro-transactions rather than subs to support its forthcoming console game.

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!

Poster

Comment Low-scoring comments hidden. Log in to see them!

DDevil

06/01/09 @ 11:26

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Headline borkage for this article on the main page.

ZuluHero

06/01/09 @ 11:26

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

yeah - i just clicked it out of interest :)

EG should do this for everything. I like it! :P

DFawkes

06/01/09 @ 11:27

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Damn, I was hoping LOTRO was going free since I can't afford the sub. Oh well, guess it's Guild Wars still.

Dizzy

06/01/09 @ 11:32

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Rumor has it they are working on a new DnD MMO on 360/PC. Free on Live and supported by micro transactions would probably be a viable route for Turbine. Then again it could also be the new Hobbit game, a LOTRO spinoff. Guess we will find out soon, Turbine said they would announce something next few months.

Edited 3 times, most recently on 06/01/09 @ 11:35

Bleh

06/01/09 @ 11:48

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

"Then again it could also be the new Hobbit game, a LOTRO spinoff."

Thought Turbine only held the license to make a MMO in the Lotr universe and EA holds the other parts.

Hopefully they hold there word and don't make this in the existing games.

Dizzy

06/01/09 @ 12:00

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

"Thought Turbine only held the license to make a MMO in the Lotr universe and EA holds the other parts. "

No Turbine has rights to books I seem to remember and EA to movies (and books probably).

DFawkes

06/01/09 @ 12:04

You buried this comment

Comment below viewing threshold

Show

Nope, EA even got the book rights now, which is why some of the stuff in Battle for Middle-Earth II is from the books. I'm assuming Turbine must've retained the MMO rights though.

Dizzy

06/01/09 @ 12:15