Business Model of Pax Dei Will Kill The Game

[Super Clutch]

I'm not sure what the Devs are smoking but the thought process that went into their business model is ludicrous. Expecting players to pay for a game starting at $40 and then continue to pay for a subscription to maintain their characters and plots of land is naive and clearly trying to take advantage of players. $100 if you bought the Master Pack which will be even more expensive to maintain with a monthly subscription. I have a feeling that some of the people in charge at Mainframe Industries and New Tales are huge fans of Bitcoin, NFTs and Meta's Metaverse bs. Pax Dei is going to fall flat on its face in one of two ways. It doesn't leave early access because people see the bs so the game doesn't make enough capital to leave early access. It's pretty obvious that the studios do not have the capital to finish the game outright and are banking on early access to help with that. The second possibility is the game leaves early access but the subscription model kills the game. If they really want this game to work and cost this price with a reoccurring subscription; they're going to need some really good anti-cheat and be as active as every other MMO dev out there. I doubt with the lack of reputation they have that Mainframe Industries will be able to maintain it. The fact that they don't actually have a business model and pricing planed out tells me that they have no idea and are just winging it. Not a great look. Honestly go get a ♥♥♥♥♥ kickstarter. Don't treat your fans like they're a piggy bank. Mixed reviews isn't a great start either and it's all because of the business model and pricing from what I've read. And if Mainframe Industries continue on this route, I hope they fail and if they do fail, just know you will lose access to the game entirely.

[Michael Heike]

I know Early Access games are generally wiped and normally several times.

But on top of what you say above, with this business model, if the Devs wipe these servers… this game is dead.

Maybe it was a cash grab all along?

[Balmung]

And yet another pointless thread about this topic... What the developers definitely need are players who sell themselves as business professionals.

Mixed reviews means nothing yet. The most only complaining because it is no MMO yet, normal when a MMO is in the middle of the development with important missing features yet. And the most complain about the business model because they judge PxD on that what it actually is and not what it will be in the end. They all have a crystal ball and know how bad it will be when it is ready for full release.

But I agree with that Anti Cheat thing. There is near no online game with no cheater problem today. "Other cheat, then I will also cheat!" is always the best excuse you will hear from this "players".

[Super Clutch]

Originally posted by Balmung:

And yet another pointless thread about this topic... What the developers definitely need are players who sell themselves as business professionals.

Mixed reviews means nothing yet. The most only complaining because it is no MMO yet, normal when a MMO is in the middle of the development with important missing features yet. And the most complain about the business model because they judge PxD on that what it actually is and not what it will be in the end. They all have a crystal ball and know how bad it will be when it is ready for full release.

But I agree with that Anti Cheat thing. There is near no online game with no cheater problem today. "Other cheat, then I will also cheat!" is always the best excuse you will hear from this "players".

I can't tell if you are being serious or sarcastic. What a weird response. Mixed reviews mean a lot at every point in the development of a game. I'm definitely not going to judge Pax Dei on what it could potentially be because no guarantee it will even get their. Not to mention that many of us have different ideas on where the game should go. So anyone that reviews this gameor any game on what it could be is stupid. You clearly don't have a crystal ball either to say this game will be good in the future. Using that logic against us for calling out the Dev's shady business model is also stupid.

[Pamina]

Originally posted by Super Clutch:

I'm not sure what the Devs are smoking but the thought process that went into their business model is ludicrous. Expecting players to pay for a game starting at $40 and then continue to pay for a subscription to maintain their characters and plots of land is naive and clearly trying to take advantage of players. $100 if you bought the Master Pack which will be even more expensive to maintain with a monthly subscription. I have a feeling that some of the people in charge at Mainframe Industries and New Tales are huge fans of Bitcoin, NFTs and Meta's Metaverse bs. Pax Dei is going to fall flat on its face in one of two ways. It doesn't leave early access because people see the bs so the game doesn't make enough capital to leave early access. It's pretty obvious that the studios do not have the capital to finish the game outright and are banking on early access to help with that. The second possibility is the game leaves early access but the subscription model kills the game. If they really want this game to work and cost this price with a reoccurring subscription; they're going to need some really good anti-cheat and be as active as every other MMO dev out there. I doubt with the lack of reputation they have that Mainframe Industries will be able to maintain it. The fact that they don't actually have a business model and pricing planed out tells me that they have no idea and are just winging it. Not a great look. Honestly go get a ♥♥♥♥♥ kickstarter. Don't treat your fans like they're a piggy bank. Mixed reviews isn't a great start either and it's all because of the business model and pricing from what I've read. And if Mainframe Industries continue on this route, I hope they fail and if they do fail, just know you will lose access to the game entirely.

Well I saw this like a kickstarter.
I knew they where aiming for a subscription. I hoped they would decide against it.
I will not go into that model, cause I do not want to pay for a game I may not play at the moment. I thought maybe it could tempt me to rethink this.
You know good content, and updates, just to support them even when I do not play.
But what I see is not something I would like to support on a monthly basis.
If this games comes out, I think I will buy it if it is an option. If not okay, paid my part to support them and had some fun. :D

[LucasR]

Originally posted by Super Clutch:

I'm not sure what the Devs are smoking but the thought process that went into their business model is ludicrous. Expecting players to pay for a game starting at $40 and then continue to pay for a subscription to maintain their characters and plots of land is naive and clearly trying to take advantage of players. $100 if you bought the Master Pack which will be even more expensive to maintain with a monthly subscription. I have a feeling that some of the people in charge at Mainframe Industries and New Tales are huge fans of Bitcoin, NFTs and Meta's Metaverse bs. Pax Dei is going to fall flat on its face in one of two ways. It doesn't leave early access because people see the bs so the game doesn't make enough capital to leave early access. It's pretty obvious that the studios do not have the capital to finish the game outright and are banking on early access to help with that. The second possibility is the game leaves early access but the subscription model kills the game. If they really want this game to work and cost this price with a reoccurring subscription; they're going to need some really good anti-cheat and be as active as every other MMO dev out there. I doubt with the lack of reputation they have that Mainframe Industries will be able to maintain it. The fact that they don't actually have a business model and pricing planed out tells me that they have no idea and are just winging it. Not a great look. Honestly go get a ♥♥♥♥♥ kickstarter. Don't treat your fans like they're a piggy bank. Mixed reviews isn't a great start either and it's all because of the business model and pricing from what I've read. And if Mainframe Industries continue on this route, I hope they fail and if they do fail, just know you will lose access to the game entirely.

I couldn’t have said it better.

[wikario]

Heh, find it always funny that players think they know gaming industry and business modells better than the devs.

I admit outright that I have no clue and likely TO has no clue as well.

So why cant we leave this decision just to the devs? Its their Problem. And if the game and/or price tag is not to our liking, we simply dont pay and play it.

[Qual44]

another person who fails at reading

[RaZ]

Game is already dead, they don’t need the subscription to do that 😅

This game is so trash, I’m happy I received an alpha key from a friend so I never had to buy it.

[Do It For Hargon]

Originally posted by wikario:

Heh, find it always funny that players think they know gaming industry and business modells better than the devs.

i'm a game dev, and op is correct.

[Kapyong]

How much do they pay you Balmung ?
I've never seen such a committed fanboi :)

[Super Clutch]

Originally posted by wikario:

Heh, find it always funny that players think they know gaming industry and business modells better than the devs.

I admit outright that I have no clue and likely TO has no clue as well.

So why cant we leave this decision just to the devs? Its their Problem. And if the game and/or price tag is not to our liking, we simply dont pay and play it.

As players we have a pretty good Idea what we want and don't want. If players don't like the business model, then it's probably not good. But we have every right to talk about it and express our concerns.

[Balmung]

Originally posted by Super Clutch:

I can't tell if you are being serious or sarcastic. What a weird response. Mixed reviews mean a lot at every point in the development of a game.

No, they mean nothing. This reviews are based on a not finished game and a Sandbox MMO is not a usually Early Access title. At such a game the game comes together at the end of the development. Reviews based before that says nothing and they also didn't count on release, Steam filters EA reviews out after release so only the full release reviews count. Also Steam highlights new reviews more as old ones. We all should know how quick the general review rating can switch into both directions.

I'm definitely not going to judge Pax Dei on what it could potentially be because no guarantee it will even get their. Not to mention that many of us have different ideas on where the game should go. So anyone that reviews this gameor any game on what it could be is stupid. You clearly don't have a crystal ball either to say this game will be good in the future. Using that logic against us for calling out the Dev's shady business model is also stupid.

Ok, now tell me where I did say anything about that PxD will be a good or a bad game when its development is finished.

And no, reviewing a unfinished game is not stupid, when you review it like... well... like a unfinished game. That means telling that it is unfinished, tell that bad parts can still change to good ones etc.

So, what if Pax Dei turns out to be not just a good MMO, but an amazingly innovative MMO? Is this business model then still a problem, when millions of players want to play this MMO?

So, yeah, we are back on reading crystal balls. How good a business model is depends at the end always also on how much players you can reach with it.

And no, there is no right to be able to play every game. If a developer can afford to be more selective with its customers by using a subscription model and a higher purchase price (which I don't expect for the final game, I suspect it will be around 30$ with one free month included), then that's their right.

[Balmung]

Originally posted by Kapyong:

How much do they pay you Balmung ?
I've never seen such a committed fanboi :)

Zero, I'm not even sure anymore if that game will be at the end a good MMO, but that didn't mean I know it will be a bad game. I talk a lot more in general and ignore stuff we can't know yet and that is a lot. I have simply no problem with their business model, if PxD is good enough for it.

Subscriptions always stand and fall with the quality of the MMO. Many MMOs 10+ years ago failed because the MMO was simply not good enough. SW:TOR, for example, was in a very poor state at release. Aion also did a lot wrong back then (big bot problem). Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn, on the other hand, did a lot of things right, right from the start, and was able to maintain its subscription, just like WoW back then. You can only play them for free (more like a demo) today because they want to attract new players, not because the subscription failed (which is still there).

[OwiHH]

No one is forcing you to buy a Early Access Title - if you feel sad now about your money - its your fault no one elses.

[Qual44]

YAWN