From Shareware to Free to Play
The Free-to-play model is older than some might remember. I specifically remember an example of an early Shareware game titled "Castle of the Winds. The first part of the game was distributed freely on floppy disks, and if someone completed part 1, they were given an address to write to to buy part 2.
Shareware was the earlier prototype of Free to Play games. The principle is the same because something is given away for free with the idea that people will enjoy it and buy more levels or additional functionality. It applies to regular software as well as video games. Sometimes, this is called a demo.
The effectiveness of the Free to Play business model can be seen in the example of Minecraft. A demo was downloadable that let you play for a limited number of hours before you had to either buy the full game or just restart your progress and play the demo.
The reason it's so effective compared to the traditional method of buying a game before you can play it is that people don't know they are interested in a game if it is unlike anything they have played. They would have relied on having a friend who had a copy of the game to be able to try it and see if they liked it.
Another overlooked element is that Free to Play targets an audience that may not have money to spend now because they are children who are reliant on their parents to buy them games. By allowing them to enjoy games for free, they can have years of enjoyment before they have jobs of their own and can purchase future downloadable content or future games sold from the same publisher. For example, I enjoyed Runescape long before I had a job or money to pay for a membership. I later enjoyed doing some member-only quests when I had the time to enjoy them. I speak from personal experience that Free to Play is, at times, a great business model.
[DWTerminator]. (2020, June 28). Classic Review - Castle of the Winds [Video]. YouTube. https://lnkd.in/gq5DrUuq
M., Lasky , & Robbins, B. (n.d.). Steal This Game (Ep. 1). Gamecraft. https://lnkd.in/ggiPXPP5
Here is my latest level design project, Occupied Town. It's a recollection of some of the LD work I did in 2023, for a project that unfortunately did not survive this turbulent year.
The main focus is to showcase the pacing of a linear action-adventure level, spacial management, and using blockout as a visual development tool. Gameplay elements are placeholders, though it would not be too different from a Naughty Dog title.
You can find more details here, about the narrative background for this level and the design process: http://tinyurl.com/tpsLD1#LevelDesign#UnrealEngine#GameDesign#Gamedev#OpenToWorkhttps://lnkd.in/g6seq7gY
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island Version 1.1.0 Update
Summary:
The version 1.1.0 update for Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island introduces excitin...
Early November, I went to Godot Con 2023 to talk about what I do as a hobby: more gamedev and stylized rendering!
This time I focused my talk on some potential issues encountered during production of stylized games, as well as how I managed to make it work without opening up the engine.
I had a great time in Munich with the people there, open source communities are great! It's interesting to see indie devs, some part time or hobbyists, as I'm more used to, well, AAA these days. There were some AAA devs, but mostly coming as hobbyists too (a good reminder that people are full of passion in this industry)! 🙂
My talk got uploaded to youtube recently, here it is if you're interested: https://lnkd.in/exQwxegr
https://jonnykrysh.me
Now deployed with Next.js!
Migrated from Vite to get more capabilities with routing, server-side rendering, and more out-of-box. I have a few ideas for projects I'll be working on and I needed something to handle routing multiple projects from a single domain. Their docs for this migration are pretty awesome, too: https://lnkd.in/g9ZJ3AwB
Even had an opportunity to propose improvements to the docs along the way – https://lnkd.in/g_6pZEiG
Next up: blog (so you don't have to read this here), widget to show now listening via LastFM, games, and more.
Stay 🔐.
GAME ON
Each a self-named entity,
may freely arrange
as we like,
designate private space, express
distinctive style,
so long as no notable harm
emanates, that actions I choose
don’t prevent any you
from pursuits to enrich your
own chosen game.
*
Simple rules for simple folk.
Too angry to laugh at the joke.
Caught in cages facing outward.
Who decides this we?
Which you and I agreed? Not me.
That aghast they in merry mockery,
selling meanness dressed as decency
rock large on percentage pay.
At least feed us red meat and
football nights. Provide our cells with
innovative gadgets, to watch
imaginary battlers put on heroic fights.
Maybe nothing’s good;
but we’re all right.
A question from a former Video Game Industry employee, asked on behalf of those who cannot ask: what changes are made at the leadership level when a massive layoff like this happens?
I have watched layoffs ripple through the games industry since I joined in 2010. I have yet to see anyone in a leadership role choose to step down or vocally take responsibility for their failures in leadership. Hiring doesn’t happen in a vaccuum; headcount has to be approved. So who approved Riot’s headcount doubling in the last *year*? That’s wild in any industry. What form of responsibility do the Hiring approvers hold, here? Why is it that only the ICs suffer low pay and job insecurity when they are working long hours to make a game successful?
In the next few months, companies will be hiring these laid off employees back “on contract” for even lower pay. The people doing QA or handling customer support will be making $15/hour, hoping they can find an amicable roommate within an hour’s driving distance from the office while the executives become millionaires.
Is anyone else tired of this cycle? I’m not even in the industry anymore and I don’t know how my friends handle it. Y’all deserve better.
Execs, do better. Stop overhiring. Pay people well.
Fantasy modular 3D asset pack, fully compatible with the Universal Render Pipeline (URP). This pack comes with a detailed set of fantasy themed models such as Trees, Modular Building Blocks, Particles, Vegetation, Trees, Grass, Etc..
Senior Technical Writer at Orbit Communication Systems
1moNow the big question comes: will it finally include Israel in it? Ancient Israel? Modern Israel? Or will the anti-Israel bias will win yet again?