I think more games will end up going to in-game transactions in order to support development costs. WoW has proven that the subscription model works. Maplestory and Zynga's facebook games have proven that the micro-transaction model works. And I think that Diablo 3's auction house will prove that direct consumer to consumer transactions can generate fee income as well.
The initial purchase cost of the game will eventually be less and less relevant for developers who discover additional ways to make money. This will be the best solution to pirated games. Who cares if you can download the game for free? If you contribute to the in-game ecosystem, you contribute to the bottom line for profits for that company.
It ends up being a win-win for everyone involved.
The initial purchase cost of the game will eventually be less and less relevant for developers who discover additional ways to make money. This will be the best solution to pirated games. Who cares if you can download the game for free? If you contribute to the in-game ecosystem, you contribute to the bottom line for profits for that company.
It ends up being a win-win for everyone involved.