Starting from October 5, 2009 Virtonomics won’t be free-to-play any more. The new game model will be Shareware, which means that free playing will be possible for 14 days only.
There will be 2 options provided for Virtonomics players:
1. Subscribers game – “Anna” realm has been opened on September 29, 2009. (Here are ).
- all enterprises and game functions (except for decorative, like office decoration) are free
- game situation updates require payment
- the minimum cost of monthly subscription is $8.25 (in case if purchase the whole year)
2. Game with obligatory minimum payment for services – “Mary ” realm (Here are .)
- game updates function is provided in addition to purchased game services
- 1 game point spent by the player for any kind of game needs will ensure 6 full-scale game updates (but no more than 90 in total). It means that every player must spend at least 5 game points per month to ensure himself a normal game process
- the player can choose any kind of services or enterprises to spend game points required for game update
There will be two different game modes: Demo mode (DM) and Full mode (FM)
I. Regulations of DM
a) For 14 days starting from the moment of registration, the player can play the game in demo mode for free;
b) Every time the player spends game points, it will change his mode from DM to FM for 6xP (P = number of spent game points). However, the total duration of paid period can not exceed 90 game updates. The rest of unspent free period will be added to the duration of FM, when the player switches from DM to FM;
c) When the player loses his DM status, he keeps all his actives, qualifications, achievments, etc.;
d) Every new expenditure of game points will add to FD duration 6xP updates. However, the total duration of paid period can not exceed 90 updates;
e) In case if after 14 days of DM the player didn't switch to FM, his game character will be expelled from the realm;
f) The DM companies have following restrictions:
- it is forbidden to take part in competitions and promo-actions of the realm;
- it is forbidden to use massive messaging function.
g) The restart will return 14-days DM period back to the very beginning;
h) Registration in the game is only possible after e-mail confirmation.
II. Procedure of FM conclusion
a) In case if the comapny officially goes bankrupt, it WILL NOT disable the rest of the utilization regulations;
b) 10 and 5 days before the end of paid period, the player will receive a notification;
c) After the first non-payment, the company will be "frozen":
- all the workers will be set on vacation;
- advertising campaigns will be suspended;
- sales of all enterprises will be cancelled (except for auctions);
- all the market offers on technologies and licenses will be cancelled;
- all the market requests for licenses will be cancelled;
- all the offers for goods sale will be closed;
- all the contracts will be zeroed.
The player will receive a notification, his access to company will be partially blocked;
d) After 5 unpaid updates, the company will be ultimately terminated - the contracts will be cancelled;
e) After 90 unpaid updates, the game character will be expelled from the realm;;
f) The restart will return all the counters back to zero, and bring the company to the regular 14-days DM..
III. Procedure of switching to the new system
a) Counters of DM and FM will be activated on October 5;
b) All players registered before 28.09.09 , who had spent game points, will automatically get a paid period of 6xP updates (P – number of spent game points) and a 14-day bonus. However, the total duration of paid period in FM can not exceed 180 updates;
c) The players without any spent game points, will also be switched into DM, their assets won’t change.
IV. Other changes, related to the new game model
a) First payment bonus is cancelled;
b) Restart in FM will bring the player back to the step of company creaction, without any restrictions on the validiy of FM. The player will get back half of game points, spent for qualification, in form of undistributed points, which can be spent on qualification growth ONLY;
c) It is forbidden to post any kind of announcements about credits, sponsoring funds etc., as well as requests for credit. Credit-related announcements will be deleted, their author will receive a warning. Violators can be blocked or expelled from the game;
d) VIRTs and bonus points (gained as a prize in competition, etc.) are equal to paid points, and therefore can be used for Full Mode prolongation.
V. The expected modifications
1. Within the nearest 180 updates (until the end of November) some will be implemented. Besides, we’ll introduce a system of several characters amalgamation (subject to they belong to the same player).
2. In future we’ll introduce non-manufacturing business industry.
I posted a topic for aq petition!! i doubt it'll work but lets give it a try!! its in the main forum!!
1.10.2009, 07:13
impressed with hafeezi's post. agree totally, especially with the 'donation drive'.
Yes, i would 'donate' a few dollars if it's a financial problem to then have the pay-for-extra-features model restored
chris
1.10.2009, 08:19
Last time edited : 1.10.2009, 08:25
hafeezi
Very sad news indeed coming from the Virtonomics team. Also I find it more sad that the business model they're going to for is also flawed and will cause them to lose another source revenue for their company.
Let me try to explain why I think this way, and I hope for the Virtonomics team, please listen to this argument. Oh and invite your business execs too. They'll want to listen to this.
The business model that you're gonna go for here is a normal Software-As-A-Service type of model that will require a monthly subscription or a quota of game points that needs to be spent over time. If you guys are offering a Web Based Enterprise Application either for ERP, CRM or even a billing system, then yes you can offer this kind of pricing. But you can't exactly use this kind of pricing model for an application that is based on Educational/Entertainment. I know this because I have been doing a lot of research on this business model as I've been interested in venturing into this in the near future.
First of all, your game is depends on players to make it work. Players to interact/trade with one another. In short, you need to have a crowd of people already playing this game. Many of your industries in the game, requires players to run them. In short, this game of yours is player driven. Without players, or should I say a good amount of players in the game, most of the stuff that you implemented in the game is either wasted or utilized very little. Also right now, majority of your new players that registered are brought in by us. We introduced them to this game. We are your main marketers for the game. Don't you forget that.
Second, your pricing model. Like I said earlier, the pricing that you've placed is a bit too expensive. Your prices and subscription plan is scaring away your customers. Especially those that are already your paying customers. The current model of game points that you have put in place is already such a good model. Only issue here is that you don't have enough 'value added services' that we would want to spend our game points on. Game point dependent industries, franchise markets, qualification, innovations are already a good option for us to put game points at. So you only need to add more options like these for us to spend on. The more 'value added services' that you add into the game that you think will help us play better, the higher chances that we will pay for game points.
Third, your demo period. 14 days is too short for new players. It took me at least a month to two months to finally be able to understand the game mechanics and what are the things that I should do or not when playing. If I were doing my own Software-As-A-Service business with lets say, an online invoicing system, I would put at least a month to 3 month free demo. Because I know that for an application as complicated as that, users need time to learn on how to use it. Same thing with your game too, there's so much to learn especially on how to use it.
Lastly, this is just an assumption of mine, because for you to put down a pricing such as this, are you guys having financial trouble? If you are, let us know please. Because if you need money to pay for your server hosting, your networking costs, administrative costs and what so ever, do a donation drive. Trust me when I say that we, being your customers who also happens to love your game, are more than willing to contribute a few dollars just to keep the game running.
This game if properly done and properly thought out is a gold mine for you guys, but only if you guys think of it properly and also plan out well. I've seen many IT companies with many potential products went bust because they just don't understand what they have under their noses.
Thanks for reading this long post.
This should be in every page of this thread to keep ppl. updated especially those who are directed by the said comments up top.
I would never pay $8.25 for online game with so many problems..
and one of the big problems - to short FAQ. I am here from a month and just started to understand the game .. 14 days free of charge is too short too.....
I believe they hope at least 10 000 players stay and pay the price, but the market will be too short ... soon lack of product supply will kick the rest of the players.
So any way I believe this game is dieing. But wish u lick and prosperity, hope you know what you are doing.
If in some time the game is again free to play please send me and email.
Thanks for the great time playing.
1.10.2009, 10:52
It is really good analysis by hafeezi. I feel administration of this game should have made this sort of estimations before implementing mandatory payment system.
I don't think there will be more than 10% of current player number continuously paying in 6 month from now. Newcomers will be rare both because of high cost and low number of users. and as hafeezi noticed, low number of players will destroy system from inside.
It seems to me that administration decided to cross the Rubicon - either this project fast become really profitable or it shall be closed soon.
Thanks for the game and good bye
1.10.2009, 12:06
"Eveything Must Go" sale starts 10am WEST
Anyone got any other good places we can now go since Virtonomics doesn't want us ?
1.10.2009, 12:20
I have made a thread in the suggestions forum regarding changes I think need to be made to the pay-to-play model. Those of you who are prepared to pay, but not under the system being introduced may wish to view this and comment.
1.10.2009, 12:35
aww goodbye all anyone wana buy my enterprises... its gona go to waste anyway if i stop playing... message me..
1.10.2009, 12:40
see how facebook is earning money? its free
1.10.2009, 12:47
I think this is about the only browser game that you have to pay a monthly fee to play. Its ridiculous.
I see it as a very bad call on your side. If you say you have 300 000 players (wich i really doubt) why don't you put some adds along the sides of the page? That would bring a lot more income...
Anyway bye bye
1.10.2009, 13:05
You see Virtonomics team, what you've done is a mistake. You've valued this game too highly. You ever watch Dragons Den? People come on and offer 5% of their company for £100,000 that means they're valuing their company at £2,000,000! You have say 70,000 ACTIVE players. 70,000 x 8$ is $560,000, no browser game bar something like Runescape is worth that much!
I did a search on a few calculators that work out how much a site is worth. A couple came back with very similar answers.
Website Worth: $14,999.31
Daily Pageviews: 6,849
Daily Ads Revenue: $20.55
That means only 7k or so people come on everyday. think how low that's going to go now...
1.10.2009, 13:24
If there is one thing you never do is allow developers without a sense for business to be in a position to make decisions in your company--you put them in the basement and they write code ONLY.
I don't think that the Virtonomic Team cares much for the four pages of people who posted that they are leaving--to them they have created something precious and they will be paid for it one way or another.
The lack of a official response, coupled with a ridiculous and unfair payment system, is a clear indication that they are in fact doing this for themselves--and not for the player-base.
1.10.2009, 14:33
Last time edited : 1.10.2009, 14:34
Is this a joke I would never pay $8,25 a month so goodbye
1.10.2009, 14:58
This new system will never work. Since the game is very player dependent, a lack of players would make it collapse very very soon. There's time before it's implemented..... Please, administration, change your decision!
1.10.2009, 16:31
Last time edited : 1.10.2009, 18:11
diska
- the minimum cost of monthly subscription is $8.25 (in case if purchase the whole year)
If I buy whole year, and game become unplayable in 3 months because lack of players, is there money back guarantee?
