An RPG/Series Mix?

An interesting Facebook game that’s a kind of modular RPG that’s story focused.

An intriguing idea, mostly because it takes things we’ve seen before (RPGs, modularity, social media, etc.) but actually involves more a realization of what can be done to create a tighter media experience.  There’s a Kickstarter involved, so you know what do to.

There’s so many fascinating unusual game projects out there I think we almost need a catalogue fo them all.  That’s a hint by the way.

Steven Savage

Flight Control Rocket: Taking New Payments WAY to far?

I have to say, it sounds like it.  It sounds like they’re monetizing the crap out of the game, and not in a good way, but in the “pay for anything, including a high score way.”

I’ve only just heard about this, but my first impressions are the game is a bit of an experiment/overindulgence in the free-to-play/more-you-pay strategy that’s way, way out of hand.  I’m not surprised – some people are going to take advantage of the model.  I’m concerned about how this plays in modern media.

Of course we know that even if this “isn’t it,” some egregious, bizarre variant of the Freemimum/Pay-to-play monetization model(s) is coming.  That variant will be so annoying, it will get a lot of publicity.  At that point, predictably, many will question the model.

The model in question is just that – a model.  How you use it is the real question, but I’m suspicious in the world of freemium and other different monetization models, mixing up the application and the model is a risk.  In a 25/8 news cycle, things move fast, including predictions of demise of something (ask Twitter), and the brave new world of  new monetization can be called into question in an instant, leaving us to sort out the reality from the bull.

So this story doesn’t surprise me.  But I’mm waiting for the inevitable “freemium/whatever-method is evil” news fest that I feel is likely.

Steven Savage 

Interesting – Crossover games in Japan?

If you like Samurai and Pokemon, or Pirates gone Samurai, then check this out.

Unusual game crossovers and fusions aren’t new – Fighting games are infamous for them – but the crossovers currently available in Japan (pokemon/Nobunaga’s Ambition, One Piece/Warriors) are interesting to watch as they represent some insanely interesting crossovers.  You tell me you wouldn’t play One Pokepiece or Sengoku Luffy.

Yeah, you probably would.

This makes me wonder what possible and viable crossovers are out there yet to be done.  Look at Kingdom Hearts, a drunken elevator conversation of a game, that turned out to be insanely popular.

Steven Savage