Viajero
Volunteer Moderator
Yeah, but all that was already known and impacting SC sales there already. SC was not hidden for China (as far as I am aware). The game is still as crap in the US as in China.A little summary I found interesting
-always something to do (schedule of activities to do almost by hours)
-competitive ranking (not high ranking on a server, switch server)
-upgrades (pay to win is good)
-clear goals in game (separate one for whales and free players)
-not designed for people who like open world
-low barrier to entry
-linked to facebook/social network (launch on multiple platforms)
-some have built in bots (afk mode)
-World of Tanks does well in China
-quantity vs quality (100s of games a year, copying each other)
-100-200 servers per week
-make quick money before obsurity (ROI in weeks)
-sever rapid decline after first week
-$10mil+ per month, short lifespan
-a lot of AAA western games tried to get into China and failed.
Where Star Citizen is about the new ships, Chinese games are all very similar and are about the new servers. It's a platform for competition and the whales pay to be the top player on the server. Enhance eqipment to progress in the game rather than play the game to improve equipments. I don't know if this will work with Star Citizen. Maybe the sever wipes will work like a new server, I don't know. How do you rank players in Star Citizen.
The fact Chinese games are designed for browser and low hardware requirment alone is going to limit Star Citizen in the Chinese market.
Too many design phylosophies are counter to western market and game design. It'll be interesting to see how well CIG does in China.
Probably CIG changed, needing new avenue for money? Without understanding the market it seems (see above)
I'm pretty sure it's not Chris Robert's or Sandi's idea. Can't see them thinking that far ahead.
So what’s changed now?
New Chinese investor? The Calders would be delighted.
A new and dedicated marketing campaign and related expenditure over there perhaps? The fans who bought on the promise of all money for development and no money in marketing would be delighted.
New studio or 3rd party studio contract in addition to LA, Austin, Manchester, Frankfurt, Montreal and the 9 or 10 shell companies including the Cayman Islands perhaps? Just what CIG needed. Everyone roll eyes please.
Last edited: