Additional revenue streams for FD.
- Thread starter DeckardRunner
- Start date
The advertising thing in the EULA is to "protect for" the possible inclusion of such a feature in the future. It gives you, the user, the chance to opt out (by not buying the game) and allows Frontier to include advertising in the future without changing the T&Cs (which is always a bit hairy). It doesn't mean they have plans to do it, or that they'll ever do it. Just that they can if they want.
In the first instance, Frontier's revenue stream will be from game sales. It's unlikely that everyone who will play this game has already pre-ordered; there are people who won't have heard of it yet, or who are holding off for reviews. So there's a good revenue stream there. Every £40 sale is £40 on the top line as there aren't any publishers taking a cut. Every 100k of sales approximately funds one year of development costs for a team of 100. There are obviously more variables here (such as the company wanting to eventually make a profit and start paying dividends) but they're the rough sort of numbers we're looking at. We don't have much idea of server costs, but I'd be surprised if they came anywhere close to the cost of salaries; Frontier are using cloud hosting, which reduces up-front costs and generally prices scale well with additional load.
Once the base game is out, Frontier will be looking at ways of leveraging income from existing customers (us). That'll be through cosmetic microtransactions in the first instance, but ongoing they'll be looking to get the expansions developed and for sale. They'll also be using the game as a tech demo for the COBRA engine and digital distribution infrastructure, which they'll be looking to license to third parties. This is good for us as gamers as it'll encourage Frontier to make continual improvement to the engine. They'll also continue developing games for publishers, which keeps the company's finances ticking over and provides a buffer for the self-publishing venture.
I wouldn't be against in-game advertising as a source of revenue (assuming it's done well) but I can't imagine Frontier are planning on relying on it, as they'll have little idea of what sort of revenue it might bring, and that's a big risk when you're planning for the future.
In the first instance, Frontier's revenue stream will be from game sales. It's unlikely that everyone who will play this game has already pre-ordered; there are people who won't have heard of it yet, or who are holding off for reviews. So there's a good revenue stream there. Every £40 sale is £40 on the top line as there aren't any publishers taking a cut. Every 100k of sales approximately funds one year of development costs for a team of 100. There are obviously more variables here (such as the company wanting to eventually make a profit and start paying dividends) but they're the rough sort of numbers we're looking at. We don't have much idea of server costs, but I'd be surprised if they came anywhere close to the cost of salaries; Frontier are using cloud hosting, which reduces up-front costs and generally prices scale well with additional load.
Once the base game is out, Frontier will be looking at ways of leveraging income from existing customers (us). That'll be through cosmetic microtransactions in the first instance, but ongoing they'll be looking to get the expansions developed and for sale. They'll also be using the game as a tech demo for the COBRA engine and digital distribution infrastructure, which they'll be looking to license to third parties. This is good for us as gamers as it'll encourage Frontier to make continual improvement to the engine. They'll also continue developing games for publishers, which keeps the company's finances ticking over and provides a buffer for the self-publishing venture.
I wouldn't be against in-game advertising as a source of revenue (assuming it's done well) but I can't imagine Frontier are planning on relying on it, as they'll have little idea of what sort of revenue it might bring, and that's a big risk when you're planning for the future.
+1 for this. However, when I see the first red giant with coke logo, I'll quit.
Considering this:
I'm fine wit financing the game with tshirts.
But then, do they even NEED additional revenue streams?
I'm fine wit financing the game with tshirts.
But then, do they even NEED additional revenue streams?
That there plan and one of the main things mention when they floated the company was to developed the cobra engine up to the point where it could be license to other studios. In fact I believe they stated that most of the 30 million raise would be spent on the engine. Haven't heard anything about those plans since through.
Last edited:
The moment they allow credits purchase for real money, I am becoming a billionaire.
I would buy reasonably priced ED space ship (and even space station) models.
For example and Airfix type plastic model I have to glue together and paint etc...
That would be awesome.
For example and Airfix type plastic model I have to glue together and paint etc...
That would be awesome.
That would get the game banned out of most of the United States
- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -
I would buy this:
+1 rep!
When we can walk around, you fly to a station and see one of the adds protruding from the station saying Guinness and that would break immersion? Then walk into a bar and see one tap saying Guinness also and you have an issue with it? It doesn't matter if you drink Guinness or not (I prefer Smithwicks also owned by Guinness), but the end result. Advertising on a brand we know, and we all hope stays around that far into the future. The sign for it isn't gaudy but it would fit the theme of a space based game. Beer, ales, stouts, or scotch as in Glenfiddich, or for the pirates among us some ye ole rum some with a fake brand and a couple from current ones etc.... We would expect to see those at some stations and advertised. It adds revenue to the game. It fits at some stations (not all), and we already see adds in game, some real ones won't break immersion because of it does, then your not realistic. Those brands may even be gone but someone looks in the history book and rekindles the brand. The Ale your great great great....great ancestors use to drink now you can also, as the advertising goes.
.
Sometimes I think this immersion breaking issue goes to far. No advertising in the future? Not possible, as the game is based upon trading to make credits. Current brands not lasting that far into the future? Some undoubtable will, we will never know for sure. So who is to say they won't be? Also of course as I said they could be newly opened business promoting your ancient ancestors brands now available today. Advertisers will do anything. I just wonder if the swill they promote is as good as the stuff is now? I will have to wait 3000 or so years to find out.
.
I like the idea.
Calebe
.
Sometimes I think this immersion breaking issue goes to far. No advertising in the future? Not possible, as the game is based upon trading to make credits. Current brands not lasting that far into the future? Some undoubtable will, we will never know for sure. So who is to say they won't be? Also of course as I said they could be newly opened business promoting your ancient ancestors brands now available today. Advertisers will do anything. I just wonder if the swill they promote is as good as the stuff is now? I will have to wait 3000 or so years to find out.
.
I like the idea.
Calebe
Last edited:
I'm thinking the legality of selling alcohol or promoting in a game rated for below drinking age kids
The amount of legal hell that would be!!!(That would go for any item being marketed at children)
Last edited:
Pay to Exist.
No, I have a feeling something more devious is afoot; with the plethora of interdictions, and the GRIND to attain the high payoffs needed to purchase and equip decent machines, I feel Chaffe, anti-interdiction and cargo scanners will be pay-for-single-use modules. They force us to grind or fight it out for the carcasses Noobs become in their ignorance, then charge for the Offensive and Defensive equipment needed by both sides. With the carnage beneath them they can stroll to the bank laughing at the futility of another "Team Deathmatch" clone on a smaller scale than EVE.
When you don't aspire to imagination, pit the audience against itself. Throw in a few meaningless Titles and Prizes.
Works every time...
No, I have a feeling something more devious is afoot; with the plethora of interdictions, and the GRIND to attain the high payoffs needed to purchase and equip decent machines, I feel Chaffe, anti-interdiction and cargo scanners will be pay-for-single-use modules. They force us to grind or fight it out for the carcasses Noobs become in their ignorance, then charge for the Offensive and Defensive equipment needed by both sides. With the carnage beneath them they can stroll to the bank laughing at the futility of another "Team Deathmatch" clone on a smaller scale than EVE.
When you don't aspire to imagination, pit the audience against itself. Throw in a few meaningless Titles and Prizes.
Works every time...
I wouldn't mind personally if I see some adverts in-game. Think Cowboy Bebop's flashy billboard during landing. (Or The Fifth Element haha, don't hate I enjoyed that movie)
What I HATE, is the Assassin's creed sleek menus that seem to always advertise a DLC or something. It 100% breaks immersion if the menus looks like Steam and not match the in game universe.
What I HATE, is the Assassin's creed sleek menus that seem to always advertise a DLC or something. It 100% breaks immersion if the menus looks like Steam and not match the in game universe.