Master_Wu wrote:19541 downloads, and rated 4 and a half stars, lovely isn't it. Strange as that may be, we retain like 1 in 1000 Brazilian players...
The horrible screen shots don't scare them away, so what is it? language barrier? incredibly hard game play for newbies? It is strange.
It reminds me of the Hong Kong player bubble of the early 2000s...
When you really think about the technology and video game cultures of these two places, it really makes a lot of sense. With the Hong Kong players, you gave them a free to play game that was solely based on hardcore level grinding(something that is still immensely popular in a lot of Asian countries) . Other than Lineage, which wasn't free to play at the time, there weren't a lot of options for players in that region at the time. Fast forward to ten years later, and there's literally hundreds of Asian-owned development houses who are designing games in their native languages...Bubble bursts.
With the Brazilian players, you have to keep in mind that due to lack of financial resources, the technology used by the masses is far behind what you would expect. I believe the Sega Genesis was by far the best selling game system there literally a year or two ago. You give them a free online game that can be played on even the most obsolete computers and you have the recipe to get your foot in the door with the video gamers.
What drives them away? That question is easily answered by simply creating a new character and logging in. Empty starting zones, a generally rude and unhelpful player base, and the overall sense of hopelessness that comes from being impossibly behind the general population without the hope of ever catching up. These factors take away any of the socialization aspects that MMOs provide and for all practical purposes, the game itself throws you right back out the door as soon as you come in.
Honestly, this game has the basic tool set to be a wonderful experience. However, in it's current state, advertising is simply a waste of money on Zer's part.
Last edited by pennywise (March 5th, 2010 12:27 PM)
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