Gameplay
Elvenar is a browser-based 2D strategy MMO available on desktops and mobile devices. Elvenar’s primary focus is city-building and exploring their world map. Players begin by building up a city, connecting buildings to the streets and growing your wealth by producing resource-generating buildings. It’s a solid game and very addicting.
The problem with Elvenar’s business model, microtransactions. This business model is atrocious. It’s great for the game devs, but financially rapes the gamers. I did not like this business model years ago and still don’t.
When I first started playing Elvenar I did not realize it was a microtransaction business model. It wasn’t until several hours into it when I had to buy their in-game Diamonds with USD. That’s when I put the breaks on and decided to write this article. Don’t do what I did, make sure you know if the game you are falling in love with will be asking for money when you are knee deep into the game and vulnerable. Don’t do it.
Crypto games play-to-earn
At the time of this post, we are in an era where gamers can finally get paid for their time. Play-to-earn is a business model that works based on blockchain technology. Players are now able to play a game and potentially earn cryptocurrency. The crypto / blockchain game rewards it’s players potentially valuable in-game assets. Those assets can later be traded or swapped for USD.
Free to play without microtransactions
Getting back to microtransactions, Elvenar is a game that is based around microtransactions. It will not allow you to progress without forcing you to spend USD via in-game microtransactions. If you are not familiar with this concept, it’s a business model where users can purchase virtual goods with micropayments in order to progress.
The game devs needed to figure out a way to make money with their game, and they succeeded. I got sucked into Elvenar for several hours before realizing I could not level up without a microtransaction. I’d rather spend my USD upfront in full, not in-game microtransactions. The cost of microtransactions have a way of sneaking up on you. Personally, not a fan!
Free to play with microtransactions
There are a few different business models;
- Crypto – play to earn
- Free to play – without microtransactions
- Free to play – with microtransactions “Elvenar”
- Subscription based games
At the start of Elvenar, players are given a base set of tools used to build up their city, buildings and streets. If a player decides to take this game to the next level, they will need to purchase Diamonds with USD. Diamonds start at $4.99 up to $79.99. The game developers do not charge for their game, they charge for the upgrades. The problem, upgrades could end up costing you hundreds of dollars.
Don’t get the wrong impression, I think Elvenar is a brilliant game. In-game microtransactions are a great way for game developers to make a good living and a bad way to thank gamers for playing their game. In most cases the gamers end up going broke and can no longer continue on. Sooner or later this business model creates a dead end for both the developers and the players.
Subscription based games
Subscription based games are included in a subscription model. Xbox Game Pass is a perfect example of that. If your favorite games are included in their monthly subscription service, you can play them as often as you like. When you decide you can no longer afford the subscription or no longer need it, cancel. However, it is at the time you will no longer be able to play those games.
Conclusion
In 2022, there are many ways to play games with USD incentives. You just have to do your own research because new play to earn games are being released all the time. We’re not talking about making a few dollars, we’re talking about enough money to pay the bills. In my opinion, it’s a decentralized blockchain business model concept that needs to be built into all games.
Town Star by Gala Games is an excellent example. There are tons of P2E games out there now. The problem, they either don’t pay you enough or the games suck.
As soon as the big AAA game developers figure out how to integrate a P2E business model, that’s when the gaming industry will explode. Imagine if World of Warcraft had P2E or Call of Duty? That would be a game changer. In the future, games that do not have this P2E business model will not be able to compete. A global in-game currency that can be traded on the open market will change gaming forever.
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