Rumor: Giant MMO to Charge Player-to-Player Transaction Fees
Sina Tech, 3/15/11
According to one industry source, Chinese online game developer and operator Giant Interactive (NYSE: GA) is finalizing a new revenue model for its self-developed MMORPG ZT Online II.
As opposed to its first-generation pay-to-play model and second-generation standard free-to-play model, ZT Online II's third generation business model is rumored to differ from its predecessors with the adoption of a more diverse economic system. The new model is free-to-play but with no operator-to-player virtual items market. Instead, Giant will earn a commission from player-to-player sales of virtual items collected from slain monsters and quests. With this new model the majority of game operator revenue will come from such commissions.
Editor's Note: For more background on this topic, please see "Giant to Launch MMO Promotional Campaign in Q2 2011" MD 2/23/11 issue.
Keywords: free-to-play Giant Giant Interactive pay-to-play ZT Online II Internet revenue MMORPG virtual items GA business model self-developed game online gaming
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