Cable network HBO has signed a deal with Bigpoint to develop a new online game. This new game will be a massive multiplayer online role playing game based on HBO’s series” Game of Thrones”, which in turns is adapted from George R.R. Martins original A Song of Ice and Fire book series.
The German game developer Bigpoint has already had some experiencing developing MMORPGs, creating one based on the Battle Galactica television series. The “Game of Thrones” online game will also be available as a free-to-play and set in the fictional world of Westeros.
Bigpoint CEO Heiko Hubertz had this to say:
“With a rich and complex story, expressed through an amazing level of detail, it’s easy to see why the HBO series Game of Thrones has amassed an army of fans worldwide.”
“We intend to build a game that resonates intimately with its diehard community of followers, while also creating an authentic gaming experience that attracts newcomers to the franchise.”
Jack Wulff, Artplant’s founder and executive producer has said,
“Our goal is to be one of the worlds leading developers of 3D MMO browser based games…”
“As a fan of fantasy it’s a dream come true to be working with Game of Thrones, and there’s hardly any other fantasy license in the world with a bigger potential”, Jørgen Tharaldsen, the games producer added.
Here’s the hitch, while HBO has signed a deal with Bigpoint; a German video game developer; the game will actually be developed by Norwegian games studio, Artplant.
Why’s this?
First off, Bigpoint makes games for stand-alone browser-based games. Think flash games and social media games. It also runs a gaming portal website already with a lot of browser based MMORPGs. Meanwhile, the biggest name in MMORPGs right now is World of Warcraft. That game originally required purchases of DVDs and expansion packs, coupled with many downloads. The graphics are amazing. There isn’t much a browser-based MMORPG can do to compete against WoW in terms of quality.
So at this point, the expectation for the imagery of Westeros is set pretty high. The goal is most likely get that realistic medieval feeling one gets watching the television show.
That’s why Artplant was brought it. Why not just go to Artplant or another developer then?
I think it’s because HBO likes Bigpoint’s business model for online games. Bigpoint is currently one of the leaders in the fast-growing free-to-play gaming industry. Free-to-play means that you don’t have to purchase the game, an activation fee, or a monthly fee. The catch is that if you want any perks to the game, you have to pay for it.
Take Dark Orbit for example. Dark Orbit is a game which was developed by Bigpoint. The game is set in outer space; where flying ships are easier to render than the illusion of walking and riding around on terra firma. Players control a spaceship in a battle against non-player characters and other players. In these battles they can be supported by combat drones. There are different levels of drones ranking up to the 10th drone; the Zeus; which is very rare. In order to obtain one, you need to have all 9 previous drones and the blueprints to make it.
The game has over 7 million registered users and amongst them, a fraction will actually pay an exorbitant fee for in game advantages. The cost of bypassing all the rules to get a Zeus drone was offered for the low price of 1000 Euro Dollars. That’s around $1300.00 U.S for those people who love the game, perhaps their primary source of enjoyment. To them it may seem like good value.
Unlike most social media games that try to nickel and dime with minor in game perks; like buying into the in game monetary system; the business model of the Bigpoint is not to get everybody to spend a dime, but to get the addicted gamers to spend a whole lot.
As of today, they already have over 250 million registered users and I think HBO wants a piece of that online pie. This is in addition to the console adventure game being developed by Cyanide studios. Their game perk is currently an art book that comes with pre-orders; while supplies last.
While I look forward to wild incestuous sex and nudity in an online game, in the end, this is basically another HBO cash grab. It’s only a matter of time before there’s a MMORPG for “The Walking Dead.”
The second season of “Game of Thrones” begins on April 1.