<a href="N“>In an editorial for Game Developer Magazine, republished by Gamasutra online, Bioware Austin’s Damion Schubert speaks about the current state of free to play games with microtransactions in the West.
It’s “coming fast now,” according to Schubert, “and it is not inconceivable to imagine a world in the next decade where the majority of games available to users are delivered in this reality.
“For the time being, though, we are still in a Wild West game design reality, where every design shop is attempting different ways to earn that dollar – some of those bordering on shady and questionable.
“Still, game designers need to start by acknowledging that a small number of heavy users will likely subsidize the majority of the efforts in their microtransaction-oriented game.
“To me, as a game designer, this is a good thing; making a game that earns the love and devotion of players is the right path. Making a great game with a solid design and a respect for your player’s wallet is still the best way forward.”
Bioware Austin is in charge of Star Wars: The Old Republic, which went free to play after its release.