Something went wrong. Try again later
    Follow

    The Matrix Online

    Game » consists of 2 releases. Released Mar 22, 2005

    The Matrix Online was an MMORPG that continued the story of the Matrix franchise past the third film, 'Revolutions'. The game featured a unique 'Interlock' combat system, flexible skill allocation and a constantly evolving storyline that players could interact with. The game was shut down on July 31st, 2009.

    Would The Matrix Online still be here if it was Free-to-play?

    Avatar image for fluxwavez
    FluxWaveZ

    19845

    Forum Posts

    19798

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 6

    #1  Edited By FluxWaveZ

    The free-to-play MMO formula seems to be doing quite well for the various Korean MMOs, especially those like Maple Story.  Since they're free, more people will be willing to play them and if they get into it enough, they will be willing to buy the optional items that cost money.  I think kids are the people who compose the majority of the free-to-play MMO player base because they can't afford to pay a subscription fee every month to play a game.  Especially if it requires a credit card or Paypal account.  But with Maple Story, Nexon gets their money with the various items that cost real money, that expire after 3 months and that basically serve no purpose except for the look (excluding those that make the game "easier" as you can use a teleport stone to go to places without wasting time).  Kids can buy these items easily with the Maple Story Points card you can find in stores.  It makes it easily accessible for kids who are into the game to get.  But there is a big exception to an MMO being popular that is not free-to-play: World of Warcraft.  I'm not sure what makes it so popular and that it has a subscription fee but maybe it's just because Blizzard was a popular company before that was released, with games like Diablo, Warcraft and Starcraft.
     
    I think if The Matrix Online was ad-driven, without a subscription fee, and there was optional gear that you could buy for your character with real money, it would still be here.  I think that The Matrix appeals to a lot of people, especially the children crowd who are into games like Maple Story, and if that was how MxO was handled, there would have been way more people playing it and way more people would have been paying for stuff in it (combined with ads).
    Avatar image for lemon360
    lemon360

    1231

    Forum Posts

    353

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 2

    #2  Edited By lemon360

    Yeah it probably would be around. They could have done a lot of ingame advertisement since everything is so urban.

    Avatar image for pazy
    Pazy

    2774

    Forum Posts

    1556

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 0

    #3  Edited By Pazy

    If they brought it back as free to play/ad supported then at the very least there would be a big influx of Giant Bomb users for the first month. But from what ive seen it dosent look like a very special MMO, with games like DDO (Dungeons and Dragons Online) becoming Free to play which were at least critical hailed as a good MMO and a bunch of other games that started Free to play then a sub-par MMO has very little chance, especially since the love for the franchise has dwindled.

    For the sake of the fans at the end I hope they do this or give out the server code and let people host there own servers but I doubt it.

    Avatar image for jimbo
    Jimbo

    10472

    Forum Posts

    2

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 3

    #4  Edited By Jimbo

    No.  It would have been shut down ages ago.

    Avatar image for ediscool
    EdIsCool

    1140

    Forum Posts

    112

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 2

    #5  Edited By EdIsCool

    It depends how cheaply a graphical overhaul could be done, it cant hold up a depiction of reality anymore,some kind of superstlyised look would make it attractive again.

    Avatar image for damnboyadvance
    damnboyadvance

    4216

    Forum Posts

    1020

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 20

    User Lists: 4

    #6  Edited By damnboyadvance

    It was losing popularity if I recall correctly. Putting a free-to-play tag on it wouldn't save it. You don't lose popularity just because your game costs money, If Battlefield 1943 was free, it wouldn't be any more popular than it already is, would it?

    Avatar image for ediscool
    EdIsCool

    1140

    Forum Posts

    112

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 2

    #7  Edited By EdIsCool

    You relaunch with your fancy restyled graphics and your all like experience the final chapter in the matrix now to free to play.
    All hinges on how much the restlying cost.But yeah you'd get a big boost how long it would last..I dont know.

    Avatar image for jensonb
    Jensonb

    2092

    Forum Posts

    3407

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 3

    User Lists: 8

    #8  Edited By Jensonb

    It might have allowed it to hold on a little longer, but the real problem it had is that it just wasn't very good or innovative. it basically just took a generic MMO and slapped the Matrix IP and fighting styles (loosely) on top.
     
    Successful Free MMOs differ from conventional Subscription-MMORPGs

    Avatar image for fluxwavez
    FluxWaveZ

    19845

    Forum Posts

    19798

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 6

    #9  Edited By FluxWaveZ
    @Jensonb said:

    "    Successful Free MMOs differ from conventional Subscription-MMORPGs "

    I guess that's what it all comes down to.
    Browse Boards
    Jump to Top

    ×

    Move topic to another board

    Pick a board and hit submit

  • (Or search for a more specific forum)
    • Close
    ×

    Pick a List

    Close

    This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Giant Bomb users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.