How to pitch an MMOG

24Apr08

Pitching an MMOG seems like ten times as difficult compared to the more traditional games. At least if you pitch to a video games publisher. I’m not sure about the dumb money pitches, where they most probably look for IPs, names and other window dressing.

However if you going to pitch to a publisher its going to take a lot of work, and patience and experience and talking and explaining and preparation. Presenting the actual game is probably the easiest part. However, even here its difficult since you can’t just slap on the standard vertical slice demo. Half of the MMOG are the actual people in it and their interaction with them self and the environment. Well, ok, there are ways to fake this or get your development stuff in. Doing this live is close to impossible though, at least in the early stage. You won’t have to show something for a long time.

OK, code is one thing. Gameplay shouldn’t be to complicated if you don’t come along with a new concept.

Next explain me the business model. I’ve the impression that with MMOGs the business model gets more complex by the month. Subscription would be easy but hard to sell if you don’t have a AAA title. Now go with F2P. Add tiered subscription, item & service selling, ingame ads, sponsoring, auctions and so on. Now explain me were do you get your estimations for registered users from. How do you define active users. And whats your ARPU? Do you have a virtual currency? Whats the exchange rate. Can you trade it back?

Next. How is your security setup? How much is done on the client side. What happens when…

Next. What is your longterm development plan? Like 2 years after launch? What updates?

Next. How is the progression rate. How fast do you get through the content as hardcore and casual?

Next. What is your community and website concept?

Next. Which payment methods do you offer?

Next. How is your server structure setup? How much bandwidth are you going to need?

Well, as I said, its somewhat more difficult and complex.

It can be easy though. I’ve just pitched an MMOG within 2 hours and got a green light. This is like one in a 1000. In the end it comes down to wether you manage to create a perfect fit with content, strategy, setup, gameplay, business model and market. Than it can get you through in 2 hours.

Filed under: mmog   |  
Tags: games, mmog, online, pitch, publisher, ARPU, business model, security