Today (finally) had another GSW column go up. It follows on Raphs’ commentary at GDC and the CNN Money article on Webkinz/Club Penguin, talking about the dystopic future of kiddie-oriented Massive games.

I’m joshing you; I don’t think it’s all that bad of a thing.

Money is going to be a major sticking point with these folks, and that’s an issue that I feel will have to be addressed by subscription titles sooner rather than later. Within a few years, the newest crop of AAA players are going to find the idea of paying $15 a month for these services alien. They’ll consider it an affront, their access to a virtual world a default assumption. On the flipside, they’ll be completely unsurprised by the inclusion of advertising in a virtual space. They’ll be comfortable with the idea of being charged on a per-item basis, and won’t squawk if they have to pay a fee to get to ‘extra’ content. Once they are in the front door, they’ll expect to be charged; they will just expect the door to be left open for them.

Additionally … sorry Hemlock … I never mentioned my Citizen spotlight of the monster hunter that went up early in March. It includes what I think is kind of a cool/arty Van Helsing ripoff image.

Enjoy both, please, citizen.

Look for a bonus MMOG Nation column on the site this week (because I’ve been so slacky lately): another Citizen Spotlight!

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