Loading... Paying it Forward

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Posted Tue, Jul 27, 2010 by B. de la Durantaye

Loading... is the premier daily MMOG newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer!

Welcome to the 1,384th edition of Loading...

As MMOGs steadily shift towards offering more cash shops in more games an often overlooked element, at least from the player side, is the integration of the microtransaction stores. As with anything involving the handling of money, though, security and efficiency are on the minds of all developers who enter the arena. Today we take a look at the rise of one of these commerce solutions, Live Gamer, and how it's rapidly becoming an industry favorite today in Loading... Paying it Forward.

The Pulse You vote with what you view at Ten Ton Hammer, and the result is the Ten Ton Pulse (What is The Pulse?). Today's top 5 Pulse results: World of Warcraft EverQuest II Dungeons and Dragons Online EverQuest Age of Conan Biggest movers this week: Star Wars Galaxies - UP 14 to #14 Jumpgate Evolution - UP 13 to #19 Warhammer Online - down 7 to #9	Recent Releases 5/26 - EVE Online: Tyrannis (expansion) 5/27 - Craft of Gods (release) 6/9 - Mortal Online (release) 6/29 - APB (release) 7/13 - Mytheon (release) 7/20 - Need for Speed World (release)
	Upcoming Releases August 17, 2010 - City of Heroes: Going Rogue (release) September 7, 2010 - Aion: Assault on Balaurea (free expansion) September 30, 2010 - Final Fantasy XIV (release) October 26, 2010 - LEGO Universe (release) November 2, 2010 - DC Universe Online (release)
	Upcoming Events 8/5 - 8/8 - SOE Fan Faire 2010 8/18 - 8/22 - Gamescom 2010 9/3 - 9/5 - PAX Prime 9/3 - 9/6 - DragonCon 10/22 - 10/23 - BlizzCon 3/24 - 3/26 (2011) - CCP FanFest
Be sure to check out all of Ten Ton Hammer's San Diego Comic-Con 2010 event coverage!

Loading... Daily

Browsing the cash shops in various games, there's always something in the back of my mind. Where does the information go that I type into the store before it gets to its final destination? Often, deliveries are instant, so how does the payment information go from my hands to the game company, and more importantly, how safe is it? With more accounts getting compromised daily in popular games like World of Warcraft, it can be a little frightening to think that the individuals who are able to get account information that easily may, in all likelihood, be able to get any other information that transpires within the game easily.

These thoughts cross the minds of developers too when they're looking to add a cash shop in game. It's not just about security. Other things that need to be considered are efficiency: how fast can the transaction take place? Payment methods: how can we offer easy payment options to our customers? Functionality: What kinds of tools are available for us to easily add a customized shop with search options, sorting, popularity charts and other functions?

It's a real issue and even just a few years ago the answer was not an easy one. Developers were trying to figure out ways to incorporate microtransactions into their games by themselves. This posed additional developing delays as all of the above considerations are not something that could quickly be resolved. Extra development time was needed, and above all, the idea was still relatively new so there weren't many examples to draw ideas and solutions from.

Enter Live Gamer. As early entrepreneurs to the Western microtransaction market, Live Gamer assembled full-featured solutions for any cash shop needs. Security, efficiency, functionality. The company soon started working closely with some major developers that were at the front of the microtransaction race; companies like Sony Online Entertainment.

A little more time passed, and Live Gamer made their mark by providing for the needs of their clients, and their clients' clients. Soon thereafter, it become one of the only solutions that became trusted by the industry professionals. In light of that, we've seen some pretty big announcements over the past couple of weeks. First, THQ signed up with Live Gamer for their upcoming MMOG, Company of Heroes Online. THQ Executive Vice President, Martin Good, stated the reason was that the solution was the most complete platform for integrating a virtual economy.

Then, a couple days later, RealNetworks' GameHouse division announced they'd be following suit and signed on with the company. Yesterday we learned that video game giant EA has also employed the services of Live Gamer.

It all makes sense from an industrial point of view. As microtransactions rocket forward and are estimated to grow to a seven billion dollar market by 2015 more companies are venturing into the idea and companies like Live Gamer are offering easily integrated solutions. It's possible we haven't seen this kind of initiative and foresight in quite some time when it comes to video game growth. Kinda' makes me wish I had thought of the idea myself.

The good news for us gamers? We can relax a bit more now when we know how microtransactions are being processed. If the games we play use a trusted solution we can be relatively confident that our transactions are in safe hands.

Thoughts? Let me know on the forums.

Shayalyn's Epic Thread of the Day

From our /OOC (Off-Topic) forum

Comic-Con vs Fred Phelps

Kitsunegirl said this so well that I'ma let her take the mic:

"Remember Fred Phelps and his minions at the Westboro Baptist Church? You know the group that makes even loony Christians look sane? The ones who give Christians everywhere a bad name by protesting the burials of fallen US soldiers? Well, it seems the deep end of insanity wasnt enough for his group of sickos, so they dived into the Marianas Trench as they protested Comic-Con." - kitsunegirl

And Comic-Con fought back. Hilarity ensues. (And yes, I never could figure out magnets, either. They're unholy.) Go ahead! It's not too late to wave your own virtual anti-protest sign.

==============================
Awesome Quotes from the Epic Thread

"The good for humanity that they do is bringing to light just how ridiculous the anti-gay movement really is. "

- Thansal
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New and Exclusive Content Today at Ten Ton Hammer

10 new and exlcusive Ten Ton Hammer features today! 89 Ten Ton Hammer features in July! 801 in 2010!

TEN TON HAMMER PODCAST

Ten Ton Hammer Live Episode 17 - Nexon's Chris Gyselinck Talks Vindictus
http://www.tentonhammer.com/podcasts/live/17

This week on Ten Ton Hammer Live, the boys are thrust headlong into one of the coolest games they've seen in awhile and interview one of the Producers, CHRIS GYSELINCK, of Nexon's Vindictus. Chris gives us the low down on the story, the gameplay, and the amazing mechanics behind the fighting and spell casting. Wait til you hear about the golems! This and more on the last new Ten Ton Hammer Live until September!

REVIEW

Disciples 3: Renaissance (PC)
http://www.tentonhammer.com/reviews/disciples-3

The Disciples franchise is a series of turn-based fantasy strategy games with RPG elements. While not as well known as some similar franchises it has achieved a cult following, particularly with the release of Disciples 2 in 2002. Mattlow takes the newly released Disciples 3 through it paces and reports on the good the bad and the ugly.

DEV DIARY

Heroes in the Sky Dev Diary #1: Plane Types
http://www.tentonhammer.com/heroes-in-the-sky/dev-diaries/plane-types

In any good dogfight in the sky you need a wide assortment of planes for players to enjoy. This week Heroes in the Sky Community Manager GM Rico has written up a new developer diary detailing the more than 100 available aircrafts with which players can shoot each other down, and how players are already working up strategies for the various aircraft in GamesCampus' upcoming MMOTPS (Massively Multiplayer Online Third Person Shooter). You can check out GM Rico's full developer diary here at Ten Ton Hammer. Be sure to grab one of our Heroes in the Sky beta keys while supplies last.

FEATURES & GUIDES

Microcosms: Blowing in the Wind – A Look at the Free-to-Play Community.
http://www.tentonhammer.com/microcosms/2010/july/30

With games of nearly every conceivable style and players from every corner of the globe, free-to-play gaming is easily the most dynamic group in all of MMOG land. While we may be separated by different games and different languages, chances are we have a lot in common. Forging a community of free-to-play gamers may be the best way to recognize these similarities, but can such a diverse group come together? Join Jason “Medawky” Bolton as he ponders the best way to unite the free-to-play community in this week’s Microcosms.

WoW Cataclysm - A Whole New World
http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/editorials/world-changed-cata

Deathwing has wrought destruction across Azeroth, the tensions between Horde and Alliance have erupted into full out war, and the world we know has been forever changed. Classic zones that were once familiar have been remade into places that are almost unrecognizable. Which zones were hit the hardest and what kind of changes can you expect to see?

WoW Weekly Report - The Underwater Zone of Vashj'ir and More Goblin and Worgen Coverage
http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/newsletter/issue77

The WoW Weekly Report is our newsletter dedicated to giving you a wrap-up of the previous week in news, stories, and more. We take a look at both of the new character races coming in Cataclysm, the Worgen and Goblins, as well as the changes in the Horde capitol of Orgrimmar. We'll also take a peek at the new underwater zone called Vashj'ir. In addition to all our network content check out all the news regarding World of Warcraft so you don't miss a thing. All this and more in our WoW Weekly Report every Tuesday.