Which is the way of the future?

Subscriptions have long been king in they way to pay for MMOs. But the rising sun is micro-transactions: basically free game play, but paying for extras on an individual basis. Where is the industry heading? All directions it seems. To get some perspective, John Smedly of SOE, Daniel James of Three Rings, and Mark Jacobs of EA Mythic all sat down to discuss the issue.

Indeed, publishers say they are thinking long and hard, weighing their options, and not announcing earlier than necessary how their forthcoming games will produce income.

Consider Sony Online Entertainment. Every one of SOE's six current MMOGs -- EverQuest, EverQuest II, Vanguard: Saga Of Heroes, The Matrix Online, Planetside, and EverQuest Online Adventures -- requires gamers to shell out a monthly subscription fee. But come 2009, when Sony launches The Agency, an online action shooter, it still isn't clear what will be its method of generating revenue.

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