Microsoft launches private beta for free-to-play Age of Empires Online28 Feb
Microsoft acknowledged the ongoing trend for massively multiplayer online game by launching a free-to-play version of Age of Empires.
There are many common points with the likes of FarmVille, CityVille, MafiaWars…:
- “It looks more like a cartoon”
- The game is free-to-play, but you can pay to add new game play and new experiences. “The real sales trick for Microsoft is to convert as many people to paid accounts as possible. Typically, only 3 to 5 percent of players will pay, but that generates enough revenue to make a lot of games profitable.”
There are some differences too:
- The game is downloadable, which “means users must download it to their computers before they can play it.” Downloadable games offer a better graphics experience than browser game though.
- “Age of Empires has sold more than 25 million copies in retail stores over the years.”
Source: GameBeat, Will Microsoft conquer free-to-play games with Age of Empires Online?
