Developer of Sony's F2P zombie MMO H1Z1 promises "fair" monetisation
You can't buy guns, ammo, food or water.
The developer behind free-to-play zombie MMO H1Z1 has vowed not to sell important items such as guns, ammo, food or water.
John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment, outlined the game's micro-transaction policy on the H1Z1 sub-Reddit.
You'll be able to buy wearables because it's a "good, fair revenue generator" Smedley said. However, you'll still be able to find and craft items.
"We've also come up with a pretty awesome idea to let players who kill other players loot stuff," he explained.
"So if a player has a black ski mask and gets killed by another player, that player can wear the ski mask for a few deaths." H1Z1 features item durability - wearables you buy won't degrade, but when you loot something it will.
"Please note the original player always keeps their SC purchased wearables," Smedley said. "This gives the great feeling of whacking some unsuspecting fool who decided to bring a knife to a gun fight."
Smedley was clear on what will not be sold: guns, ammo, food and water. "That's kind of the whole game and it would suck in our opinion if we did that," he insisted, before adding the game will not sell boosts that impact those items, either.
Emote packs will be sold. "We felt like this is another good and fair revenue generator." And so will character slots. "Feels reasonable."
Additionally, you can find crates in the game, which are filled with "random cool stuff from the store".
"We're considering letting you see what's in them before you buy a key (ala Dota 2.). This idea isn't fully locked yet."
Smedley said Sony Online Entertainment was using things like the monetisation thread on the H1Z1 sub-Reddit to help it "steer clear of the stuff you just don't want to see".
