14 DAY TRIAL // NCsoft has recently announced that it would be introducing a new monetary system in its MMO Exteel. Dubbed NCcoin, the system allows each player to pay real world dollars to obtain NCcoin which them can be used to purchase objects, from armor to potions.
Because the initial announcement and the name make NCcoin a global NCsoft concept, rather than just an Exteel specific development, rumors quickly began to appear that the system is the latest way in this Guild Wars and Tabula Rasa, amongst other products, were going to be monetized. The introduction of such an in-game currency which can be obtained with real money makes the games imbalanced as some players would be able to afford competitive advantages.
NCsoft is quick to point out that the system is currently used for just one game and that it will only be extended to the games where the system makes sense. A spokesman declared that "Currently there are no plans to use the NCcoin system in Guild Wars. NCcoin will not be retrofitted in games that have business models that do not work with a micro-transaction system".
The system is not used now to purchase buffs or to enhance the level up options available to those that play the game. But in the future, if the players of Exteel respond well to the introduction of NCcoin, NCsoft thinks it can expand it to create an alternative to the subscription based MMOs it is offering.
The NCsoft representative stated, "We have grown to the point where if you are an MMO player and you like the traditional subscription-based games, then we have those. If you are an MMO player seeking a free to play and downloadable games with micro-transactions, then we have those. And if you just want to pay for software and have a lifetime of play, then we have that too". So, it seems to be all about options for the company and the player.