Microtransactions might yet make it into The Agency

Microtransactions may yet make it into upcoming PS3 and PC MMO The Agency, the game’s senior lead designer has said.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com during a presentation of the game at Leipzig Games Convention last month, Kevin O’Hara said that Sony was aware that most shooter fans “aren’t used” to a $15 monthly subscription fee so it “probably” wouldn’t go down that route.

When asked about a pricing model for The Agency, O’Hara said: “We haven’t worked out our revenue model yet. We release after them (Free Realms, another Sony PS3 and PC MMO) so we’re going to take notes on how they’re doing it and see what will work best for us.

“We’re aware that most shooter fans aren’t used to a $15 monthly subscription fee so we probably won’t go that way. We might go with free to play but with subscription for certain areas or certain events happening. Or a micro-transaction model and more of an advertising model.”

O’Hara said that firm decisions on a release date and a pricing model would be made once the game reaches beta.

He moved, however, to reassure gamers that players won’t be able to buy any competitive advantage over other players if Sony does decide to go down a micro-transaction route, and would instead charge only for cooler outfits or non-story missions.

He said: “It’s really important to us as a design team that it’s not things that give you inherent advantages over other players. So it wouldn’t be like we’d give the advanced shotgun and I’d have the regular shotgun. It would be more like your outfit might be a cooler looking outfit or you might have paid to get some missions other players might not get to, but they aren’t story missions, so they don’t influence people’s progress through the main story or to get the highest rank of their character.”

While you’re waiting for a decision on how much you’ll be forking out to play The Agency, why not check out our preview from Leipzig Games Convention?