walking fiend
Member
I think, maybe the online portion is actually something that they intended to do for the western release, which now they are incorporating into the J version.
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Level-5's Fantasy Life (3DS) Getting DLC Expansion incl. online mode, new content
- Thread starter Brazil
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That game had ad-hoc multiplayer too. It was just one nice bonus to give, but not really necessary, as the game was already complete without it.
I'm done here, defend this shit as you guys want. Just don't expect everyone to actually accept these type of reasoning.
Level-5 don't have money? I really doubt it...
"We're willing to spend X with additional content for this game, and no more than that. A free online mode would set us back X + ¥100."
Sounds pretty plausible to me.
It'd obviously be much better if it was free, but it's not like they had promised before launch that players would get an online mode. They're effectively expanding the game with stuff no one paid for. It'd be cool if it was free, but it's not AN EVIL ACT if they decide to charge for it.
Wickerbasket
Member
I'm not defending it, but I'm saying if you don't want it then don't pay for it.
You can't expect everything in life to be free, especially, in this case, when it wasn't built into the original budget for the game.
It's nice when companies offer free content, but I'm not going to pretend to be shocked when they charge for an expansion pack.
I don't think it's really just down to an online mode. I think there are some things to consider here:
- Fantasy Life is developed by Brownie Brown, so presumably any additional content or extra programming work would have to be contracted out to them as well, instead of a development cost which Level5 can eat internally.
- Simply contracting out an online patch might not be worth the time and money, especially if it adds very little in terms of value to people who already have the game. So the decision was probably made to extend support to the game via the form of an expansion.
- While developing an expansion to the game, they can also add additional features and functionality to the game - like an online mode. As such, it could be seen as one entire package budgeted as such.
Sammy Samusu
Member
That's what they want you to think.
They patched it in, it was planned from the beginning.
http://andriasang.com/comzp1/ragnarok_odyssey_patch/
But couldn't they have charged for the expansion pack separately, and offered the online mode for free?
They could. But clearly they don't want to. I'm just pointing out that the process behind creating the online mode likely has nothing to do with Level5 not having money.
Yeah, you're right. I wasn't even considering how the fact that the game wasn't developed internally affected this.
NeededSleep
Member
Damnit, I really want this game! One of the only that really interests me besides EO4.
Please come to NA
Please come to NA
So Fantasy Life developers never thought about having online mode... yeah... right!
That's would be the ideal. I'm not really against DLC, but I doubt the online by itself will really "expand" the game, as the other content said by the news. New quests, new monster, new whatever... these are things I would expect people would pay for. Online? Nope.
grimshawish
Banned
As I suggested it is possible it is only with recent events that the 3DS and online userbase may have come into concentration.
It's the most probable scenario, yes.They could. But clearly they don't want to. I'm just pointing out that the process behind creating the online mode likely has nothing to do with Level5 not having money.
They also want to get as much out of it as possible while the game's appeal is at its peak, which is also when people tend to overlook certain aspects of a deal they normally wouldn't. Seems like a "strike while the iron is hot" kind of affair, which is business as usual I guess.
I'd back you up if it was just an online mode, but it seems to be much more than that.
Anyhow, happy that L-5 (and more importantly, 1-up) have found some success. This is probably making them (and going to make them) a good amount of money, considering it had a long development cycle and a total overhaul of the game itself.
Sammy Samusu
Member
This is why I don't engage in discussions. lol
Looking at games like Monster Hunter that's entirely possible lol. I'm waiting to see what they charge before I comment on the expansion though.
Isn't this game more similar Animal Crossing (Which have online)?
Well, it's part of a massive content update. If it were JUST to play online it might be offputting even with good rationales, but as essentially an expansion I don't see a big problem. Plus if it came out of Japan (if it's doing well that seems plausible) it'd probably include this anyway.
My point was that online isn't as important in Japan as it is in the West.
electroplankton
Banned
To me, it looks like a move to consider a Western release. And nope, it's not automatic that the add-on was planned from the beginning. Many people here (also Chris1964, that's quite informed) thought the game would have bombed hard. Level-5 had much lower expectations, indeed the game has been sold out for weeks.
encephalon
Member
Is this region locked (the online functionality)?
It's a Level 5 RPG for the 3DS..... it's almost certainly going to be released in the West. The question is when.
What were the overall impressions of Fantasy Life since release?
encephalon
Member
I solely mean the online functionality. In other words, when played on a Japanese 3DS in NA does it detect that you are not in Japan and kick you out of the online portion (like a certain PSP game)?
The update isn't out yet, so we don't know.
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