VERM
Existing Participants can purchase Sesterces via the secure VERM Page here (login details required)
Why a new revenue model for MMORPG's?
It is clear that we wish to avoid the monthly subscription fee model as used by so many other MMORPG's. Roma Victor® must nevertheless bring in enough revenue to pay for the not inconsiderable expenses of hosting its game and web servers, not to mention the need to feed and clothe RedBedlam's impoverished staff! In order to continue to develop, improve and expand the game service, the service itself must, at the very least, break even. In order to ensure stability, quality and longevity, the service must in fact be profitable.
In order to introduce this new revenue model, we should first explain the primary motivation behind coming up with it. We wanted to redress the imbalance in the relationship between value and cost from the perspective of the player. For example, one player might play the game occasionally or for a couple of hours at the weekends, whilst one player might play the same game ten hours a day, every day. With a subscription model both these players would usually be paying a fixed monthly fee of between $10 and $20 to the game service provider. Clearly they're both paying the same costs, but experiencing differing levels of value.
Any experienced MMORPG player will tell you that some players positively contribute to the game world in terms of content, services and gameplay while some players may want to power through the game without contributing much at all. So it's clear that some people are actually putting value into the system just as others take value out of the system.
We therefore needed a billing system that rewarded the players that contributed and charged a fair fee from the rest. In its simplest form, our revenue model will involve selling the currency of the game world, in this case Sesterces, in return for real world money. This is by no means the only source of in-game funds since players can earn game-world currency just as they would in most other conventional MMORPG's.
How does it work?
The software systems and procedures inherent in the design of our revenue system allow us to intricately monitor and balance the economics of this virtual world in such a way that we can effectively ensure the balance is maintained between cost and value.
For example, we can adjust the difficulty associated to earning currency in-game to make sure that the majority of players need only make a modest purchase of Sesterces in order to supplement their in-game income and maximise their enjoyment of the service. Of course there will be those who choose the harder route of paying less, if anything and these players will have to work hard in the game in order to continue to survive and progress. And at the other end of the spectrum there will be those that spend much more when purchasing Sesterces so that they can buy extravagant properties, hire many NPC's and benefit from all the most expensive items and in-game services without necessarily having to spend days and weeks accruing these virtual assets.
This system, combined with our virtual economics monitors and tools, allows us to charge for the intensity of player activities whilst providing the facility to recognise the efforts and contributions of those that should perhaps pay less regularly, if at all.
One way of looking at the system is to consider it much like a video game arcade within an amusement park. Visitors to the park typically pay an entry fee (equivalent to the initial purchase of a Roma Victor Account Key), then within the arcade real money can be exchanged for tokens, which can be slotted into the video game machines. The difference with this particular arcade is that as well as being able to spend their tokens playing the games, anyone visiting could also set up their own arcade game and earn tokens.
How much will I pay?
After a one-time fee to purchase a Roma Victor Account Key, which is required to create an account, Roma Victor remains free to access. Characters can be deleted and recreated (in other words you can start again) without purchasing a second Account Key. Account Keys for Roma Victor are available for online purchase. Account Keys are priced at £19.98 GBP and £10's worth of Sesterces will be allocated to the account as soon as it is created.
What are Sesterces worth?
At the current rate £1 GBP is equivalent to 500 Sesterces. A managed VERM ensures that most people should find that £5's worth of Sesterces would allow them to enjoy life to the full in Roma Victor for at least a month. By supplementing their virtual bank balance with in-game activities, players could be able to survive comfortably on £5's worth of Sesterces for perhaps as much as two or three months. Some players may even be able to continue to play beyond that period without purchasing any more Sesterces at all. And some players may wish to live in greater luxury and comfort and could happily spend over £10 a month just on enjoying the game to the full! But for most players we expect the on-going costs of playing Roma Victor to add up to significantly less than a comparable subscription-based MMORPG. In essence the monthly costs are set by you. You decide how much you pay and how much you play. All we have to do is make sure that you're getting a fair deal. If you don't feel that you are, then all you have to do is stop buying Sesterces. And of course unlike most subscription-based MMORPG's if you do stop playing for a while, your account will remain active without requiring a further regular monthly payment from you.
How do I purchase Sesterces?
Simply go to the VERM Page and follow the instructions there. Please note: Your usual Community Profile login details will be required in order to access this page, which is only available to existing Roma Victor Participants.
How do I use my sesterces?
After logging into Roma Victor you can use the following Roma Victor Commands to access and manage your Sesterces:
