You've seen collectible crazes like Pokemon and basketball cards. Now, games creators have spawned a new genre, releasing an Internet-based game where players collect, er, nothing.
In Star Trek: ConQuest Online the playing cards are virtual, existing only as information on a central computer system. They can't be played unless the user is online and no proof of ownership is stored on the player's computer -- players don't even get to collect a receipt.
Normally collector-based games such as Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering allow players to accumulate paper cards, often decorated with high quality artwork, so that they have something to show for their expenditure. Star Trek ConQuest Online players have nothing to show for their money, once the computer is switched off.
Smart Business Model
Star Trek Conquest's cards never run out, unlike the Pokemon model, which is
suffering from a worldwide shortage of English-version decks. Star Trek
ConQuest Online card packs are generated automatically for players from the
game's server, and the virtual production line will continue to supply as
many cards as the user is prepared to pay for.
The games developers are staging competitions with lucrative cash prizes, totalling up to US$4,000 in one month, with some prizes being bonus packs of extra game pieces.
Pocket-Money Burner
The cards are surprisingly expensive despite the fact they are intangible.
Players must pay an up-front registration fee of US$10 to enable trading with others and listing on the global scoreboard. This fee also provides players with "permission" to purchase card packs. Card packs range from US$3 for a 15-piece starter pack containing mostly common cards, to an extravagant US$30 for a risky package of 180 random pieces.
Gamers get access to online play only after buying the software (around AU$50). They don't need to purchase extra pieces, but their chances of winning increase with each pack.
Although strategy plays a part in the outcome of any game, a player with rare and exotic pieces has more potential for success in every single hand (called a "phase") of the game played.
Make it so
The playing pieces are crafted after specific individuals, spaceships and
artifacts from the popular Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series and
films. There are hundreds of different playing pieces to collect, each with
their own particular rules and exceptions. Players select forty pieces from
their collection to use in competitive games.
Star Trek ConQuest Online only accepts non-refundable payment via credit card -- so the purchasing audience is theoretically targeted to those aged 18 years and over.
The potential for cheating in the game has been addressed with comprehensive encryption of the game data and centrally stored records of each player's assets. Each time the game connects to the central server it will automatically download any software updates -- and also overcoming any client software hacking.
Star Trek ConQuest Online is published by Activision, and was developed by Genetic Anomalies. It goes on sale in Australian stores this month. The game is bundled with 100 free hours Internet access with Telstra Big Pond.
