Sustainability

Online Games are sprouting like mushroom in a rate that probably doubles every year. The big question is how does this games can sustain its fame and profit. One of the best example is our favorite game MU. Five years ago, every player can experience a server lag and boot out due to the big population of the players (with respect to the technologies available). Currently? The a big size of the player population are tossed around in a bowl of a game with the same concept on different approach(MU: Grudge, Zypher, Phoenix, Fortress)!

To my own extent of analysis, the following reasons are vital to a game's sustainability:

1. Effects, Graphics
2. Experience Rates
3. Item Drop Rates
4. Availability of profit (Either cash/kind or in-game items etc...) for ideal players*
5. Promotional Events
6. Security and Manageability (Includes in game response of both technical and non-tech staff)
7. Difficulty level of the game and comprehensive interface
8. Story Line

* The biggest percentage of the gamers population belongs to the ideal players, players who want to enjoy the game at the same time earn from their effort on the game or a way to play the game for free. Earning could either be through tournaments, Gambling (pustahan), selling and/or trading in-game items etc...