With Final Fantasy XIV launching tonight for purchasers of the Collector’s Edition, Square Enix introduces Crysta, a new payment method for players of the company’s online titles.
Gene Hoffman, CEO of Vindicia (a billing and fraud protection company), has some words of wisdom regarding the headache that is billing and payment for MMOs — be they the more ‘traditional’ subscription model or the free to play model. Obviously, there are benefits and downsides that come with each model, and companies are constantly trying to negotiate a balance between profit and player happiness. Even the vaunted subscription model comes with its own problems and a variety of structures within that model:
