Fortnite Alpha Signups

[TWD]

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/04/14/introducing-fortnites-commando-class.aspx

Gameinformer is keeping up the slow drip of info. This time they discuss a single class, and go a little into weapon crafting.

 

[Wail of Suicide]

I'm certainly going to at least try it considering it's F2P. It looks like it could be fun but I'm sure I could think otherwise once getting to play.

I agree that it'll still be able to use UE4 for some new cool technology and visuals, but really this seems to be the first time that a new Unreal Engine wont debut on some showcase title. I was expecting them to release a new game related to the tech demos like they did with Gears of War years ago.

Fortnight is their showcase game. Epic recognizes that F2P is a big part of the future of the game industry, so they're making a move into that space. It's also true that it's pretty ambitious for Epic in a lot of respects: Fully destroyable environments, RPG / Class / Inventory mechanics, on top of a new business model and trying to break into the Asian gaming market (the whole Tencent thing).

Honestly it doesn't look like the kind of game I want to play, but they are doing a lot of new stuff with Fortnite and it's actually a pretty cool showcase of some of UE4's capabilities in a way that UT or GoW would not be.

 

[WGH]

F2P is a big part of the future of the game industry

I never asked for this. Perhaps, I'm old-fashioned or something.

 

[Wail of Suicide]

I never asked for this. Perhaps, I'm old-fashioned or something.

Nope. F2P is just a self-destructive trend in the gaming industry. Most players do not pay any money, making F2P dependent on fewer people to support the entire game. If there are changes that are positive for the game but negative for the big spenders then it's unlikely that would happen. And development is being driven by finding the best way to exploit psychological flaws in humans to get them to open their wallets, rather than what's fun and innovative.
I know people who are on government assistance, or parents with children, who have gambled away thousands of dollars in F2P games. It's puzzling to me how the actual gambling industry is so heavily regulated, but the casinos that exist on everyone's phones have no oversight or age regulations at all.