Kingdom of Loathing, a deliriously wacky, web-based free-to-play indie MMO where heroes are illustrated by stick figures and mix cocktails and fight villainous monsters [assisted by familiars] like Ninja Pirate Zombie Robots, is "quite profitable", even with a current audience of nearly 50,000. This from a recent Reddit community interview with Josh "Mr Skullhead," Nite, co-writer of the game:
"There are around 45,000 players who log in each month," Nite wrote, when I asked. "About 200 create new accounts every day. There have been over 2 million accounts created since the game began [in 2003], so there are a lot of people who should totally be coming back." The game monetizes with donations and virtual goods sales, and on that score, he added, "It is quite profitable... I don't have the numbers for what percentage monetize, but it seems to be working." Good news for the passionate fans of KOL, and indie developers interested in creating other games with no-frills graphics and quirky wit.
Players do not "fight villainous monsters like Ninja Pirate Zombie Robots"
The NPZR is a player familiar, a companion that helps the player fight other monsters. At no point in the game does the player ever fight one.
Posted by: stufff | Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Holy smokes that last comment was full of nerdy goodness.
Posted by: rikomatic | Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:43 PM
In my dreams, I fight Ninja Pirate Zombie Robots ALL THE MOTHERFUCKING TIME. (But post is now corrected, thanks.)
Posted by: Hamlet Au | Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:59 PM
But do you do it on a plane?
Posted by: Arcadia Codesmith | Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 02:08 PM
Acadia - you can 'do it' on the Nearby Plains.
Or the floating battleship.
Posted by: Meaty | Friday, February 24, 2012 at 05:26 AM