| Zhengtu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Zhengtu Network |
| Publisher(s) | Zhengtu Network |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Massively multiplayer online role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Zhengtu Online ( Chinese: 征途; pinyin: Zhēngtú; lit. 'Expedition') was a MMORPG developed and run by Shanghai based Zhengtu Network. [1]
It was released in 2007 [2] and it became a success in that same year, with a monthly profit of $15.52 million. [3] Also in 2007, the game recorded 2.8 million daily active players and 860,265 peak concurrent users (PCU) on March 23. [3] In 2008 it reached 1.52 million peak concurrent users, becoming the second most popular online game, after Fantasy Westward Journey with 1.66 million peak concurrent users. [4]
Zhengtu ceased operations on 26 December 2018.[ citation needed]
Loot box pioneer
The game pioneered loot box predatory monetisation mechanics. It featured the now-canonical lock-and-key system made famous by Counter-Strike, but would also show you all the loot that a chest could contain on a circle reminiscent of Wheel of Fortune. According to the Southern Weekly article that describes ZT: "Chests will frequently contain the high-class equipment that gamers desire, but the spinning light wheel always passes over them." [5] [6]
References
- ^ Gamasutra - The China Angle: Wii Piracy, World Of Warcraft Beaten?
- ^ "The loot box stink: How did we end up in this mess?". 24 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Gamasutra - The China Angle: Wii Piracy, World Of Warcraft Beaten?".
- ^ "Online games market in China to reach $3 BLN by 2010". ZDNet.
- ^ Wright, Steven T. (8 December 2017). "The evolution of loot boxes". PC Gamer.
- ^ Bedingfield, Will. "It's Not Just Loot Boxes: Predatory Monetization is Everywhere". Wired.
External links
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