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Author Topic: Turning a profit??  (Read 1948 times)

Offline Sincraft

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Turning a profit??
« on: February 09, 2007, 12:03:57 AM »
How does a game like this turn a profit on $14.99 per month?  Less for those that are truly addicted and KNOW they will continue to be so, by giving a discount to those that sign up for 6 months.

I'm just wondering as I figure there are about 600-700 people online when I go on.  The standard rule is 10x that amount is the amount of subscribers.

But when I go into the scores, it looks like I'm # 3500 around for bombing, as I have never bombed or scored as a bomber at least, I figure that is the # of current subscribers this campaign?  

So I did the math, and figured on about 2 full time programmers, 2 or 3 office persons and 2-3 general support (I.T, Managers, Owners) people.

How many people are employeed with this game, anyone know?

How many servers do they have running this game?
What is their total bandwidth?

Seems like stupid questions, I know...but I'm curious :)  

Very good game.  The graphics are NOT an issue while up in the air, and even while on a boat you could care less either.  Now, I can't imagine 2d infantry being much fun nor tanking, other than to complete an objective.  The fluid motion of the movements in this game make it very enjoyable, and you have to admit it is really nice to be in a game that runs well on even not so up to date systems!  heck, I could play this on my laptop if I wanted!
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Offline Krusty

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2007, 12:10:37 AM »
You can estimate about 5,000 subscribers. Times $15 a month. That's $75000 a month. $900,000 a year.

Pretty lucrative, even using rough estimate numbers.
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Offline Mustaine

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2007, 12:13:49 AM »
Sincraft, if you want to know more about HTC go to "about us" on the home page, it lists every employee.
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Offline RedTop

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2007, 01:24:00 AM »
Well, **** me gently with a chainsaw. Do I look like Mother Theresa?

Heather Chandler/Kim Walker

Heathers
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Offline Mustaine

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2007, 01:25:50 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by RedTop
Well, **** me gently with a chainsaw. Do I look like Mother Theresa?

Heather Chandler/Kim Walker

Heathers
yup :aok
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Offline tedrbr

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2007, 02:01:55 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by RedTop
Well, **** me gently with a chainsaw. Do I look like Mother Theresa?

Heather Chandler/Kim Walker

Heathers



Must be the dress there, RedTop..... or the pumps.  :confused:
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Offline Nilsen

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2007, 03:05:23 AM »
5000 subs??

I doubt that. As far as i can see its the same (+-) peeps online every time im on and i doubt my brain is big enough to house all them handles :D

I realise that there is prolly afew online when im not there but still...

I would guess somewere between 1000 and 3000 PAYING customers. We will nevern know for sure, but they must be making good money.
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Offline Ball

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2007, 03:12:37 AM »
HT spends most of his time arsing about in an RV-8...

Skuzzy drives a Lexus...

Says it all really. ;) :D
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Offline NHawk

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2007, 04:48:00 AM »
5000 subscribers is actually what I would consider a low estimate. It's probably well over 6000.

Even at the low 5000, HTC could pay all of it's employees $60k a year, pay for a T1 line for the servers and still have a tidy sum left over. I'm actually surprised HTC doesn't own their offices. Or do they and they haven't told us? :)

The game doesn't take as much bandwidth as you'd think, and the servers are located in house. So, cost is limited.
« Last Edit: February 09, 2007, 04:50:04 AM by NHawk »
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Offline TexInVa

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2007, 05:09:37 AM »
My mother always said I was as tenacious as a ferret on crack.

Vincent Palmer/ Christian Slater in Pursued
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storch

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2007, 07:06:41 AM »
volume decreases costs
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Offline Sincraft

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #11 on: February 09, 2007, 07:20:13 AM »
Sorry there is no way this game runs on just a T1.  Maybe an OC3? Probably more like 10   - OC3's.


Could be wrong though.  Something I said LONG ago is coming true however.  With better processory power, faster drives and better caching both at the DNS level and at the server level - connectivity reqs have fallen...although user/application needs have increase thus the constant increase overall throughout the world.


I was just curious.  I estimated they are paying about 2.5k per month in bandwidth alone.  Their servers are probably all on lease and cost them about the same amount also.  I am just guessing but, could be wrong as I have no idea what type of load this game puts on a server.
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Offline Nilsen

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #12 on: February 09, 2007, 07:28:13 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Sincraft
Their servers are probably all on lease and cost them about the same amount also.  


Skuzzy has buildt the servers himself so no.
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Offline Ghosth

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #13 on: February 09, 2007, 07:29:34 AM »
Sincraft AH actually needs less than a stable 56k dialup to work well. Stable is the key, preferably with low latency. Server actually doesn't have that much to do. Most of the game runs our our front end.

Next while I can't prove it, and HTC won't say, I suspect actually active accounts have been much higher than 6000 in the past. You can't necessarily go by what you see in the 2 late war arena's. There are a lot of people who stick around just for flying events, or fri night squad ops, or who prefer to hang in the TA.

When I hear that HT has sold his RV8, or that server needs an upgrade & they can't afford it I'll start worrying. Meantime all thats in HT's court.
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Offline Donzo

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Turning a profit??
« Reply #14 on: February 09, 2007, 07:33:02 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by NHawk

The game doesn't take as much bandwidth as you'd think, and the servers are located in house. So, cost is limited.


I thought the servers were located at the ISP (AT&T).
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