Online game portal Bigpoint is launching a game called Seafight on hi5’s recently revealed Games Channel, making it immediately available in 20 languages. Play the game on hi5 here.
The realtime fantasy adventure game is among Bigpoint’s most popular. The Flash game will be made accessible for all hi5 users without having to install a seperate application. So far the supported launguages are English, German, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Potuguese, Romanian, Russina, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.
Seafight is the lastest in a growing string of games included on hi5 and integrated with the social network’s own virtual currency. Having yet another popular game with which to apply the hi5 Coins is a revenue-generating strategy that both hi5 and Bigpoint can take advantage of. It’s a necessary shift in payment options, considering the platform approach hi5 is taking to its own growing virtual economy.
And it makes things a great deal easier for end users, especially if they’re given a certain amount of money from their parents with which to spend in a given environment. The conversion to virtual currency means that parents and users have more control over how their money is being spent. It’s something I’d love to see expanded even beyond social networking sites, including other game portals. As larger corporations such as Google and Yahoo begin to invest research and development into virtual economies, I anticipate a similar method will be applied to portals such as Yahoo Games.
Nevertheless, hi5 has been quite aggressive in its effort to establish its own game channel and virtual economy for the purpose of retaining users, their time spent within the hi5 environment, and the monetary exchange that takes place within hi5. While Facebook and MySpace have been discussing virtual economies for years, and are slowly finding the best ways in which to implement such marketplaces into their own social networks, hi5 has taken a rather decided course and it’s one that is heavily tied in with the social gaming industry.
Since launching its virtual currency and building out its game channel, hi5 has gained several partners for its larger initiative. An important aspect of this push is in regards to alternative revenue streams, as well as the creation of more engaging environments for online users. The rsult is a better mechanism for marketers and advertisers, as well as more direct sales to users, as they can purchase virtual products through their social network.
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I am tired of them conning me time and again and I have only been associated with them for nine months.
The support team never seem interested in anything the paying customers have to say, they just sweep our complaints under the carpet. I have been unable to play the game on 3 occasions because of coding errors and have dropped in rank by what cost me roughly over £100 and hard work to attain. Not once did I receive an apology or any compensation. Therefore, I have wasted money on their game. I call it being robbed.
And the support team constantly accused me of being a cheat which was later proven to be another coding error. I was told by a support member that even if I attempt to go higher with this that any email will end up back with them, that’s how obnoxious they are. “Fine, any communication in english gets back to the english supporters anyway, nevermind where you sent it”
All complaints are swept under the carpet. Their site has a gold premium package that costs £35 for 12 months use, they are giving people 9 months use in the hope that people won't notice, seeing as it continues to the next year if not cancelled. I unexpectedly cancelled mine which they didn't notice, and a month later my premium ended after only 9 months of use. When I noticed this and enquired about it to their so-called support team, they blocked my account. And that is after I have spent hundreds of pounds on their site. They didn't like the fact that I discovered their scam and have covered their tracks by messing with my account.
DarkOrbit is running one big scam and their coders are useless, maybe the people at the top at bigpoint did or didn’t know about this but, I believe they do. I suggested they look into this, although, I know it will all be denied.
Their support team keep telling me to go away and get a lawyer, they know how difficult it will be for me to prove anything.
They have no respect for people whatsoever and whine like babies when we lose our temper with them.
How can a site that is so big and popular be so nasty to people?
I am very disappointed with this site, and it has made me very discouraged about joining any other sites.
Please don't waste your time and money on this con of a site.
The people at DarkOrbit are running a con and I'm sure Bigpoint know about this seeing as the so-called support team are linked to Bigpoint.
The people at the top ignore all contact I make with them, they are not interested in the slightest. They are ignorant little robbers.
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