PlanetSide 2 Case-study

PlanetSide 2

1.             What is Planetside 2?

PlanetSide 2 is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter

2.             What genre does the game belong to?

Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter game

3.             Planetside 2 developer/publisher:

Sony Online Entertainment

4.             When was it launched?

November 20, 2012

5.             How does the gameplay work?

Territory control in an open- world. Large battles featuring up to 2000 players per continent on foot or in land/air vehicles.

6.             What are the six different player classes in the game?

·          The Infiltrator is a sniper class with special abilities of cloaking and hacking, and can use sniper rifles, scout rifles and submachine guns to deliver a devastating effect.

·          The Light Assault class is a scout who uses carbines, submachine guns and shotguns. The Light Assault's special ability is Jump Jets, which allow them to fly through the air for a short period of time.

·          The Combat Medic is a healing class. Their weapons include assault rifles, shotguns and submachine guns. The Combat Medic's special abilities allows them to heal and resurrect other players.

·          The Engineer class has the special ability of repairing vehicles, turrets, and MAX Units. The engineer also has the ability to build anti-infantry and anti-vehicle turrets. The Engineer's weapons include carbines, shotguns submachine guns and battle rifles.

·          The Heavy Assault class has light machine guns, submachine guns, shotguns, batte rifles, and also Rocket Launchers, which are effective at destroying enemy vehicles. They also have the special ability of shields to help them endure heavy fire.

·          The MAX class has a mobile armored suit that allows them to take significant damage before dying. However, due to the suit they are also the slowest class. They have access to anti-infantry, anti-vehicle, and anti-air weapons. Max units cost resources to use.

7.             What is the story or narrative to the game?

PlanetSide 2 is a science fiction massively multiplayer online first-person shooter set approximately 300 years after the discovery of Auraxis, although the chronology of the game universe starts a few years before.

Business model

1.             How much does Planetside 2 cost to play?

Free to play

2.             What does a subscription offer to players?

Provides players with increased experience, cert points, and extra resources, which are used to acquire things such as grenades and medical kits.

3.             What can the in-game currency buy?

Medical kits, vehicles and aircraft.

4.             Why do some players dislike games in which users can buy additional weapons or health?

They believe that it is unfair because they can acquire in-game features without skill.

The three factions

The Terran Republic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHN9CdBqSYM

An authoritarian government that leverages military might to maintain strict control over the colonial citizens. The Terran Republic is obsessed with the preservation of law and order through violence, and are thus seen by some to be an oppressive and dictatorial force, but many view the TR as the only hope for lasting security on Auraxis. Their colors are red and black. TR forces are distinguished by their use of rapid fire weapons and miniguns, large magazines, and high speed medium tanks and fighters.

New Conglomerate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErA4jNfVSIM

The New Conglomerate operates as a loosely organized band of highly effective freedom fighters, vehemently opposed to the stranglehold that the Terran Republic has on Auraxis. Led by an unusual quorum of outcasts, industry titans, and pirates, the New Conglomerate is unwavering and prepared to achieve freedom from oppression by any means necessary. Their colors are blue and gold. NC forces use hard hitting gauss weaponry that is devastating at short and medium ranges with a medium reload time, supported by heavily armored assault troops and durable tanks and fighters that also have the highest damage per shot in the game.

Vanu Sovereignty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkTnvST9Teg

The Vanu Sovereignty believes that only through the mysterious power of ancient technology can humanity truly evolve its next state of existence. They are an advanced and cunning faction, employing powerful alien technology on the battlefield. Their singular purpose is to uncover the secrets hidden away in ancient artifacts scattered over the surface of Auraxis, and they annihilate anyone who interferes with their progress. Their colors are purple and cyan. Vanu employ advanced plasma and laser technology on the battlefield, distinguished by lack of bullet drop, high accuracy, and low recoil, as well as highly maneuverable hovering tanks and Empire Specific Fighters such as the Scythe.

Planetside 2: Target audience

Target audience demographic: Male 65% Female 35%, 18-35 years, B1B2C class, A-levels, suburban residence.

The Terran Republic: Average age of 25-30, A*-B A levels and B class employment

The Vanu Sovereignty: Average age of 30, A*-B A levels and B class employment

The New Conglomerates: Average age of 18-25, A levels and possible unemployment. 

Psychographic profiling

The Terran Republic: Mainstreamers, Resigned.

The Vanu Sovereignty: Reformers.

The New Conglomerates: Succeeders, Explorers, Strugglers.