Wizard101 Gets Pay-By-Zone Offerings

KingsIsle Entertainment announced today that it would begin offering a new payment method for its recently launched Wizard101. The world as a whole is free-to-play, though the company launched a premium experience for $9.95/month with access to extra content and activities. Last month it announced a family plan for $6.95/month for each account on the same credit card. Users can now also purchase access to individual streets or zones within the virtual world for as little as $1 worth of the virtual currency, Crowns.  The addition came in response to user demand for more flexibility, and I have to say I really like the idea of selling access to game areas as virtual goods a la carte. I'll be interested to see how it pans out.

"A parent can reward a child with days of entertainment content for the price of a pack of gum... and at the same time someone who regularly meets up with their friends in Wizard101 may elect to get full access up front, and save by subscribing," said KingsIsle Entertainment CEO Elie Akilian.