Home » Games News » Haro began by talking about Habbo Coins progenitor.
To kick off the second day of the Austin Game Developers Conference, Habbo Coins creator Sulka Haro delivered a keynote address to an interested audience. Haro began by talking about Habbo Coins progenitor, Disco, a simple, online virtual club made in 1999. That was followed by a snowboarding-themed game with a virtual ski lodge for people to hang out in, as well as an assortment of minigames. In a significant misstep, Haro said the creators allowed players to use real money to buy in-game items that would grant advantages to the users.
"We learned that people hate when you can actually buy stuff that makes it so you can do better in the game," Haro said.
Haro described a "retro pixel look" that all of his works have shared. While it leaves the games less than visually impressive, it gives them their own character and prevents them from getting dated. Habbo Coins graphics looked old when it was new, Haro said, but they haven't aged since.
Habbo Coins doesn't have room rates, as it makes its money through advertising, sponsorship of certain in-game areas, and selling virtual currency that can be traded for items. Because the game updates frequently with new in-game products and cycles out older items, Haro said a secondary market has sprung up around rare goods. Some items have been valued at up to $2,000, with Haro listing the total secondary market for Habbo Coins at about $550 million a year.