ProtoCoins and the new payment system

15-01 UPDATE: Xsolla seems to have fixed the issues with SMS-payments.

After weeks of delay (which wasn't our fault) we have finally integrated the new payments system. The main difference is the addition of ProtoCoins, our own virtual currency. 1 USD = 100 ProtoCoins. You can purchase any amount of ProtoCoins using Xsolla's PayStation. After that, head to the Premium features page to spend them. You can also still pay directly with PayPal, just as before, without bothering with all this coin-business.

Nothing has been changed in the subscriptions and packs themselves, except the 7-day subscription is no longer available.

New payment methods - dozens of them! Xsolla has something suitable for everyone, in pretty much any country. After entering the PayStation, select your country and one of the available payment methods. There are several SMS/phone options there as well. PayPal option is temporarily unavailable, but should be re-activated shortly (meanwhile, you can pay with PayPal directly from the Premium features page).

What are the benefits of ProtoCoins?
Well, for one thing, people who don't have PayPal can now purchase any subscription/pack, not just 1-week. Also, it's now possible to buy ProtoCoins as a gift for someone - head to their profile and click the 'Send gift' button under the avatar. You will also be able to earn ProtoCoins in game and through various contests and giveaways on the site.

"But, are you turning this into FarmVille? This makes me dead inside and I'm leaving!"
If you think we're anything like Zynga, you obviously haven't been paying attention to our development of the game. We were so careful with the balance of Free/Premium that even Yoba praised our business model

We do have ideas for futher use of ProtoCoins, but certainly nothing evil. Most likely it will be things like promotion of custom maps and scenarios, dedicated map pages, reset SP/upgrades, hide user details in game, hats, pets and so on. You know, the extra stuff.