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F2P gives away best part of game!


Addaib

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I say this after playing many MMO's over the years.... it really seems that the Class and Planet quests are really the best thing this game has going for it, It's really what I enjoy the most about I think its what they spent the most $s on (all that voice acting and cut scenes etc.).

 

Anyway I'm just wondering how many of you think the microtransactions that come with F2P will be enough while giving this core feature of the game away? In retrospect, I suppose there's no other way to do complete F2P than do this based on how this game is designed, but it's made me wonder.

 

I am familiar with microtransactions from playing City of Heroes the last few years (on top of a susbscription). But the new model has made me wonder if I will want to dump my subscription for a free one. I enjoy the travel powers and legacy stuff. But if I do, and other do then that is less money.

 

Also I will state that when I used microtransactions it was for something that I really wanted or for something that stuck in my craw. Things like retro conning your powers, renaming your character a better name you thought of after the fact etc. So far, I just haven't seen anything offered along those lines by the developers that would make want to part with my money the way the Coh developers sometimes managed.

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Well what would you expect them to do? Allow F2P until chapter 1, then charge for every subsequent chapter? That would piss people off to no end (not that Bioware has cared about controversial decisions before) and there not gonna get any F2P customers.

 

However, while the story 1-50 will be free, you will have limited slots, (probably less then we originally started with), inventory caps, restriction on messages, money, legacy perks, maybe even race restrictions on character creation.

 

It does add up and can get in the away of your enjoyment of the story. Especially, if you want to make more than one character (make leveling alts easier/possible), witch is the driving point of this game. F2P also doesnt work for PVE and PVP people.

 

So there are defiantly incentives to stay subbed. Leveling alts and crafting, does leave me out of creds sometimes( even though, i sell alot) , and sometimes i cant afford that really cool looking armor chest for my companion, even though i really want to. If prized right, i wouldnt mind spending very little Real Word Cash, for something really cool looking for my Companions, or myself. That is if you even have to, if you stay subbed.

 

So basically F2P wont get in the way of story, but probably will in the way of gameplay , while trying to enjoy said story. And it is a video-game, after all. Not a movie.

 

For me subbed will be worth , so long as the service itself doesn't deteriorate further.

Edited by SimplyCooL
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You will get to play the best parts, but it is expected that players with money will want to spend money to have more inventory & access to other parts of the game. If you're cheap or broke, you aren't going to subscribe anyways. At least they can boast about how many people are playing and people won't cry that their servers are dead.
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Seems to me they might follow EQ2 freemium model. You can play for free to level 90 I think.

EQ2 gives just 2 characters per account, limit of how much gold you can gain per level, it's ridiculously low... limited bag space, bank, no ability to use master spells - not applies here. Restrictions what kind of gear you can use etc.

 

EQ2 added a second subscription model, where you pay $5/month and have 4 characters slots and less restrictions, but they are still severe - I would not get it tbh.

Edited by Evensong
typo
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I say this after playing many MMO's over the years.... it really seems that the Class and Planet quests are really the best thing this game has going for it, It's really what I enjoy the most about I think its what they spent the most $s on (all that voice acting and cut scenes etc.).

 

Anyway I'm just wondering how many of you think the microtransactions that come with F2P will be enough while giving this core feature of the game away? In retrospect, I suppose there's no other way to do complete F2P than do this based on how this game is designed, but it's made me wonder.

 

I am familiar with microtransactions from playing City of Heroes the last few years (on top of a susbscription). But the new model has made me wonder if I will want to dump my subscription for a free one. I enjoy the travel powers and legacy stuff. But if I do, and other do then that is less money.

 

Also I will state that when I used microtransactions it was for something that I really wanted or for something that stuck in my craw. Things like retro conning your powers, renaming your character a better name you thought of after the fact etc. So far, I just haven't seen anything offered along those lines by the developers that would make want to part with my money the way the Coh developers sometimes managed.

 

How about we wait until they actualy release it and see what they do, rather then jumping to conclusions?

 

They are not inventing the business model and being the early adopter. They will follow along the lines of other freemium games, with maybe a few unique Bioware twists.

 

People worry too much and speculate too much IMO. :)

Edited by Andryah
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Thank you those who responded

 

The enhanced game play elements would indeed be enough for the most part to have me keep my subscription. Even when out of work etc. I've always found sufficient justification to keep mmo subscriptions when you factor in all those other entertainment costs like going to the movies, eating out etc.

 

 

Although there is one potential exception. I've been looking forward to the new Ex-com, UFO, Enemy unknown game (see trailer below). In the past, I might just cancel my subscription for a few months and recharge my batteries so to speak, but the F2P sort of does give you a middle ground to be a part time player etc.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZdanb02280

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I do agree with the Title of this thread lol

 

That's the secret sauce and if that's what they get for free, it's gonna be hard to get them to pay for the 'extras' like warzones, operations, etc.

 

Full Flashpoint access will probably be the highest selling item since they are a story arc too.

 

It will get worse and worse(for F2P players) when they increase the level cap and continue with the class stories. Thats when they will be wanting to play more of the game than they really are allowed. Which is good I think, that'll put pressure onto the Devs to actually create more REAL content

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SHHHHHHH! Don't tell them! I'm eagerly awaiting F2P, as I haven't seen anything in the subscription that I'd want to pay for. I'll gladly pay any reasonable amount to access 6-8 characters & all the planets and quests, & then basically just be able to play forever without paying for anything.
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I do agree with the Title of this thread lol

 

That's the secret sauce and if that's what they get for free, it's gonna be hard to get them to pay for the 'extras' like warzones, operations, etc.

 

Full Flashpoint access will probably be the highest selling item since they are a story arc too.

 

It will get worse and worse(for F2P players) when they increase the level cap and continue with the class stories. Thats when they will be wanting to play more of the game than they really are allowed. Which is good I think, that'll put pressure onto the Devs to actually create more REAL content

 

That sounds encouraging!

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If it succeeds the game follows LotRO & DCUO into successful Freemium transitions.

 

If it doesn't the game continues to limp along til it either dies or EA institutes P2W and puts it into maintenance mode and tries to squeeze out the last bit of juice they can get out of it like Warhammer.

 

We'll just have to wait and see.

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I would bet that they only give 1-2 character slots. So if you want to play all the class stories, you'll have to sub or buy more character slots.

 

I was thinking 4, but things like this really will show what kind of stance they're in with the shop and how much they want to give away vs have to buy

 

im already disappointed you can't grind for the in-game currency :(

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SHHHHHHH! Don't tell them! I'm eagerly awaiting F2P, as I haven't seen anything in the subscription that I'd want to pay for. I'll gladly pay any reasonable amount to access 6-8 characters & all the planets and quests, & then basically just be able to play forever without paying for anything.

 

So you are willing to fork out money per character instead of paying $15 per month for everything with the bonus of FREE cartel coins?

 

I will enjoy playing my game as i am now after F2P comes into effect and enjoy spending my Cartel Coins on staff that i chose, oh yeah and i will enjoy my 12 character slots compared to whatever the F2P people are allowed to have.

 

I think that cost wise, subscribers will be the winners.

 

im already disappointed you can't grind for the in-game currency :(

 

It would be nice if Flashpoints gave rewards of 5 commendations or 50 Cartel Coins the choice would only be given to subscribers.

Edited by Reble-Dog-Squad
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I think that cost wise, subscribers will be the winners.

 

That entirely depends on what items they put in there. Shared storage between characters? Fancier vehicles? Permanent sta boosts? Pretty armor? Extra strong stims?

 

Your meager 5$ worth in coins per month may not be enough to buy all this stuff. And it's entirely possible (like in other games) that you will HAVE to spend money in the shop if you want to be able to clear content.

 

But one thing is for sure: their attention will no longer be focussed on subscribers, alot of their efforts will go to pleasing the f2p crowd.

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really?

if f2p is that good, why just launch as f2p, or b2p as gw2?

and science then announce f2p, dep is focus all on f2p module,

no more new class story content.

 

Well I would suspect there are some contextual issues at work.

 

 

In the past free games were synonymous with low quality games. They got their money from advertising, and sometimes micro-transactions. Until at least the Maple story model became known where people realized yes you can do a game purely with micro-transactions.

 

The fact however that some games were previous off limits with their subscription though I think gives them a boost in traffic for various social psychological reasons. (the principle of scarcity and the tendency to equate quality with spending money).

http://www.idealady.com/article/psychology_of_pricing/

 

 

But there are a lot of things to consider. Like I'm sure there is some kind of limit to how many profitable F2P games are out there in the same way there has been for subscription games.

 

When F2P works best is when it can take advantage of impulsive buying like the candy/junk food racks at a check out stand. That is when it beats subscription sales, but it takes a leap of faith to go from a sure thing (a subscription) to hoping people will choose to buy lots of odds and ends. So I can really see the reluctance of western game makers to adopt it.

Edited by Addaib
grammar
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