F2P Has Gone better than many were expecting

[Khyle]

What I'm really happy about is that the game itself still feels like the game it used to be in the immersion department.

 

I mean, I played LOTRO since Beta, after release, and after the F2P option was implemented. And, while LOTRO's F2P option has something this game lacks (the possibility of earning T.Points via deeds/achievements of different kinds), I really appreciate the fact that SWTOR's Cartel Market is not nearly as intrusive as the LOTRO Store. I hated, hated, getting those messages related to the Store everytime. It just destroyed a lot of that feeling of immersion that game used to have, which is a shame because it was the best part of the game. Here, on the other hand, I've made several characters and leveled them up until level ~15 or so and it still mostly feels as "the SWTOR I used to know". I feel the game as immersive as before.

 

[Community aside, since most of the time I always play while hiding the General chat ].

Edited November 23, 2012 by Khyle

[LordSkyKnight]

I honestly can't say I'd read anything Smed the head has to say anyway, and if I did I certainly could never be convinced he has any idea what he's babbling about. If they really want to ruin this game, EA needs to hire him away for SOE.

 

EA doesn't need to hire anyone special to ruin the game, they are good at doing that themselves.

 

As to the thread topic, you don't know how well it's going unless they release specifics on it and they won't. Just wait a month and see what happens when the sparkles fade.

 

What cracks me up is the people who have returned from many months ago and claim the game is totally different now. LMAO

[oakamp]

How can you even judge FTP transition to be "better than expected" after one week? And realistically you can only judge if it worked at least six months from now.

 

If I were an FTP player, who came to try this game I would not subscribe.

u just judged it at one week,

so don't tell others don't judge it,

the truth is this f2p is worst than server merge at 2012.06,

it won't save it , just let it barely alive.

Edited November 23, 2012 by oakamp

[Slowpokeking]

u just judged it at one week,

so don't tell others don't judge it,

the truth is this f2p is worst than server merge at 2012.06,

it won't save it , just let it barely alive.

 

You also judged it at one week.

 

I think it could go either way, the future depend on how does Bioware change the restriction and the quality of new content.

[Ungodlyomen]

Where and how?

 

No customer support

Hardcore restrictions.

Returning players coming back and leaving the same day.

Many making fun of this f2p trash model

tons of lag,bugs, and issues.

Sucking money outta subs pockets

Games still not worth 15 a month.

 

So hows it a success.

Its obvious they went free 2 play to try to make the yearly quota.

Every website and info on swtor is talking about 1 thing. what a joke this free to play option is.

 

I see nothing successful here except subbers being taking advantage of and problems with no customer support.

[scullzomben]

6:48 PM AEDST Friday Night.

 

Master Dar Nala - Forever Light.

[Slowpokeking]

Where and how?

 

No customer support

Hardcore restrictions.

Returning players coming back and leaving the same day.

Many making fun of this f2p trash model

tons of lag,bugs, and issues.

Sucking money outta subs pockets

Games still not worth 15 a month.

 

So hows it a success.

Its obvious they went free 2 play to try to make the yearly quota.

Every website and info on swtor is talking about 1 thing. what a joke this free to play option is.

 

I see nothing successful here except subbers being taking advantage of and problems with no customer support.

 

I see the problem but it could be solved in the future with change the restriction and add new content and to be fair it did bring the players up for a bit for now. Actually most of the people argued about small restrictions like quickbar and mod limitation, that could be removed.

Edited November 23, 2012 by Slowpokeking

[Slowpokeking]

Did it bring up the player numbers? Yes for now.

Did it make more profit? Mostly Yes for now.

Is this f2p mod good enough? Many people would disagree.

Is this mod totally ****? No, most of the people are blaming the minor restrictions.

Can they change it? They already talked about it and it possibly will happen.

Will the player numbers keep grow simply because of f2p? Not at all, it did start to drop.

Can they keep the players? It depend on what they do in the future.

 

So it's not a certain thing yet, the f2p mod did bring some players back and added new players for now, it got quite a few flaws and could be done better. And the future mostly depend on how do Bioware change the restriction to make it more reasonable, how do they add new content and how do they fix the bug issue.

 

I don't understand why some people give the assumption so soon, either extremely positive or the opposite.

[ConradLionhart]

F2P has potential, they just need to enhance it better.

 

I personally think they should make your status more visible.

 

F2P players have normal frame.

Preferred players have a gold plated frame.

Subscribers have a diamond plated frame that is shiny, sparkly, and has a big booming voice to announce their presence.

[GrandMike]

Did it bring up the player numbers? Yes for now.

Did it make more profit? Mostly Yes for now.

Is this f2p mod good enough? Many people would disagree.

Is this mod totally ****? No, most of the people are blaming the minor restrictions.

Can they change it? They already talked about it and it possibly will happen.

Will the player numbers keep grow simply because of f2p? Not at all, it did start to drop.

Can they keep the players? It depend on what they do in the future.

 

So it's not a certain thing yet, the f2p mod did bring some players back and added new players for now, it got quite a few flaws and could be done better. And the future mostly depend on how do Bioware change the restriction to make it more reasonable, how do they add new content and how do they fix the bug issue.

 

I don't understand why some people give the assumption so soon, either extremely positive or the opposite.

 

Being 3 steps behind...well...everything.... aint gonna propel you forward.

[Hotspur]

Personally (and let's not pretend any of what has been stated here is more than opinion) I think Bioware has done quite well with the FTP patch. Population has definitely increased noticeably (APAC still needs alot of help), client is performing decently well especially in contrast to launch, and the addition of the cash shop has probably given BW some extra income to re-invest into the game (I'll admit to wishful thinking here). Keep in mind that we've seen only limited advertising thus far and I don't believe 'Cartel Coins' has been sold in retail locations thus far; so there's a possibility of at least one other wave of substantial population influx incoming.

 

As far as TOR being the 'laughing stock' of the genre. Yes, there is quite a bit of negativity surrounding this FTP system, just as there's been negativity surrounding this game from the beginning. This is par for the course; nothing has changed. This fact, this state of affairs, does not necessarily mean that TOR has no chance at increasing population or at increasing other successes the game might have. It does mean, however, that BW has to work bloody hard to overcome that negativity. Despite the naysaying, many of us are still ardent fans of BW and believe they can come through.

 

Will FTP be a success? At this point it's all guess work. We'll have to wait for that typical 3-month to 6-month window to pass before we know how well this FTP system works out.

 

By the way, in general MMORPG's are largely considered the laughing stock of the gaming world. Yes, even WoW is laughed at (I'm sure this is less surprising than my tone is suggesting). Let's not let this type of ignorance infect our enjoyment of what many of us consider to be the most interesting and fun genre of the gaming world.

Edited November 23, 2012 by Hotspur

[patchew]

It seems like there has been a lot of doom and gloom predictions leading up to free to play. And I think the whole thing has gone better than what most were anticipating. It seems like the worst we got from this is some quest traffic jams and a few extra social skills challenged players. But not a lot has really changed except we all have an extra way of relieving ourselves of our discretionary income by spending at the Cartel Shop.

 

Couldnt agree less. Every prediction i made about f2p has come true .. and its pushing me close to quiting.

There more players, all of which are immensely rude and demanding. General chat is highly abusive now. I have a tonne more players on ignore now than i ever had. CC system would encourage a gambling ethic within computer games. Liars, kill-stealers and griefers would muliply at a geometric rate. Lag would suffuse the game and make it nigh unplayable. Addons would proliferate and players would bring the WOW mindset of having 200 addons downloaded just so you can press 1 button to play the game. Money farming would become a high priority.

Ever single thing has indeed happened, every aspect that has come true has made the game that little bit more unpleasant to play. Which means, of the players who have returned .... they are begining to force the players that stayed and tried to make the game good to quit. I've already lost oneguy who was here since beta and im not a million miles away from leaving too.

So yes, BIO you have done a good job in alienating your existing player base and brought in new blood ... tainted, poisoned new blood.

 

so, all in all, i couldnt agree les with OP ... f2p has become what we all knew it would become. A temporary cash influx for EA.

[snowmon]

Honestly, some crappy article on wired quoting John Smedly from SOE as expert isn't what I consider journalism given that most gaming is barely journalism . Most gaming is essentially IGN , spin article to get web hits from angry nerds and arm-chair hobbyist writing . People love tabloid-ism it's an Entertainment form in it'self and shouting about the end of the world ,Last thing I'd would do is listen to people on an internet forum to make my consumer choices and most people don't "There is no community " just a bunch random individuals hiding in anonymity . Not people I trust or would like to know.

 

There countless article in the same vain for Nintendo , they release a Wii U and it sold out everywhere , next day " IS Nintendo DOOMED?!" It just what idiots do and it easy simple writing that require very little investigation proof or even evidence that would push it into the realm of good journalism. There basically professional rants for the most part with no journalism standard what so -ever . With Good reason , there very little money to be made as a internet journalism , there very little demand for critical analysis or anything it's entertainment writing , Not investigating corruption in Halliburton , scary enough American news isn't too far from that either news is Entertainment .

 

Anyway same can be said for Bio-ware . most of the games that gather a lot of hate sold extremely well including mass effect and the average person buying the game for ME3, probably isn't online writing petition for it even if they disliked the ending . It is that hardcore niche who feels obsessively about it and devote years of there life to the cause .

 

Even going to use WOW as an example the countless time I've heard Wow is gonna die.and doomsday prophecy like some raving cult lunatic .Literally ever year of the game even when it was peaking . You'd think WOW was some small dying Chinese game struggling to make it the way idiots on the internet would talk about the game ,despite consistently turning a profit and being basically stable.

 

And another thing why would large percentage of people pay attention to a forum community to be honest let alone this one ? People who pay monthly to have deep profound hatred for game. I just can't understand it something peculiar to gamers coming from a entertainment niche to spend literally years of there life stalking a game/publisher for-whatever reason . I dislike Final fantasy I am not sitting on there forums talking about how it the end of the world lol when FF13-2 made a decent profit just because I dislike a game personally. It is psychologically bizarre and I'll never understand these people and they should seek professional help. If I stop liking a game I stop talking about it like most normal people do, I say It sucks didn't like and I move on .

 

this is the best post i have read in a very long time

 

+10 internet points to you!

[Slowpokeking]

Being 3 steps behind...well...everything.... aint gonna propel you forward.

 

It's not behind, especially the most important part- new content,that's what MMO needs to keep add. TOR is ok with current content, it just need to keep add more.

Edited November 23, 2012 by Slowpokeking

[smexymage]

I'm hopeful but I can already see the server populations lowering as most EU servers were either Very Heavy or Full but, to be fair this is to be expected as the game isn't for everyone and there will be a natural drop off of players. Most EU servers are still at Heavy status which is still a great sign,.

[United_Strafes]

Haven't seen anything in the Cartel Shop I would actually buy cartel coins to use on.

[Soluss]

It seems like there has been a lot of doom and gloom predictions leading up to free to play. And I think the whole thing has gone better than what most were anticipating. It seems like the worst we got from this is some quest traffic jams and a few extra social skills challenged players. But not a lot has really changed except we all have an extra way of relieving ourselves of our discretionary income by spending at the Cartel Shop.

 

Make this thread in 3 months, not after a week. There will always be a spurt of players, much like the original launch. That spurt doesnt mean a thing. If anything, their success will be from subscribers that throw money away like it has no value.

[Soluss]

True that. I find it funny how so many people bring up some so called "specialists" who, mostly, seem to either be paid for dissing the game or really hold some grudge against it. OR eventually they ride on the wave of hatred, after all nowadays saying that TOR is gonna die horribly is popular and desired in some groups like having an iPhone.

 

I for one see a big improvement in TOR from the very start of F2P. Yesterday I got thrown onto second or even third shard of Tatooine when the first wave of f2players reached my alt's level bracket. Some will level up more slowly, some will get ahead.

 

You say that they will quit once they finish the storyline.. of course, MANY of them will. But then again, while doing Hammer Station with two f2players I talked to them and they liked the game so much they said they're going to sub to enjoy it even more. The restrictions do not really drive that many players away. They make them want to pay at least one time to unlock the subscribers' priviledges. I've seen a f2player who bought only two or three crucial cartel market unlocks to enjoy the gameplay.

 

So it doesn't drive them away, it makes them thirsty. And those who wish to not play to the end? They're either going to sub to check out the endgame or quit. If they quit, they're not good customers. One would be stupid if he thought that BioWare expects ALL the free2players to stay. It's a revolving door marketing tactic. Some will leave, some will come to try it. And so on. And some of them will sub, some will buy stuff.

 

 

But the biggest success I've noticed, and best for the players, is that the devs work much, much harder now. TOR was really slowly developing in first few months. It was time for developers to pull their pants up and start working if they wanted to keep this game alive. And it seems they are trying.

 

So, yeah.. don't be so pessimistic. This f2p model isn't the best one around, but if it's bad, it will adapt or the game will fail. BW can always learn from Turbine.

 

The Devs are not working harder. That is nothing but an illusion. They had a lag of like 6 months of no content. During that time they stocked up some content. Now they release it slowly. Getting 1 quest, that they were working on since beta, an Op and a warzone that they been working on for 6 months... is not working harder. The difference is 3 patches = 1 patch.

[lklinga]

You're implying F2P was a success even remotely. I don't know what the consensus here on the forums is, but most places consider SWTOR'S free to play model to be an absolute joke. Any given website is just thread after thread about how they were instantly turned away by the restrictions. The point of a free to play model should be to pull people in and make them want to buy stuff, this does the opposite.

 

Server population is already dropping back down and it's only been f2p for a week. In another month, maybe two, SWTOR will be right back where it was. Potentially worse, given the handful of threads i've seen about how F2P is "ruining the game" by buttmad subscribers who probably paid 80 dollars for the game at launch.

 

Ideally, they should probably of copied something more along the lines of STO's free to play model. Or...literally any other model what so ever.

 

You mean the same pool of "experts" that were bashing this game from the start no matter if it was correct o not. And same pool of experts that expected GW2 to be super successful only to turn of players after a 2 months ?

 

Ahaaa.

 

Lets not be too pessimistic or optimistic and wait 3 months before judging successes or failures.

[ChazDoit]

True that. I find it funny how so many people bring up some so called "specialists" who, mostly, seem to either be paid for dissing the game or really hold some grudge against it. OR eventually they ride on the wave of hatred, after all nowadays saying that TOR is gonna die horribly is popular and desired in some groups like having an iPhone.

 

Yeah, I'ts pathetic how many people let their gaming experience be controlled by gaming media and all the jokes that call themselves journalists. Back in the day I played games and didn't give a damn about what some blogger had to say, earning calls and all that crap.

 

On the other hand I think EA has been pretty incompetent when it comes to PR, making incredibily impopular deciscions, no wonder many people won't give them a fair shake anymore. Many players and reviewers go "what? they're selling quickbars? forget it I'm not coming back to that game" and that's EA and Bioware's fault.

[Fornix]

Call those people whatever you want. Just keep in mind that they are people that play MMOs.... so they are the customers.

 

The question is, do they?

 

When actually asking posters on mmorpg.com whether or not they play the game they're craptalking, roughly 90% answers by no. The topic opened by forum managements in the swtor category is a prime example of that.

 

Consequently, they're definitely not customers of SWTOR.

 

And beyond that, it greatly puts to question how many of them actually still play mmo's in general. Personally I feel the mmorpg.com community has become a haven of players who have been unsatisfied with the direction of mmo's for years, yet desperately keep trying to change things back to the way it used to be; something which is never going to happen anyway.

 

That sort of people aren't potential customers, that sort of people is like virmin which will do anything it can to destroy your crops.

 

EA is most likely looking for customers in a different breed of people. People who are more inclined to stick to their product and not rage trip over every decision, play MMO's for just a week or 2 before quitting again, etc.

[GrandMike]

Yeah, I'ts pathetic how many people let their gaming experience be controlled by gaming media and all the jokes that call themselves journalists. Back in the day I played games and didn't give a damn about what some blogger had to say, earning calls and all that crap.

 

Becuase they dont want to throw away 60$. 2,3m people dropped SWTOR very fast. Its very questionable do they feel they got their moneys worth.

So even a shoddy source like bribed "journalist" (and there were many in SWTORs case, dont forget all those sites were bribed to hype SWTOR before launch) is better than hype fanboi machine.

 

People learn. Slowly but surely.

The question is, do they?

 

When actually asking posters on mmorpg.com whether or not they play the game they're craptalking, roughly 90% answers by no. The topic opened by forum managements in the swtor category is a prime example of that.

 

Consequently, they're definitely not customers of SWTOR.

 

And beyond that, it greatly puts to question how many of them actually still play mmo's in general. Personally I feel the mmorpg.com community has become a haven of players who have been unsatisfied with the direction of mmo's for years, yet desperately keep trying to change things back to the way it used to be; something which is never going to happen anyway.

 

That sort of people aren't potential customers, that sort of people is like virmin which will do anything it can to destroy your crops.

 

EA is most likely looking for customers in a different breed of people. People who are more inclined to stick to their product and not rage trip over every decision, play MMO's for just a week or 2 before quitting again, etc.

 

Uh yah, and MMOs have been moving in such a wonderful direction that almost every one in last 8 years has failed, and most gone "F2P" because people dont think they are worth 15$/month.

Edited November 23, 2012 by GrandMike

[teodorudrea]

I only visit Gaming News sites to search for new games or screenshot/video gameplay, but visiting a site such as IGN to read the future of a game, yeaaah....no thanks. Swtor is dying, ME3 is sh*** ...and yet there are so many people online in the game and so many ME3 copies sold. When will IGN or any other site will come with proof and not just words? I hate it when a fanbase of a game takes everything too personal and puts so much soul into it that it ruins the storyline/gameplay of a game, ME3 ending was shi*, it was much shi**er when BW decided to listen to the fanbase and launch a dlc with an alternative ending.

[Vlacke]

F2P is looking good at the moment but it is too early to talk about that in my opinion, fact of the matter is that SWTOR needed new influx of players, however i think the restrictions regarding action bars and gear for f2p crowd need to disappear ASAP.

Personally i believe that the game will grow and improve now at a much faster pace via patches, new content, expansions etc, which is a fantastic thing.

[Sivn]

F2P has certainly increased the number of people playing, having multiple instances on each planet is great. The first few planets feel like an MMo now with plenty of people about, but the later planets have such small capacity limit compared to the early planets (140+ on Droumand Kaas, where Hoth is like 70 when makes a new instance) that they still feel empty.

 

The key now is to keep those people playing which means more content.

 

I want a reason to go back to planets i leveled on. If that means dailies then so be it.