What if Blizzards new MMO is a F2P / Cash Shop heavy game?

Luthor_X

I'm talking like a typical cash shop heavy game, not this hybrid lotro model.

 

Buy to win epics, uber health pots, exp pots, etc... all for a price, of course!

 

Would you play it like you play WoW now?

Liddokun

As long as the quality of the game is as good or better. They will make tons more money than they currently make in WoW. But according to interviews Blizzard is resistant in making WoW F2P (and they don't really have a good reason to). Financial wise they are doing very well currently and judging from the content output WoW still has a long way to go before the end of it's game life but when that time comes WoW 2 or Diablo online, Starcraft Online or some new totally new game would have come to replace WoW.

KilorTheMeek

Originally posted by Luthor_X

I'm talking like a typical cash shop heavy game, not this hybrid lotro model.

 

Buy to win epics, uber health pots, exp pots, etc... all for a price, of course!

 

Would you play it like you play WoW now?

It won't happen.  Blizzard markets its product primarily to Western gamers.  Western gamers prefer a cash shop with primarily cosmetic items, or where any game-influencing items (epic gear, xp pots, etc) can also be had in-game.  That's why the DDO/LOTRO cash shop model is succeeding in the US.   Actually... most Western gamers prefer no cash shop... but for sake of argument...

The type of cash shop you describe is a very eastern MMO style of micro transaction.  Asian gamers do not mind a P2W setup and in fact many prefer it.   F2P games that have P2W items are very popular in China and Korea. 

Ihmotepp

Then people that like cash shop games will play, people that like subscription games won't.

Axehilt

Kind of a weak poll.  I'm sure there's a good split between "No, I hate F2P"  "No, I hate Blizzard" and "It'd depend on the game".

BeansnBread

No ~ I Blizzard

Squishydew

I very much doubt they will.

 

I'm guessing They'll release Diablo 3 and their new MMO, and then start charging a higher Sub fee for the battle.net network, effectively forcing you to pay for all their games, even WC3 and D2 / starcraft.

whilan

Voted for option three. this is a what if scenario the OP isn't saying this will ever happen.  it's just IF they did what would you do.

I'd do the same thing i've been doing and play other games. But i don't really count in that figure because no matter what they do it won't affect me. Just wanted to remind you guys of the second word in the title mostly.

Zorgo

I can't answer the question without knowing something first....is the f2p/cash shop Blizzard game fun?

Actually the answer to my question makes your question mute.....I don't care what the financial structure of a game is, as long as it entertains me.

Sorry, but I'm not so principled to not play a game based on how they turn a profit; I play games which are fun.

Diablo4783

haha no way in hell this would ever happen.  though i do enjoy the "what if" threads, 11 million subs or whatever its at now means we are more likely to see my 80 DK solo the lich king than a f2p blizzard mmo.  as a business model you are giving away guaranteed money by moving away from subs.  whoever said you would make more money with a cash shop is frankly very very mistaken and has not been in a real life competetive business market.  this is why we only see big name games do this after their subs dwindle down after a few years. a subscription for any business is better than pay as you go.  fun idea though. 

to actually answer the question, if it was anything like wow but with new graphics id absolutely try it out.  like it or not wow set the standard for what most people vew as an actual mmorpg.  i sure as shit wouldnt pay more than 15 bucks a month in a cash shop though.








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  and i bet the vast majority of other players wouldnt either.

just1opinion

I just checked the numbers, because for me it would depend on the game ITSELF and not it's payment plan OR the developer.

 

If it seemed to be a fun game.....sure I'd play it.  If it seemed to be unimaginative, uninspiring, and to only exist to make money while not caring about the player.....no, I wouldn't play it.

 

Having said that.....I feel a need to say that Blizzard SHITS money. They HAVE so much money, and have so many people either willinglly or unwillingly enslaved, that I think no matter WHAT piece of crap (OR brilliant epic game) they put out.....they're going to roll in cash.