These arguments are pretty funny. Some of the blanket statements people make are pretty off base and have nothing supporting them. But I'll point out one of the biggest blanket statements that seems to come around.
"There is still a large market for players for the p2p model." How ever you want to word that.
While true it is so far from being a majority or a large portion of players in comparison to f2p titles. Look at LoL. Yes League of Legends the most played game in the world currently. Its f2p model has allowed everyone and their mother to join the game, and people don't feel obligated to spend money on the game. Not only that but you don't gain an out right advantage spending money in the game.
League of Legends is Definitely NOT the most played game in the world currently or ever was. Played that for about 1 month on and off with the kids and none of us (5 of us and a few friends) played it more than that.
Next you have p2p games. Where many of them are now f2p with a cash shop and optional subscription. Tera, Rift, SWTOR, AoC just to name a few have all went from p2p to f2p. Obviously something wasn't working.
Well ya they sucked. So to stay in game they had to go F2P.
Now look at this from a CEO and Investors perspective. What do they want? They want a piece of that LoL money. It dosn't matter that its a different game type, they want that money and that is the bottom line.
Ya, I will bet a CEO or Investor would point their money towards the game a guy has the ability to spend $25k on it in 6 months.
Yes and those whales are what kills a great games and ruins it for everyone else. Its why no other company has been able to make a great game as of yet. A few came close or had the potential (i.e. Neverwinter). Will make me think more than twice on any cryptic game in the future.
Zenimax Online has been a bit hush-hush on the business model for Elder Scrolls Online and we're finding this all a bit concerning. Read on and learn why in this week's Elder Scrolls Online column.
It really doesn’t matter how good The Elder Scrolls Online ends up being at launch. Subscriptions, even in their heyday, were always a losing proposition. For one, MMO game design suffered to keep paying players playing by padding out content and utilizing numerous arbitrary time sinks. But for the most part, players were willing to pay, as long as the game was good and could hold their attention. Back then every MMO developer out there was competing for your $15, but in today’s world, they’re really competing for your attention.
In the end I think it comes down to player surveys and the numbers of pre-launch sales that Bethesda Softworks think they'll get. If you think you'll get one million plus at launch then it makes sense to have the sub, at least initially as it gives everyone full access to the game and you don't have to bother with the full-on cash shop. Later you can always move to the F2P or hybrid model. This assumes that the game is going to actively patch content in on a regular basis. If not then F2P or P2W with the cash shop are the way to go. For myself I am hoping that it will be a sub initially, with content patched in on a regular basis, at least over the first year.
Originally posted by Quizzical Why would anyone pay a subscription for a game they like when there are a lot of games that you can play for free if you're willing to be crippled enough that you won't like them? The question nearly answers itself.
Quality!! That is the answer to your question. I have yet to see a F2P MMO with the same overall quality as a sub game, imo.
If TESO is the monster I think it will be, they could definitely charge a sub, and many players would love it!
Because we are sick of the F2P community. There I said it, sue me!
Comments
League of Legends is Definitely NOT the most played game in the world currently or ever was. Played that for about 1 month on and off with the kids and none of us (5 of us and a few friends) played it more than that.
Well ya they sucked. So to stay in game they had to go F2P.
Yes and those whales are what kills a great games and ruins it for everyone else. Its why no other company has been able to make a great game as of yet. A few came close or had the potential (i.e. Neverwinter). Will make me think more than twice on any cryptic game in the future.
In the end I think it comes down to player surveys and the numbers of pre-launch sales that Bethesda Softworks think they'll get. If you think you'll get one million plus at launch then it makes sense to have the sub, at least initially as it gives everyone full access to the game and you don't have to bother with the full-on cash shop. Later you can always move to the F2P or hybrid model. This assumes that the game is going to actively patch content in on a regular basis. If not then F2P or P2W with the cash shop are the way to go. For myself I am hoping that it will be a sub initially, with content patched in on a regular basis, at least over the first year.
My money is on Buy to play like Guild Wars.
Its just to hard to make a profitable free to play mmorpg without letting people buy power through the CS.
With a Buy to play model they could stick to cosmetics and extra DLC content and be fine.
Playing: Nothing
Looking forward to: Nothing
Quality!! That is the answer to your question. I have yet to see a F2P MMO with the same overall quality as a sub game, imo.
If TESO is the monster I think it will be, they could definitely charge a sub, and many players would love it!
Because we are sick of the F2P community. There I said it, sue me!