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Blizzard: 'makes sense' for World of Warcraft to go free-to-play
nariusseldon
Member EpicPosts: 27,775
http://www.shacknews.com/article/80847/blizzard-makes-sense-for-world-of-warcraft-to-go-free
"For Blizzard it makes sense [to go free-to-play] at some point," Chilton told Polygon. "But a lot of the risk is in making that transition. You hear stories about developers going free-to-play and getting double the number of players, but you don't always know it works out that way and how long it stays that way."
"The fear may be warranted, but the switch to free-to-play has benefited a number of games. Revenue in Star Wars: The Old Republic doubled after the F2P switch, while DC Universe Online went up sevenfold."
Comments
From all the hate about subs...I thought WoW was already F2P
The players sure make it seem like it in their posts
of course a F2P conversion make sense to them. They are not stupid. It makes sense for every subscription mmorpg to go free to play at some point. The key word (or key phrase) there was "at some point". That doesnt mean its going free to play soon when it is still the biggest and most popular subscription-only mmorpg in the market. That will happen when the population (like many people have already said here) decreases enough that Blizzard consider it necessary to change models.
Yeah because it's not like we've ever seen an mmo launch p2p and then go f2p within a year or anything....
Say what? What does that have to do with what's quoted....
WoW won't go F2P, as Blizzard even said so. It wasn't designed to be.
They'll add a cash shop. But their business model for WoW isn't F2P. Can't sustain a company that large on buying boxes for development costs, then hope and pray folks continue to buy trinkets to maintain the game.
F2P games have little content to offer. Patches are iffy. Game bugs remain as it's not cost effective to constantly patch to correct them.
Folks used to playing crack games don't understand quality it seems.
.:| Kevyne@Shandris - Armory |:. - When WoW was #1 - .:| I AM A HOLY PALADIN - Guild Theme |:.
WoW is nine years old! That is frankly an amazing run at the top, and yet it still has more paying subscriptions/players than many if not all games that are so called F2P. In no way am I claiming Wow is perfect, or the end all be all of games, but the idea that now is the time for it to switch to F2P is ludicrous. Well at least that is IMHO.
Three MMOS are several now? out which one isn't even a pure sub model since it offers CREDDS and we don't even have full detail of ESO.
I know you want to beat your chest and show it to all that P2P is making a huge comeback but trust me it is not now.
"The problem is that the hardcore folks always want the same thing: 'We want exactly what you gave us before, but it has to be completely different.'
-Jesse Schell
"Online gamers are the most ludicrously entitled beings since Caligula made his horse a senator, and at least the horse never said anything stupid."
-Luke McKinney
How does anyone know? Crystal balls being handed out now?
Only thing players can tell in the next 3 years is some P2P will remain, many more F2P games will die.
.:| Kevyne@Shandris - Armory |:. - When WoW was #1 - .:| I AM A HOLY PALADIN - Guild Theme |:.
That's what 'several' means. More than two but not many. The dictionary is an amazing tool.
What has my comment got anything do with crystal ball? Two MMOS with sub models doesn't mean several MMOS. I know people love to take liberties when it comes to English but do not over do it.
FFXIV is the only pure sub model releasing soon. Even ESO decided to double dip players with sub + cash shop (just read the news). Don't be surprised if 6 months or 1 year down the lane it also joins the rest of the F2P MMOS.
You don't need a crystal ball to see something like that happening. So what i see happening is that F2P increasing further in numbers thanks to game companies like Zenimax who keep over estimating themselves and under estimating their customers.
"The problem is that the hardcore folks always want the same thing: 'We want exactly what you gave us before, but it has to be completely different.'
-Jesse Schell
"Online gamers are the most ludicrously entitled beings since Caligula made his horse a senator, and at least the horse never said anything stupid."
-Luke McKinney
It also make sense for me o buy a fleet of lamborghinis at some point, that point being when I win the lottery a couple times.
Talk about a non statement by blizzard. Yeah, we'll do that at some point . . . In the next decade.
So is reading. I clearly mentioned that ESO (sub + cash shop) and FFXIV are the only two MMOS to follow sub model. I don't consider Wildstar to be in same category because they offer Credds for those who don't want to opt for monthly sub. Big difference there.
So yes it is still two..not three or several. If Wildstar is sub model then lets start counting every MMO like EQ2, EVE and SWTOR which gives sub as an option.
"The problem is that the hardcore folks always want the same thing: 'We want exactly what you gave us before, but it has to be completely different.'
-Jesse Schell
"Online gamers are the most ludicrously entitled beings since Caligula made his horse a senator, and at least the horse never said anything stupid."
-Luke McKinney
Not to nit pick.. but wanted to clarify some things with those numbers.. You are aware that approx 4-5 million of those 7+ million accounts are NOT subscription.. They are pay as you go accounts.. As I recall reading, only the NA and EU market is subscriptions based.. Which is the biggest reason for the drop in WoW numbers.. The NA and EU market IS the WoW cash cow, not the Chinese market.. That is damn near F2P in their eyes.. LOL
Anways.. As one gent said already, WoW will make the switch when their accountants feel their is more money to be had via cash shop versus subscriptions.. Currently that hasn't happened, and I doubt WoW will make that switch as long as long as their NA an EU market is over 1 million strong.. Keep in mind it is the Chinese Govt that TELLS Blizzard how to do business and what they are allowed to charge in China..
L20 takes only a day or two, i think (something like less than 10 hours). It is still short for me. Something like a 30 hour game (Marvel Heroes) is pretty good. You have some progression. And finish main content in a decent amount of time.
It is moot though since i have already played WOW for a long time and quit.
Note that sometimes i do play longer if the game is fun for a longer time (like D3). I just don't need it to be long to enjoy it. And yes, 10 hour probably is a bit short, but if i am fresh to wow, and find it fun, certainly there is no reason not to take advantage of it.
Got a crystal ball that can predict that future so surely?
.:| Kevyne@Shandris - Armory |:. - When WoW was #1 - .:| I AM A HOLY PALADIN - Guild Theme |:.
much smaller than you may think. it certainly didnt make any difference for TERA e.x.
its just a sales pitch, trying to lure those who are on the fence, wondering if the game is worth the sub.
devs are shaking a nice carrot in front of their noses "hey look, you dont have to pay for long if you dont want to", and by the time they found out that wont work as well as they thought it would, the devs will have cashed in a pretty penny with their box and several monthly subs, which they didnt want to spend, to start with.
but you are free to find that out for yourself, of course...
No one can predict the future perfectly, but history is often good indicator of future. So when a majority of sub-only MMOs are turning F2P, and most new MMOs are F2P, the tea-leaves are not hard to read.
Biggest reason is make an Asian theme MMO then try to sell it to the Asian market.
Told Blizzard it wouldn't sell and for what reasons. They don't listen but of that grandiose delusions, and millions of dollars later and fewer players, they're still in those delusions.
So expect 6.6 million subs by summer of next year.
.:| Kevyne@Shandris - Armory |:. - When WoW was #1 - .:| I AM A HOLY PALADIN - Guild Theme |:.
Not a bad idea if i have not played WOW although i probably won't level all classes to 20 because you have to repeat content too much.
Just like Marvel Heroes. 30 hours to finish the story content on one hero. I may do it for another hero if i really like it. I will never do it 10 times, even when it is free.
Remember i need to have fun. Oh, and i usually don't pvp (except a bit of PS2). Otherwise, i will just play f2p pvp instanced game like WoT (not that i have not tried it for 15 min).
Yeah .. didn't they sell millions of the sparkling pony when it first came out?