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Will Wildstar remain viable as a subscription game?
MadDemon64
Member UncommonPosts: 1,102
in WildStar
So unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably noticed how many games are being relased as free to play and how many that used to be subscription based are going free to play with a subscription option. There are probably all of two MMOs out right now that maintain a subscription model and nothing else. Do you think that Wildstar will be the third, or will it eventually switch to a buy to play option similar to Guild Wars 2 or The Secret World or go fully free to play like Rift or TERA?
What's everyones predictions?
Since when is Tuesday a direction?
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What ever their intentions pretty much this. It makes sense business wise.
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Why is this even a question? Games are releasing with barely any content out and making the leveling process entirely to fast thus the game has very little if any staying power so of course they convert to f2p soon after to stay afloat.
If Wildstar flops then no shit its gonna go free to play, if it manages to actually be a (god forbid) good game, then it'll stay as a subscription model.
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The games that are successful/stable do not generally go FTP.
DAoC, AC, Eve, all still subs.
If a game is bad, it is bad. A different subscription model is not going to change that or magically make it more profitable.
I think it is viable - the question is for how long. Now it is possible that they are so remarkably successful that they will be WoW 2.0 and they will not have to leave subscription land for 10 years. Probability of that happening is very low.
If that will not be the case the only question becomes how long will it take for them to go F2P/B2P. If they can hold out for 2 years I think they could claim a solid success story.
If people get to end game and blow through it all in 2 weeks ala gw2/swtor, it will die a very quick death and go f2p in a few months.
I don't think it will last as sub based.. i think it will start as sub based and then move into f2p and fail lol
Uhh wrong and there are examples everywhere to counter your...fantasy. SW:TOR being the best one. They launched subscription, started losing cash, went F2P and are in the black now. AoC, went F2p and is still afloat, TSW, etc.
Games go free to play to save themselves and they do it because it works. People refuse to pay a 15 dollar a month subscription to play a game but they will happily pay 40 buck a month for pretty skins and hair do's. It is the best scam going imo.
If you want a new idea, go read an old book.
In order to be insulted, I must first value your opinion.
How many AAA MMORPG's have launched as F2P before today ?
NONE
How many AAA MMORPG's have launched as B2P before today ?
ONE
See any obvious trend there ?
The fact that very few AAA MMORPG's remain subscription based for more than a year or two after release simply proves that only a handful of games are "good enough" to retain substantial numbers of subscribers.
If Wildstar isn't "good enough", it will convert to some kind of F2P/Freemium payment model once the subs fall below a certain threshold. But if enough subscribers enjoy the game, it will remain sub-based. All depends on the expected rate of earnings for the game.
Very few games will launch as F2P and minute numbers of AAA games .
The simple reason people tend not too use cash shop in their early days of playing, its only later on when the extra 1% of bonus is difference for some people
So most games tend to be either B2P or Monthly subs (my personal fav model) until they see people stagnate at higher levels then release the cash shop for some shiny looking (but often worthless items all the time still on subscription based model- then eventually when numbers start to bleed they go F2P with full cash shop goodness
How long this process takes can be anything from 3 months to 30 years who knows, I personally hope wildstar can keep its numbers happily paying monthly subs for at least 1-3 years this will keep me happy I for one tend to leave games as soon as they go F2P
This post is all my opinion, but I welcome debate on anything i have put, however, personal slander / name calling belongs in game
where of course you're welcome to call me names im often found lounging about in EvE online.
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Actually several AAA MMOs have launched as F2P. Neverwinter for one and I'm sure there are more out there. Course this all depends on how one categorizes AAA MMO which as subjective as what one defines as an MMO.
All depends on what the game offers. Too many times have MMOs advertised as being different and used the hype train and in reality are just yet another WoW clone. If Wildstar can truly provide something that is completely different and appeal to consumers and hold their attention then I say they should be able to maintain their sub model AND continuously produce new content. However.... history dictates that every MMO that uses the same WoW formula all end up in a F2P/B2P conversion. I've become jaded when it comes to any MMO that uses the tried and true formula, not holding my breath that they will be much different and will wait a good while after the game releases before considering it.
No way to justify a subscription for this game in todays market. Play and see.
Wildstar has a sub and the coin system that lets you buy time like Eve Plex. It is not a sub only game.
Cheers!
MMO Vet since AOL Neverwinter Nights circa 1992. My MMO beat up your MMO. =S
Actually at least two AAA games have launched B2P, GW1 and GW2.
Actually at least one AAA game has launched as F2P only in the West and that is Neverwinter online, multiple AAA games have launched in numerous countries as F2P...
I agree that few games deserve their sub fees, but your "obvious trends" are woefully innacurate mate.
Cheers!
MMO Vet since AOL Neverwinter Nights circa 1992. My MMO beat up your MMO. =S
It's funny how this insult has evolved over time. First f2p players where just freeloaders that didn't want to pay for anything. But that obviously didn't make sense because f2p was making more money than it was as a sub. So now it's that they're too stupid to know better, and they pay more.
Either way it's something derogatory if you don't like what I do.
I have my doubts about their Plex system and really trying to follow EVE's PLEX is dumb. List a themepark MMO that has this system and that it works. EVE is very unique as there is a great drive for ISK... actually the game evolves around making ISK to fuel your ships. Themepark MMOs have no permement penalty for losing a fight, EVE you lose your ship that you have to replace which requires ISK, thus it makes it the players only source of gear. Hence why players buy PLEX with real money and then sell it in game for ISK. There are game mechanics that drive the sales of PLEX, Wildstar has none of that. Which that is what you have in sandbox open world PvP games where risk vs rewards are implemented.
The company is not going to implement something that will result in a loss of revenue. If it is even viable to not pay a sub and just buy it with coins then I am going to expect it to be so grindy and costly that it will not even been worth the effort will eat up your playtime.
I think what he is saying is that neither GW1 or NWO are AAA titles, which most would tend to agree with.
These types of threads always come down to arguments between people who think $15 is an ungodly sum of money and those who spend that much on coffee every day. This is why there are f2p and p2p games. Different strokes.
I believe wildstar will be the game to bring back subs. You know they say you can't have your cake and eat it too? I'm liking the segregation we are seeing between mules (f2pers) and those who pay for subs. (Through DLC and other cash shop items.)
If, and I do mean if, Wildstar was ever to go F2P, I hope and pray they segregate content and mules from everyone else. (Hats off to LOTRO and SWTOR and other games who are drawing the line.)
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The biggest joke in the entire MMO genre is how people absolutely flip out over a game that has a box and sub while ignoring the fact that free games are charging $100 for founders packs, which is basically an entire annual sub for WildStar. And yes, if you want to play the "free" game when it comes out, you have to pay it. (When it comes out = when you can play the game. "Launch" is a meaningless term these days - you know it's true). Don't even get me started on the kind of money grubbing some of the kickstarters are doing (yes, I get all those emails).
The payment model hasn't changed. "Free" games simply charge you more for in game perks and then bombard you every time you load up the launcher.
Just load up the launcher to GW2 (not even a free box), Neverwinter, PS2, EQ2, LOL, SMITE ... you are constantly barraged with crap they want to sell you.
Here's a FACT: Free games are WAY more focused on your money than sub games. Take that to the bank.
As far as the OP's question, I predict that WildStar will be viable with a sub fee.
If in 1982 we played with the current mentality, we would have burned down all the pac man games since the red ghost was clearly OP. Instead we just got better at the game.
I suspect they will....like you say its the catalyst to drive the system.
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Actually, Phantasy Star Online 2 was released as a F2P (albiet not in the US, but that's besides the point), and rumors abound about Blade and Soul being release as a F2P. Also I think Neverwinter counts as a AAA mmo (and before you talk about any of the hate it gets, I have seen said hate and most of it is hate against the company that rationalizes/grasps at straws for hating the game)
Since when is Tuesday a direction?
Funny, since I play F2P games and have yet to pay one cent.
Since when is Tuesday a direction?