If they really want to make more money why not offer more then the 30 day sub model? Why not offer a 7 day or 14 day model? Or even a weekend model?
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
Originally posted by Quizzical The "free to play" model often relies heavily on a handful of whales paying a ton of money. If the whales can get everything they want for $15/month on the subscription server, why would they pay $100/month on the free server? If you get $15/month from the people willing to pay a decent amount and basically nothing from everyone else, then you likely make less than you would with either a pure subscription or a pure free to play item mall model.
I tell you why. Because whales want to feel superior. They can't feel that way in a subscription only server, because there everyone is the same.. and only play time decides how you are.
On a F2P server they can easily feel superior, and are in a lot of cases, in comparsion to people spending less or nothing.
With other words you have a few options:
- Sub only. Everyone is on a even playing field.. everything is hard earned by playing.
- F2P(Freeloader): Try out a game for free and spend if you desire
- F2P(with investment): Get shortcuts you would not get at Sub only or with playing for free.. but be rdy to pay extra credits
And there are more than enough players wanting shortcuts.
Want to be able to port from location to location. Go to the F2P server and buy it. (no fast tranportation at sub only)
Want to be able to get the fat loot without raiding, dungeon running, pvping? Go to the F2P server and buy it.
In all honestly i do believe more diversity is a good thing, and i do believe that it would be no problem for a sub only server or even a lot of different server with specific rulesets.
And by all means.. a gameworld does not have to be for 10.000 players online.. 1.000 are more than enough.
As example.. in DAoC the server was limited in US 2.500 and in EU 3.500 players both online, not overall. Those players were again divided into 3 Realms.. with other words in no realm were more than 1.000 players online. And it was absolutely more than enough.
And to setup a new server is not really a lot of extra money you have to pay.
I am all for sub only servers in F2P games, or better freemium games were subscription is a option.
Comments
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
I tell you why. Because whales want to feel superior. They can't feel that way in a subscription only server, because there everyone is the same.. and only play time decides how you are.
On a F2P server they can easily feel superior, and are in a lot of cases, in comparsion to people spending less or nothing.
With other words you have a few options:
- Sub only. Everyone is on a even playing field.. everything is hard earned by playing.
- F2P(Freeloader): Try out a game for free and spend if you desire
- F2P(with investment): Get shortcuts you would not get at Sub only or with playing for free.. but be rdy to pay extra credits
And there are more than enough players wanting shortcuts.
Want to be able to port from location to location. Go to the F2P server and buy it. (no fast tranportation at sub only)
Want to be able to get the fat loot without raiding, dungeon running, pvping? Go to the F2P server and buy it.
In all honestly i do believe more diversity is a good thing, and i do believe that it would be no problem for a sub only server or even a lot of different server with specific rulesets.
And by all means.. a gameworld does not have to be for 10.000 players online.. 1.000 are more than enough.
As example.. in DAoC the server was limited in US 2.500 and in EU 3.500 players both online, not overall. Those players were again divided into 3 Realms.. with other words in no realm were more than 1.000 players online. And it was absolutely more than enough.
And to setup a new server is not really a lot of extra money you have to pay.
I am all for sub only servers in F2P games, or better freemium games were subscription is a option.