ok The way I understand things is that BOTH Microsoft (Xbox) and Sony (Playstation) refused to have a subscription model for the game as console users already pay a syubscription to have games from them. So to ave the game up and support from both of these they had to have a B2P route. Thus this is why they have made the game B2P and removed the monthly subscription (all depends now on how it developes with the item shop purchase price's). Whether they are turned into a MUST use or not. Ratrher than have console users play for free and charge PC/Mac users (which would be deamed unfair) they removed the subscription, however its still available for extra benefits (I presume).
I also gather that there will still only be 1 EU server and 1 US server that will cater for all versions (PC, Mac, Playstation and Xbox) meaning everyone will be together at a guess (console users will probably be slow at typing/replying in chat).
All we can really do is wait and see what happens and how things turn out. I have 3x60day gametime cards to get through, but i think i will wait till teh game goes into the new model now before using them.
This seems like a foolish move. So they are making the game B2P for people who already owned the game. What makes them think people are going to spend $60 now when most people said nay to them the first time around. Who do they think is actually going to buy the game now that didn't buy it before? Who I ask? WHO? Seems like they just cut off the revenue stream for their existing subscribers for no apparent gain.
If the game was actually FREE I might consider playing it. The way F2P games work is people are lured in for FREE and then after they are emotionally attached the game starts offering them power ups in the cash shop. That is when people start throwing money at the game. B2P does not make sense to me. Maybe their strategy is all about the consul market. Who knows.
This seems like a foolish move. So they are making the game B2P for people who already owned the game. What makes them think people are going to spend $60 now when most people said nay to them the first time around. Who do they think is actually going to buy the game now that didn't buy it before? Who I ask? WHO? Seems like they just cut off the revenue stream for their existing subscribers for no apparent gain.
If the game was actually FREE I might consider playing it. The way F2P games work is people are lured in for FREE and then after they are emotionally attached the game starts offering them power ups in the cash shop. That is when people start throwing money at the game. B2P does not make sense to me. Maybe their strategy is all about the consul market. Who knows.
It took you a whole bunch of sentences, but you finally got it in the end...
ES games for consoles outsell PC sales 4:1 or more. The game is about to be released to their real target market.... and releasing it B2P for consoles meant they couldn't charge a sub for the PC any longer.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
I hope they will still have the 20$ conversion from PC to PS4/Xbox they talked about a months ago.
Couldn't care less about it going B2P IF and a big IF the cash shop is:
Cosmetics
DLCs
Name changes, sex changes, barbershop, etc
I plan to continue to sub anyway, so DLCs won't really affect me much and I could care less about that guy with the flaming sword while I have a normal one...
If they have a cash shop like SWTOR where you basically have to buy EVERY SMALL THING, then I'm out of both PC and PS4...
The part that scares me is this quote from the ESO official FAQ :
''What is the Crown Store and what can I buy? <span zos_col1"="">
The Crown Store is an in-game shop that allows you to buy convenience and customization items for your characters, as well as services and content.''
All I see from words bolded is '' We will sell convenience aka bag space,bank space,anything space we can think of, we will also sell content aka nickel and dime you for every minute of your playtime like SWTOR does where you have to buy raid time and dungeon time''
It does sound more like SWTOR model, than GW2, BUT with additional payment for the game itself (you do not have to buy SWTOR). They are more greedy than any game companies out there. Though it's understandable - huge market is opening (console) and to refuse to get money from such a big audience would be a crime
Originally posted by Velocinox This is why Subscriptions are a bad idea. If you are going B2P you need to do it from the beginning. Since it first came out as Sub, the box has been discounted. If you plan B2P from the beginning, you can also plan to NOT discount the entry fee, and keep a $60 level of investment in the game most casually disruptive F2P types will not be willing to pay. Now, ESO can be had for under $10... A much more attractive one time payment for the casually bored asshat.
The Secret World did the same thing.
Yea, but TSW is a pretty niche genre. It doesn't have the same draw that a fantasy game does... (unfortunately)
Except you cannot buy TESO on consoles for $10. And this change - we assume - must be driven by estimated console sales with / without a sub.
TSW changed its model to B2P + DLC but TSW did not launch as a B2P game. And that will have hurt sales. And despite the change people are still talking - today - about TSW not being "worth" the price that was asked when it launched. As the adage goes:
you only get one chance to make a first impression
Zenimax are hoping that they get a "second chance" to "make a first impression".
Which is certainly:
why they have "slightly changed" the name;
almost certainly why they have added extra content - to resolve whatever post-launch survey issues the PC launch generated (why did you quit, why did you not subscribe, even why did you not buy the game)
and could have been a factor in the console launch date; they wanted it asap but wanted water under the bridge so to speak.
And as others have said: TESO is NOT going F2P it is going B2P; with paid - not free - DLC (as and when). Zenimax are, however, muddying the water (imo) with options and cash shops.
Comments
ok The way I understand things is that BOTH Microsoft (Xbox) and Sony (Playstation) refused to have a subscription model for the game as console users already pay a syubscription to have games from them. So to ave the game up and support from both of these they had to have a B2P route. Thus this is why they have made the game B2P and removed the monthly subscription (all depends now on how it developes with the item shop purchase price's). Whether they are turned into a MUST use or not. Ratrher than have console users play for free and charge PC/Mac users (which would be deamed unfair) they removed the subscription, however its still available for extra benefits (I presume).
I also gather that there will still only be 1 EU server and 1 US server that will cater for all versions (PC, Mac, Playstation and Xbox) meaning everyone will be together at a guess (console users will probably be slow at typing/replying in chat).
All we can really do is wait and see what happens and how things turn out. I have 3x60day gametime cards to get through, but i think i will wait till teh game goes into the new model now before using them.
This seems like a foolish move. So they are making the game B2P for people who already owned the game. What makes them think people are going to spend $60 now when most people said nay to them the first time around. Who do they think is actually going to buy the game now that didn't buy it before? Who I ask? WHO? Seems like they just cut off the revenue stream for their existing subscribers for no apparent gain.
If the game was actually FREE I might consider playing it. The way F2P games work is people are lured in for FREE and then after they are emotionally attached the game starts offering them power ups in the cash shop. That is when people start throwing money at the game. B2P does not make sense to me. Maybe their strategy is all about the consul market. Who knows.
It took you a whole bunch of sentences, but you finally got it in the end...
ES games for consoles outsell PC sales 4:1 or more. The game is about to be released to their real target market.... and releasing it B2P for consoles meant they couldn't charge a sub for the PC any longer.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
It does sound more like SWTOR model, than GW2, BUT with additional payment for the game itself (you do not have to buy SWTOR). They are more greedy than any game companies out there. Though it's understandable - huge market is opening (console) and to refuse to get money from such a big audience would be a crime
Yes!
Except you cannot buy TESO on consoles for $10. And this change - we assume - must be driven by estimated console sales with / without a sub.
TSW changed its model to B2P + DLC but TSW did not launch as a B2P game. And that will have hurt sales. And despite the change people are still talking - today - about TSW not being "worth" the price that was asked when it launched. As the adage goes: