The assumption that paying players are whales is really questionable, i seriously doubt there are all that many players who are all that happy to pay $100's a month to play a game,
Correct. Whales often make up just 1-10% of the 10-20% that pay money in a F2P game.
Most likely the only really important players that are necessary to a F2P MMO, is that 10-20% of players that pay 'something' which is why it doesn't usually cost all that much to access more of the game, to actually dominate others in the game, and most F2P games are PVP orientated after all, does take significantly more actual money, its the one area where those who do not pay anything are unable to compete in, regardless of how much time and effort they put into the game, sooner or later they have to either start buying into the game, or move onto the next, they in effect, are consumable content for the games playerbase, the games playerbase being defined as those who pay. The main feature of a F2P game, is that you can try it before you buy into it, and get a rough idea how much it will cost you to play the game, some are more reasonable than others.
Having more people is never bad, paying or non-paying. As a F2P myself, I believe we're more 'hardworking' compared to the premium users because they can simply get what they want in a short amount of time and with minimal effort. F2P players have to grind more, buy and sell, and just do more in general just to keep up with the premium users.
There is no such thing as a non-paying player. All players will spend some money at some point in a f2p cause there is no avoiding it that is the scam. Non-paying casuals well they don't matter they will never out grow current content and never be useful for game progression, because not spending money will always leave them to be carried in all end content. No one is going to carry a free player all the time when they bring nothing but getting one shotted and shite dps to the party. What they do offer is the illusion of a populated world where every one must be spending money hehe
The assumption that paying players are whales is really questionable, i seriously doubt there are all that many players who are all that happy to pay $100's a month to play a game,
Correct. Whales often make up just 1-10% of the 10-20% that pay money in a F2P game.
Most likely the only really important players that are necessary to a F2P MMO, is that 10-20% of players that pay 'something' ...
...and they wouldn't be there if the other 80-90% weren't there. As such, that other 80-90% is just as important.
-- Whammy - a 64x64 miniRPG - RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right? - FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
How do you manage to dig yourself so deeply in a game that leaving it seems to be painful? I understand the idea of commitment . However @Allerleirauh description right from the start some alarm bells should have gone off about the type of PvP expense the game would require . How can you go and commit so much to these types of games when the pay model is obvious.
I play BDO but I would never commit to that game and then have as much difficulty as a junkie on his separation from his crack pipe.
Firstly look at the game and look at its pay model . How could you have been fooled into thinking that the game would not extract its pound of flesh? This is one of the reasons people have such a poor opinion of the F2P players. At least have some pride and play the game with some semblance of an expectation to be fleeced when the end game is PvP.
I suppose it is offensive the way some including myself look down upon F2P players who do not contribute any monetary amounts to a game but that comes from my own firm belief that one should always pay for what you enjoy as recompense but I am equally saddened by the naivete displayed here.
Sorry, I have to disagree with a majority of the first page responses that F2P players benefit the MMO community in anyway. Most of them will never spend a dime, because let's face it, they wouldn't be playing a F2P game if they could afford to pay for one in the first place. Of course, you do have a lot of people that would like to at least try the game before investing, which is understandable. Something like GW2 which is B2P seems like the best approach to what I would consider a viable or at least welfare approach to online gaming. I still think anyone that can't afford $15 a month to play a decent MMO probably shouldn't be paying for internet either. The cheapest internet in my area is around $35 a month and that's only for the first 12 months. After that, it gets jacked up to $50-80 a month for the same service. Not to mention, most gamers probably spend around $15 just to go see a movie, by THEMSELVES.
F2P is by no means some gracious gift from developers for the online welfare community. No no no, that is what they want you to believe. It's all just a very deceptive ploy to nickel and dime people to death for what used to be features included in the base game. F2P games actually make gaming companies more money than subscriptions because they know just how stupid gamers are and their irresponsible financial behavior.
There is nothing F2P about F2P. As for those that do play F2P games absolutely free. Well, I like to refer to those people as gold farmers or masochists.
I agree with most of what you said but heavily disagree on B2P as an ideal revenue model for MMOs. Using Guild Wars / Guild Wars 2 as an example you'll notice that these games are far less full featured than other big name MMOs, even if you buy all the expansions, content is not being generated at the same rate as slightly less popular Freemium MMOs.
Freemium is the new subscription model and with EVE going Freemium there are almost no games left which have a full 15/mo to pay as opposed to Freemium.
That's because Freemium is aimed at the exact people you detail in your post above:
"Of course, you do have a lot of people that would like to at least try the game before investing, which is understandable."
Most people have caught on at this point that if you want to play a Freemium game, you need to shell out the sub fees eventually to have an enjoyable experience. For instance with ArcheAge I played for free until my character was most of the way to max level and subscribed so I could get my last few levels and be competitive in the endgame. It was really nice having that time to try the game out at my own pace with no time-limit, and ultimately resulted in my being a full subscriber for several months.
Having a busy life I'm reluctant to start a 2 week free trial because what if something else comes up? Then my trial is gone and I'm still not sure if I like the game or not.
TL:DR - Buy to play may work for your favorite RTS or FPS but it can't sustain a full content MMO. Freemium is the best MMO monetization model for non-cash shop money grabs in 2016.
Comments
The main feature of a F2P game, is that you can try it before you buy into it, and get a rough idea how much it will cost you to play the game, some are more reasonable than others.
- RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right?
- FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
I play BDO but I would never commit to that game and then have as much difficulty as a junkie on his separation from his crack pipe.
Firstly look at the game and look at its pay model . How could you have been fooled into thinking that the game would not extract its pound of flesh? This is one of the reasons people have such a poor opinion of the F2P players. At least have some pride and play the game with some semblance of an expectation to be fleeced when the end game is PvP.
I suppose it is offensive the way some including myself look down upon F2P players who do not contribute any monetary amounts to a game but that comes from my own firm belief that one should always pay for what you enjoy as recompense but I am equally saddened by the naivete displayed here.
I agree with most of what you said but heavily disagree on B2P as an ideal revenue model for MMOs. Using Guild Wars / Guild Wars 2 as an example you'll notice that these games are far less full featured than other big name MMOs, even if you buy all the expansions, content is not being generated at the same rate as slightly less popular Freemium MMOs.
Freemium is the new subscription model and with EVE going Freemium there are almost no games left which have a full 15/mo to pay as opposed to Freemium.
That's because Freemium is aimed at the exact people you detail in your post above:
"Of course, you do have a lot of people that would like to at least try the game before investing, which is understandable."
Most people have caught on at this point that if you want to play a Freemium game, you need to shell out the sub fees eventually to have an enjoyable experience. For instance with ArcheAge I played for free until my character was most of the way to max level and subscribed so I could get my last few levels and be competitive in the endgame. It was really nice having that time to try the game out at my own pace with no time-limit, and ultimately resulted in my being a full subscriber for several months.
Having a busy life I'm reluctant to start a 2 week free trial because what if something else comes up? Then my trial is gone and I'm still not sure if I like the game or not.
TL:DR - Buy to play may work for your favorite RTS or FPS but it can't sustain a full content MMO. Freemium is the best MMO monetization model for non-cash shop money grabs in 2016.