MMOSide Chat: Do You Sub To Free-To-Play MMORPGs, And When Do You Decide If It's Worth It? | MMORPG.

System

MMOSide Chat: Do You Sub To Free-To-Play MMORPGs, And When Do You Decide If It's Worth It? | MMORPG.com

Bradford can be both incredibly stingy, though like many of us he probably subs to too many services. So when it comes to free-to-play titles that offer subs, there has to be a reason.

Read the full story here

ashiru_1978

I subscribed for one month only in LOTRO just so I can unlock the VIP benefits. I had no intention to remain VIP anymore. Actually, I had no idea the subscription was recurring, so when the 1st month ended, my subscription did not end and I effectively paid for a 2nd month without intending - money were just subtracted from by bank account. I think that is a pretty scummy practice, but either way, I had to manually cancel my subscription and I ended up being VIP for two months instead of one. No regrets there, but if I had known about that, I would've made sure I was VIP for just one month and no more.

The only reason I had to subscribe to LOTRO, was because I really liked the game and the business model is really stingy. If that wasn't the case, I wouldn't have done that.

I have a rule that I would subscribe to a F2P game or buy cosmetics even if there are no real benefits, only and only if the game is actually so good that I live and breathe it. There was one between 2015 and 2017 - Ghost in the Shell First Assault Online - a crappy Korean F2P FPS that was made on an outdated engine, had performance and latency issues and shut down, but I had so much fun in it, but it never was that good to fulfil my criteria. And I don't expect any such game will ever release, even LOTRO, which I like really much is far from perfect.

cheyane

I spend on any game where I put large amounts of time in because in my opinion I want to reward the developers for entertaining me. If a game can actually manage to get me to play from 4-7 hours a day, that game is totally worth it.

I also do not want to be stingy about this because there are so few games that manage to get me so engrossed. I will also get every DLC and other things if the game is really good. Point is that I don't buy shoes and handbags and go window shopping so I have some money to spare for this hobby and if I want more games to be produced that is to my taste, the only way I can do that is to support the games I like.

Nebless

I've done it from time to time. In SwtoR I hit the f2p cap before I finished my class story so I sub'd just to see how high I'd level before the story ended. Enjoyed the sub benefits enough that I let the sub run 3 months before stopping it.

I've done it in LotRO too as I gave myself a 3 month sub for Christmas one year just because and was able to do a lot of the optional regions before it ran out.

Aeander

I'm generally anti-sub. I think they do nothing for the consumer anymore, and don't even do their oft-stated job of keeping away microtransactions (thanks, WoW). 

It would take an excellent game to make me want to pay a required subscription. I'm talking an Ashes of Creation living up to its stated goals quality game.

As for optional subscriptions, the game itself would also have to be extremely high quality and the sub $10/mo or less. I can't name any f2p MMOs that currently fit these criteria. F2P MMOs have an unfortunate tendency to be trashy Korean shovelware that might have good combat and nothing else of note.

Sovrath

Yes.

If I'm playing the game and it has a sub I'll pay it. Life is  rarely free. What would happen if i went to work and my company said "we don't really believe in paying a salary but we will pay for the things you do that we like or want. If we don't find value in some of the things we do we won't pay.

Of course that's an oversimplification and a ridiculous analogy but you get the point.

and I'm not stingy.

olepi

I hardly play any F2P games, and I sub to all of them. In fact, I'll keep subs active for games I hardly ever play, just to help support the games I like.

I bought the Lifetime Founder of LoTRO when it released, and have even given them more money because I like the game.

OTOH, I never buy loot boxes and almost never buy anything from cash shops.

Scot

I have never been in a F2P game long enough to feel I should sub, but I might well if I was going to stay long term.

foxgirl

I sub both ESO and Lotro.. though I am starting to feel that Lotro isn't worth the sub since the perks aren't that great anymore.

ashiru_1978

Sovrath said:

Yes.

If I'm playing the game and it has a sub I'll pay it. Life is  rarely free. What would happen if i went to work and my company said "we don't really believe in paying a salary but we will pay for the things you do that we like or want. If we don't find value in some of the things we do we won't pay.

Of course that's an oversimplification and a ridiculous analogy but you get the point.

and I'm not stingy.

The case with the game is that they release it as free, so subscription is not required, it may be encouraged, but that's it.

The analogy with a job and salary is not appropriate, because when you begin a job, you sign a contract where you and your employer agree that you will be paid for performing your duties. These games release as F2P and everyone knows it, even the people who work on them, they can choose to quit when they realize the game will launch as F2P (if they had hopes for it to be B2P or P2P), but if they don't quit, then it means they are OK with the game being F2P.

So player should not feel feel obliged to pay.

koldmiser

Whenever I go back to a game that has a sub option I sub. I like the perks and I feel like it's my way of thanking the devs for what they do.

Mendel

I am less likely to play a game that puts important things behind a paid wall.  Things like adequate (or even functional) bag space, 'quest packs' (additional content within an existing zone) or character/class/skill/item restrictions (especially item restrictions).  If it doesn't do this, isn't overly predatory with the cash shop advertising, is engaging and fun, then I will probably sub.  In a decade or so.

k61977

I tend to sub if it is a game I have already played in testing or for a month or two and I am still playing it. Mostly do it if I feel the game is worth playing. I do it to support the devs mostly and hopefully ongoing work on the game.

Sovrath

ashiru_1978 said:

Sovrath said:

Yes.

If I'm playing the game and it has a sub I'll pay it. Life is  rarely free. What would happen if i went to work and my company said "we don't really believe in paying a salary but we will pay for the things you do that we like or want. If we don't find value in some of the things we do we won't pay.

Of course that's an oversimplification and a ridiculous analogy but you get the point.

and I'm not stingy.

The case with the game is that they release it as free, so subscription is not required, it may be encouraged, but that's it.

The analogy with a job and salary is not appropriate, because when you begin a job, you sign a contract where you and your employer agree that you will be paid for performing your duties. These games release as F2P and everyone knows it, even the people who work on them, they can choose to quit when they realize the game will launch as F2P (if they had hopes for it to be B2P or P2P), but if they don't quit, then it means they are OK with the game being F2P.

So player should not feel feel obliged to pay.

My analogy while I did admit that it was "off" does not fit what you wrote.

My analogy is that your contract stipulates exactly what I put. It's a contrivance sure but ...

So would YOU show up to a job where they tell you that they will only pay for the bits that they like? That would be your contract.

The answer is most likely no, no one would. But again, as I've stated, it's not quite right because it's a bit of contrivance.

Free to play games that have a sub are "sub games' that allow for some players to play or have access to less of the game without paying. But they are still sub games.

I don't believe in free to play because it allows a small amount of people to carry the rest. My opinion is that if you play the game then it's worth paying for. Period.

Theocritus

I subbed in EQ and WoW for years....IT wasnt worth it.....I got nothing more for subbing than I do in a f2p.....I look at it and ask "why should I pay $180 more per year?...To me it is a complete waste of money...and then when you leave the game, you have nothing....

Guintu

At the moment I don't sub for games. I'm very particular about MMO's and most of the ones that are out are just "eh"...especially the F2P games. Also, the cash shops in free to play games are mostly P2W. There are a couple of games I go back to every so often "Path of Exile and Warframe" because I find some fun things about them, but I get bored or my friends stop playing so I stop.

Right now I'm playing Lost Ark and so far it's been fun and keeping my interest for 50 hours, but we'll see how long that lasts...probably until I hit the paywall. In games I like I'll buy certain things like in PoE I bought extra storage and the ability to colorize it and do other storage things.

For me to spend a monthly fee on an MMO it's going to have to be really special and keep my interest until end game and on. So far I haven't found one. Most MMO's are unspectacular to me, there really isn't any originality in them, just different themes of the same game, some tab target, some action but same game play, same quests, to me not worth it.

I hope some day someone comes out with that one MMO that's new, fresh and fun and I'll catch my eye and I'll stick with it. My friends say that won't happen.

Sovrath

Theocritus said:

I subbed in EQ and WoW for years....IT wasnt worth it.....I got nothing more for subbing than I do in a f2p.....I look at it and ask "why should I pay $180 more per year?...To me it is a complete waste of money...and then when you leave the game, you have nothing....

When you go to a movie you pay for it. When you go to a concert you pay for it. When you go to an amusement park you pay for it.

And when you leave you have ... nothing?

You have the experience of that movie, concert, amusement park. Just like an online game has given you the enjoyment you've gotten all the months you've played.

The only reason why game companies have added free to play is they know they can make more money. There will be the small group that essentially carries the game and then the people who might pay for something here and there.

In the end, no one wants to pay for anything. Who would? But that's not how the world works.

As far as Everquest or World of warcraft, I dont know what their free to play option allows you to do over their subbed option. I'm assuming both games have both options?

Talraekk

If I'm actively playing and ENJOY playing, I pretty much always sub. Most free to play mmos have such good quality of life features that perfectly exploit my needs to pick up everything, or such limited options that I need more. I also feel that if I'm having fun and heavily playing I can easily afford the cost of 1 month to supplement that enjoyment. In fact I actually prefer sub options since most of the mmos without em have cash shop heavy options with no way to pay except to be nickel and dimed.

cameltosis

I do not sub to f2p games

But that is because I just flatout will not play f2p games. I've yet to play a f2p game that was good and/or not ruined by a cash shop, so I've just given up on the whole business model. I also view it as unethical in most instances, providing further incentive not to play those games.

Alverant

I subscribed to ESO because of the crafting. Your materials no longer count for your inventory total. It makes the game more fun for me because I can just take everything that isn't nailed down and not worry about it.

feelinswank

If I'm enjoying a free to play game, pc or mobile or console, I usually buy something in their game they're offering for IRL money to support the developers.

Kyleran

Alverant said:

I subscribed to ESO because of the crafting. Your materials no longer count for your inventory total. It makes the game more fun for me because I can just take everything that isn't nailed down and not worry about it.

Bingo, same reason I subbed to both ESO and FO76, unlimited crafting material storage, I'm a hoarder by nature and can't bear to let it all go because I "might" need it one day.

EVE isn't really a choice, Alpha access is cripple-ware, you have to pay a sub to keep character progression moving forward, well at least until you can get your revenue streams up high enough to trade ISK for PLEX.

I bought a plat pack in LA, have not turned the free one month sub or activated any of the 3 or 7 day drop packs of sub time yet.

Waiting to see if there's really any advantage a sub offers which might be more necessary, so far I'm not seeing such, even for storage.

Ungood

I have a simple rule.

"If it's worth my time, it's worth money"

I have and still do from time to time, Sub DDO for a month here and there, I also use the cash shop for any game that I find fun.

Scorchien

Ive been Subbed to UO for 25 years now ..

And any other game i play if it has a sub i grab it while im active ..

Lithuanian

No, I do not sub. Just because (Inquisition, get ready!) I am free player. And enjoy being so.
The only time I thought to subscribe was Lotro, after it gave away basically all content for free. Enter code, receive quest packs, enter another code and receive expansions. It should have been my token of thanks.

But then there were bad moves from developers, nerfs, unfair practices continued - and I did not sub.

Since then, not even thinking about subscription. Maybe, if Lotro had quality developers who play and care, who wants feedback and improve quality of life - then it could be my "thank you" token to them. Not thou, Raninia and Co...

Scot

Lithuanian said:

No, I do not sub. Just because (Inquisition, get ready!) I am free player. And enjoy being so.
The only time I thought to subscribe was Lotro, after it gave away basically all content for free. Enter code, receive quest packs, enter another code and receive expansions. It should have been my token of thanks.

But then there were bad moves from developers, nerfs, unfair practices continued - and I did not sub.

Since then, not even thinking about subscription. Maybe, if Lotro had quality developers who play and care, who wants feedback and improve quality of life - then it could be my "thank you" token to them. Not thou, Raninia and Co...

Burn him I say, burn him!