Or because there are more and more F2P options out there, and there is less and less incentive to pay $15 to see if i can get into the game.
Great games sell themselves and like the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Great games that have about 20 hours of fun.
MMO's are a diffrent beast, EQ2 has had a 5 year run, anyone what wanted to, has allready played it.
The truly great games yield significantly more than 20 hours.
Of the games in my top 5 list, I've spent well over 200 hours in each, and I'm still not sick of them. And yet ironically, only ever spent $50 or so on each of them.
Agreed, but only to bring in more pop. I'd personally pay the full sub to play it if the pop. was bigger and the game was still having content developed for it.
Yep lol, saw this coming honestly. The new batch of MMO's definitely has everyone worried. The last batch took many players from older games simply because they were new, with this new batch more will be lost simply because they're new and if they're better to boot.... well it won't be good for many of the older MMO's that have been simply staying afloat as is.
I think the main concern is GW2, if they are successful with the buy to play model the vast majority of "ok" MMO's lose a leg to stand on in justifying the monthly fee.
You can plan on seeing more to switch to free to play soon. They will have to or fade away. Turbine knew it, SOE is starting to get the picture. Not every MMO is worth a sub. Atari will likely be next to figure this out with STO and CO.
If you can't compete with quality and features, you have to compete with pricing.
Or because there are more and more F2P options out there, and there is less and less incentive to pay $15 to see if i can get into the game.
Great games sell themselves and like the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Great games that have about 20 hours of fun.
MMO's are a diffrent beast, EQ2 has had a 5 year run, anyone what wanted to, has allready played it.
EQ2 has had a 5 year run of mismanaged operation, which is why it has suffered numerous setbacks. All of this during a period where the mmo market has doubled in sized more times than I can think of. It isn't like some other mmo was released a few years ago the put a stop to the games success or growth. The only reason this game hasn't been a powerhouse is due to the decision making and inability of the management.
Seriously, EQ2 is on I think its fifth leadership change in as many years and now embarking on another massive change in teh games focus. Is there any doubt why this game has not done better?
EQ2 really has enough great features in concept that it should be a strong contender. Instead SOE has just set the market value for the game at zero dollars, because that is what the market is willing to pay for it.
SOE seriously needs to slow down, communicate more and identify problems. None of which they currently do.
To be honest, I seriously doubt they ever will. Not without a complete change to their management. They seem to take a hardline approach, which they MUST feel benefits them in some way. That or they're run by apes.I really could not say which is the case.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
This thread is growing faster than I can read it LOL
I ironically recently subbed and bought the recent expansion to EQ2, approx 10 days ago.
FAIL.
The worst part is that I spent 2 months debating what game to go to, to delve my time into, and I picked the wrong one. If i wanted a f2p game, I would have picked runes of magic (eq2 lite)
3 amps of epi and atropine given, been shocked 3 times, Im sorry eq2 is dead. RIP.
Yep lol, saw this coming honestly. The new batch of MMO's definitely has everyone worried. The last batch took many players from older games simply because they were new, with this new batch more will be lost simply because they're new and if they're better to boot.... well it won't be good for many of the older MMO's that have been simply staying afloat as is.
I think the main concern is GW2, if they are successful with the buy to play model the vast majority of "ok" MMO's lose a leg to stand on in justifying the monthly fee.
You can plan on seeing more to switch to free to play soon. They will have to or fade away. Turbine knew it, SOE is starting to get the picture. Not every MMO is worth a sub. Atari will likely be next to figure this out with STO and CO.
If you can't compete with quality and features, you have to compete with pricing.
Agreed. Some STO big shot said awhile back they were looking at a F2P model but then later denied it. Its a tough turd to chew for me as LOTRO and EQ2 were the games I regulary played. LOTRO was uninstalled two weeks ago and EQ2 is on its way out as well. Its a shame the way things are going but I guess ive been due for a genre change for quite some time.
Edit for spelling.
WOW isnt great because it has 12 million players. WOW has 12 million players because its great.
No offence, but some of you act like this is a pay by the hour move (wouldn’t that be cool to go back too), or that you have zero willpower to not buy things from the shop.
Everyone always leaves out how much time they will spend of the free parts of the game and no pay one single dime, you would figure that a 6$ mount or zone unlock would be reasonable after playing for weeks fro free, but no, players feel "Entitled".
Hrmm... somehow I feel the opposite of your entitlement speechs.
Developers seemed just fine giving away those mounts as quest rewards for years and years. Suddenly they felt entitled to $25 more for them. Why was that again? Oh the justification for the ongoing subscription fees. The same fees they used to develop the cash shop items. The same fees they used to develop this cash shop.
Oh, this is where you say that is ok, because they are a business. Yet it is somehow bad for customers to have any expectations along the same lines.
Bleet bleet bleet.
I regulary give stores my money for somthing, then tell them how to spend it.
You feel amazingly entitled.
LOL, your arguments are so lame. Where does all this entitlement crap come from? We are talking about a video game not freakin politics. If I pay $50 for a game then another $15 a month to play it, I think any "normal" person would feel entitled to be able to acquire all items in that game without paying extra for them (as far as I can tell SOEs model allows for that). I think you are the one who feels entitled, you feel since you have the money to spend you should be able to have it all. God forbid anyone actually put effeort into anything anymore.
It is like I said on your other post, if the MMOs continue in this trend I will take my money elsewhere. I have plenty of other hobbies to spend it on. Games Workshop, Privateer Press and Wizards of the Coast will gladly take my money and heck I will get out of the house more and interact with live people face to face even!
Or because there are more and more F2P options out there, and there is less and less incentive to pay $15 to see if i can get into the game.
Great games sell themselves and like the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Great games that have about 20 hours of fun.
MMO's are a diffrent beast, EQ2 has had a 5 year run, anyone what wanted to, has allready played it.
EQ2 has had a 5 year run of mismanaged operation, which is why it has suffered numerous setbacks. All of this during a period where the mmo market has doubled in sized more times than I can think of. It isn't like some other mmo was released a few years ago the put a stop to the games success or growth. The only reason this game hasn't been a powerhouse is due to the decision making and inability of the management.
Seriously, EQ2 is on I think its fifth leadership change in as many years and now embarking on another massive change in teh games focus. Is there any doubt why this game has not done better?
EQ2 really has enough great features in concept that it should be a strong contender. Instead SOE has just set the market value for the game at zero dollars, because that is what the market is willing to pay for it.
It’s a post wow world. The numbers of players that those game have had are nothing to scoff at, until you look at wow. Not to mention, this market is saturated, there is a new MMO every week.
The barrier entry must be lowered.
---------- "Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
No offence, but some of you act like this is a pay by the hour move (wouldn’t that be cool to go back too), or that you have zero willpower to not buy things from the shop.
Everyone always leaves out how much time they will spend of the free parts of the game and no pay one single dime, you would figure that a 6$ mount or zone unlock would be reasonable after playing for weeks fro free, but no, players feel "Entitled".
Hrmm... somehow I feel the opposite of your entitlement speechs.
Developers seemed just fine giving away those mounts as quest rewards for years and years. Suddenly they felt entitled to $25 more for them. Why was that again? Oh the justification for the ongoing subscription fees. The same fees they used to develop the cash shop items. The same fees they used to develop this cash shop.
Oh, this is where you say that is ok, because they are a business. Yet it is somehow bad for customers to have any expectations along the same lines.
Bleet bleet bleet.
I regulary give stores my money for somthing, then tell them how to spend it.
You feel amazingly entitled.
LOL, your arguments are so lame. Where does all this entitlement crap come from? We are talking about a video game not freakin politics. If I pay $50 for a game then another $15 a month to play it, I think any "normal" person would feel entitled to be able to acquire all items in that game without paying extra for them (as far as I can tell SOEs model allows for that). I think you are the one who feels entitled, you feel since you have the money to spend you should be able to have it all. God forbid anyone actually put effeort into anythign anymore.
Again, your vanity has been tainted. I don't care how anyone playes or spends there money. You do though.
---------- "Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
I don't really mind the F2P option in and of itself. It some ways it is a positive for the game especially if it generates more profit toward development. Which seems to be the case with DDO, and possibly LOTRO (the jury is still out on this one).
Can it help EQ2 in the long term, what say you?
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
This thread is growing faster than I can read it LOL
I ironically recently subbed and bought the recent expansion to EQ2, approx 10 days ago.
FAIL.
The worst part is that I spent 2 months debating what game to go to, to delve my time into, and I picked the wrong one. If i wanted a f2p game, I would have picked runes of magic (eq2 lite)
3 amps of epi and atropine given, been shocked 3 times, Im sorry eq2 is dead. RIP.
I think it is more accurate to say they are not making EQ2 a F2P game. It's more like they are splitting it in to EQ2 as we now know it (nothing different), and EQ2X for those who would only play it if it was a F2P game. It seems like they need to try even harder to call it and advertise it as something completely different, even though I got their message loud and clear. If there's any reason for you buying/playing/subscribing EQ2 right now, then the same reasons apply to doing it after EQ2X (well, one exception - the fact that you can't play it otherwise right now). It also doesn't help current subscribers with more players at the lower levels. As someone else already said, there's a lot of misinformation in this thread from people that just didn't read the FAQ or subscriber matrix.
No offence, but some of you act like this is a pay by the hour move (wouldn’t that be cool to go back too), or that you have zero willpower to not buy things from the shop.
Everyone always leaves out how much time they will spend of the free parts of the game and no pay one single dime, you would figure that a 6$ mount or zone unlock would be reasonable after playing for weeks fro free, but no, players feel "Entitled".
Hrmm... somehow I feel the opposite of your entitlement speechs.
Developers seemed just fine giving away those mounts as quest rewards for years and years. Suddenly they felt entitled to $25 more for them. Why was that again? Oh the justification for the ongoing subscription fees. The same fees they used to develop the cash shop items. The same fees they used to develop this cash shop.
Oh, this is where you say that is ok, because they are a business. Yet it is somehow bad for customers to have any expectations along the same lines.
Bleet bleet bleet.
I regulary give stores my money for somthing, then tell them how to spend it.
You feel amazingly entitled.
LOL, your arguments are so lame. Where does all this entitlement crap come from? We are talking about a video game not freakin politics. If I pay $50 for a game then another $15 a month to play it, I think any "normal" person would feel entitled to be able to acquire all items in that game without paying extra for them (as far as I can tell SOEs model allows for that). I think you are the one who feels entitled, you feel since you have the money to spend you should be able to have it all. God forbid anyone actually put effeort into anythign anymore.
Again, your vanity has been tainted. I don't care how anyone playes or spends there money. You do though.
ROFLMAO, there you go with the vanity crap again. What is vain about me wanting to be able to have access to all the items in game with out having to pay more than my monthly fee. I don't care what you spend your money on as a F2P customer as long as I still can get access to it just by playing the game with my subscription fee. I am sorry but vanity is paying $25 just so you can have a shiny new horse that no one else has. Sorry try another word please!
This thread is growing faster than I can read it LOL
I ironically recently subbed and bought the recent expansion to EQ2, approx 10 days ago.
FAIL.
The worst part is that I spent 2 months debating what game to go to, to delve my time into, and I picked the wrong one. If i wanted a f2p game, I would have picked runes of magic (eq2 lite)
3 amps of epi and atropine given, been shocked 3 times, Im sorry eq2 is dead. RIP.
I think it is more accurate to say they are not making EQ2 a F2P game. It's more like they are splitting it in to EQ2 as we now know it (nothing different), and EQ2X for those who would only play it if it was a F2P game. It seems like they need to try even harder to call it and advertise it as something completely different, even though I got their message loud and clear. If there's any reason for you buying/playing/subscribing EQ2 right now, then the same reasons apply to doing it after EQ2X (well, one exception - the fact that you can't play it otherwise right now). It also doesn't help current subscribers with more players at the lower levels. As someone else already said, there's a lot of misinformation in this thread from people that just didn't read the FAQ or subscriber matrix.
I am with you, I don't have a problem with this model as it appears the server I play on will stay just as it is. As long as they are keeping it seperate that is just fine with me.
I don't really mind the F2P option in and of itself. It some ways it is a positive for the game especially if it generates more profit toward development. Which seems to be the case with DDO, and possibly LOTRO (the jury is still out on this one).
Can it help EQ2 in the long term, what say you?
LOTRO hasn't convert to f2p yet .. it is still in beta. I think the real conversion will be in the fall. DDO makes 5x the money after converting to F2P and a HUGE bump in player base. That is what EQ2 is shooting for.
EQ2 has had a 5 year run of mismanaged operation, which is why it has suffered numerous setbacks. All of this during a period where the mmo market has doubled in sized more times than I can think of. It isn't like some other mmo was released a few years ago the put a stop to the games success or growth. The only reason this game hasn't been a powerhouse is due to the decision making and inability of the management.
Seriously, EQ2 is on I think its fifth leadership change in as many years and now embarking on another massive change in teh games focus. Is there any doubt why this game has not done better?
EQ2 really has enough great features in concept that it should be a strong contender. Instead SOE has just set the market value for the game at zero dollars, because that is what the market is willing to pay for it.
It’s a post wow world. The numbers of players that those game have had are nothing to scoff at, until you look at wow. Not to mention, this market is saturated, there is a new MMO every week.
The barrier entry must be lowered.
The reason for this change isn't because the market is saturated. It is because the game is seriously lacking in many areas and cannot compete on the same level as other subscription based games.
The market has said this game is not worth $15/month and $50 a year for a shitty expansion. If EQ2 were better it wouldn't be afftected by some piece of crap mmo releasing every other week. That doesn't seem to have hampered several other mmos, but then again they are quality games and that is why they don't need to resort to giving the game away.
I agree that lowering the barrier to entry will help a game, but if that doesn't address the problems of why the game was dieing in the first place it only prolongs the situation.
This move will make SOE more money, no doubt about that. But unlike DDO, which was a game that was about to get shutdown due to lack of players anyway, EQ2 subscribers will get shafted as a result. More and more dev resources will be used to develop RMT cash shop items. Less and less paying subscribers will see these items ingame.
Proof? EQ1. EQ1 has been getting a big dose of RMT shoved down their paying subscriber's throats, for a few years now. The result is clear, they add more and more goodies up for sale online, or through their gambling LoN cards. They end up putting less and less in the actual paying expansions or game content releases. Ironically all the weapons and shield graphics look much much better when they are bought from station cash. Where as the items we received in the EQ1 expansions look worse and worse....thus giving people a need to buy good looking items.
Yes even EQ1 is putting unique mounts WITH stats up on cash shops these days. While ingame, we get very very little mount choices that you could actually obtain through quests or raiding.
This is where EQ2 is headed towards, and I feel bad for current paying EQ2 subscribers. This move for SOE will make SOE lots of money, but it will shaft the paying subscribers. It already happened to EQ1, it will happen to EQ2 sooner than later.
I don't really mind the F2P option in and of itself. It some ways it is a positive for the game especially if it generates more profit toward development. Which seems to be the case with DDO, and possibly LOTRO (the jury is still out on this one).
Can it help EQ2 in the long term, what say you?
LOTRO hasn't convert to f2p yet .. it is still in beta. I think the real conversion will be in the fall. DDO makes 5x the money after converting to F2P and a HUGE bump in player base. That is what EQ2 is shooting for.
DDO was a fraction of what EQ2, and even LOTRO's playerbase was. Consequently, the revenue was significantly smaller.
The flaw in logic is to assume that DDO's F2P conversion will positively impact LOTRO and EQ2's profitability. I'm not saying it won't, simply that there's likely equal chance that the conversion could potentially flop, as it could actually increase their profits.
Besides, more players means more costs. Five times as much revenue doesn't mean so much when you costs proportionally increase by just as much.
So sure, going F2P "saved" DDO from being closed, and increased it's revenue. but it is still arguably not doing all that well.
Bet you $100 soe puts out FTP(but not really) faster than DDO will. Soe likes to put out their fail before the competition. You know I just feel sorry for the ptp(but still cash shop) server people who think they will really continue to get development. Silly fools.
1. EQ2 is still successful. The only game outside of WoW that has had noticeable growth is EvE. However EQ2 is one of the only games that has had no noticeable decline over the last few years. If you logged in to an EQ2 server in 2007 than again in 2010 you would not notice a decrease in players, and you might even think theres an increase.
2. EQ2 has always had very active development. The EQ franchise has even been criticized for pushing out TOO MUCH content. As a WoW player I could only wish Blizzard had that critique against them. Bottom line is that while they may seem greedy (and what corporation isnt) they dont just sit back on their money either.
3. They didnt copy Turbine's very flawed system. They are trying a completely different approach. These seperate servers will be a fascinating experiment. No f2p game has ever given this much content. EQ2 minus sentinels fate has probably double WoW's content. the 10 buck fee will be pretty necessary for the spell upgrades, but beyond that one purchase, wow. This easily vaults EQ2 to be the best f2p game out there by a long shot.
4. Again, they are unique servers.
5. All MMO companies lie. You play an MMO, you support one just like SoE. 'WoW will never allow PvE to PvP transfers' 'Oh wait nevermind, well take the free money after all'
Comments
The truly great games yield significantly more than 20 hours.
Of the games in my top 5 list, I've spent well over 200 hours in each, and I'm still not sick of them. And yet ironically, only ever spent $50 or so on each of them.
This!
Yep lol, saw this coming honestly. The new batch of MMO's definitely has everyone worried. The last batch took many players from older games simply because they were new, with this new batch more will be lost simply because they're new and if they're better to boot.... well it won't be good for many of the older MMO's that have been simply staying afloat as is.
I think the main concern is GW2, if they are successful with the buy to play model the vast majority of "ok" MMO's lose a leg to stand on in justifying the monthly fee.
You can plan on seeing more to switch to free to play soon. They will have to or fade away. Turbine knew it, SOE is starting to get the picture. Not every MMO is worth a sub. Atari will likely be next to figure this out with STO and CO.
If you can't compete with quality and features, you have to compete with pricing.
EQ2 has had a 5 year run of mismanaged operation, which is why it has suffered numerous setbacks. All of this during a period where the mmo market has doubled in sized more times than I can think of. It isn't like some other mmo was released a few years ago the put a stop to the games success or growth. The only reason this game hasn't been a powerhouse is due to the decision making and inability of the management.
Seriously, EQ2 is on I think its fifth leadership change in as many years and now embarking on another massive change in teh games focus. Is there any doubt why this game has not done better?
EQ2 really has enough great features in concept that it should be a strong contender. Instead SOE has just set the market value for the game at zero dollars, because that is what the market is willing to pay for it.
To be honest, I seriously doubt they ever will. Not without a complete change to their management. They seem to take a hardline approach, which they MUST feel benefits them in some way. That or they're run by apes.I really could not say which is the case.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
This thread is growing faster than I can read it LOL
I ironically recently subbed and bought the recent expansion to EQ2, approx 10 days ago.
FAIL.
The worst part is that I spent 2 months debating what game to go to, to delve my time into, and I picked the wrong one. If i wanted a f2p game, I would have picked runes of magic (eq2 lite)
3 amps of epi and atropine given, been shocked 3 times, Im sorry eq2 is dead. RIP.
Agreed. Some STO big shot said awhile back they were looking at a F2P model but then later denied it. Its a tough turd to chew for me as LOTRO and EQ2 were the games I regulary played. LOTRO was uninstalled two weeks ago and EQ2 is on its way out as well. Its a shame the way things are going but I guess ive been due for a genre change for quite some time.
Edit for spelling.
WOW isnt great because it has 12 million players. WOW has 12 million players because its great.
LOL, your arguments are so lame. Where does all this entitlement crap come from? We are talking about a video game not freakin politics. If I pay $50 for a game then another $15 a month to play it, I think any "normal" person would feel entitled to be able to acquire all items in that game without paying extra for them (as far as I can tell SOEs model allows for that). I think you are the one who feels entitled, you feel since you have the money to spend you should be able to have it all. God forbid anyone actually put effeort into anything anymore.
It is like I said on your other post, if the MMOs continue in this trend I will take my money elsewhere. I have plenty of other hobbies to spend it on. Games Workshop, Privateer Press and Wizards of the Coast will gladly take my money and heck I will get out of the house more and interact with live people face to face even!
It’s a post wow world. The numbers of players that those game have had are nothing to scoff at, until you look at wow. Not to mention, this market is saturated, there is a new MMO every week.
The barrier entry must be lowered.
----------
"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
Again, your vanity has been tainted. I don't care how anyone playes or spends there money. You do though.
----------
"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
I don't really mind the F2P option in and of itself. It some ways it is a positive for the game especially if it generates more profit toward development. Which seems to be the case with DDO, and possibly LOTRO (the jury is still out on this one).
Can it help EQ2 in the long term, what say you?
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
I think it is more accurate to say they are not making EQ2 a F2P game. It's more like they are splitting it in to EQ2 as we now know it (nothing different), and EQ2X for those who would only play it if it was a F2P game. It seems like they need to try even harder to call it and advertise it as something completely different, even though I got their message loud and clear. If there's any reason for you buying/playing/subscribing EQ2 right now, then the same reasons apply to doing it after EQ2X (well, one exception - the fact that you can't play it otherwise right now). It also doesn't help current subscribers with more players at the lower levels. As someone else already said, there's a lot of misinformation in this thread from people that just didn't read the FAQ or subscriber matrix.
ROFLMAO, there you go with the vanity crap again. What is vain about me wanting to be able to have access to all the items in game with out having to pay more than my monthly fee. I don't care what you spend your money on as a F2P customer as long as I still can get access to it just by playing the game with my subscription fee. I am sorry but vanity is paying $25 just so you can have a shiny new horse that no one else has. Sorry try another word please!
I am with you, I don't have a problem with this model as it appears the server I play on will stay just as it is. As long as they are keeping it seperate that is just fine with me.
"The CU is here to stay".
LOTRO hasn't convert to f2p yet .. it is still in beta. I think the real conversion will be in the fall. DDO makes 5x the money after converting to F2P and a HUGE bump in player base. That is what EQ2 is shooting for.
And just like LOTRO, I still won't play this game even without a price tag.
The reason for this change isn't because the market is saturated. It is because the game is seriously lacking in many areas and cannot compete on the same level as other subscription based games.
The market has said this game is not worth $15/month and $50 a year for a shitty expansion. If EQ2 were better it wouldn't be afftected by some piece of crap mmo releasing every other week. That doesn't seem to have hampered several other mmos, but then again they are quality games and that is why they don't need to resort to giving the game away.
I agree that lowering the barrier to entry will help a game, but if that doesn't address the problems of why the game was dieing in the first place it only prolongs the situation.
This move will make SOE more money, no doubt about that. But unlike DDO, which was a game that was about to get shutdown due to lack of players anyway, EQ2 subscribers will get shafted as a result. More and more dev resources will be used to develop RMT cash shop items. Less and less paying subscribers will see these items ingame.
Proof? EQ1. EQ1 has been getting a big dose of RMT shoved down their paying subscriber's throats, for a few years now. The result is clear, they add more and more goodies up for sale online, or through their gambling LoN cards. They end up putting less and less in the actual paying expansions or game content releases. Ironically all the weapons and shield graphics look much much better when they are bought from station cash. Where as the items we received in the EQ1 expansions look worse and worse....thus giving people a need to buy good looking items.
Yes even EQ1 is putting unique mounts WITH stats up on cash shops these days. While ingame, we get very very little mount choices that you could actually obtain through quests or raiding.
This is where EQ2 is headed towards, and I feel bad for current paying EQ2 subscribers. This move for SOE will make SOE lots of money, but it will shaft the paying subscribers. It already happened to EQ1, it will happen to EQ2 sooner than later.
EQ1-AC1-DAOC-FFXI-L2-EQ2-WoW-DDO-GW-LoTR-VG-WAR-GW2-ESO
So, this new F2P option will be separate from existing EQ2? Like they had RMT and no-RMT servers? Heh.
But sure, they have to compete for someone's money, not for mine though.
So which are the free races and classes?
I tried to read the FAQ but it just puts me into snooze mode.
Nevermind... I found the info.
I'ts a bit strange that warlock is one of the free classes, I thought that that one was one of the best if not THE best class.
All those memories will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.
DDO was a fraction of what EQ2, and even LOTRO's playerbase was. Consequently, the revenue was significantly smaller.
The flaw in logic is to assume that DDO's F2P conversion will positively impact LOTRO and EQ2's profitability. I'm not saying it won't, simply that there's likely equal chance that the conversion could potentially flop, as it could actually increase their profits.
Besides, more players means more costs. Five times as much revenue doesn't mean so much when you costs proportionally increase by just as much.
So sure, going F2P "saved" DDO from being closed, and increased it's revenue. but it is still arguably not doing all that well.
Bet you $100 soe puts out FTP(but not really) faster than DDO will. Soe likes to put out their fail before the competition. You know I just feel sorry for the ptp(but still cash shop) server people who think they will really continue to get development. Silly fools.
1. EQ2 is still successful. The only game outside of WoW that has had noticeable growth is EvE. However EQ2 is one of the only games that has had no noticeable decline over the last few years. If you logged in to an EQ2 server in 2007 than again in 2010 you would not notice a decrease in players, and you might even think theres an increase.
2. EQ2 has always had very active development. The EQ franchise has even been criticized for pushing out TOO MUCH content. As a WoW player I could only wish Blizzard had that critique against them. Bottom line is that while they may seem greedy (and what corporation isnt) they dont just sit back on their money either.
3. They didnt copy Turbine's very flawed system. They are trying a completely different approach. These seperate servers will be a fascinating experiment. No f2p game has ever given this much content. EQ2 minus sentinels fate has probably double WoW's content. the 10 buck fee will be pretty necessary for the spell upgrades, but beyond that one purchase, wow. This easily vaults EQ2 to be the best f2p game out there by a long shot.
4. Again, they are unique servers.
5. All MMO companies lie. You play an MMO, you support one just like SoE. 'WoW will never allow PvE to PvP transfers' 'Oh wait nevermind, well take the free money after all'
So with no new players going to the original P2P servers they are left to die or transfer to the new EQ2x RMT servers.
"classification of games into MMOs is not by rational reasoning" - nariusseldon
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