It is not misleading in any way or form. Can you play the entire game free of charge? In the vast majority of F2P games, you can. You need to stop with this myth that every player needs to pay in order for a game to be profitable. This is simply not the case, as long as enough players pay more than the costs to run the game, it's a profitable game.
The term "free to play" obfusticates the fact that the business model depends on a statistically significant number of customers being convinced to NOT play it for free. Quibbling over an individual's ability to resist the urge to pay is irrelevant to me - an expectation is being communicated to a customer which is AGAINST the very expectation the seller holds. Thus, by definition, the term is dishonest.
The term "free to play" obfusticates the fact that the business model depends on a statistically significant number of customers being convinced to NOT play it for free. Quibbling over an individual's ability to resist the urge to pay is irrelevant to me - an expectation is being communicated to a customer which is AGAINST the very expectation the seller holds. Thus, by definition, the term is dishonest.
Either you are correct, and there is this massive group of people that is so niave that they actually think MMOs are developed by rich benefactors who are looking for no compensation, thus the shock when they discover that the entire game is not completely free...
.. or some people are just being a bit disingenious here.
The people who find Free To Play misleading are probably ones who go to a free concert and are taken aback by the fact that there's actually a charge for t-shirts, drinks and food.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
It is not misleading in any way or form. Can you play the entire game free of charge? In the vast majority of F2P games, you can. You need to stop with this myth that every player needs to pay in order for a game to be profitable. This is simply not the case, as long as enough players pay more than the costs to run the game, it's a profitable game.
The term "free to play" obfusticates the fact that the business model depends on a statistically significant number of customers being convinced to NOT play it for free. Quibbling over an individual's ability to resist the urge to pay is irrelevant to me - an expectation is being communicated to a customer which is AGAINST the very expectation the seller holds. Thus, by definition, the term is dishonest.
You need to look up the term dishonest because it doesn't mean what you think it means. The advertisement says that the game is free to play. Is it possible to play the game for free? Yes it is. This is not dishonnest or misleading in any shape or form. The advertisement never says that it isn't possible to purchase enhancements for a fee. All they are saying is that it's possible to play the game for free, which is true.
We obviously have different tolerences and sensitivities to marketting spin. What I was initially trying to explain was why the term "free to play" sets off alarm bells in my mind that has actually repelled me from those games. I appologize for escalating this into a full blown intractable argument over the best definition of words.
To add to the current discussion...free to play is the most accurate phrase to describe the type of game this genre offers because it is actually free to play. You can play the game and pay no money. Once a person is playing, they are given the opportunity to enhance that play by spending money. Shareware is not the correct term for this type of game since shareware involves the purchase of the software itself, which is not the case with a f2p game.
Maybe I haven't played enough MMO's.. (RoseOn, Flyff, DoMo, and others), but I've never spend any money on those games.
They ARE free to play. And it doesn't cost anything to enjoy them. I've never felt the need to spend money on some useless costumes or other items. That's everyone's own choice. I've never felt like they were forcing me to either (restrictions or nagging NPCs). I don't see any problems with this model.
Unless you're all talking about different games that do it in an entirely different way...
I dare OP and other like-mind haters to find competent lawyers to challenge this "free-to-play" advertising scheme. If there is anything wrong with this term, greedy lawyers would be like sharks all over it by now. Do you see any lawyer taking up your cause?
By the way, many civil lawyers also advertise themselves as free-to-consult, but you have to pay them after you win the case. So perhaps OP should also consider hiring more lawyers to sue those lawyers while he is on a similar crusade?
See, OP, you already lost the case before you even started. Live with the term. It's legal and there is nothing you can do about it. Shareware? Too jargon-like to be acceptable by the "ignorant" mass. Pay-to-win? What isn't in today's capitalistic world?
I dare OP and other like-mind haters to find competent lawyers to challenge this "free-to-play" advertising scheme. If there is anything wrong with this term, greedy lawyers would be like sharks all over it by now. Do you see any lawyer taking up your cause?
By the way, many civil lawyers also advertise themselves as free-to-consult, but you have to pay them after you win the case. So perhaps OP should also consider hiring more lawyers to sue those lawyers while he is on a similar crusade?
See, OP, you already lost the case before you even started. Live with the term. It's legal and there is nothing you can do about it. Shareware? Too jargon-like to be acceptable by the "ignorant" mass. Pay-to-win? What isn't in today's capitalistic world?
Try harder next time.
Just because something is not illegal does not mean it's moral.
Now see, with your lawyer example there's nothing wrong with that. A free consultation is that, a free consultation.
Free to Play on the other hand... well "play" is a rather all encompassing word when it comes to an MMO. So if you say it's free to play, but then restrict portions of gameplay without pay, then you're misleading the consumer.
I just find it hilarious that so many people jump to the defense of a term that is obviously very flawed in the literal sense, and is nothing more than a marketing buzz word used to lure ignorant people into a micro transaction bait and switch scheme.
Besides, a lot of people seemed to completely glaze over an intended point of my post...
The term shareware has garnered a bit of a negative connotation over the years, even though in it's literal sense it has a positive denotation. The reason? A lot of poorly made "shareware" that was non-functional without paying, or simply poorly done even in a paid version. Basically, a bait and switch to users.
Which is where the "Free to Play" term has been, and will continue to head towards. It has a positive denotation. I mean come on, who doesn't want something "Free"? Of course the connotation is much different. Most people are well aware what F2P is. It's become the new "Shareware": Some of them are decent and still have lasting value when free, but the majority are just poorly made with the sole intent of leeching from your wallet.
Comments
If a game is:
-Free to Play (in limited way)
-Pay to Play (the complete game)
-Pay to Advance
-Pay to Win
How do you think the marketing department will choose to label it?
Calling them F2P is not a lie, it's just an omission.
Many ThemeParks have free admission. . you just have to pay for certain high end rides. . it doesn't mean you can't go in and enjoy yourself for free.
Wa min God! Se æx on min heafod is!
The term "free to play" obfusticates the fact that the business model depends on a statistically significant number of customers being convinced to NOT play it for free. Quibbling over an individual's ability to resist the urge to pay is irrelevant to me - an expectation is being communicated to a customer which is AGAINST the very expectation the seller holds. Thus, by definition, the term is dishonest.
Either you are correct, and there is this massive group of people that is so niave that they actually think MMOs are developed by rich benefactors who are looking for no compensation, thus the shock when they discover that the entire game is not completely free...
.. or some people are just being a bit disingenious here.
The people who find Free To Play misleading are probably ones who go to a free concert and are taken aback by the fact that there's actually a charge for t-shirts, drinks and food.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
You need to look up the term dishonest because it doesn't mean what you think it means. The advertisement says that the game is free to play. Is it possible to play the game for free? Yes it is. This is not dishonnest or misleading in any shape or form. The advertisement never says that it isn't possible to purchase enhancements for a fee. All they are saying is that it's possible to play the game for free, which is true.
We obviously have different tolerences and sensitivities to marketting spin. What I was initially trying to explain was why the term "free to play" sets off alarm bells in my mind that has actually repelled me from those games. I appologize for escalating this into a full blown intractable argument over the best definition of words.
All MMOs are pay to win. If you don't pay the subscription you will not win anything at all.
If WoW = The Beatles
and WAR = Led Zeppelin
Then LotrO = Pink Floyd
Its Shareware software. Free is a lie.
The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
More like an neverending trial
o/ another one of these topics.
@/ another one of those responses.
To add to the current discussion...free to play is the most accurate phrase to describe the type of game this genre offers because it is actually free to play. You can play the game and pay no money. Once a person is playing, they are given the opportunity to enhance that play by spending money. Shareware is not the correct term for this type of game since shareware involves the purchase of the software itself, which is not the case with a f2p game.
Maybe I haven't played enough MMO's.. (RoseOn, Flyff, DoMo, and others), but I've never spend any money on those games.
They ARE free to play. And it doesn't cost anything to enjoy them. I've never felt the need to spend money on some useless costumes or other items. That's everyone's own choice. I've never felt like they were forcing me to either (restrictions or nagging NPCs). I don't see any problems with this model.
Unless you're all talking about different games that do it in an entirely different way...
I dare OP and other like-mind haters to find competent lawyers to challenge this "free-to-play" advertising scheme. If there is anything wrong with this term, greedy lawyers would be like sharks all over it by now. Do you see any lawyer taking up your cause?
By the way, many civil lawyers also advertise themselves as free-to-consult, but you have to pay them after you win the case. So perhaps OP should also consider hiring more lawyers to sue those lawyers while he is on a similar crusade?
See, OP, you already lost the case before you even started. Live with the term. It's legal and there is nothing you can do about it. Shareware? Too jargon-like to be acceptable by the "ignorant" mass. Pay-to-win? What isn't in today's capitalistic world?
Try harder next time.
Just because something is not illegal does not mean it's moral.
Now see, with your lawyer example there's nothing wrong with that. A free consultation is that, a free consultation.
Free to Play on the other hand... well "play" is a rather all encompassing word when it comes to an MMO. So if you say it's free to play, but then restrict portions of gameplay without pay, then you're misleading the consumer.
I just find it hilarious that so many people jump to the defense of a term that is obviously very flawed in the literal sense, and is nothing more than a marketing buzz word used to lure ignorant people into a micro transaction bait and switch scheme.
Besides, a lot of people seemed to completely glaze over an intended point of my post...
The term shareware has garnered a bit of a negative connotation over the years, even though in it's literal sense it has a positive denotation. The reason? A lot of poorly made "shareware" that was non-functional without paying, or simply poorly done even in a paid version. Basically, a bait and switch to users.
Which is where the "Free to Play" term has been, and will continue to head towards. It has a positive denotation. I mean come on, who doesn't want something "Free"? Of course the connotation is much different. Most people are well aware what F2P is. It's become the new "Shareware": Some of them are decent and still have lasting value when free, but the majority are just poorly made with the sole intent of leeching from your wallet.
It's like... This thread is trying to reason a marketing guy.
No can't do!