Agreed. Tell me profits doubled, then I'm impressed.
Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security. I don't Forum PVP. If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident. When I don't understand, I ask. Such is not intended as criticism.
Lets have this discussion sometimes next year when we actually know how things are going, that you sell a lot of most products the first month when doing something like this is just to be expected, many new and old players need to stock up on the basics.
This does not really answers anything whatsoever, the only thing it says is that the game didn't totally flop and everyone quit because of it.
If converting was a good idea or not is something that actually takes a while to know.
Lets have this discussion sometimes next year when we actually know how things are going, that you sell a lot of most products the first month when doing something like this is just to be expected, many new and old players need to stock up on the basics.
This does not really answers anything whatsoever, the only thing it says is that the game didn't totally flop and everyone quit because of it.
If converting was a good idea or not is something that actually takes a while to know.
like i said, shhhh don't let the F2P haters see this.
More evidence of F2P being a good move for companies.
It proves nothing yet, it was expected that a game going F2P will sell a lot of stuff during the first few months.
If the number is still as high next autumn you have your proof, but you need to wait at least 6 months to see how things work out.
Everything trends downward in popularity, by its nature, so "wait and see" is going to measure a completely different thing (two other things actually: game/content improvements and marketing budget.)
Even before DDO flipped I was already half convinced F2P was the future (mostly because my more famous game designer friends were already convinced long before that.) I guess the question is: how many more doubled- and tripled-revenue games need to be released before you're convinced too? Even if we pretend the curve drops sharply and these games only have 25% more revenue -- that's 25% more revenue, with the exact same game!
"What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver
Couldn't care less. Also the article is kinda flawed so they got 1.000.000 new FREE accounts you know people that just registered and maybe aren't subbing to the game = 0 $ so what? I'm so sick of companies like Blizzard, Turbine showing their subscribers.
We need a MMORPG Cataclysm asap, finish the dark age of MMORPGS now!
"Everything you're bitching about is wrong. People don't have the time to invest in corpse runs, impossible zones, or long winded quests. Sometimes, they just want to pop on and play." "Then maybe MMORPGs aren't for you."
More evidence of F2P being a good move for companies with declining and/or dying games.
Fixed that for you.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.- -And on the 8th day, man created God.-
More evidence of F2P being a good move for companies with declining and/or dying games.
Fixed that for you.
"Paiz told us after the panel that LotRO wasn't in trouble, but rather that Turbine did the math and decided the switch would work. "We knew there was more out there for us," she said."
Who do I believe.....the producer of the game? Or some random? Tough call! Sorry dude, think your eyes are closed on this one !
Honestly I don't play lotro enough to be one of these forum warrior defender types here like I am for Eve. I do need to ask you though... Where the hell are you getting your info? I never read anything of lotro being I'n trouble or lotro servers being dead before the f2p hybrid switch. The game has alway been well recieved critically and generally well recieved and respected on this forum as a solid pve focused mmo. So again where did you read that the game was dying before f2p???
Honestly I don't play lotro enough to be one of these forum warrior defender types here like I am for Eve. I do need to ask you though... Where the hell are you getting your info? I never read anything of lotro being I'n trouble or lotro servers being dead before the f2p hybrid switch. The game has alway been well recieved critically and generally well recieved and respected on this forum as a solid pve focused mmo. So again where did you read that the game was dying before f2p???
LOTRO was never in trouble. It didn't need "saving."
As for the game making more money with the switch: I'm not surprised. F2P is money grab central with nickel and diming. That's what the scheme is geared to do.
"I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918)
I never really played LOTRO much because I am not a huge fan of starting a game way late (was busy with other games at the time of its release). With that said, it's still very nice to see a game having success by changing up its marketing strategy to stay afloat. Good for LOTRO and all those associated with the game. I hope it lives on and creates enjoyment for many years and for many players.
My wife uses the same account as me and we just dropped around 100 bucks in the shop.
Bought both expansions, all quest and skirmish packs, Added AH slots, removed the Gold restriction, bought riding skill and mounts for both our characters, unlocked the two extra bags, bought shared storage slots.
For 100 bucks I just made a AAA game B2p.
My wife is hardcore(plays a lot). but hates paying subscriptions and detests pvp. so i figured pay 100 once would be good for her.
Shes already half way to cap and is in a nice guild. im casual so i wont see half the content i bought since this is only my part time mmo. it replaced GW1 for me.
Addition:
I wasn't planning on investing in LotRO like this but once i bought the wife her mount it was game over... She started exploring and honestly we were both amazed how large and really awesome LotROs game world is. Sure im playing a quest stacker but damn it! Its a good one.
Honestly I don't play lotro enough to be one of these forum warrior defender types here like I am for Eve. I do need to ask you though... Where the hell are you getting your info? I never read anything of lotro being I'n trouble or lotro servers being dead before the f2p hybrid switch. The game has alway been well recieved critically and generally well recieved and respected on this forum as a solid pve focused mmo. So again where did you read that the game was dying before f2p???
I think people are confusing "in trouble" with LOTRO's constantly rubber banding population.
LOTRO has always had this thing that when the content was out for quite a while the pop would lessen. Suddenly a new area or expansion would come and then the pop would zoom back up.
It's been like this since Shadows of Angmar.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Honestly I don't play lotro enough to be one of these forum warrior defender types here like I am for Eve. I do need to ask you though... Where the hell are you getting your info? I never read anything of lotro being I'n trouble or lotro servers being dead before the f2p hybrid switch. The game has alway been well recieved critically and generally well recieved and respected on this forum as a solid pve focused mmo. So again where did you read that the game was dying before f2p???
I think people are confusing "in trouble" with LOTRO's constantly rubber banding population.
LOTRO has always had this thing that when the content was out for quite a while the pop would lessen. Suddenly a new area or expansion would come and then the pop would zoom back up.
It's been like this since Shadows of Angmar.
Well that happens with every game, also themeparks tend to be top heavy after the first year of the game.
This is probably why people said the game felt empty. Every one and their mother is max level running dungeons and raids after 6 months.
Honestly I don't play lotro enough to be one of these forum warrior defender types here like I am for Eve. I do need to ask you though... Where the hell are you getting your info? I never read anything of lotro being I'n trouble or lotro servers being dead before the f2p hybrid switch. The game has alway been well recieved critically and generally well recieved and respected on this forum as a solid pve focused mmo. So again where did you read that the game was dying before f2p???
I think people are confusing "in trouble" with LOTRO's constantly rubber banding population.
LOTRO has always had this thing that when the content was out for quite a while the pop would lessen. Suddenly a new area or expansion would come and then the pop would zoom back up.
It's been like this since Shadows of Angmar.
Well that happens with every game, also themeparks tend to be top heavy after the first year of the game.
This is probably why people said the game felt empty. Every one and their mother is max level running dungeons and raids after 6 months.
Pretty much it.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Honestly I don't play lotro enough to be one of these forum warrior defender types here like I am for Eve. I do need to ask you though... Where the hell are you getting your info? I never read anything of lotro being I'n trouble or lotro servers being dead before the f2p hybrid switch. The game has alway been well recieved critically and generally well recieved and respected on this forum as a solid pve focused mmo. So again where did you read that the game was dying before f2p???
I said declining ( as in slowly losing population, as in LotRO ) and/or dying ( as in DDO, which was actually past dying and was ready for burial when they gave it the ol' F2P boost ).
I did not say LotRO was dead or dying. It had a decent population, so I guess you could say it wasn't "in trouble" as in it would have been dead in 6 months. However, it sure as hell wasn't growing. People that left weren't being replaced. Would it have "survived"? Sure, just like every other game past its prime out there is "surviving".
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.- -And on the 8th day, man created God.-
This news doesn't really surprise me. There was quite a bit of hype for Lotro going free to play with alot of new/returning players making initial purchases. I would like to see the numbers after 6months/1 year before making any judgments on how much of a success going f2p is for Lotro in the long run. That time will also give gamers a good sampling of WB's influence on pricing, expansions, etc. Good for them if it works out positively.
Lotro did not go F2P it went hybrid revenue model, you can still pay a monthly fee and if you do you get all the cash shop stuff (only limited in how many potions etc you could get).
Do people on here know what happened to DDO, that other fantastic hybrid revenue model? They closed all their European servers. That is not the sign of a MMO doing well. So give Lotro a couple of years before the new model is announced a success. I would expect the revenue of any MMO to go up after a major advertising campaign.
Oh and people don’t think that permanent stat increase in a cash shop are unbalancing? Because Lotro’s has that. You can get these through questing but so what? To my eyes this is as bad as F2P MMO’s which let you buy raid armour.
Lotro did not go F2P it went hybrid revenue model, you can still pay a monthly fee and if you do you get all the cash shop stuff (only limited in how many potions etc you could get).
Do people on here know what happened to DDO, that other fantastic hybrid revenue model? They closed all their European servers. That is not the sign of a MMO doing well. So give Lotro a couple of years before the new model is announced a success. I would expect the revenue of any MMO to go up after a major advertising campaign.
Oh and people don’t think that permanent stat increase in a cash shop are unbalancing? Because Lotro’s has that. You can get these through questing but so what? To my eyes this is as bad as F2P MMO’s which let you buy raid armour.
Actually, of all the things in the shop - this is actually the least imbalancing. Stats - while a good thing - really have very little impact - and by end game - what you can buy in the store is a pittance. HOWEVER - those tomes of +10 Agility WILL appeal to newbie hunters/Burgs who just don't investigate/know any better - and splurge. So, no - since stats are capped , it's not really as big an issue as it sounds (Frankly - the potions are a much bigger gripe)
As for the European servers...all I know on that is that Turbine regained control of the license from Codemasters - meaning CM's servers were redundant. I can't speak to anything other than the numbers that were released by Turbine earlier this year. Of course, people can shoose to disregard those numbers, however they really should preface their statements with "I think" instead of trying to pass off their personal feelings as fact - sadly - a very common occurrance on these boards lately:)!
Lotro did not go F2P it went hybrid revenue model, you can still pay a monthly fee and if you do you get all the cash shop stuff (only limited in how many potions etc you could get).
Do people on here know what happened to DDO, that other fantastic hybrid revenue model? They closed all their European servers. That is not the sign of a MMO doing well. So give Lotro a couple of years before the new model is announced a success. I would expect the revenue of any MMO to go up after a major advertising campaign.
Oh and people don’t think that permanent stat increase in a cash shop are unbalancing? Because Lotro’s has that. You can get these through questing but so what? To my eyes this is as bad as F2P MMO’s which let you buy raid armour.
Wow i love how you misrespresent the news,DDO close the European servers to open International servers this happen because the license was up and taken away from codemasters.It not sign of game struggling it was buisness restucture move everybody can transfer their character to global servers from the Europe servers.
People are being silly Lotor transtion is a success you don't have to wait to know this for the move to be a failure Lotor has to drop below the levels that it was before the move to hybrid payment.Just based on communtiy reaction to intial proccess,the fact the game has been running stable for a long while and fact that revenue and population is up.It is very hard to believe that numbers are going to come crashing below the levels that it is was before the move.
I repeat the only way the move is a failure if in the next couple of months the population and revenue drop below levels it was before move to Hybrid.If it stays with these numbers or grows then it is a huge success ,It drops back to numbers it had with subs it is fine that just mean the found to boost their revenue for a couple months.
Why do we keep calling games like DDO,LoTRO, WAR F2p games when they are clearly not.
When did we start calling creative "unlimited trials" as "OMG the game is FREEEE!!!!!"?
Are we just getting dumber?
To me f2p means, all the content is free, with the usual sucking dry of people with money in the cash shop, at the expense of fairness for all players.
No offense to the f2p kids, but theres plenty of people who will pay good money not to play games with that crowd.
Comments
Agreed. Tell me profits doubled, then I'm impressed.
거북이는 목을 내밀 때 안 움직입니다
shhhh don't let the F2P haters see this.
There is really nothing to see yet anyways.
Lets have this discussion sometimes next year when we actually know how things are going, that you sell a lot of most products the first month when doing something like this is just to be expected, many new and old players need to stock up on the basics.
This does not really answers anything whatsoever, the only thing it says is that the game didn't totally flop and everyone quit because of it.
If converting was a good idea or not is something that actually takes a while to know.
like i said, shhhh don't let the F2P haters see this.
거북이는 목을 내밀 때 안 움직입니다
Everything trends downward in popularity, by its nature, so "wait and see" is going to measure a completely different thing (two other things actually: game/content improvements and marketing budget.)
Even before DDO flipped I was already half convinced F2P was the future (mostly because my more famous game designer friends were already convinced long before that.) I guess the question is: how many more doubled- and tripled-revenue games need to be released before you're convinced too? Even if we pretend the curve drops sharply and these games only have 25% more revenue -- that's 25% more revenue, with the exact same game!
"What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver
Couldn't care less. Also the article is kinda flawed so they got 1.000.000 new FREE accounts you know people that just registered and maybe aren't subbing to the game = 0 $ so what? I'm so sick of companies like Blizzard, Turbine showing their subscribers.
We need a MMORPG Cataclysm asap, finish the dark age of MMORPGS now!
"Everything you're bitching about is wrong. People don't have the time to invest in corpse runs, impossible zones, or long winded quests. Sometimes, they just want to pop on and play."
"Then maybe MMORPGs aren't for you."
Fixed that for you.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
"Paiz told us after the panel that LotRO wasn't in trouble, but rather that Turbine did the math and decided the switch would work. "We knew there was more out there for us," she said."
Who do I believe.....the producer of the game? Or some random? Tough call! Sorry dude, think your eyes are closed on this one
!
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
LOTRO was never in trouble. It didn't need "saving."
As for the game making more money with the switch: I'm not surprised. F2P is money grab central with nickel and diming. That's what the scheme is geared to do.
"I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918)
I never really played LOTRO much because I am not a huge fan of starting a game way late (was busy with other games at the time of its release). With that said, it's still very nice to see a game having success by changing up its marketing strategy to stay afloat. Good for LOTRO and all those associated with the game. I hope it lives on and creates enjoyment for many years and for many players.
My wife uses the same account as me and we just dropped around 100 bucks in the shop.
Bought both expansions, all quest and skirmish packs, Added AH slots, removed the Gold restriction, bought riding skill and mounts for both our characters, unlocked the two extra bags, bought shared storage slots.
For 100 bucks I just made a AAA game B2p.
My wife is hardcore(plays a lot). but hates paying subscriptions and detests pvp. so i figured pay 100 once would be good for her.
Shes already half way to cap and is in a nice guild. im casual so i wont see half the content i bought since this is only my part time mmo. it replaced GW1 for me.
Addition:
I wasn't planning on investing in LotRO like this but once i bought the wife her mount it was game over... She started exploring and honestly we were both amazed how large and really awesome LotROs game world is. Sure im playing a quest stacker but damn it! Its a good one.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
I think people are confusing "in trouble" with LOTRO's constantly rubber banding population.
LOTRO has always had this thing that when the content was out for quite a while the pop would lessen. Suddenly a new area or expansion would come and then the pop would zoom back up.
It's been like this since Shadows of Angmar.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Well that happens with every game, also themeparks tend to be top heavy after the first year of the game.
This is probably why people said the game felt empty. Every one and their mother is max level running dungeons and raids after 6 months.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
Pretty much it.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
I said declining ( as in slowly losing population, as in LotRO ) and/or dying ( as in DDO, which was actually past dying and was ready for burial when they gave it the ol' F2P boost ).
I did not say LotRO was dead or dying. It had a decent population, so I guess you could say it wasn't "in trouble" as in it would have been dead in 6 months. However, it sure as hell wasn't growing. People that left weren't being replaced. Would it have "survived"? Sure, just like every other game past its prime out there is "surviving".
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
This news doesn't really surprise me. There was quite a bit of hype for Lotro going free to play with alot of new/returning players making initial purchases. I would like to see the numbers after 6months/1 year before making any judgments on how much of a success going f2p is for Lotro in the long run. That time will also give gamers a good sampling of WB's influence on pricing, expansions, etc. Good for them if it works out positively.
Now if we can somehow get AC2 on the F2P list I for one will be a happy camper!
Lotro did not go F2P it went hybrid revenue model, you can still pay a monthly fee and if you do you get all the cash shop stuff (only limited in how many potions etc you could get).
Do people on here know what happened to DDO, that other fantastic hybrid revenue model? They closed all their European servers. That is not the sign of a MMO doing well. So give Lotro a couple of years before the new model is announced a success. I would expect the revenue of any MMO to go up after a major advertising campaign.
Oh and people don’t think that permanent stat increase in a cash shop are unbalancing? Because Lotro’s has that. You can get these through questing but so what? To my eyes this is as bad as F2P MMO’s which let you buy raid armour.
Are you talking about Asheron's Call 2?
Hasn't it been dead since 2005?
I don't think that it's coming back.
All those memories will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.
Actually, of all the things in the shop - this is actually the least imbalancing. Stats - while a good thing - really have very little impact - and by end game - what you can buy in the store is a pittance. HOWEVER - those tomes of +10 Agility WILL appeal to newbie hunters/Burgs who just don't investigate/know any better - and splurge. So, no - since stats are capped , it's not really as big an issue as it sounds
(Frankly - the potions are a much bigger gripe)
As for the European servers...all I know on that is that Turbine regained control of the license from Codemasters - meaning CM's servers were redundant. I can't speak to anything other than the numbers that were released by Turbine earlier this year. Of course, people can shoose to disregard those numbers, however they really should preface their statements with "I think" instead of trying to pass off their personal feelings as fact - sadly - a very common occurrance on these boards lately:)!
Wow i love how you misrespresent the news,DDO close the European servers to open International servers this happen because the license was up and taken away from codemasters.It not sign of game struggling it was buisness restucture move everybody can transfer their character to global servers from the Europe servers.
People are being silly Lotor transtion is a success you don't have to wait to know this for the move to be a failure Lotor has to drop below the levels that it was before the move to hybrid payment.Just based on communtiy reaction to intial proccess,the fact the game has been running stable for a long while and fact that revenue and population is up.It is very hard to believe that numbers are going to come crashing below the levels that it is was before the move.
I repeat the only way the move is a failure if in the next couple of months the population and revenue drop below levels it was before move to Hybrid.If it stays with these numbers or grows then it is a huge success ,It drops back to numbers it had with subs it is fine that just mean the found to boost their revenue for a couple months.
Why do we keep calling games like DDO,LoTRO, WAR F2p games when they are clearly not.
When did we start calling creative "unlimited trials" as "OMG the game is FREEEE!!!!!"?
Are we just getting dumber?
To me f2p means, all the content is free, with the usual sucking dry of people with money in the cash shop, at the expense of fairness for all players.
No offense to the f2p kids, but theres plenty of people who will pay good money not to play games with that crowd.