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The myth of free to play
ElderRat
Member CommonPosts: 899
I keep hearing about Free to play games. You download them and you can play them, but are they really free? Mostly they have a cashshop where you buy what you need to enjoy the game, so you pay.. not free. Some like LOTRO's f2p have ways to earn points to get things in the "store" but they also sell those points for cash and make it tedious to actuall earn them in game. I suppose there are games that you can "play" for free, but be competitive? Get to level cap? Through all areas of the game? Without paying.. not really sure if that is true. Seems like a myth to me. Discussion? Because i do think this is the future of mmo's.
Currently bored with MMO's.
Comments
I've never paid a single cent in a f2p game. Of course they encourage you to pay, and I'm glad that enough other people pay enough to keep the game running so I can play for free. That's how they all work, even with the hybrid "b2p" model, the only thing that will keep GW2 running is that there will be plenty of people spending way too much in their cash shop.
Personally, I prefer a game that charges, and is worth, a monthly fee.
Yea but those that charge and are worth the monthly fee are getting fairly rare.
Currently bored with MMO's.
First, I seriously hope you're wrong and this isn't the future of MMO's.
Second, I completely agree that F2P is very deceptive. The business model behind F2P games is basically like this:
Pizza Place: Hey guys! I've got a free pizza for you right here, dig in!
Guys: Alright! Pepperoni my favorite!
Pizza Place: Whooooooa!!! Not so fast partner, you only get to eat the CRUST for free. If you want to eat the rest of the pizza...then that's going to cost you. You can either pay $20 or you can run around the city 20 times and you can have the pizza.
Just like in my pizza example, a F2P game really isn't free. You get to play "part" of the game for free, but if you want to play the rest you either have to pay money or do a ridiculous amount of menial things (grinding) to get there.
So I really don't think they should be called F2P games. They should be called something like "Choose to pay" or "a la carte" to reflect the fact that you can pick and choose what features or cheats you want to buy.
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
This is very, disturbingly, true... And it's the reason that I'm not currently subscribed to a game. I'm hoping that SWTOR will be worth a monthly fee... And TSW beyond that. I see a game like ArchAge and think it would be worth a fee, but fear it will end up being the worst kind of ftp, assuming it ever gets the the western market.
Most f2p games are just a long trial, if you actually want to play the fun part of these games you have to pay. What's sad is that you actually end up paying more than 15/month if you want a enjoyable experience in most of these games too.
I've played a few f2p games in which I've spent money, mostly around 20/month and have had fairly good experiences. If i find something fun enough, I don't mind paying the extra 5 compared to a sub game but if the cash shop requires me to spend even more to have any sort of fun then no thanks.
It is true that only a small amout of players actually pay, in my experience about 20% but these players pay the equivalent of a sub and about 1-3% pay in hundreds, enough to cover the cost of all the free accounts.
Nobody rides for free, and certainly not in F2P games.
Sure, many folks do play them for free, but they do so by compromising, by either not experiencing the full content or devoting some horrific amount of their real lives to grind their way to glory.
So one way or another you're paying something, even if it isn't always cold, hard cash.
My objection to most F2P is their overall playing mechanics are heavily influenced by their payment model.
Nothing more annoying than exploring some new aspect of a game and suddenly you get a pop-up saying, for only 100 Hooka Hoops (purchased in the cash shop of course) you can buy extra bag space for your character.
So you make your purchase, head down the road, and suddenly you get another pop-up saying, you know, fast mounts are available to speed your journey, for only 250 hooka hoops, again available in our convenient cash shop.
Goes on ad nasuem ......
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Completely agree, great post!
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
It is not a myth, you just do not understand what Free is related to.
F2P game means that there is no payment upfront in order to access the service.
Free to play, is a fantastic concept, if done properly.
The way I always thought the way free to play should be is
-Everyone gets to play ALL CONTENT free.
-Players that spend money in cashshop should only be given the option to buy appearance type items and boosts to things like exp gain, item drops, crafting.
- There should never be armor or weapons in a cash shop, unless it changes appearance only, never stats.
This way there is a balance, players can't just buy the best weapon, sure players that spend more will be able to advance quicker, but they can't buy the way to the end of the game.
just my $0.02
beggars can't be choosers.
there are plenty of F2P mmos/games. they have pros and cons. ad supported, cash shop/microtrans supported. heavy reliance on expansions/play packs. limited options -used to be sub based type games.
My problem with F2P is. is if it was a good game, it'd be worth paying for. and anything that's free... is gonna have a catch.
I still play DDO from time to time. and kick around the idea of reviving my AoC acct. but... honestly. if i wanted to play those games i never woulda cxl my subscriptions to them.
for the life of me i can't understand why people are so adverse to paying $15 or less a month for something they can play an unlimited amount of a month. and on top of that... to somehow be absurd enough to complain about games that're free
Then maybe they should include that disclaimer when they advertise their game. If they did, it wouldn't be deceptive. They could call it "free to access."
As it stands, they do not. They just call it free to play and then hit you with the cash shop when you get in.
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
then it should be "Free to download" not Free to play.
Oh by the way, i am not stupid - I do know what they mean, I just disagree that they are providing a free to play game and hence it is a myth. Free to download or free to access is what they mean and they should say that, not free to play.
Currently bored with MMO's.
The important thing to remember is that not all F2P models are the same. Some are very restrictive, and will require you to pay to progress into further content, while others can offer you the whole game with cosmetic and convenience items only offered in the cash shop.
The recent re-launch of Fallen Earth, which adopted a F2P model, has a fairly unrestrictive model if you don't mind certain disadvantages. You get to experience the game in its entirety, but a little slower and with one character. Specifically, you get decreased XP/skill point accumulation along with the PvP currency, your crafting takes longer, and you can only craft eight hours per day. Even with the XP decrease, I found myself easily outleveling content by nature of just going through the game, so it wasn't a big hindrance, though this could change at higher levels. Even this crafting restriction - which looks really heavy on paper - doesn't affect me too much, unless I was making it a point to craft lots of high-end goods such as vehicles. In that case, I will have to wait longer to churn those out unless I subscribe.
Compare this to a Turbine game, where in order to access the quests in a zone, you'll have to purchase an adventure pack. Of course, this comes with the caveat that you can earn the cash shop currency in game, but it will take a lot of grind to do so (especially in DDO). This kind of F2P model is much more restrictive since you get limited access to the game, and can be a huge turnoff for many players. I remember someone on the forums worked out that even at optimal TP (cash shop currency) grinding rates in game, it's as if you're working for an insignificant wage - might as well put some money down and get instant access to a few packs. With a good eye on the sales that Turbine offers, and the will not to be distracted by all the consumables and equipment present, you can make the most out of the cash shops by buying adventure packs and account options when they are heavily discounted.
Now, look back to a game like Dragon Nest or Vindictus. Both games offer convenience/cosmetic cash shops, but with the removal of the token system in Vindictus, you aren't really limited in play time (with Dragon Nest offering bonus XP in lieu of fatigue, still not limiting anything). In addition, from when I last played either, you have access to the entire game (unless you're european. Coming soon in ten years!) AND the shops offer a very limited selection of game-changing items. I know that Vindictus has their easy potions and resurrection consumables, but by simply playing smart, you can avoid death in either game.
There's lots of different types of F2P. Some can be very limiting and give you a nasty grind like Turbine's games, but some are reasonable and will still allow you to be competitive, such as in League of Legends where every champion besides Evelynn is useful in some way. Remember that the companies are still looking for a source of income if they can't rely on subscriptions, so they need some way to bring in the money.
*shrug* yeah, whatever, call it a myth. I'm sure your opinion is vastly important for millions of people who enjoy them for free.
F2P is not for the ADD crowd. It's not for those who need everything NOW. It's not for those who aren't willing to trade the cash for grind. It's not for those who feel that games that charge every month just for the privilege of playing said game are so superior. And it's not for people who just plain want to disparage F2P games (by the way, B2P games are NOT F2P regardless of what some GW haters would have you think).
If you don't want to play F2P games, then don't. If you think that F2P games somehow rip you off more than P2P games, don't play them. Why do you feel the need to constantly disparage them? Go sit on your high horse paying your monthly fee and leave those who want to play F2P games alone.
BTW, yes, they are FREE to PLAY. They are not FREE to PLAY WITH EVERY AVAILABLE OPTION. They are not FREE TO OWN EVERY OTHER PLAYER IN PVP FROM DAY 1. There is no deception except the deception of your expectations.
You want me to pay to play a game I already paid for???
Be afraid.....The dragons are HERE!
That expectation being that a free to play game would actually be free to play?
Oops, my bad. I was clearly WAY OFF with my expectation there.
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
No, it should not. It is perfectly fine the way it is. Again, you are disagreeing with your own error on what the term means.
They indeed provide a game that has no upfront payment unlike P2P model thus it is no myth nor it is deceptive. It is just insisting on your very own misconceptions.
Honestly...I really don't know why you and others are defending a practice that is OBVIOUSLY deceptive. The fact that we are all weathered enough to realize that F2P is a load of crap does not excuse the fact that it is deceptive.
If I have a box of cupcakes and tell you they are free to eat but then tell you that you can't eat the frosting without paying...then isn't that deceptive? Isn't this also EXACTLY what F2P games do?
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
I miss the MMORPG genre. Will a developer ever make one again?
Explorer: 87%, Killer: 67%, Achiever: 27%, Socializer: 20%
You are way off in your expectation if you think free to play should mean free to play with every available option in the game. If you can play a game for free where you can get to end game without having to buy anything else, then it's free to play. Notice I didn't say that you can get to end game in an easy fashion, or a quick fashion. In most F2P games, you are definitely able to get to end game without paying a dime. It's just not easy, or quick. You will have to grind. It will probably take you twice the time to get to end game than those who break their bank to be "competitive".
Your expectation (and that of many others in this forum) is that F2P means that you can get through the game as easily or as quickly as someone who dishes out money to the cash shop. That is where your deception is. F2P games aren't intended to be that way. Yes, devs want you to spend money, but they are taking the risk that you won't. That doesn't mean they should provide you with an easy, quick way to end game for free.
You want me to pay to play a game I already paid for???
Be afraid.....The dragons are HERE!
It's a lot less of a deception than "Free shipment!" advertising.
But, yes, if you are naive to the level that you think that "Free shipment!" is actually free, then yes, it's deceptive, no doubt about it.
It's not as extreme as that. It's really about what you want from the game. If you want to be competitive in some cases it is necessary to pay. However why must people play every game competitively? If you want all of the content, you'll most likely have to pay something. If you want all cosmetic and fluff items, you'll have to pay. If you just want to dabble and kill time for as long as it's fun, you don't have to pay a dime, which is what I do in F2P titles like FE, AOC, CO, etc...
Lets look at AOC, and compare that to a sub based plan. You can play a limited number of classes from level 1 to cap unhinged, or you can pay a few bucks and unlock the class(es) you want, one time fee here. Want a dungeon? ANother one time fee, want an expansion, another one time fee. Want an outfit another one time fee. Basically once you have what you want you don't have to pay any more. That's not the case with a sub. Regardless you'll be paying 15 a month forever as long as you wnat to play. While the person above may have spent 50-60 bucks to unlock all they wanted, that's it, that's all they have to pay.
Now in AOC there is one major draw back AA is only available to a subbed player. Which effects PVP pretty drastically. So in essense AOC is the PVEers F2P. Not really the PVPers.
In short based on a players preference F2P can be far cheaper than your typical P2P in the long run. Again, like I said before, it really depends on what someone wants from a game.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Literally every MMO is free to download, the difference is that you can actually play F2P games after that, without requiring credit card info or having bought a time card before.
So yeah, they are free to play. If you do not buy the expansions from WoW, you won't get every content, either, so that is not really a criteria to say "they are not free". And if you go and buy only you really want, they are still cheaper then subscription based games. You do not hit ~$180 just by buying some dungeons. Remember that you do not have to buy 20 healt potions you never use each day, or that you won't need to buy an additional bank storage pane if you are reach enough that you do not have to keep all the crap you find.
It's like in Diablo - first you take everything, later only magical items, then you even skip those and only pick up up rares etc. And you usually take a while to first hit the limit anyways, it's not like you would get two slots but there are like 200 items you really need all the time from level 1 up.
It is a myth that subscription bases games offer more or higher quality, and that they cost less. WoW has a cash shop, too, and the stuff does cost more then most things you get in F2P games, because the developers and publishers of F2P games know that you do not want to pay $20 dollar each month for a new dungeon or something.
So, add up $50 dollar initially for the game, $180 each year if you keep it running, $20 for each expansion, and $10-20 now and then in the cash shop. So about $200 each year (expansion every two years (average) for WoW for example + cash shop) and $50 intitially. Even if you ignore the subscription, it's $30 each year ($50/5 years playing, +$10 in the cash shop each year, on average), +expansion ($20 every two years, again $10/year on average.
So the subscription did not even cover everything. Now if you pay $30 a year for content in a F2P game, you still pay $180/year less then for a subscription based game. So there is a lot of room to buy even more stuff you do not even need like health potions or new races/classes even though you already have 10 characters you never play. And the best thing is, as you do not pay per month/year/whatever, you do not have to play it all the time while it's active. if you pay for a month, but only play for an hour, You do not get $14 back in WoW, Aion, Warhammer, Rift etc. If you play only one hour in a F2P game, who cares? Even if you would buy every adventure pack in DDO at once, but you only play 1 hour, and then you stop, you can still enjoy everything 2 years later.
Of course, there are a lot of differences in the acutal F2P model used, but there are just as much differences in every game. And as people complaing about grinding in games all the time - you unlock stuff you would have had to buy otherwise if you can get stuff like Turbine points buy playing. It's still grinding, but if you are doing it anyways?
Ultimately it depends on the game in question. If it does offer what you want for a reasonable price, why not? But going around and saying "i want to pay each month" is stupid. You do not want to pay each month, you want a game thats fun. The question is how you get one. If it's only possible to afford doing something you really want buy charging a subscription fee, ok, but as many games that do not (or no longer) charge a fee, and some famous people like from ArenaNet said, there is nothing out there currently that actually costs that much that you would need a subscription fee. So if you really *want to pay*, maybe Bobby Kotick was right after all: " Bobby Kotick believes gamers want to have to pay for a service that is currently free in hopes that they will be making the gameplay experience better, even though the things CoD charges for now, like map packs, would most likely still cost money." Well, okay, he was probably talking about doing something like a CoD MMO, but we already are talking about MMOs here, so the difference would be about zero.
tl;dr:t F2P games *are* F2P, even if you add up the money you "have" to spent on the cash shop. Just compare it to what you spent on subscription based games, who are supposed to offer an "all-inclusive" deal, but actually only allow you to play for this. Expansions = (hopefully) huge adventure pack/level cap raise etc., cash shop = cash shop.
I'll wait to the day's end when the moon is high
And then I'll rise with the tide with a lust for life, I'll
Amass an army, and we'll harness a horde
And then we'll limp across the land until we stand at the shore
That's funny, because I play F2P (without using a cash shop much) because I don't want to pay the $15/month fee. That being the case, I deal with the grind of F2P so I don't have to spend much money. Or, like I do with LoTRO, I treat an F2P/Cash Shop game more like a B2P game. I only buy expansions or packs that give me the most bang for my buck and limit myself to, say $50 every 6 months to a year.
I think that is where the problem lies. People are willing to spend money even on a F2P game that they like but some people can't control their spending properly. Then they get all upset that they've spent so much money but aren't willing to own up to the fact that THEY are the problem. So, it must be that the F2P game devs are being deceptive in their practices. It can't be that I, the gamer, have too little self control.
As for my statement about P2P charging for the privilege of playing the game, that is exactly how it works. You can call it what you like (maintenance costs, development costs, etc.), but the fact that you can't play a game that you bought (the box) without paying a fee means you are paying for the privilege of playing that game.
I have to say, though, you have an interesting viewpoint on how F2P games with a cash shop appeal more to the ADHD crowd. And I find it interesting to note that those who play P2P are basically paying so they can grind a game. Interesting.
You want me to pay to play a game I already paid for???
Be afraid.....The dragons are HERE!
First, in response to the OP, it's not a myth. F2P is free to play. They are not promising a casual free ride to end game or the top of their PvP ladder. They just promise that you can play the game for free.
Now, in response to the quoted post: your analogy is off. It's not like, "Free pizza... oh no wait, only free crust!"
F2P is like free TV. Like you put up rabbit ears and only watch the channels that are broadcast on airwaves. No one is promising you cable channels. You're not going to get AMC, HBO, On Demand, Pay Per View, or any of that ilk on your rabbit ears. You're only going to get what is broadcast for free on airwaves. Everyone knows it and that's why no one complains when they put up rabbit ears and don't get HBO.
It's the same with F2P games. Go to their website and they will tell you what you will get for free and what you will have to pay for. You then have the opportunity to play what you can for free, if you want, or pay to get the full ride.
Stop blaming them for you thinking they should go into bankruptcy to give you a truly free AAA MMO to play 100% of.
Playing | GW2
Wanting | Pantheon
Watching | Crowfall
Retired | WAR, Cabal, MO, CO, SHK, WoW, FFXIV: ARR