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15$ a month sub model is so old school!

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  • BoneserinoBoneserino Member UncommonPosts: 1,768

    Aelious

    I really don't know, you may be right.  Just threw that out as neither of us have hard data to prove our case.

    FFA Nonconsentual Full Loot PvP ...You know you want it!!

  • strangiato2112strangiato2112 Member CommonPosts: 1,538
    Originally posted by Aelious

    The biggest risk to current F2P games come with EQN.  It's a big IP and if it's a quality game not only will subs move but also free players.

    There i a lot of time between now and EQN's release.

    Smedley has said that the future is f2p, but then he also thought the future was themepark at one point.  And he was correct both times, but that was immediate future.  If there is a clear shift in demand by the time that EQN is ready don't be surprised if EQN is a sub game.

  • OnomasOnomas Member UncommonPosts: 1,147
    Who said anything about rape? Thats not even a subject to even joke about. Whats wrong with you?
  • KingJigglyKingJiggly Member Posts: 777
    Originally posted by Onomas
    Originally posted by Torvaldr
    Originally posted by Onomas
    Originally posted by nariusseldon
    Originally posted by Onomas
    Originally posted by nariusseldon
    Originally posted by Loktofeit
    Originally posted by greenreen 

    These are the credits for the games he has been involved in listed on Wikipedia. I see few F2P listed there. What makes him an authority on the subject? His experience is mostly with just one company too. Just because someone publishes a book it never meant they knew best, remember that phrase, those who can't - teach. 

    He devloped and ran Metaplace.com. He also doesn't exist in a vacuum and spends a lot of time consulting. Is it your contention that since you've played a lot of video games your personal view of game design and how the industry works is more valid than the experience of those who have been successfully working in the industry for 30 or so years? If so, don't worry, there's a lot of people here like that, so you're in good company. 

     

    You don't need an expert to coin a term. Everyone knows a very small number of players pay through the roof. It is not uncommon to name a customer segment. So he borrows the term from the gambling industry and it sticks.

    Why is his expertise relevant?

    Funny you are the only one that uses it here, and call  people that dont even buy from a cash shop a WHALE. Its kind of derogatory and yoiu should not use it. Since you dont know who spends money over the rest, calling someone who pays for a sub a whale is not only ignorant but childish all together.

     

    And for the record that term is stupid beyond belief being used in the gaming industry. Just saying.

    you are just wrong.

    First, i never call people a whale for paying a sub. That is NOT the defintiion. I have also never called a particular person a whale, since i do not know who is one.

    Secondly, i will use the term when it fits the meaning .. i.e. ... the few players who pays a lot more than the norm in a F2P game. Do you have another term for it?

    If you are so easier offended on the internet, it is your problem, not mine.

     

    No im not wrong, you have even called me a whale in a different post.

    Just because someone tries to be cool and coin a new phrase or term doesnt mean you need to use it. That term is derogatory and just stupid. Many here dislike that including myself.

    There are many terms for race, sex, culture, religion but just because they are around doesnt mean you have to use it.

    There is no term required for people that wish to pay for their entertainment, everyone pays at one point in life to someone.

    Its your way to by sly and insult someone, but nonetheless its a derogatory term.

    It's an industry standard slang for someone who pays a lot in F2P / Cash Shop games especially where there is no subscription.  They are "big" spenders, like a whale.  People who spend a lot in cash shops are referred to as whales.  There are a lot of industry terms with meanings that are less than cuddly.

    And that makes it less derogatory? Just because a raper calls women the B word, its ok to label them all like that? Sorry but no go here. Terms are sometimes better not used. What if a poster was over weight and he called them a whale? Would kind of be insulting, yes? Again, its a sly way to insult someone. And that term isnt even a widely used here, its a gambling term coined by one guy and thats all of the sudden a industry term? Call them high rollers then, atleast thats not derogatory.

    Lol, it isnt an insult... It is a term to refer to big cash shop spenders... Get over yourself.

  • KingJigglyKingJiggly Member Posts: 777
    Originally posted by Onomas
    Who said anything about rape? Thats not even a subject to even joke about. Whats wrong with you?

    You did:

    "And that makes it less derogatory? Just because a raper calls women the B word, its ok to label them all like that? Sorry but no go here. Terms are sometimes better not used. What if a poster was over weight and he called them a whale? Would kind of be insulting, yes? Again, its a sly way to insult someone. And that term isnt even a widely used here, its a gambling term coined by one guy and thats all of the sudden a industry term? Call them high rollers then, atleast thats not derogatory."

  • spizzspizz Member UncommonPosts: 1,971
    Originally posted by Boneserino
    Originally posted by Aelious
    In legitimately worried about a lot of the F2P games over the next few years. There are new, quality titles coming out that will either free (EQN) or sub (AA possibly) and wild cards such as ESO or Wildstar (not sure on model announcement).

    Each of these could chip away at the playerbases of every game but F2P titles are the most vulnerable due to a smaller percentage supporting the game. I wonder how many titles will be closed or unsupported by 2015.

    Actually I would say that assumption is probably wrong.  The majority of the player base is likely playing for free.  Those that are paying are probably enjoying the game and are invested in playing it.

    However in sub based games there are probably lots of people thinking I am paying 15 a month and not really enjoying this game. Maybe it is time to switch.

    Each player lost in a sub based game is a paying one.  So a bigger proportion of paying players will likely be leaving the sub based game.

    All speculation of course, but I think my scenario makes as much sense as  the other, without conclusive evidence.

     

    For some games a free to play game leads to a playerbase which are not dedicated to the game. The community suffers from it,  the gameplay and pvp, since you will have players who will play the game more superficial. Because you never really quit in free to play games since there is no sub, you draw attention to all kind of people, you draw more attention to hackers and exploiters. In general the quality of the playerbase itself gets weaken.

    But in both cases there are players who invest into the games. In sub games, all of them invest with their monthly fee and in free to play games only a lower percentage will do. Both will think about if they enjoy a game and invest more in the future or just leave. Each paying player in a free to play  is the core of the income of the game and the whole game is directed with the aim to get as many as possible customer, the "free to play" just draws attention as a marketing instrument and a lot of the development and game content is directed towards the ingame cash shop. Wheras the games with a monthly sub have their development concentrated on pure gameplay content and possible further expansions.

    This is the big difference and the quality of the content plays a role here. F2P is for sure not doing good for the gaming community or improving games and creative content you wish for.

  • ScarfeScarfe Member Posts: 281
    Originally posted by KingJiggly
    Originally posted by Onomas
    Originally posted by Torvaldr
    Originally posted by Onomas
    Originally posted by nariusseldon
    Originally posted by Onomas
    Originally posted by nariusseldon
    Originally posted by Loktofeit
    Originally posted by greenreen 

    These are the credits for the games he has been involved in listed on Wikipedia. I see few F2P listed there. What makes him an authority on the subject? His experience is mostly with just one company too. Just because someone publishes a book it never meant they knew best, remember that phrase, those who can't - teach. 

    He devloped and ran Metaplace.com. He also doesn't exist in a vacuum and spends a lot of time consulting. Is it your contention that since you've played a lot of video games your personal view of game design and how the industry works is more valid than the experience of those who have been successfully working in the industry for 30 or so years? If so, don't worry, there's a lot of people here like that, so you're in good company. 

     

    You don't need an expert to coin a term. Everyone knows a very small number of players pay through the roof. It is not uncommon to name a customer segment. So he borrows the term from the gambling industry and it sticks.

    Why is his expertise relevant?

    Funny you are the only one that uses it here, and call  people that dont even buy from a cash shop a WHALE. Its kind of derogatory and yoiu should not use it. Since you dont know who spends money over the rest, calling someone who pays for a sub a whale is not only ignorant but childish all together.

     

    And for the record that term is stupid beyond belief being used in the gaming industry. Just saying.

    you are just wrong.

    First, i never call people a whale for paying a sub. That is NOT the defintiion. I have also never called a particular person a whale, since i do not know who is one.

    Secondly, i will use the term when it fits the meaning .. i.e. ... the few players who pays a lot more than the norm in a F2P game. Do you have another term for it?

    If you are so easier offended on the internet, it is your problem, not mine.

     

    No im not wrong, you have even called me a whale in a different post.

    Just because someone tries to be cool and coin a new phrase or term doesnt mean you need to use it. That term is derogatory and just stupid. Many here dislike that including myself.

    There are many terms for race, sex, culture, religion but just because they are around doesnt mean you have to use it.

    There is no term required for people that wish to pay for their entertainment, everyone pays at one point in life to someone.

    Its your way to by sly and insult someone, but nonetheless its a derogatory term.

    It's an industry standard slang for someone who pays a lot in F2P / Cash Shop games especially where there is no subscription.  They are "big" spenders, like a whale.  People who spend a lot in cash shops are referred to as whales.  There are a lot of industry terms with meanings that are less than cuddly.

    And that makes it less derogatory? Just because a raper calls women the B word, its ok to label them all like that? Sorry but no go here. Terms are sometimes better not used. What if a poster was over weight and he called them a whale? Would kind of be insulting, yes? Again, its a sly way to insult someone. And that term isnt even a widely used here, its a gambling term coined by one guy and thats all of the sudden a industry term? Call them high rollers then, atleast thats not derogatory.

    Lol, it isnt an insult... It is a term to refer to big cash shop spenders... Get over yourself.

    I think some people actively try to feel insulted at every possible opportunity. 

    currently playing: DDO, AOC, WoT, P101

  • ArakaneArakane Member UncommonPosts: 204

     

     

      Regarding the op's thoughts/opinion , while I do understand where you are "coming from", In my opinion, those 15 dollar subs are perfectly fine. Is it a gamble for us as consumers ? of course but I have to say that ftp is not a model that I care for. In some instances the game company goes insane with their little cash-shops, look at sw:tor for instance. Also,the thrust of the game devs about the game changes from how to keep adding great content,to,what can I add to make more money, which I think is ultimately bad for games and gamers.

  • MMOExposedMMOExposed Member RarePosts: 7,387
    Originally posted by Praetalus
    Originally posted by MMOExposed
    Originally posted by Fearum
    If gaming is your hobby and the game is worth 15$ a month it is fine. If you bitch about it being too much your either playing a shitty game or your just a cheap bastard and need to find a new hobby. I doubt there is cheaper hobby out there.

    thats not really the point.

    Example:

    if the total number of MMO on the market was ==1.

    And the sub fee was 15$ a month.

    Well paying 15$ a month grants you access to 100% of all MMO.

     

    Now if we keep the same sub fee cost, but increase the number of total MMO on the market to 5.

    Playing 15$ a month only grants me access to 20% of all MMO.

     

    Increase the total number of MMO again to 10.

    And 15$ a month only gets me access to 10% of all MMO.

     

    As we go on, the total number of MMO keep going up, but the price still remains the same. So at some point, most of the MMO will fall off the list, as we can see this more often today with so much MMO inflation.

     

    The prices have to drop, or place a halt on the number of total MMO on the market. One has to give out for the other. Which would you rather have?

    Wow... fuzzy math to it's finest. It's also flawed logic. Your $15 a month grants you access to %100 of each game. Do you understand how insane what you said sounds? That's like me saying that I'm eating at 5 restuarants today cause I feel like it and wanting them to lower the price on the menu as I'll only get to enjoy one meal fully. You pay the full price for the games and how you break it down is up to you and your available time. 

     

     

    no you just didnt read.

    Philosophy of MMO Game Design

  • XthosXthos Member UncommonPosts: 2,739
    Originally posted by strangiato2112
    Originally posted by Aelious

    The biggest risk to current F2P games come with EQN.  It's a big IP and if it's a quality game not only will subs move but also free players.

    There i a lot of time between now and EQN's release.

    Smedley has said that the future is f2p, but then he also thought the future was themepark at one point.  And he was correct both times, but that was immediate future.  If there is a clear shift in demand by the time that EQN is ready don't be surprised if EQN is a sub game.

    I hope EQN is a sub game.

  • spizzspizz Member UncommonPosts: 1,971

    The new generation mmos with an ingame cash shop and "free to play" models have a different aim on developing a game.

    The conventionel mmorpgs with a sub where developers did invest all their effort into the gameplay content did create games/mmorpgs with the aim to offer a high quality game that their customer are satisified and stick with the game for longer.

    Now in a f2p game, the developer invest a lot of time to adjust their gameplay content with the ingame shop and at the end a game is not anymore purely developed to satisfy the players but to get as many players buying stuff in their shop. The game development itself did change into a pure cash instrument and the former concentrations on game quality development suffers.

  • XthosXthos Member UncommonPosts: 2,739
    Originally posted by Loktofeit
    Originally posted by spizz
    Originally posted by nariusseldon
    Originally posted by steelheartx
    I'd pay $25 a month for a game that could keep me entralled for three or more years.

    Why should i do that when there are 20 games that can last me 3 month each, and they are all free?

    Why should someone play so many games ? 

    Who cares why? The point is that most players play games that way - console, PC or online. It's not because they're not engaging, it's just how most people play video games. As a result, $25 a month may work for you but there are very few you in the market. 

    I have seen no evidence to support this statement.  I do not know of anyone personally that plays 10 games or so at a time, that the OP of this was talking about.   Also, MMOs traditionally offer more updates, content, and take more infrastructure to provide quality service to people, so I play plants vs. zombies or angry birds, and try to put a AAA MMO on the same level of discussion of that or farmville is flawed to begin with imo.

     

    Some non-MMO games do have support systems, online responsibilities and more things, like a MMO, but a lot of stuff doesn't.  A discussion should involve games that are comparible, when it comes to fees, as Madden football does not traditionally have a free, where as MMOs do, they are not the same.

     

    I would counter that a lot of current MMOs are shallow, and do not have quality systems in place for retention, verse the majority of gamers have gamer ADD, so every game should be made to have a short shelf life for players.

     

  • dave6660dave6660 Member UncommonPosts: 2,699
    Originally posted by AlBQuirky

    Didn't vote. Not a choice I liked.

    What's wrong with old school?

    Many posters enjoy using the "Appeal to Novelty" argument.

    “There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own.”
    -- Herman Melville

  • nariusseldonnariusseldon Member EpicPosts: 27,775
    Originally posted by Onomas
     

    No im not wrong, you have even called me a whale in a different post.

    Just because someone tries to be cool and coin a new phrase or term doesnt mean you need to use it. That term is derogatory and just stupid. Many here dislike that including myself.

    There are many terms for race, sex, culture, religion but just because they are around doesnt mean you have to use it.

    There is no term required for people that wish to pay for their entertainment, everyone pays at one point in life to someone.

    Its your way to by sly and insult someone, but nonetheless its a derogatory term.

    Are you a whale? Did you spend much more than average in a F2P game? If the definition fit, then you are one, whether i call you or not.

    Just like i free-ride on F2P game.

    If you have such a thin skin, it is your problem.

  • nariusseldonnariusseldon Member EpicPosts: 27,775
    Originally posted by Scarfe
    Originally posted by KingJiggly
     

    Lol, it isnt an insult... It is a term to refer to big cash shop spenders... Get over yourself.

    I think some people actively try to feel insulted at every possible opportunity. 

    Yeah .. i think i will just ignore them, and use clearly defined industry terms like whales as i see fit.

  • spizzspizz Member UncommonPosts: 1,971
    If this is so oldschool, I wonder if they have a "free to use" apartement already with  "free to use" electricity and most all the stuff you pay for in general instead of having a monthly "sub".
  • WhiteLanternWhiteLantern Member RarePosts: 3,306

    Whale is a term that has been used in the Casino/Gambling world forever. For those offended, get over yourselves.

     

    /boggled

    I want a mmorpg where people have gone through misery, have gone through school stuff and actually have had sex even. -sagil

  • Beatnik59Beatnik59 Member UncommonPosts: 2,413
    Originally posted by Boneserino

    "Games arent run on thin air, as some people seem to think, people have to be paid, resources such as power, bandwidth, etc etc. all have to be paid for, personally i'd rather pay through a sub fee that gives me 100 percent access to game content, than pay through the nose for 'extras' in the cash shops of various F2P games. image"

    I respect your right to choose sub based games.  I think you are going to find it increasingly hard though.

    However, when you make statements like the one above which is completely biased and untrue, when you refer to "paying thru the nose" it just shows your ignorance.  Paying thru the nose is a choice.  A sub is not. 

    Also F2P games make money, otherwise they would not be operating.  Another false statement on your part.  But hey, you are just another of the Pay 2 Win crowd spouting the same tired story.

     

    There are also F2P games that can't make money, or--if they can--cannot feed enough wallets and bodies to make their owners happy.  Which is why we've had a dozen or so close in the last few months.

    Someone above said something along the lines of "I don't mind the guy who pays $50 to the cash store, because they keep the game afloat."  In some cases, that might be true.  But then there are other cases where the guy who pays $50 to the cash store cannot keep the game afloat, and what then?  The game gets yanked out from under everyone and the $50 counts for nothing.

    Don't get me wrong.  The same thing happens in subscription games too.  It's just something inherent in the genre that we can't avoid.  Personally, I'd be more comfortable in a game where the costs are more evenly distributed among the players than borne entirely on a few "whales" (which is, in case you haven't noticed, a term that started in the casino industry).  When the game depends on a few whales to keep it afloat, when the whales get used up, the game folds.

    And the reverse is also true.  You might have people who spend hundreds--if not thousands--of dollars buying item store currency.  But the hundreds and thousands they spend aren't enough to cover the costs, their game gets yanked away from them, and the person has nothing to show for it.

    At least the casinos treat their whales well.  The only thing that awaits an MMO whale is the harpoon of regret when the game gets pulled out from under him.

    __________________________
    "Its sad when people use religion to feel superior, its even worse to see people using a video game to do it."
    --Arcken

    "...when it comes to pimping EVE I have little restraints."
    --Hellmar, CEO of CCP.

    "It's like they took a gun, put it to their nugget sack and pulled the trigger over and over again, each time telling us how great it was that they were shooting themselves in the balls."
    --Exar_Kun on SWG's NGE

  • nariusseldonnariusseldon Member EpicPosts: 27,775
    Originally posted by Aelious

    Per your own words more people play free than sub (or purchase in CS) so when new games release F2P titles are at bigger risk for revenue loss because the free players are irrelevent and spenders a lot more impactful if lost.

     

    The biggest risk to current F2P games come with EQN.  It's a big IP and if it's a quality game not only will subs move but also free players.

    So? Any business has risks. It is not like there is none in a sub game. And the good news is that it is easier for F2P games to attract new players because of its low bar to entry.

    And secondly, i am a player, why should i care? In fact, i am the one who is moving (or at least try out) the new games.

    BTW, the "moving" concept does not really apply to F2P games. You need "move" .. you just decide to play other games now. You can always go back. In a sub game, you "move" because if you are not subbing, you are not there in the game.

    There is no such thing in a F2P game. I can pop into STO anytime i want to .. to play a 20 min mission, and may be i won't for the next 3 weeks.

  • VengeSunsoarVengeSunsoar Member EpicPosts: 6,601
    Originally posted by Beatnik59
    Originally posted by Boneserino

    "Games arent run on thin air, as some people seem to think, people have to be paid, resources such as power, bandwidth, etc etc. all have to be paid for, personally i'd rather pay through a sub fee that gives me 100 percent access to game content, than pay through the nose for 'extras' in the cash shops of various F2P games. image"

    I respect your right to choose sub based games.  I think you are going to find it increasingly hard though.

    However, when you make statements like the one above which is completely biased and untrue, when you refer to "paying thru the nose" it just shows your ignorance.  Paying thru the nose is a choice.  A sub is not. 

    Also F2P games make money, otherwise they would not be operating.  Another false statement on your part.  But hey, you are just another of the Pay 2 Win crowd spouting the same tired story.

     

    There are also F2P games that can't make money, or--if they can--cannot feed enough wallets and bodies to make their owners happy.  Which is why we've had a dozen or so close in the last few months.

    Someone above said something along the lines of "I don't mind the guy who pays $50 to the cash store, because they keep the game afloat."  In some cases, that might be true.  But then there are other cases where the guy who pays $50 to the cash store cannot keep the game afloat, and what then?  The game gets yanked out from under everyone and the $50 counts for nothing.

    Don't get me wrong.  The same thing happens in subscription games too.  It's just something inherent in the genre that we can't avoid.  Personally, I'd be more comfortable in a game where the costs are more evenly distributed among the players than borne entirely on a few "whales" (which is, in case you haven't noticed, a term that started in the casino industry).  When the game depends on a few whales to keep it afloat, when the whales get used up, the game folds.

    And the reverse is also true.  You might have people who spend hundreds--if not thousands--of dollars buying item store currency.  But the hundreds and thousands they spend aren't enough to cover the costs, their game gets yanked away from them, and the person has nothing to show for it.

    At least the casinos treat their whales well.  The only thing that awaits an MMO whale is the harpoon of regret when the game gets pulled out from under him.

     Other than CoH, what f2p game has closed in the last few months?

    Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it is bad.
  • dave6660dave6660 Member UncommonPosts: 2,699
    Originally posted by VengeSunsoar
    Originally posted by Beatnik59
    Originally posted by Boneserino

    "Games arent run on thin air, as some people seem to think, people have to be paid, resources such as power, bandwidth, etc etc. all have to be paid for, personally i'd rather pay through a sub fee that gives me 100 percent access to game content, than pay through the nose for 'extras' in the cash shops of various F2P games. image"

    I respect your right to choose sub based games.  I think you are going to find it increasingly hard though.

    However, when you make statements like the one above which is completely biased and untrue, when you refer to "paying thru the nose" it just shows your ignorance.  Paying thru the nose is a choice.  A sub is not. 

    Also F2P games make money, otherwise they would not be operating.  Another false statement on your part.  But hey, you are just another of the Pay 2 Win crowd spouting the same tired story.

     

    There are also F2P games that can't make money, or--if they can--cannot feed enough wallets and bodies to make their owners happy.  Which is why we've had a dozen or so close in the last few months.

    Someone above said something along the lines of "I don't mind the guy who pays $50 to the cash store, because they keep the game afloat."  In some cases, that might be true.  But then there are other cases where the guy who pays $50 to the cash store cannot keep the game afloat, and what then?  The game gets yanked out from under everyone and the $50 counts for nothing.

    Don't get me wrong.  The same thing happens in subscription games too.  It's just something inherent in the genre that we can't avoid.  Personally, I'd be more comfortable in a game where the costs are more evenly distributed among the players than borne entirely on a few "whales" (which is, in case you haven't noticed, a term that started in the casino industry).  When the game depends on a few whales to keep it afloat, when the whales get used up, the game folds.

    And the reverse is also true.  You might have people who spend hundreds--if not thousands--of dollars buying item store currency.  But the hundreds and thousands they spend aren't enough to cover the costs, their game gets yanked away from them, and the person has nothing to show for it.

    At least the casinos treat their whales well.  The only thing that awaits an MMO whale is the harpoon of regret when the game gets pulled out from under him.

     Other than CoH, what f2p game has closed in the last few months?

    Zynga is shutting down 11 games.  Does that count?

    “There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody's expense but his own.”
    -- Herman Melville

  • VengeSunsoarVengeSunsoar Member EpicPosts: 6,601
    Originally posted by dave6660
    Originally posted by VengeSunsoar
    Originally posted by Beatnik59
    Originally posted by Boneserino

    "Games arent run on thin air, as some people seem to think, people have to be paid, resources such as power, bandwidth, etc etc. all have to be paid for, personally i'd rather pay through a sub fee that gives me 100 percent access to game content, than pay through the nose for 'extras' in the cash shops of various F2P games. image"

    I respect your right to choose sub based games.  I think you are going to find it increasingly hard though.

    However, when you make statements like the one above which is completely biased and untrue, when you refer to "paying thru the nose" it just shows your ignorance.  Paying thru the nose is a choice.  A sub is not. 

    Also F2P games make money, otherwise they would not be operating.  Another false statement on your part.  But hey, you are just another of the Pay 2 Win crowd spouting the same tired story.

     

    There are also F2P games that can't make money, or--if they can--cannot feed enough wallets and bodies to make their owners happy.  Which is why we've had a dozen or so close in the last few months.

    Someone above said something along the lines of "I don't mind the guy who pays $50 to the cash store, because they keep the game afloat."  In some cases, that might be true.  But then there are other cases where the guy who pays $50 to the cash store cannot keep the game afloat, and what then?  The game gets yanked out from under everyone and the $50 counts for nothing.

    Don't get me wrong.  The same thing happens in subscription games too.  It's just something inherent in the genre that we can't avoid.  Personally, I'd be more comfortable in a game where the costs are more evenly distributed among the players than borne entirely on a few "whales" (which is, in case you haven't noticed, a term that started in the casino industry).  When the game depends on a few whales to keep it afloat, when the whales get used up, the game folds.

    And the reverse is also true.  You might have people who spend hundreds--if not thousands--of dollars buying item store currency.  But the hundreds and thousands they spend aren't enough to cover the costs, their game gets yanked away from them, and the person has nothing to show for it.

    At least the casinos treat their whales well.  The only thing that awaits an MMO whale is the harpoon of regret when the game gets pulled out from under him.

     Other than CoH, what f2p game has closed in the last few months?

    Zynga is shutting down 11 games.  Does that count?

     Possibly.  I consider those more social/facebook type games rather than a f2p mmo (or at least the more traditionnally described MMO - not going to get into the whole are facebook games mmo's, not the place in this thread).  However I haven't played them so can't say for sure. 

    If they are the social/facebook type game, well I see them come and go all the time. 

    Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it is bad.
  • spizzspizz Member UncommonPosts: 1,971

    Are there any infos about if the development time of f2p games are shorter than conventional mmos ? 

  • KobaoKobao Member UncommonPosts: 27

    I feel the price point actually should stay bit higher now that F2P is getting more popular.  Monthly fee becomes more associated with niche and "hardcore" games, and they need more money (and stable money) from each player to stay in business. F2P is for the mass market, a lot of Asia as well. The games are crafted more like Facebook games, something that focuses on reward elements and is as accessible as possible. Monthly fee games can focus on immersive, social experiences with deeper gameplay etc, stuff that is stimulating for the "real" nerds. I think this is what is happening now, and why there's isn't too many satisfying games for some people on the market. We didn't have target market outside of the nerds before (other than maybe RP preferring nerds, PvP preferring nerds etc), less demanding players is a newer thing.

     

    5$ falls too much in between, may work for some. Isn't Runescape membership like that much? They have decent F2P experience first to suck people in though. I'm not upto date with that info. For most devs... think about it. Do you want to ask 5$ or 15$ month? That's a huge difference in potential income, but not necessarily much of a difference in the eyes of the target market. It's very little money taking into account how much time some people spend on these games, for some they are a substitute for the reality they are not content with. Perhaps the magic number will be 10$, but just not 5$. Then again, who wants to ask 10 instead of 15? Might as well ask 15. 15 is the comfortable standard of the current indurstry. if you go cheaper, you pretty much have to go all the way to F2P and think the monetizaiton from whole different angle.

  • nariusseldonnariusseldon Member EpicPosts: 27,775
    Originally posted by VengeSunsoar
     

     Possibly.  I consider those more social/facebook type games rather than a f2p mmo (or at least the more traditionnally described MMO - not going to get into the whole are facebook games mmo's, not the place in this thread).  However I haven't played them so can't say for sure. 

    If they are the social/facebook type game, well I see them come and go all the time. 

    There is no reason why F2P MMOs cannot come and go all the time. The revenue share of F2P is increasing in the MMO space, so even if some closes, i highly doubt we are going to run out of F2P games to play anytime soon.

    If LOTRO, DDO, STO, DCUO, POTBS ... are all still running and new ones are released all the time, what is the worry?

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