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Could a F2P Cash Shop Game survive if....
SlyLoK
Member RarePosts: 2,698
Could one survive just by selling cosmetic items?
Build up the game with the idea of supporting a vast outfit and general fluff system.
There would be no pay to win items but different shirts , shoes , hates , pants , all sorts of outfits..
Cosmetic weapon and armor that would reskin them both.
Even have things like cute little pets and things like levitation and shapeshift potions ( doesnt effect gameplay ).
Basically just a huge fluff system.
Could a F2P survive with this kind of cash shop? Would you play a game like this? Would you buy outfits and such from the shop?
Comments
Depends on the rest of the game
Godspeed my fellow gamer
Maplestory's Cash shop is something like what you described actually. The huge majority of the items there are cosmetic items, though they do sell experience potions as well. Most cash shop games have experience potions anyway, so I'm not to bothered by it. But I would say that out of all the games I've played, Maplestory does seem to be the least cash shop dependant, mainly because they sell more fluff than game breaking items, which is a good thing, in my opinion.
And, Maplestory is still around, and one of the most played games as well, so yes, I would say that a cash shop game selling only cosmetic items would still be very successful.
Main characters:
Jinn Gone Quiet (Guild Wars)
Princess Pudding (Guild Wars)
probably not!
Lets assume the game is of decent quality.. Not a AAA type but not a stinker either.
It would pretty much work like a normal MMO.. You quest , you hunt , you craft and you find gear..ect.
The question would be more if the investors would be willing to risk that.
Monetizing only with fluff would mean it could take quite some time to make the invested money back, especially if we are talking about a good quality MMO, that requires a considerable budget, development time and a decent team.
It's easier and faster for them to monetize on power rather than beauty, check the current flagship F2P MMOs which let you acquire power through the item mall even if it isn't that simple to make the connection and learn how the power can be acquired for money.
Maplestory's point is looking fluffy.
Their cash shop makes sense since what you strive for in the game is that new fancy costume, that cheerful red ribbon.
They sell exactly what people wants in their game, its not different than selling boss drops in a PvE raid intense game, or uberpwnzr weapons in a pvp game to kill people in batches of 10.
If the game is like maplestory people will rather pay for that lil cute fairy dress than grinding 23456 hours ingame for it.
BUT, make horrible dresses, even with slightly better stats, and no one will buy them.
if the game is a pvp focused game, make a weapon look awesomely cool but with normal stats and 99,999999% wont pay a dime for it.
double its stats and make it look and smell like a turd. it will be a best seller.
I don't think so. As someone mentioned in another thread there are 3 important parts to an MMO, combat, crafting, and social mechanics. A system like this would make the combat and crafting inherent in the game, but you'll be taking away immidiate access to the social content.
You'll notice that a huge population of people playing MMOs enjoy the fluff stuff, the RP gear and cosmetic items. These people do so because it's enjoyable, not because they have to. You see screenshots and youtube videos, but I think in large part, these are more tributes to the game in and of themselves.
These mechanics allow people to market the games to their friends and to others (search youtube for this stuff, you'll see some of the most viewed items are machinima or other fan tributes). By making these mechanisms cost the player money, you are effectively charging your fanbase money to advertise for you. Bad business.
Since the obvious goal of this thread is the discussion on how to make F2P a viable option, but not a gamebreaking system, I'll offer my 2 cents to the discussion.
I personally believe that a lot of the cash shops are doing it wrong, by offering limited use items and essential game items for real money. When I play MMOs, I like to take ownership of what I have and to feel that I own what my character does deservingly. I believe that cash shop items should consist of items like heirloom gear (in WoW) that are bind on account leveling gear. Not gear that only lasts 30 days and then disappears. Also content should be the real seller in the item shop. Pay $4 to open a new zone in which to level, sure. Or a new area to quest, perhaps new dungeons or a new "hero" class. But things I pay for in a cash shop should not be items for my character, they should be content for my account. Like guildwars, but in peicemeal.
MMOs played: Horizons, Auto Assault, Ryzom, EVE, WAR, WoW, EQ2, LotRO, GW, DAoC, Aion, Requiem, Atlantica, DDO, Allods, Earth Eternal, Fallen Earth, Rift
Willing to try anything new
They sell exactly what people wants in their game, its not different than selling boss drops in a PvE raid intense game, or uberpwnzr weapons in a pvp game to kill people in batches of 10.
Actually, I think there is a difference. Yes, they are selling exactly what people want in their game, but there is a huge difference between selling appearance (and only appearance) enhancement features, and gameplay enhancement, such as extremely powerful armour and weapons and so on. A cash shop that features the latter would certainly be considered a lot more unfair than the former, because without those items, you might not be able to survive at higher levels, compared to someone who has bought all those stuff from a cash shop. At least, with only appearance enhancement features, people would still be on an equal level, it's just that the person who buys from the cash shop just looks better than the other.
Main characters:
Jinn Gone Quiet (Guild Wars)
Princess Pudding (Guild Wars)
Totally agree, never underestimate a players desire to look better than the others, or as good even, a good example of this is SWG, way before stat'd clothing was introduced, tailors were in high demand to make things, simply because people wanted their toons to look great, the best games incorporate, or perhaps i should say, allow, a fair degree of socialisation, in that context i can see an item mall with 'fluff' items being relatively successful, though the game would have to be good too.. a reason for socialising should not be underestimated, SWG's fatigue points and wound system - that could only be healed by spending time in a cantina watching/listening to entertainers and wounds only healed in medical centers by actual doctors.. was imo, revolutionary, and fun...
Yes, why not?
It really depends on the game and what you do though.
I also wonder why not more games have staggered pricing.
Free for basic gameplay.
$6 a month for some extra features like more storage, maybe owning a small house with decos, more storage space.
$15 For the premium package with more fluff deco some reskinned but same stats controllables like are in the game, huge house or other fluff.
My example was what was suggested for UO once.
Of course it would work, anything is possible if it is designed right.
No...You would need stuff like Xp and reduced death penalty items, Respec items, Mounts and Inventory, bank upgrades for a game like that to survive, toss in access to global chat and you have a profitable game.
If they really want to make money they offer new races and certain dungeons,quest areas on the shop.
All of these options i have no issue with as long as they keep armor/weapon enhancements off the shop.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
actually that really depends on the game if the vast of the game deals with fashion the game that have this Cash shop for fashion will survive but then some F2P games doesnt only sell fashion thingy they also sell booster of characters and exp, a greedy technique in which youll not gonna notice coz you enjoyed the game ^_^