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In a way yes, in the past freemium was package as a 'demo version'. But now, look at how Turbine run their freemium games like DDO and LotRO, they're still pretty well-liked enough to have a good population.
So, FREEMIUM FREEMIUM FREEMIUM ! Or at least, reduce the monthly costs of them freaking p2p games would be more than welcome than going full f2p.(Usually the update starts sucking when a p2p goes f2p)
Freemium is worse than F2P with Cash shop. Freemium is limited game. That is just stupid. I mean if they think they are doing a clever job - they are wrong. They are limiting and hiding off the real content of the game ( classes, races, areas, quests etc.)
I think GW2, if it becomes B2P, will set a new standard. People from WoW, L2, Warhammer Online and all the other games will be drawn back to GW universe and Blizzard and other companies will have to keep up. Another thing is that Blizzard is releasing Diablo 3 soon... which will probably be a self-goal to their WoW-subscriptions. Which is also why they have delayed it a few times and probably still will delay it a few times. I believe we will see yet another WoW expansion before we see D3.
B2P games will set the standards once GW2 is released. The release of D3 will improve this new course.
PS: In the upcoming year, only a game like TERA will draw the attention of P2P players. I can already say a game like RIFT will fail. I am actually amazed at how hyped this game is. What differs RIFT from say... Warhammer Online and WoW?
the future will be P2P + Cash Shop, because morons have proved they are willing to pay more for vanity shit on top of a monthly sub.
B2P + cash shop might look like an option too, with games like GW or GA, and GW2 coming soon. anyway bad games will crash and burn with this model faster than the others.
pure F2P games will keep being asian shits void of any quality, originality and support. shitty games done in like a couple months by copy-pasting, then wrapped up in a paytowin cash shop that redefines the concepts of greed.
they will always have minimal populations across 1 maybe 2 servers and then die within a year if that
so no changes there...
Freemium isn't worse or better then F2P it's a simple marketing strategy. Think of it as a lifetime trial made gain potential subbers. Play the game and see how great it is but if you really want to experience it you sub.Quote:
Originally Posted by Drinko
yeah everybody thinks they should get stuff handed to them if you really like the game why cant u support the devs ..... i like the option to have Freemium lotro/ddo are games that are worth it to sub to just not many people did..:hmm:
The future of MMO's won't be in P2P, the margins have become too small for any start up IP.
We are going to start seeing fewer B2P+P2P titles, personally I think The Old Republic will be the last new game to use this system though Blizzard will continue to sale it's expansions as long as the subscriber base is up.
B2P with a cash shop is what I expect to be the norm in the future. One of the highest hurdles MMO's has always faced is the "I have to continue to pay for a game after I already bought it?" syndrome.
The flood of F2P games can provide a positive for MMO's as a whole but sadly most don't. How often to you hear a game described as a WoW clone? It's sad that these F2P MMO-makers straight copy the game play elements of the popular MMO's with the only major difference being cosmetic (usually for the worse). If they took of the risk of innovating something new they may be able to make a mark but the point of these F2P game makers is to make a quick buck off popular game play mechanics
Cash Shop = FAIL in my book for any serious MMO. I play f2p as a pass time, but when I want a real MMO p2p is the way to go.
p2p, b2p for quality games.
fremium, cash shop, (being able to pay to be better in real games like gw, ff, wow, aion etc ) can go to f'in hell.
I like my P2P tyvm.
The answer is simple: No.
There margin for profit for f2p/cash shop games is too 'small' compared to what p2p games make. Which makes sense. And because there should be no doubt in anyones mind that if WoW/Aion or FFXI went f2p that every nearly every other f2p game would crumble.
Eh, I prefer the business model for say Global Agenda, the Cash shop is mostly cosmetic and sells boosters (which aren't even gamebreaking actually.). Ironically enough most of the cash shop items can be sold for a pretty penny in the Auction House.
Personally. I hope not. I like p2p for the most part due to the fact. I buy a game. I pay monthly. And dont have to pay anything else for it. I understand if a game goes f2p cause its struggling though. But I dont see that happening for big mmos like old republic and world of warcraft.