Free to play plans?

[WolfMoonstrike]

While I have no problem with a freemium based access for new players. You know stuff like basic areas only, access to the first 6 jobs, lvl 30 cap, and possibly a few trade-able items (like a linkshell, honestly this is a must).

I hope that FFXI never goes FTP with a cash shop. Not because I see it as a fail of a game but because I can't stand that sort of business model and avoid the majority of games that use it. And the ones I do play, I play for a month at most before I decide its not worth it.

One of the things that keep me coming back to FFXI (even after vowing not to many times now lol) is that I don't feel like I'm far behind those with RL money to burn and that I have just as much of a chance to earn what other players have, if I put the time and effort in. Of course a few exceptions to this like the tidal talisman.

[Arcon]

With free to play the population will be boosted again and they can make money from optionals.

Fuck no. Horrible idea, for any game, ever. Whoever thought of these things first deserves to be hung.

That aside, the price they asking is a lot. It's still one of the most expensive pay-to-play games I know, despite being as terrible as it is. They should reduce the fee substantially imo, I know that would bring back some people who don't consider the current fee acceptable, without having to result to such awful ideas like cashing in on optionals.

[Umichi]

Fuck no. Horrible idea, for any game, ever. Whoever thought of these things first deserves to be hung.

That aside, the price they asking is a lot. It's still one of the most expensive pay-to-play games I know, despite being as terrible as it is. They should reduce the fee substantially imo, I know that would bring back some people who don't consider the current fee acceptable, without having to result to such awful ideas like cashing in on optionals.

most mmo's cost around 15 dollars ffxi still hasn't changed ther subscription fee i think and it's been 12 for a long time...

[Jaall]

FFXI doesn't cost a lot to play at all, and I and a lot of other players play the game at least once a day, 4-7 days a week so that to me would be worth the small amount they ask for. The amount I pay for FFXI is 1/4 of the amount I pay for my mobile phone bill every month, so hardly breaking the bank. Also SE needs, or really wants the money (I doubt they really need any money considering how large the FF franchise is) to maintain the servers so there is a very little chance they'll make the game ftp. The only chance is if maybe they get outside funding for the servers, the servers become free to maintain, and on top of either of them SE loses a significant majority of players and they need to reel them back in. So basically no chance!

[Dragoy]

I as well think FINAL FANTASY XI to be (too) high on the price. It will obviously be even more so when playing with more than one account at the same time. Of course, that is up to the player to choose to do, but the game itself can in my opinion be blamed quite a bit for that just as well (inventory/storage\crafting woes to name a few, not to mention how much it can be of help with the events like Abyssea).

FFXI doesn't cost a lot to play at all, and I and a lot of other players play the game at least once a day, 4-7 days a week so that to me would be worth the small amount they ask for. The amount I pay for FFXI is 1/4 of the amount I pay for my mobile phone bill every month, so hardly breaking the bank

To me, FFXI costs about 16 times as much as my phone bill does (actually 32 times since I have two accounts (both with 4 characters)). ^^;


Would I want it to be free-to-play?

Very likely not, because it would require some silly changes. There are games that have 'premium' areas, abilities, spells, housing and such, but it's possible to play for absolutely free, and do a lot from which one big thing is to keep in touch with friends.

So as many have more or less already said, I'd say the current 14-day trial should be improved upon. Could probably drop the time restriction, and definitely make them able to party together, and talk to people. It's difficult to help, when they can't even ask for it.

As it is now, the trial probably does discourage more people than encourage.

I think enough has been said about that. I don't think there is any reason not to be able to let there be 'free areas'. Don't think there's need to restrict level even (especially if you have already attained it before). Free/Premium choice, I would welcome. Yes.


The very least I think they should do, is reduce the monthly fee. I'd say at least half of the current fee would perhaps be enough, but I guess one can only dream about that. Perhaps they'll make another 'pay for XIV and XI at the same time, and get a wee bit of a discount, yo!'


Blubb.

[Daniel]

good thing the massive servers that run ffxi don't require any power, also good thing that MMOs are pretty much free to maintain and update... oh wait

[Fermion]

good thing the massive servers that run ffxi don't require any power, also good thing that MMOs are pretty much free to maintain and update... oh wait

Not that I agree with the f2p model, but I think the bolded part is what a lot of people take exception to, since we are paying. I know a lot of players that don't feel like they're getting their money's worth.

Personally, I believe that FFXIV is siphoning off a lot of FFXI revenue, which I feel is a sleazy way to treat your customers.

[nyheen]

ok think of it like this. netflix (ffxi fee) vs video stores (ftp).

video stores got no monthly fee. i can walk in and talk to my friends etc but if i wanna do stuff or buy anything (rent movie) it cost like $3+. new events out? $2, stack of sushi 1$ buy merit WS $2 new bst pet $1-2. iam sure mostly or all the stuff will turn into pay and it will cost lot, but hey if i wanna be gimp, talk to friends at the video store but dont buy anything while iam there sure. but if everyone did that there video stores wont make money and will do less and less update or die off.

netflix got a monthly fee like $8 to hang out with people but i get to spam lots and lots of movies all day on the website . sometime i watch up to 50 movies in 3 weeks or less. that would of cost like $150 if they was about $3 each. great updates (exp packs SoA etc) happening.

iam not saying ftp games are bad but most of them seems rushed and cheap since they not making lot of money. i seen over 1000 of ftp and it feel like all of them is the same way to me.
i honestly think if FFxi was a Ftp it would of never came out with all the good exp packs and update since they wont have the money to make it that good. it would be rushed like all the other ftp games.

[sweetidealism]

Free to play doesn't necessarily mean pay to win. In The Secret World, everything in the shop is either purely cosmetic, a temporary bonus to exp or movement speed, or new content unlocks.

I know a LOT of people that invested tons of gil in their mog house; who wore gear not for effect but for its look; and perhaps more than anything else, who groaned about running all over the world to do Rise of the Zilart missions.

I think that, if Square Enix were to offer a free to play option in which all the shop's items were either cosmetic, convenient, or content, but would NOT alter chances for success in battle (and maybe crafting) content, then I think it would be very successful.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

You can already get cosmetic swag and furnishings as bonuses for buying things like soundtrack CD pre-orders.

I would think that they'd find more excuses to sell such things already if it were a viable income option for FFXI.