From Never F2P To...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tyrianna324

love how people spread rumours on these crap websites getting people like the OP and everyone else that reads the threads made by them going and believing the rumours. Yoshi has stated he will never go F2P that he will shut the game down first before he goes F2P so not sure why anyone believes that tabloid bull crap from a 5th rate website.

---

PREACH! :D

--Blind panic! Don't pay me any attention.--

Yeah I will not play a F2P game, even a hybrid model. This really pisses me off that they would even consider this horrible payment model that is a scam after promising us it would be P2P. If they are considering that as the future of the game then it looks like I will not be subbing because I don't want to waste my money on a company that can't keep their word and would so easily consider betraying the people that stuck with them all this time. This is the news I've been dreading since 1.0.

It sucks because I really loved this game and had a 180 recurring sub set up, but all F2P, B2P, and Hybrids are games with no future, which means there really is no reason to stick with FFXIV since it will get little to no content in a year or two.

The casual gamers WoW brought in are killing the industry, and now there are no good P2P MMO's left because they whine about any game that's not F2P and we real MMO gamers have to suffer because there are no more games for us anymore.

If this game went F2P I would probably call it quit on MMO's finally, but I would make a character on the JP servers first, just to watch the BR's flood it and piss them off. huehuehuehue.

You had to be a fool to think they'd just pull the plug on the game if it started to falter as a sub model.
Of course they'd go F2P.

They're a company. F2P models tend to be profitable, sometimes massively, others just for a little while. But they're almost all profitable for a period of time.
Why would they flush the chance to make additional money off their investment by pulling the plug due to a faltering P2P base? That's dumb, when they can just go to a cash shop and milk it awhile longer.

Just so they wouldn't hurt your feelings? They care about return on their investment. They'll make the decision based on that, not your feelings.

Quote:

---

Yeah I will not play a F2P game, even a hybrid model. This really pisses me off that they would even consider this horrible payment model that is a scam after promising us it would be P2P. If they are considering that as the future of the game then it looks like I will not be subbing because I don't want to waste my money on a company that can't keep their word and would so easily consider betraying the people that stuck with them all this time. This is the news I've been dreading since 1.0.

It sucks because I really loved this game and had a 180 recurring sub set up, but all F2P, B2P, and Hybrids are games with no future, which means there really is no reason to stick with FFXIV since it will get little to no content in a year or two.

The casual gamers WoW brought in are killing the industry, and now there are no good P2P MMO's left because they whine about any game that's not F2P and we real MMO gamers have to suffer because there are no more games for us anymore.

---

He's talking about if the subscription base slides enough to where it's no longer viable, not some imminent change just because. Stop being a whiny douche.

LOL if this goes free to play we will never be able to play haha because if the servers can't handle 250,000 ppl what will happen with over a million? XD Servers will literally blow up.

Most MMOs can't be P2P and survive. Players don't want to spend subscriptions anymore. Not because they're 'trolls' or 'riff-raff', but because quite frankly subscription is a dead business model, and so many MMO gamers are adverse to buying a box and then paying money monthly to be able to continue playing a game they already bought. Mostly due to comon sense and partially due to so many failed MMOs in the last 10 years. Now, you can throw out all the counters to that statement that you want, but the proof is in the numbers. Hybrid and B2P or even F2P models pull in more players which potentially mean more money in the long haul. Now I tend to agree with Yoishi that f2p is a much less stable income for an MMO.
It does have to potential to make loads more dollars than a sub based model does in short term, but it's sporatic if you can't shell out content and items players want. And yes short term in this genre matters now. New MMOs are coming out all the time with new features and improvements upon the core game system. EQNext for instance I think is going to blast this genre open and all of these games that rely on decades old syste,s (like this one) are going to have one hell of a hard time keeping up. Certainly subs create a more stable income that is substantial over times, but very few gamers play MMOs for years upon years these days. That of course has something to do with developers being stupid and allowing players to reach end content in less than a month (sadly this game included).

At the end of the day for me (and I don't mind paying a subscription provided the game is worth the subscription. and in fact I generally loathe f2p) is "What does the game offer?"

This game, while beautiful and interesting in some ways doesn't have a whole lot going for it that most other games don't already do or do better. It's only real sell point is the IP (and for some of us that's enough, but for most it isnt) which can be a love or hate thing for many, and the graphical quality.

That's the bitter truth. I like the game. I've learned to overlook my slight dislike for the combat system and how one-dimensional the classes seem to be. I believe the game has a lot of potential and I look forward to see what comes of it. But I'm not the type of delude myself into thinking f2p or needing to go hybrid isn't a possability. It isn't necessarily a sleight to the game, it's just what this genre has become.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Syfin

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/127378-Final-Fantasy-14-Team-Didnt-Expect-So-Many-Players-PAX-2013

If you read this article yoshi says they may go hybrid one day with p2p and f2p servers. The fact that he said he would NEVER go f2p to now saying this is concerning. I dont want to see this game go f2p. The 180° shift in such little time is not a good sign. What do you guys think?

---

The article does not say they may one day do it. They said "IF they had to", they have some idea how they might go about it but there are no plans to do so. I'm pretty sure it's going to stay P2P. One can only hope.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Havenae

Bla Bla, ignorance and idiocy

---

You don't know a thing about what you're talking about. Please keep your ignorance to yourself so it doesn't spread, or go back to Neverwinter. You casuals may be the majority now, but the real MMO gamers still want subs, and there are a lot of us.

Quote:

---

He's talking about if the subscription base slides enough to where it's no longer viable, not some imminent change just because.

---

Last week it was "SE will fall on our swords before going F2P", this week it's "We'll go F2P once the subs get low". What do you think it will be next week? I admit I took the OP's word for it and panicked before reading the article, but Yoshida is flip flopping and it has me worried. I don't see how you can be so dismissive about this if you love this game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Preypacer

Rift comparison

---

You're seriously comparing Rift to FFXIV? One of the most bland, over hyped, mismanaged, and souless MMO's vs FFXIV ARR which is easily the best MMO since V-WoW launched and has a huge amount of potential for the future if it stays P2P.

FFXI has had subs for 11 years now, if SE doesn't betray its players out of greed then we could be playing this P2P for a long time.

I imagine he was likely referring to what has been happening as of late. MMO's like EQ, EQ2, Aion, TERA and a few others start out pay 2 play and become free 2 play later. the hybrid model is likely more like what Sony does with EQ2 and EQ, where after a decade of Subscription they switch models to let others enjoy the game before a new one is released.

I have no way of truly knowing, but I personally believe that this model is not going to hit FFXIV for at least a few years

Here we go again F2P players thinking that the P2P model is dead. Its not get over it. If FFXIV goes F2P myself as well as all my FC will be gone. In place will be players that will play the game until they hit the pay wall that will not spend a dime on a game period. So They would loose $13 a month from 30 people to gain 30 people who will not spend a dime. Its not a hard choice. F2P games suck and are very low quality games. Many of which will be shutting down over the next few years you can count on that.

Now if Yoshi P is talking about a Hybrid model after the game has been out 10 years to allow people to play it before they sunset the game. Yea thats fine. But they go the way of SWTOR, Tera, and many other fail MMOs no we will not be here.

It is a very interesting argument for P2P vs F2P MMOs. I am in the camp that totally disagrees with the whole "F2P makes the MMO bad" argument, but at the same time I can see the points that people are making.

The issue with games such as Tera, Guild Wars 2, The Secret World and Rift (Yes, I have played those 4) is that the games do not have the content to justify a persistent player base. Out of those four, Rift is the only one that had an expansion.

I have only recently converted to being comfortable paying a subscription for an MMO (thanks to this version of FFXIV) as long as we get a steady stream of new content over the lifetime of the MMO.

A free trial, or restricted F2P version of FFXIV would be great to help people over the fence with buying the game as well. And if the game did eventually go F2P and has a shop that isn't P2W, I would be happy to pay money for the use of it.

While I prefer a P2P, going hybrid wouldn't be a bad idea. I would still subscribe as a subscription would open the door to more rewards and bonuses compared to the F2P alternative.

Still, my first choice would always be, P2P simply because of the updates and patches are clearly superior. And before anyone chimes in with GW2, I've played it and I (personally) still prefer P2P.

If the game goes f2p and it ends up effecting development priorities i'll be upset. I just can't see them running both p2p and f2p servers without making compromises somewhere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Syfin

Wrong. He said he would NEVER go f2p. What he stated there was what Rift essentially said. They did not plan on going f2p at the beginning. Then slowly they started talking about it. The game has only been out a week and his stance changed from never to if they had to.

---

Please quote where he said he would never go FTP?

I don't care what form it is, if I have to pay or if it's f2p.. i'll still pay. It just better be good still

Please Yoshi-P don't go f2p ever! I recently played a p2p that went f2p and the game went to crap. I have more pride for the Final Fantasy mmo brand because I pay for it I know I'm going to get a quality product, not something that will result in a cash store and crap items offered just to make a quick buck.
Please stick by your statement you once made that it would never go f2p!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yoruichi4478

Please Yoshi-P don't go f2p ever! I recently played a p2p that went f2p and the game went to crap. I have more pride for the Final Fantasy mmo brand because I pay for it I know I'm going to get a quality product, not something that will result in a cash store and crap items offered just to make a quick buck.
Please stick by your statement you once made that it would never go f2p!

---

Again, when did he ever say that the game will never go FTP, stop making up stuff.

Hey ... so long as its a separate server that in no way possible to interact with p2p (no transfers or anything) AND we get ALL cash shop content made obtainable through gameplay, I wouldnt mind it too much.

Hell, for all I care they could be playing a completely different game in other servers. I wish LOTRO, SWTOR and Rift wouldve done this instead! More money for company and neither p2pr's or f2p have any reason to whine about it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bizniztyme

Again, when did he ever say that the game will never go FTP, stop making up stuff.

---

He said the game will shut down before its ever f2p. Feel free to look it up yourself, all I remember is it was IGN a while back.

Found it:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/...edi-mind-trick

"The folks behind Final Fantasy XIV have pushed so strongly for a subscription model that new lead director Naoki Yoshida insisted that FFXIV would be shut down without them."

Wait what? Business model 101, a game change from P2P to F2P when the number of their subscribers is reduced and going down,
why does having "the number of the people who BOUGHT your game exceeded your expectation" mean the the game is going under?

Yoshi P,

I know you will never read this, but your word is your word.

Please, (If you would be so kind), don't go against your word like ANet did (in regards to progression gear). I don't need to make up numbers to show how many were disappointed with that move they made two months after launch. Personally, I didn't care much for it, since I was waiting for this game.

All I have in this world is my balls and my word and I don't break them for no one

You already know what the right answer is, Yoshi P.

I offer a solution that you can revise and play with of course: Offer a free trial (yes this is nothing new) of perhaps two weeks to a month. During this trial, perhaps restrict (or not) them from such content (this is also nothing new) to show that P2P is an exclusive service, and exclusivity is means I want in. Entice them during this trial so that they know they, at the very end, they will be receiving a solid product worth every penny of the 12.99 should they elect to subscribe.

Or, unless if it's all about the benjis for you, and you're trying to appeal to the F2P market with a cash shop, then well... the only thing I could hope from this is that the quality of F2P games from competitive devs would now have to appease and even improve the bar that will be raised if you so choose to make this game F2P.

I would rather you not, tho, just imo. There's a saying here in NA I'm not sure is as prevalent in Japan, and it goes, you can't please everyone.

Honestly, all the numbers say is that Square is going to rake in with their fee models. Mind you, there's two tiers of payment plan, Entry and Standard. Most (if not all) can get by with Entry ($9.99) with Standard being for those that... chase servers ($14.99)? Then there's the schedules. You can go for the standard schedule (30 days) or go for extended schedules and save even more money per month. To say that this game is expensive to play is a pretty shallow argument considering how expensive it isn't. And with this many people clawing to get in I'd be surprised if they lose any kind of significant population once the free trials end. As for the Old Republic analogy, they went free to play not in response to the wild success of initial sales but due to the wild drop off of subscribers once the novelty wore thin. Same with Star Trek.

I can say that I really like that FFXIV as a subscription game. Being in a few F2P games, and one that converted, I can tell you that I feel much more comfortable about patches with a successful subscription method rather than a successful F2P method. Again, like others I will reference SWTOR. Since RotHC, there has not been any mention of another expansion. Not even a hint of a continuation of the main storyline. That bugs me.

Two other points:
1. Yoshi-P said if they had to move to a F2P model, they would do it a certain way. But I think we are far from that happening. Money is what is important ultimately.
2. If I were to make a MMO it would probably be a hybrid model as I think this would give you the best of both worlds.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kayo

Found it:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/...edi-mind-trick

"The folks behind Final Fantasy XIV have pushed so strongly for a subscription model that new lead director Naoki Yoshida insisted that FFXIV would be shut down without them."

---

LOL, some interviewer making an exaggerated statement and taking what he says out of context just like everyone else here have been doing, the man literally never said such a thing, not in any video interviews nor can you find any quote from him saying such a thing.

F2P sucks, I will never play one again TBH

The entire focus shifts from content, bug fixes and server/network upgrades -> fashion and new ways to force people into 'needing' CS items to advance/pvp/content

Its just greed and no respect for the industry or its people that has fueled F2P bonanza. Honestly makes me ill just thinking about it

What a surprise

Maybe we'll get content updates every 2 weeks instead of 3-4 months if it goes free to play, like guild wars 2 and Phantasy star online 2 do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bizniztyme

LOL, some interviewer making an exaggerated statement and taking what he says out of context just like everyone else here have been doing, the man literally never said such a thing, not in any video interviews nor can you find any quote from him saying such a thing.

---

Ah ok, so we should take your word over someone thats been doing this for years then, hmm? Something Yoshi has been asked about non-stop since taking charge of the game? One of the big selling points of the game was all just an fabrication by pretty much everyone in here. Gotcha!

Regardless making this game f2p now would result in the same rage if he promised to never do it or not.

I think there is nothing wrong with F2P so long as it is done correctly and managed properly. A good example of this is Tera Online. Keep it to vanity items and minor in-game items that can normally be purchased with a little work in game and there isn't an issue. Another good example of a F2P game that does it right is Star Trek Online. Yes you can purchase a ship with real money but it isn't the best ship in the game. You still have to work for the best. And anything purchased with real money can be purchased using in game money with a little work.

People with this closed mindset of "F2P is bad and ruins all games!" need to wake up and realize that this is the way it's headed. There really is no stopping it. The only thing you can do is help game devs make the right choices in how F2P is implemented.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zaiken

I hope they never go F2P. Not only it bring childish behavior and communities in, it is always bad press for the game. I can see it now. FFXIV - Realm Reborn 2nd Launch after a failed start now gone F2P. I hope it never go F2P, we don't need F2P, the game is totally pack and doing very well.

---

All MMOs do well at the start - ARR especially because it's designed like most MMOs are in the past half decade. If you download any F2P MMO right this moment, even on Steam, you'll see ARR is very, very similar to many of them, which coincidentally are also relaunches due to failures.

STO is evil and run by 'lock boxes'

Anything Cryptic will be that way. NWO is same crap model.

Yes there are a few rare exceptions (GW2, PSO2) ~ I have no exp with Tera, but I heard their model is similar to GW2

The games that stay 'honest' like that have almost no reason to spend money, or a very small amount, and I do not understand how that business model even works

F2P very rarely is a quality experience, or really have a massive following. GW2 I think is pretty big, but in general it's like when people say: "SWTOR is F2P it's awesome!!"

But typically no one plays it anymore. F2P is a slipperly slope to P2W usually. And i don't see why you would move this game to another model with the server slamming we've had, it's clear people are interested in this game knowing the subscription model is in place. And the more money a company will make on a game, they more quality they'll be placing back into the game. And if not, they'll fail F2P or not really.

This might be already said, just wasn't gonna read 8 pages first to chime in. lol

If this went F2P, they should have just updated the game engine/graphics for FFXI. I woulda gone back to that.

This game isn't really any better than a F2P game. It is nothing special beyond the music and graphics. Everything else is pretty standard.

I think the whole F2P and P2P servers would be the only way I'd be fine with it. Keep the P2P servers exactly as they are, and any F2P players can play on their own servers. (Yes I'd be fine with the duty finder combining players from both :p) Let them nickel and dime character slots, the ability to hide your helmet/weapon slots, job mounts, gear set slots, space in that inn-room closet thing, second retainer, all the veteran rewards, etc, just as long as it's only on the F2P servers.

ALL F2P games ends up with horrible service and non-existent updates. The company starts to focus on the cash shop only and nothing else.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kayo

Ah ok, so we should take your word over someone thats been doing this for years then, hmm? Something Yoshi has been asked about non-stop since taking charge of the game? One of the big selling points of the game was all just an fabrication by pretty much everyone in here. Gotcha!

Regardless making this game f2p now would result in the same rage if he promised to never do it or not.

---

Don't get me wrong, I dispise FTP and I hope it will never happen but the man never said he would basically shut down the servers if the game has to go FTP, that's a bold statement. Can't believe people are that naive to think that he would say somethign like that. And looking at the ariticle, the guy didnt even interview Yoshi, he bascially based his article off of another interview and that interview said nothing of the sort.

u know tera started out p2p witch means that once they got enought money they decided to move to other model. jsut goes to show u they want that huge influx first then they may do something, but either way they need to fix the current problems and keep p2p, even becuase if they go f2p its a huge smack into everyones face yet again. and it will only add to the current problems

Everquest next here we come! :D

translation is all wrong

he is stating that eventually as very late around 10 years from now on he might consider going f2p. like final fantay 11.

he did not state that it will go f2p early.

so calm down guys!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Joekwon

translation is all wrong

he is stating that eventually as very late around 10 years from now on he might consider going f2p. like final fantay 11.

he did not state that it will go f2p early.

so calm down guys!

---

XI has never went to F2P and it's going towards 12 years in service.

I prefer P2P to be honest. Maintains the server from the players we don't like to have around as well as brings more content in the future.

Anyone complaining that $15/month is a lot to play this game should really question why they're into this hobby in general and obviously reflect on their financial situation better lol.