Your argument can be used to call FFXIV F2P, remember we have a free trial that goes up to level 35.
Printable View
And did you at all bother to read the links I provided? I'm assuming not. Because if you did.. you would have read that CCP (the company that creates EVE Online) is planning for it to go F2P in November. Next month.
One of the links.. is actually EVE Online's community site.
Unless I'm spouting old news that has since changed.. I have no issue with admitting I'm wrong, but I'm not doing so with people that aren't going to acknowledge the info I've provided.
what I mean by locked out is this:
I buy ARR for 60 bucks.
I can't play ARR unless I pay an additional 15 bucks every month. despite the fact that I purchased the game, for full price.
Bottom line, imo - if I buy your game, the act of me paying you money to buy your game, should give me access to the game, with no other strings attached.
If you want me to pay you MORE money, then you should to give me something worth purchasing.
It should be "Thanks for spending 60 bucks on our game! If you pay us an additional 15 bucks a month, you'll get these additional benefits."
not "if you don't pay us 15 bucks a month, then we'll take away your access to the game and the 60 dollars you spent for it is now wasted."
I kinda don't understand how that doesn't make sense. and I will always beat that drum. I only like subscriptions if it is a CHOICE, and not a RANSOM.
Unless I'm mistaken, the box says additional subscription required. It's not like you don't know what you're getting into when you buy the game. So if you spend 60 bucks on a game, knowing it requires further subscription, and then get upset that you have to pay a subscription, that's kinda on you.
of course.
that doesn't mean I am obligated to like it, cheerlead it, or defend it.
personally I am happy that this business model is fading. It's an outdated business model from a time where there was little choice in the Genre.
My hope is that B2P, not F2P, replaces it.
$60 box cost(there is your barrier to entry) + Optional Subscription(with associated goodies) is pretty much perfect. in my opinion.
Then...don't...buy it? You're not obligated to like it sure, nor are you obligated to buy it. That's your choice as a consumer. But to buy it and then grumble about it tends to remove any degree of sympathy. No one forced your hand.
EDIT: To list an example - I don't care much for Overwatch's prices, so I didn't buy the game. But I don't go grousing about it even though I'd like to play. Blizzard made their decision, I made mine. That's just all there is to it. *shrug*
But....all those extra $$ from retainers in the cash shop are surely among the extra $$$$$$ spent on 4.0 including server upgrades that will facilitate a very large increase in inventory (apparently). ;)
Doesn't that suggest that the cash shop is not so bad if it results in them being able to expand servers and put more development into the game? I can remember being told by all and sundry that they would never upgrade the servers for 4.0 and the idea that it would help inventory was pie in the sky anyway, because they would not invest in it. It would seem that the profits from the FFXIV property are good enough to roll back considerable $$ into server infrastructure as well as development.
Well, what can I say. I love MMOs and this is the arguably the best one out there right now. so I pay the ransom.
I'm not asking for sympathy. there is nothing to be sympathetic about. SE is gonna do what SE wants to do. and at the end of the day, it is just 15 bucks and it's not like i can't afford it.
However, this doesn't mean I'm just gonna shut up and not express my preferences whenever the subject of MMO payment models comes up in discussion. and mine are B2P with Optional Subscription. Also, I'm not in here creating threads about it demanding that they change or don't change the payment model either. just responding to comments.
You have to take into account that this is an online game so if you want the servers running and content coming, they got to make money. If there is no sub, there will be another catch that will force people to play, at least those serious about the game.