Free to Play vs Pay to Play Ideas

[Eldaena]

you forgot the biggest con of FTP and thats no obligation to release content on a constant basis. when you play P2P games you are not just paying for access to the game you are paying for ever expanding content in a timely manner

PS: This subject has been beaten to death.

Well, like I said in my original statement I have not seen much of this being talked about myself. And second, you have a point. They don't have an obligation to if it's free to play. However, they don't have an obligation to now either while it's in this limbo. I just thought possibly adding a cash shop, even in this indefinite period, might be a way to help encourage more development as well as add a bit of spice to gameplay.

[Kam]

However, they don't have an obligation to now either while it's in this limbo.

/picard facepalm.

[Eldaena]

/picard facepalm.

Problem? Is this not true? It's been out nearly a year. If they wanted to they could close up shop now and count their losses.

[Krausus]

Well, like I said in my original statement I have not seen much of this being talked about myself. And second, you have a point. They don't have an obligation to if it's free to play. However, they don't have an obligation to now either while it's in this limbo. I just thought possibly adding a cash shop, even in this indefinite period, might be a way to help encourage more development as well as add a bit of spice to gameplay.

Which is why you are currently not paying a monthly sub. Also SE is a very wealthy company, they dont need to run cash shops in order to afford development. Not sure what spice you are talking about, fluff items? If so you dont need a cash shop to add fluff items to the game.

[Eldaena]

Which is why you are currently not paying a monthly sub. Also SE is a very wealthy company, they dont need to run cash shops in order to afford development. Not sure what spice you are talking about, fluff items? If so you dont need a cash shop to add fluff items to the game.

Wealthy or not, I can say with confidence that a large portion of players and ex-players had issues with the development and what felt like rushed or lazy content of this game. The idea of the cash shop would be something that could be fun to do whilst trying to help promote a better game overall. You're right, that they are wealthy, and it should have produced a stellar game. But right now, it's not. And other than making suggestions here, what more can I really do to help? I can't just donate to them. They won't start charging to play until it's really ready for it. So...why not a cash shop? IF it doesn't unbalance the game, why not?

[Krausus]

Wealthy or not, I can say with confidence that a large portion of players and ex-players had issues with the development and what felt like rushed or lazy content of this game. The idea of the cash shop would be something that could be fun to do whilst trying to help promote a better game overall. You're right, that they are wealthy, and it should have produced a stellar game. But right now, it's not. And other than making suggestions here, what more can I really do to help? I can't just donate to them. They won't start charging to play until it's really ready for it. So...why not a cash shop? IF it doesn't unbalance the game, why not?

well a few reasons,

1. FTP have a certain reputation that could turn a lot of the pro P2P players away and could also bring in a lot of the rabble that flood FTP games. (dont try and deny it FTP MMOS are flooded with idiots, though there are exceptions such as some FTP that started out P2P).

2. Thining out the development team. Currently the team is more then likely way to busy to be adding in a cash shop, cash shop UI, cash shop Items, creating visuals for said items, balancing said items.

3. Tacky, FFXIV is quite a serious game it is heavily lore influenced and styles are set up a certain way, I certainly dont want to see a bunch of people running around with wings that do nothing or modern clothing.

4. Its a business model. Im not a business professional but Im willing to be that switching up business models is no small task.

[Eldaena]

well a few reasons,

1. FTP have a certain reputation that could turn a lot of the pro P2P players away and could also bring in a lot of the rabble that flood FTP games. (dont try and deny it FTP MMOS are flooded with idiots, though there are exceptions such as some FTP that started out P2P).

2. Thining out the development team. Currently the team is more then likely way to busy to be adding in a cash shop, cash shop UI, cash shop Items, creating visuals for said items, balancing said items.

3. Tacky, FFXIV is quite a serious game it is heavily lore influenced and styles are set up a certain way, I certainly dont want to see a bunch of people running around with wings that do nothing or modern clothing.

4. Its a business model. Im not a business professional but Im willing to be that switching up business models is no small task.

All your points are right on the mark, I wouldn't want any of those things either. But that's why SE could do it differently and not the way people have come to think it works. They don't have to call it "F2P" or "Cash Shop." It could just all have it's own flavor and so and so forth. I don't want ridiculous wings or glowing weapons either. But, I wouldn't mind more stylized gear, hair, etc that fit in Final Fantasy.

Right now, the game has a bad reputation. And even if it becomes wonderful, it's hard to see people flocking back to it after being heartbroken, so I agree whatever they decide to do payment wise will most likely lose some of their current base. There are pros and cons to both sides of this coin and that's why I opened this thread to talk about it.

[Kam]

But, I wouldn't mind more stylized gear, hair, etc that fit in Final Fantasy.

There have been many threads about the lack of character options. Why does a cash shop need to be involved...

[Krausus]

All your points are right on the mark, I wouldn't want any of those things either. But that's why SE could do it differently and not the way people have come to think it works. They don't have to call it "F2P" or "Cash Shop." It could just all have it's own flavor and so and so forth. I don't want ridiculous wings or glowing weapons either. But, I wouldn't mind more stylized gear, hair, etc that fit in Final Fantasy.

and all this could be added to the game without switching to a free to play business model, I dont think you are really PRO FTP business model, you said it yourself your experience is limited, I think you are just anti monthly subscription. Which is fine but take it from the folks with more experience, FTP MMOs are subpar when it comes to quality when comparing to P2P.

[Eldaena]

and all this could be added to the game without switching to a free to play business model, I dont think you are really PRO FTP business model, you said it yourself your experience is limited, I think you are just anti monthly subscription. Which is fine but take it from the folks with more experience, FTP MMOs are subpar when it comes to quality when comparing to P2P.

Well I have been playing a F2P game and it's sort of rivaling the enjoyment I have had on Final Fantasy XIV. Again I'm not pro either sides, but I was trying to place all payment options on equal footing here in this thread. However, there seem to be people having issues with some of the Free to Play games because of how that game did this or that, which isn't to say it would be that way for this one. If we could put aside past experiences with a payment model with the same name, and look at how it could be done here, it may be a viable option But people keep believing that just because of the name several things are attached to it, which isn't so.