Free to Play vs Pay to Play Ideas

[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.

[Krausus]

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.

Well first off using FFXIV to compare against some FTP models at this point in development isn't a fair assessment. This game is basically in a beta.

I have played a lot of FTP MMOS as well as P2P MMOs not just a few I think I have a pretty good handle on FTP games, which btw do not limit content (thats what hybrid models do) FTP limits resources (potions, crafting items, exp boosts) FTP also does not add a lot of content to their games (where as Hybrids tend to for the premium players).

Vindictus is not a true MMO its more like an action Guildwars or a lobby game, no one would pay a monthly fee for that type of game.

[Eldaena]

Well first off using FFXIV to compare against some FTP models at this point in development isn't a fair assessment. This game is basically in a beta.

I have played a lot of FTP MMOS as well as P2P MMOs not just a few I think I have a pretty good handle on FTP games, which btw do not limit content (thats what hybrid models do) FTP limits resources (potions, crafting items, exp boosts) FTP also does not add a lot of content to their games (where as Hybrids tend to for the premium players).

Vindictus is not a true MMO its more like an action Guildwars or a lobby game, no one would pay a monthly fee for that type of game.

Both games have been on the market since roughly the same time. An MMO is an MMO, and that is true. Simply because you would not, or you think others would not, pay for that type of game does not mean they wouldn't. And it seems depending on the payment type certain things may go hand in hand with either side.

A Pay to play game should have more content than a free to play one, stereotypically speaking, shouldn't it? But I feel that Vindictus, for example again, has more story and indepth characters currently than Final Fantasy XIV. That's not me saying all free to play games have this, and that's not me saying final fantasy won't or can't have more content than a free to play game in the 'future'.

The truth of the matter is, FFXIV is not in beta anymore, and there are more rivals on the horizon for it's player base's attention. "The game is still in beta," is just a nice way of saying the game is not up to par in comparison to the fee they wanted to charge on a monthly basis. I was just considering the outcome of either style of payment. With the casual focused content, and so on, it seemed to me that a free to play sort of option could be viable if done correctly. But, I, of course have pros and cons with both types of payment. That's why I opened this thread to hear ideas on both sides the subject.

[Naylia]

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.

While PC gamers might like to think otherwise, they are not the core demographic for FF games. It's the console market and the 51.3 Million PS3s that are out there and only a single MMO on the platform (DCU). So my guess, is that right now the goal is to prep for a successful PS3 launch. A good community on the PS3 will encourage more PC gamers to give it another try, and then you get a "relaunch" on the PC with the first expansion pack.

[Eldaena]

While PC gamers might like to think otherwise, they are not the core demographic for FF games. It's the console market and the 51.3 Million PS3s that are out there and only a single MMO on the platform (DCU). So my guess, is that right now the goal is to prep for a successful PS3 launch. A good community on the PS3 will encourage more PC gamers to give it another try, and then you get a "relaunch" on the PC with the first expansion pack.

Are there many console games that are pay to play? Just curious because I have never played them before. I believe FFXI was, but what others?

[Felis]

Are there many console games that are pay to play? Just curious because I have never played them before. I believe FFXI was, but what others?

DC Universe for PS3. There aren't many mmorpg for console