Cash Shop a sign of free to play?

[Fyrebrand]

I don't know at what point a F2P model becomes more profitable than a subscription model, but from what I hear FFXIV currently has over 2 million subs. So, it probably won't happen for a while yet, and won't until those sub numbers go down significantly.

The cash shop is certainly a step toward exploring that territory, or at least putting in a "safety net" ahead of time for if/when they decide to go F2P. All the people who support the cash shop actually seem rather ironic. I don't think they realize that if the cash shop does well, it will send a message to SE that a F2P cash shop model might be feasible.

[Starlord]

ARR is a WoW clone yes, logic would dictate it would follow on the steps of the many MMOs of its same type, and it's already showing the same signs those other MMOs showed before going F2P.

About the stuff Yoshi P has said, well he's said many things that didn't turn out to be exactly like he said they would be, like CT being on release, housing prices, Golden Saucer being projected for 2.2-2.3, the FC summoning system, etc. so the credibility isn't quite there anymore.

FFXIV ARR is not a WoW clone, only the UI/mounts are everything else is not WOW based. a clone to me is a "exact" replica of something. FFXIV is not that.

[DefendPopPunk]

I don't think so. I hope not. Aside from GW2, there hasn't been a f2p/b2p game I've really had a lot of great experiences in. I don't want FFXIV to end up that way, as well.

[Reyals]

WoW has cash shop and it's not free to play.

[Feyniphia]

Months ago they said: FFXIV ARR won't have a cash shop anytime soon. Keep dreaming.

And now here we are!

if it goes F2P, too bad I'll be out. =x

[Alukah]

FFXIV ARR is not a WoW clone, only the UI/mounts are everything else is not WOW based. a clone to me is a "exact" replica of something. FFXIV is not that.

"WoW clone" is a made-up phrase, it doesn't have to follow the definition of "clone" alone, games that used WoW as a blueprint are called WoW clones. To understand this better, look at it as a hyperbole.

Indeed. The correct term would be "modern MMO inspired".

For this game I'd agree, this game wasn't just inspired by WoW, Yoshida mentioned a list of games in an old interview.

[Baneus]

"WoW clone" is a made-up phrase, it doesn't have to follow the definition of "clone" alone, games that used WoW as a blueprint are called WoW clones. To understand this better, look at it as a hyperbole.

Indeed. The correct term would be "modern MMO inspired".

[Starlord]

Indeed. The correct term would be "modern MMO inspired".

This I will agree with. Because it isn't just taking "ideas" from WoW, it's taking ideas of other MMO's, So that doesn't make this game " Any clones".

[DarkStaoneDragon]

All the people who support the cash shop actually seem rather ironic. I don't think they realize that if the cash shop does well, it will send a message to SE that a F2P cash shop model might be feasible.

This is what I was worried about.

[Zaero]

Every time something like this comes up, people read ~too~ much into the F2P debate.

If it's going to go F2P, they'll announce it. If you're that freaked out by it, you can either play the game and wait for stuff to happen, or unsub and wait for stuff to happen.

It's not worth debating if the game has "failed", or "If only SE did exactly what I said, we wouldn't be here", as that's for MMORPG.com/headache inducing nonsense. Me, I see another game with a vanity shop. WoW has it, TSW had it, GW2 had it (granted it's B2P so whatev). Games are going to have cash shops because games devs know they'll get money from it, despite all of the self righteous ramblings about "Greedy devs" this 'n that.

So in all honesty, if you hate cash shops, then I assume you never played WoW, never played Diablo 3 (at release), and never play games with Day 1 DLC, and etc. Otherwise, the "greedy dev" talk is just that. Talk. I say that as I can put money down that after some things pop up in the shop, people will scream "Shut up and take my money!" like they always do.

On the plus side, I guess we have the next disaster instead of housing. I'll get the party hats ready.