Final Fantasy XIV article in MCV

[Jennestia]

Some games does it right, you aren't aware of them that's it.

My apologies, first time I've heard I wasn't aware of games I've actually played (btw, I have half year sub for Wakfu and played Doofus for quite awhile.)

"Freemium" isn't good because it's going under the disguise of "you can play for free but if you want to actually play the full game, pay:" -- that's not a free MMO and it can cost you more than paying monthly for a game in the long run, especially if it has a cashshop.

Though do tell me, what other MMOs I haven't played since you feel you know what games I have and have not played in my time? Also I'll give you a hint:

My work keeps me stationed in the US, Japan, Korea and China for up to 4 years at a time and since I play MMOs, I'm usually playing MMOs in those countries -- So unless the ones that released last year "does F2P" right, you're correct I'm not aware of it, but for the most part every F2P MMO takes the same route of charging you more than if you just simply played a P2P game.

[Tupsi]

Yeah, Wakfu and Doofus are interesting styles of games and should be noted they're not your typical MMORPG.

[Antipika]

Well players often mention SWTOR by saying it went "free to play". It is freemium, like Aion, AoC etc. Off course freemium is a disguise. It just uses an enhanced trial version as a way to lure people in paying a subscription.

Is it bad? I don't think so, especially if behind, there is no gameplay item cash shop like Dofus does. You cannot pay to be more powerful beside the subscription fee.

[Fortuna]

Seriously. Now I want SE to troll us when they first start the presentation. Showing the characters in like 8 bit style with the classic striking motion.

Then the little text box shows "Dragonfire Dive" and the 8 bit dragoon jumps up into the air, the camera pans up, and when it pans down again, full graphical quality of the fiery explosion.

Just like how Sakurai did with Super Smash Brothers brawl? yes please!!

[Katamari]

Seriously. Now I want SE to troll us when they first start the presentation. Showing the characters in like 8 bit style with the classic striking motion.

Then the little text box shows "Dragonfire Dive" and the 8 bit dragoon jumps up into the air, the camera pans up, and when it pans down again, full graphical quality of the fiery explosion.

Square, MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!

[DexterityJones]

Word of mouth has little impact? Tell that to the guy who made the DayZ mod and now has 1 million players they are scrambling to accommodate.

And has now been picked up by a publisher to make an actual stand alone game and not a mod onto that horrible ARMA game.

http://dayzdev.tumblr.com/post/28904...-the-beginning

Word of mouth is powerful.

[Maxthunder]

SE should really embrace the F2P model. I don't really believe 2.0 can attract many new players at all with it being pay to play when theres so many F2P MMOs out there on the market at the moment. FFXIV still left a bad impression on the majority of PC gamers. Even EA with SWTOR couldn't pull off P2P and they had about 1m subs and are still going F2P.

Free to play done right can be really good. Like you can get all the content without paying but the stuff sold in the store would be exp boosts, and vanity items (shirts, hats, bows, new hairstyles, tabards underwear), mounts, pets ect. While keeping most progression gear obtainable from actually playing the game. Add new slots so players can wear vanity items over their real gear. That guy who wants a full set of slightly different color chocobos with different armor buys them each for $25 a pop probably would be paying for the equivalent of 10 peoples subs under P2P.

Why the hell would you want to pay more just for stuff that you can earn in game by effort and time? Seriously F2P NO THANKS!! F2P isnt free and will end up costing more than P2P, if its F2P than its basicly lazy mans way of doing things, because instead of earning it by putting effort and time into it you just throw money at whatever it is you want. F2P NO and a lot of players will abandon the game, if I wanted a F2P I would be playing 1 now.

[Zumi]

Why the hell would you want to pay more just for stuff that you can earn in game by effort and time? Seriously F2P NO THANKS!! F2P isnt free and will end up costing more than P2P, if its F2P than its basicly lazy mans way of doing things, because instead of earning it by putting effort and time into it you just throw money at whatever it is you want. F2P NO and a lot of players will abandon the game, if I wanted a F2P I would be playing 1 now.

It's cheaper in the long run if you don't plan on buying anything from the cash shop. Let the people who want to buy a bunch of vanity items pay for the game for me.

[Hyrist]

People are confusing free to play with pay to win.

It's more than possible to create a free to play environment that makes optional purchases that have no impact on gameplay.

Truth of the matter is: the Subscription model is a major barrier to entry - which SE may not be able to afford at this rate. Many players might find FFXIV to be good, but not 'pay every month' good, which would be a problem when we're begging for a healthy population.

If it goes free to play a cash shop for vanity pieces, certain home furnishings, and personal convinced then many more players may flock to the title - and SE may wind up with a larger total income as a result.

You may not like it, but that's the reality of things. The Subscription Market is showing its age, and it's questionable that FFXIV can survive while maintaining it - regardless of how good A Realm Reborn may be.

[Virtuso]

I understand the need to see more aggressive marketing but it's WAY too early for that. Marketing costs lots of money and their better off saving the bulk of their budget for when people who are convinced by said ads can actually go buy the product. I'd wait to be concerned until less than a month from PS3 release. Until then releasing good video's showing off the game on their website + getting articles on gaming sites + testimonies from beta players would do.

As for F2P, I wonder what kind of player base size SE wants to make keeping P2P successful. As for SWTOR they started off collecting subs from 1.7 million players, and even at last report had 500k+ subscribers and EA still considers it to be a lost for them with BW employees getting laid off left and right. Most MMO's would kill to have 500k+ subscribers. With the FF series fan base being millions strong around the world I wonder how much of it they really think they can win over.


Agreed with Hyrist, this game has a LOT to prove. No failed MMO I've heard of has ever had new life breathed into it without going F2P.