SE consider a free to play option

[Zumi]

I have to disagree with a majority of people on this forum I support a free to play option. Its much more friendly to casual players. I payed for FFXIV mainly because I played FFXI since release and still have a subscription. However I let my FFXI lapse whenever possible, I only pay the $12.95 when I get a IM, call, email from a friend asking me if I want to do something on FFXI, ill be like ok then pay the $12.95 to get back on.

Being a long time FFXI player I know what SE does and it usually is a patch every 4 months but it really isn't very much content at all, story content is usually beaten in 1 day and your back to being bored. WotG had story patches every 6 months, they dragged out the conclusion of that game for 3 years. FFXI is at a dead stand still at the moment they aren't releasing anything new due to the fact they are working on the SoA expansion. Would it be more economic for me to have a free to play option yes it would. Let the people who are really obsessed about the game buy all the stuff from the cash shop so I can log in on a more casual once or twice a month basis.

I like the buy once then no monthly fee like Diablo or Guild Wars has. You don't feel obligated to play those games, log in whenever you feel like it. F2P games like SWTOR I would have never tried when it was P2P but I had some fun when it went F2P messing around with the character story kinda like playing Mass Effect or the previous old republic games only I didn't have to buy anything. The heavy restrictions didn't really bother me because I was not interested in buying that stuff.

FFXIV 1.0 to me wasn't worth the money for me. I gave it a shot found the community was so closed off to any one that wasn't in their LS that there just wasn't anything to do.

I have a pretty open mind I have nothing against F2P at all, if people want to buy relic weapons for $50 a pop instead of doing a long tedious quest more power to them, they are helping me play for free after all. I myself have a no cash shop rule in any mmo I play. I am not willing to spend any money on the cash shop, however I don't mind if others do and have better or unique looking gear that I don't have. If the F2P was like any other game for every 5 people who don't spend a dime on the cash shop there is that guy who is spending like $100 a month on cash shop items. Which in the end actually makes game company more money then the subscription model.

Game companies wouldn't do F2P if it wasn't profitable and in many cases yes it can be a lot more profitable for them then the subscription model.

[Warlock]

I have to disagree with a majority of people on this forum I support a free to play option. Its much more friendly to casual players. I payed for FFXIV mainly because I played FFXI since release and still have a subscription. However I let my FFXI lapse whenever possible, I only pay the $12.95 when I get a IM, call, email from a friend asking me if I want to do something on FFXI, ill be like ok then pay the $12.95 to get back on.

Being a long time FFXI player I know what SE does and it usually is a patch every 4 months but it really isn't very much content at all, story content is usually beaten in 1 day and your back to being bored. WotG had story patches every 6 months, they dragged out the conclusion of that game for 3 years. FFXI is at a dead stand still at the moment they aren't releasing anything new due to the fact they are working on the SoA expansion. Would it be more economic for me to have a free to play option yes it would. Let the people who are really obsessed about the game buy all the stuff from the cash shop so I can log in on a more casual once or twice a month basis.

I like the buy once then no monthly fee like Diablo or Guild Wars has. You don't feel obligated to play those games, log in whenever you feel like it. F2P games like SWTOR I would have never tried when it was P2P but I had some fun when it went F2P messing around with the character story kinda like playing Mass Effect or the previous old republic games only I didn't have to buy anything. The heavy restrictions didn't really bother me because I was not interested in buying that stuff.

FFXIV 1.0 to me wasn't worth the money for me. I gave it a shot found the community was so closed off to any one that wasn't in their LS that there just wasn't anything to do.

I have a pretty open mind I have nothing against F2P at all, if people want to buy relic weapons for $50 a pop instead of doing a long tedious quest more power to them, they are helping me play for free after all. I myself have a no cash shop rule in any mmo I play. I am not willing to spend any money on the cash shop, however I don't mind if others do and have better or unique looking gear that I don't have. If the F2P was like any other game for every 5 people who don't spend a dime on the cash shop there is that guy who is spending like $100 a month on cash shop items. Which in the end actually makes game company more money then the subscription model.

Game companies wouldn't do F2P if it wasn't profitable and in many cases yes it can be a lot more profitable for them then the subscription model.

You just don't want to spend money at all i get it.. the door is over there.

[Zumi]

You just don't want to spend money at all i get it.. the door is over there.

Posting dumb reaction pictures because you disagree with me isn't a good argument.

[syntaxlies]

Posting dumb reaction pictures because you disagree with me isn't a good argument.

but it sure is funny, go play farmville

[Zumi]

but it sure is funny, go play farmville

Nah it just shows how immature people on this forum are.

[Enma]

FFXI is at a dead stand still at the moment they aren't releasing anything new due to the fact they are working on the SoA expansion.

Man, it is a 10 years ago MMO. -.-'

Let the people who are really obsessed about the game buy all the stuff from the cash shop so I can log in on a more casual once or twice a month basis.

Fail. You're saying that you want Free-To-Play just because you can log few times a month and desire to have a gorgeous equip (Since you can buy it with dollars/euros/yen/sesterzi)?!

I like the buy once then no monthly fee like Diablo or Guild Wars has.

Don't think the people from Diablo III are happy of it.[/QUOTE]

You don't feel obligated to play those games, log in whenever you feel like it.

I don't log in just because I paid the month, I log in because I like the game and want to play it.

F2P games like SWTOR I would have never tried when it was P2P but I had some fun when it went F2P messing around with the character story kinda like playing Mass Effect or the previous old republic games only I didn't have to buy anything.

There is a clear reason why SWOTR has become F2P... Survival. :P

FFXIV 1.0 to me wasn't worth the money for me.

You're not the only one. I played from day-one to the last day feeding myself with hopes of ARR. (Even if I had some great times playing FFXIV)

I have a pretty open mind I have nothing against F2P at all, if people want to buy relic weapons for $50 a pop instead of doing a long tedious quest more power to them, they are helping me play for free after all. I myself have a no cash shop rule in any mmo I play. I am not willing to spend any money on the cash shop, however I don't mind if others do and have better or unique looking gear that I don't have. If the F2P was like any other game for every 5 people who don't spend a dime on the cash shop there is that guy who is spending like $100 a month on cash shop items. Which in the end actually makes game company more money then the subscription model.

Game companies wouldn't do F2P if it wasn't profitable and in many cases yes it can be a lot more profitable for them then the subscription model.

First of all, you are doing a super personal discussion, and no talking about what is good and what is not about F2P. You're free to say "I like it, I don't like it", but it's not about who likes what, but if it could be good or bad for the game.
When I got my Relic I was extremely happy (and tired :P), because it requested me hard work, but at the same time it gave me feelings, satisfaction. Buying something in a store is like going to the supermarket... Exciting!

[Zumi]

First of all, you are doing a super personal discussion, and no talking about what is good and what is not about F2P. You're free to say "I like it, I don't like it", but it's not about who likes what, but if it could be good or bad for the game.
When I got my Relic I was extremely happy (and tired :P), because it requested me hard work, but at the same time it gave me feelings, satisfaction. Buying something in a store is like going to the supermarket... Exciting!

I just happen to think F2P is a better model because I won't have to pay and other people will pay if they want more out of the game. There just wasn't even enough people to do anything in FFXIV. I think F2P is a good idea and gives people options. You don't have to spend a single cent in the cash shop if you don't want to.

People don't seem to understand buying stuff is the short cut, usually F2P games offer ways to earn the same things in the game. You can still earn the items or whatever you want. Personally I wouldn't buy anything because I don't want to spend money, but theres lots of people out there that would buy the items.

[Totorixiii]

I just happen to think F2P is a better model because I won't have to pay and other people will pay if they want more out of the game. There just wasn't even enough people to do anything in FFXIV. I think F2P is a good idea and gives people options. You don't have to spend a single cent in the cash shop if you don't want to.

People don't seem to understand buying stuff is the short cut, usually F2P games offer ways to earn the same things in the game. You can still earn the items or whatever you want. Personally I wouldn't buy anything because I don't want to spend money, but theres lots of people out there that would buy the items.

Give us reasons why F2P is a better model? I'll wait to see your post to my respond.
(Hint -Use logic in terms of business and player's point of view)

I'll be waiting for your reasons so I or others can provide their counter argument/reasons.

[Airi_Heartfilia]

People don't seem to understand buying stuff is the short cut, usually F2P games offer ways to earn the same things in the game. You can still earn the items or whatever you want. Personally I wouldn't buy anything because I don't want to spend money, but theres lots of people out there that would buy the items.

I don't think its so much people not understanding, as its people feel being able to just pull out your wallet and buy something greatly devalues it, and makes people less inclined to want to put in the effort for things like that.

That said I'm also against a f2p model, its one thing to have a trial so people can get a chance to experience a little of the game, but anything beyond that would just be a bad move on SE's part. I really don't think they really need anything more then that anyway since they appear to be putting everything they have into making ARR an amazing experience for everyone which I personally am very thankful to them for.

[Aenarion]

stuff

What that basically tells me is that you're not really a MMO gamer, in that you have pretty much zero attachment to your in-game progress and achievements, it is no different to you than a single player game with online mode.

Good for you, but realize you are not the typical MMO gamer, at least certainly not the type that generates any revenue for devs, so don't expect anyone else to care about your desire for "economical play option".

Game companies wouldn't do F2P if it wasn't profitable and in many cases yes it can be a lot more profitable for them then the subscription model.

F2P has its time and places, but it's far from something that should be in every game. All too often these days they're little more than cash grabs and/or the last desperate attempt at staying afloat after a game bombed.

Can F2P be profitable? of course. Is it always the best way to go? Hell no.