The future of F2P

[Atoli]

Implementing F2P mechanics into a P2P FFXIV would be interesting however to get more out of a smaller userbase

Seriously? Aren't $10-16 (depending on where you live) a month enough to keep me safe from this crap?
The whole POINT of P2P is to heave a steady income from players which in return can get and do everything they want without having to pay EXTRA money.
If I get 3 out of 30 hairstyles and have to pay for the other 27 while paying $15 a month I'd sure as hell leave and find myself another "free" to play game where I would have to put up with the same crap but without paying a monthly fee >_>°

[Nakiamiie]

I think FFXIV:ARRB will fare just fine under a subscription model. I just wanted to say that first and foremost.

With the recent news of SWtor going F2P this fall, the release of GW2 at the end of the month and many of the previous gen MMO going F2P (Aion, L2, Lotr:0). Sub based games are going the way of the dodo.

If FFXIV were to adopt a F2P model in the future, how would you want it to be implemented?

Cash Shop offering vanity items

Episode type content offering side quests or new scenarios

DLC offering new dungeons

Freemium - Subs are given full access to all DLC, while non-subs must purchase a la carte.

I'm not saying I want FFXIV to go F2P. I like sub games where the population as a whole is on the same page. No one is left out because they didn't by the DLC or uber geared from cash shop purchases.

Is it inevitable for F2P to work it's way in FFXIV at some point? If so how would you want it to be implemented?

If FFXIV would turn F2P, I wouldn't care anymore about FFXIV. I would simply stop playing. End of discussion for me.

As Shiki_Lockhart mentioned, "Free 2 Play" aren't free. They are just a gimmick to have loyal players pay more while attracting loads of temporary players to boast a fake popularity. FFXIV goes that way? End of the line for me, period.

[Obavijest]

I swear to god if FFXIV goes free to play I'm unsubscribing.

[KelenaeV]

Japanese players have said they would not support this game if it went F2P. So its not gonna happen.

[AcaciaTyrannia]

Japanese players have said they would not support this game if it went F2P. So its not gonna happen.

Oh, well, as long as the japanese players feel that way, they definitely won't do it.

[Jennestia]

Oh, well, as long as the japanese players feel that way, they definitely won't do it.

Of course -- Japan is Square's core audience, same thing would happen if Blizzard decided to do something that would piss off their core NA base. While some MMOs are too expensive in Japan, "F2P" games and "B2W" games are looked down on even more there, no matter how much customization they could give their character -- it's the main reason JTERA failed.

If they followed "GW2's Model" XIV would fail pretty quickly -- GW2 isn't necessarily a horrible game, but they're being very misleading with being "absolutely free", though the hype for the game is beyond limits that a lot of people will get absolutely blindsided by it when it launches.

[indira]

F2P need to die its not free anyways cost alot more if your serious about the game pay to progress or pay to win no thanks.
i rather pay monthly then thats the end.

[Antipika]

As if SE cares about what players think. If F2P is more profitable (understand : higher profits in the long term), then it will go F2P. Higher profits means that despite players leaving and despite the game being "free", enough new players will join and spend money to compensate.

Everyone criticize F2P or DLCs (especially day one DLC). Shall I remember you guys that the latest SE title being released, Sleeping Dogs, will come with 22 day-1 DLCs? Or that the first company to heavily use DLCs on 3DS is Square Enix with Theatrhythm? Should I mention XIII-2? Where DLCs alone double the price of the game...

In case some blind fanboy haven't realized yet, the goal of any company is to aim for higher profits. If the F2P model is less profitable because too many core players will leave and not enough new players will join, then yes XIV won't be F2P.

As for "Japanese players have said", as if this forum mean anything... JP forum got less activity than EN, while XIV have obviously more JP subscribers. The JP players aren't too much into forums. This forum barely represent the opinion of the majority... PSO2 was released free to play in Japan for a reason. SEGA most likely determined that it was a more suitable model than the P2P model they used for PSO/PSU.

[Alfortis]

Personally i'm not for or against free to play games. But I do notice that this community is one sided when it comes to free to play games. Personally I have been playing a few free to play games and I don't really see the whole pay to win concept.

Pay to win isnt the only form when it comes to free to play games. The game industry is actually moving away from that. Take a look at rusty hearts, spiral knights, DC universe and so on. Rusty hearts is mainly xp boost, extra inventory, and even clothes for your character. Here is DC universe pay plan LINK. Though some parts of the legendary and even free plan may seem a bit unbalance, I don't really see an issue with their plan. Those that want to pay 15 dollars a month get what they pay for, as well as the free to play. Even the 5 dollar deal doesn't seem so bad.

If SE wanted to do a free to play model, I would like to see something like the DC universe plan. Players get extra inventory, auction house slots, early access to content, and their own personal housing for 15 dollars. Basically nothing would change for already paying players and the free to play guys get demo mode with more restrictions such as no access to advance classes, limited slots in AH or inventory, no player housing and so on.I cant really see them implementing a vanity store since making armor/clothes takes a lot of time due to the variety of races.

The reason why I am not really against free to play games is because a large variety of players now get to experience the game. The main content when it comes to MMORPGs is the players. If you think about it, most players play other MMOs because their friends simply played the game along with them. I ended up leaving FFXI simply because my friends stopped playing and couldn't justify the 15 dollars a month deal.

Though I doubt that SE will do a F2P model any time soon. I really don't see the issues with it as long if it is done right. It wouldn't be a bad move in my opinion since the majority of games are now going F2P and there are a lot of players that are fans of the final fantasy franchise, but they simply wont play FF14 due to the fact that they have to pay 15 dollars a month. Something that will also work is not purchasing the software and paying a monthly fee instead, but that is for another thread i guess.

TLDR; free to play isn't bad as long if it is done right. The game industry is changing and the whole pay to win model is actually dying out.

[Kailok]

Of course -- Japan is Square's core audience, same thing would happen if Blizzard decided to do something that would piss off their core NA base. While some MMOs are too expensive in Japan, "F2P" games and "B2W" games are looked down on even more there, no matter how much customization they could give their character -- it's the main reason JTERA failed.

If they followed "GW2's Model" XIV would fail pretty quickly -- GW2 isn't necessarily a horrible game, but they're being very misleading with being "absolutely free", though the hype for the game is beyond limits that a lot of people will get absolutely blindsided by it when it launches.

How is GW2 being misleading? There isn't a subscription fee at all. It's not tiered, there's just simply no subscription fee.
Yes, they do have an in-game store, but you don't NEED to buy anything in it to get along in the game. And you do pay the Point of Sale fee, but after that it's free to play. I don't know how they are being misleading other than that. o.O not trying to fight I'm just confused.