The future of F2P

[Cynthis]

I never understood the aversion to having players be able to buy good gear. In principle we have two resources that we can invest in anything we do, including games: money and time. We all have different amounts of those commodities and therefore value them differently. If SE decided to sell the equivalent of the best loot AND make it so that the gear can immediately be identified as being bought, I would have no problem with that.

The only issue is the price of course. If we say it takes on average 100 hours of game play to get a Darklight body (I have no idea what the actual number is since I don't have the time to spend doing it), how much is 100 hours on average worth in yen, dollars or euros?

But to answer the original question, any system for buying things in game should be on top of P2P in my opinion.

[Maxthunder]

I think FFXIV:ARR 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 buy 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?

F2P no thanks, it FFXIV goes free to play i know i wont play and Im pretty sure a lot of the player base will follow.

[Asiaine]

The issue of F2P can range from 'unfair advantage' to those who pay, to exclusion of those who do not pay, to 'people with most money win!'. A simple example can be:
You can earn your Relic the hard way... ooorr... pay 100$ and buy one in the shops!

Soon it will be a world where those who are willing to pay 1000$ for all their gear set the new expectations and others will look down on them. (Reality is not nice, despite not wishing it to be like this).

If anything, I would be in favour of continuing to pay monthly, but pay more... a lot more! Because in theory, the more I pay, the more better content I can get! Rather than 10$/month, if I pay 20$/mo then I should be able to get almost double the content every month!

(Right now, there is almost the unfair expectation that every 2 months a 'games' worth of content will be delivered. In essence, for 20$ a 60$ game is expected.. every 2 months. And this may not be feasible. Hence why so much filler content or small/negligible updates every now and then).

[Akujin]

On a somewhat related topic.. more or less. How would the community feel about there being an 'enhanced' subscription? The meaning behind that, if/when they release a XIV test server, such as what XI has currently (I dont know how the actual usage works there, havent paid enough attention) would you all be willing to pay an additional, oh lets say.. 5$ to your normal subscription to have access to the test server, to try out new areas, instances and skills, etc before they make it released to the general public who remain on the normal subscription plans? Just curious.

[Asiaine]

On a somewhat related topic.. more or less. How would the community feel about there being an 'enhanced' subscription? The meaning behind that, if/when they release a XIV test server, such as what XI has currently (I dont know how the actual usage works there, havent paid enough attention) would you all be willing to pay an additional, oh lets say.. 5$ to your normal subscription to have access to the test server, to try out new areas, instances and skills, etc before they make it released to the general public who remain on the normal subscription plans? Just curious.

Pay... to test someone else's software, so they can sell it with less bugs and make more money? I just heard a bunch of game testers cry.

[Atoli]

would you all be willing to pay an additional, oh lets say.. 5$ to your normal subscription

Personally, I wouldn't.
Not that I'm against the idea, but there's just a limit to how much money I can spend on a video game.


Now to all the people who say F2P would be great to draw new players in:
There are many other ways of doing that. SE could for example provide a 14 days-F2P-trial like any other P2P MMO does and like they do themselves with FFXI.
It's a great way to figure out if you like the game or not, even if you are limited to 2 characters, 100k Gil, etc.
Most people aren't against F2P trials, they just don't want permanent F2P

[Fear]

The best option in my eyes is to keep this game P2P and just add some optional paid extra's, such as Server Transfers, Character recustomization, Name changes?

[Viritess]

I honestly think the real movement in gaming will be B2P with a mostly Cosmetic/convienance store. then B2P Expansions etc. Cash up front! Trickle in till next expansion = More cash up front then more trickle in.

The usual issue with F2P is the general low quality of game in part due to having to wait till the cash shop pays out. Which means moving a large amount of "needed" items. Coupled with the "free" expansions (patches) that don't pay out either.

Buy and sub seems to be fading in part because F2P can be a low cost "cash grab" (somewhat opinion there ^^ ) But also because with a monthly sub after buying the box expectations per dollar are high. And it can lock some people into a single MMO, or make people feel like they HAVE to get their moneys worth because they are paying.

The other is Strait Sub with no Box price. which i would say worked fairly well with Eve-online. They offered expansions free, but the game's skill system worked on a time based skill up, which helped keep people paying for a longer term.

Part of the reason i think B2P with consmetic shop is likely to be in the end, the most favored option is because you bypass many of the total issues with the other billing methods while still generating income. Box sales will = upfront money, which means if you have a % playerloss, you still have their cash.

And a cosmetic cash shop because alot of people like to customize their characters, and some will spend extra (some will spend alot extra) on little things. But this also bypasses some of the $ = advantages issues.

[Ganbachi]

if it's F2P then pay more for:

1. Bigger bags or more retainers.
2. More character slots.
3. Free company services:
a. Airship
b. Recruitment banners around the city

I hope they don't touch anything else though.

[Viritess]

if it's F2P then pay more for:

1. Bigger bags or more retainers.
2. More character slots.
3. Free company services:
a. Airship
b. Recruitment banners around the city

I hope they don't touch anything else though.

F2P would never stop there. You get income from Shop sales and possibly ads. I honestly don't belive for a second that list would bring in the cash they would want.