SE consider a free to play option

[Kiote]

Why do people still not understand that detrimental impact Free to Play models have on all aspects of a game. Everything becomes skewed because they have to figure out a way to monetize everything.

I'm sorry, but Free to Play is synonymous with mediocre games that have continuously lowering quality levels.

[Cedri]

*sigh*
Another one...
Well, my opinion hasn't changed, so here it is:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...l=1#post901340

Dafuq did I just read?...

[fusional]

Why do people still not understand that detrimental impact Free to Play models have on all aspects of a game. Everything becomes skewed because they have to figure out a way to monetize everything.

I'm sorry, but Free to Play is synonymous with mediocre games that have continuously lowering quality levels.

^^^

the only exceptions have been games like Maple Story and Cityville, which aren't even proper MMOs. they're different kinds of games for a completely different market. you can play them on your phone and in your browser. F2P works for that. monetizing microtransactions works for that.

but in the world of proper, fully robust MMOs designed primarily for PC- it doesn't work. and we have mountains of evidence supporting the fact that it doesn't work.

[Nox]

I am asking you SE to consider a free to play option in addition to subscription model. In today's PC market the majority of MMOs and other action RPG type games are free to play. Take a look at Guild Wars 2, Star Wars the Old Republic, Aion, Everquest 2, Lotro, Diablo 3, League Of Legends, Phantasy Star Online 2, DC Univerise online, the list goes on.

The market today really won't support a paid only MMO. With so many free to play MMOs out there some where devs spent millions on like Star Wars. Why would someone pick up FFXIV when they have to buy it and pay a sub fee?

With free to play + micro transaction model some people will be inclined to buy funny hats, unique looking armor, weapons, mounts, exp boosts they will actually end up spending more money then like 10 subscribers.

A much larger playerbase will be attracted due to not having such a high barrier to entry which would be the monthly fee which in today's economy many people would not even consider paying.

A majority of games who may be Final Fantasy fans would skip FFXIV:ARR just because there is a monthly fee tided to it. However if they feel like they are not being forced to pay monthly and only buy stuff on the game store if they feel like it you can actually get more people to try the game and buy stuff. If you check out comments on gaming sites like Gamestop, IGN, Kotaku the biggest complaint you see about FFXIV when it comes up is that there is a monthly fee.

I keep a lot of F2P games installed on my hard drive and play them every so often. Same can't be said for MMOs that require a fee.

I would consider at least taking a look into the free to play model and what it can do for you.

No. Ftp games can turn into ptw very easily. I would rather them keep the sub model.

[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.

[AegisXI]

Plz mr lvl 3 pgl troll... plz leave and never post again

[Boterote]

$10-15 is reasonable and doable. How and Why?
1: if you got internet, you can afford the fee
2: If you're "borrowing internet" , Then you can afford the fee
3: If you're a broke student, you can afford the fee. Hell back when i was playing FF11 in my teenage years, I went to gas station and asked for money to pay.Final Fantasy MMO wont be the same if they remove subscription fees. To me, There's just no value. Example. Guild war 2, Great game, lasted me 2 weeks. bored.

[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.

[Delsus]

I'll give an example of a sub game, that went f2p, STO, when that went f2p I played it, got to max level. Yes the story was fun and I completed all the missions, but that's all there is, after that there's just the same daily missions, the same STFs to spam (There, is 12ish daily missions, ranging from dilithium mining, crystalline entity, etc, and there are 6 STFs 3 space 3 ground, with that much endgame content I'm surprised people played more than 1 month after getting level 50.

Oh there is also FED and Klingon play, but Klingon play just has the same content as FED, the same missions, the same daily missions, the same STF missons. That's why that game went f2p, it didn't have the content to support subs, it just wasn't worth the money.

Now it's f2p, if you want the Vice Admiral retrofit ships they cost £20, not to mention the other things to buy, I could easily spend over £100 one off, and £30 per month. Let's not forget the good old lockboxes, get loads as drops, spend £10 on 10 keys, still don't get what you want so spend another £10, and another and another, before you know it you have spent £100 in one month on lockbox keys and still haven't got what you want.

You really want FFXIV to end up like this, if they did go with a freemium model, I would sub and highly suggest f2p is forced to buy exp boosts to achieve higher than lvl 40, and forced to buy access to areas beyond the starter areas so you can see what a real f2p game is. (Kinda like SWTOR and their nerfed exp)

[Kallera]

switching to Free to play is a sign of desperation in many mmos. It would be especially so with SE having introduced the Legacy Members Plan. They have given us the new model of how FFXIV is to be payed and played.

also, F2P with cash shops tend to have the gilselling market going in without fear. since its free to download and play, they can get banned all they want and still throw in ads into the game world with impunity.

F2P on its own just means there little incentive for SE to continue development, you think they are just going to keep tossing money out for your entertainment?