Scared about ARR

[Mikita]

I don't mind paying, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't think PSO2's system was superior in every way to the traditional $/time system.

Are you playing PSO2? How is their system superior?

The problem I see with a F2P system is that every content and development decision gets weighed against the question of "Will it negatively impact the cash shop?" rather than simply "Is this going to make a better game that people want to continue playing?" And this really limits many aspects of what can be put into the game.

PSO2 does have a well thought out system, and thankfully it's not pay-to-win. Superior, though, I'm not sure.
Because of their take on the F2P system, the game will probably never have much by way of community interaction, player created items, or a player driven economy (some of the core benefits of being an MMORPG) because it will be bad for business.

I'm playing PSO2 until ARR launches. I've paid some money. I've had some fun... but the game itself is not much more than a zergfest through doing the same short quests over and over. I don't know if it is capable of being anything more than that since they have a cash shop to protect.

[Issachar]

Are you playing PSO2? How is their system superior?

Free to play, pay for only the services you want (right to sell on auction house, trading, extra Mags, vanity items, etc). Perfectly playable. Can still buy from the AH and NPC drops for in-game currency without spending a single cent. Can get to cap the same as anyone else, kill the big things like anyone else, get rare drops, etc.

[Mikita]

Free to play, pay for only the services you want (right to sell on auction house, trading, extra Mags, vanity items, etc). Perfectly playable. Can still buy from the AH and NPC drops for in-game currency without spending a single cent. Can get to cap the same as anyone else, kill the big things like anyone else, get rare drops, etc.

As I said, it's a well-thought out system and fortunately it's not pay-to-win. But it also means that there are many things PSO2 will never be able to have which would add any depth to the game, because it would compete with their cash house.