From Never F2P To...

[ProtosOmega]

It is a very interesting argument for P2P vs F2P MMOs. I am in the camp that totally disagrees with the whole "F2P makes the MMO bad" argument, but at the same time I can see the points that people are making.

The issue with games such as Tera, Guild Wars 2, The Secret World and Rift (Yes, I have played those 4) is that the games do not have the content to justify a persistent player base. Out of those four, Rift is the only one that had an expansion.

I have only recently converted to being comfortable paying a subscription for an MMO (thanks to this version of FFXIV) as long as we get a steady stream of new content over the lifetime of the MMO.

A free trial, or restricted F2P version of FFXIV would be great to help people over the fence with buying the game as well. And if the game did eventually go F2P and has a shop that isn't P2W, I would be happy to pay money for the use of it.

[wirewitch]

While I prefer a P2P, going hybrid wouldn't be a bad idea. I would still subscribe as a subscription would open the door to more rewards and bonuses compared to the F2P alternative.

Still, my first choice would always be, P2P simply because of the updates and patches are clearly superior. And before anyone chimes in with GW2, I've played it and I (personally) still prefer P2P.

[Kule]

If the game goes f2p and it ends up effecting development priorities i'll be upset. I just can't see them running both p2p and f2p servers without making compromises somewhere.

[Bizniztyme]

Wrong. He said he would NEVER go f2p. What he stated there was what Rift essentially said. They did not plan on going f2p at the beginning. Then slowly they started talking about it. The game has only been out a week and his stance changed from never to if they had to.

Please quote where he said he would never go FTP?

[Anakhu]

I don't care what form it is, if I have to pay or if it's f2p.. i'll still pay. It just better be good still

[Yoruichi4478]

Please Yoshi-P don't go f2p ever! I recently played a p2p that went f2p and the game went to crap. I have more pride for the Final Fantasy mmo brand because I pay for it I know I'm going to get a quality product, not something that will result in a cash store and crap items offered just to make a quick buck.
Please stick by your statement you once made that it would never go f2p!

[Bizniztyme]

Please Yoshi-P don't go f2p ever! I recently played a p2p that went f2p and the game went to crap. I have more pride for the Final Fantasy mmo brand because I pay for it I know I'm going to get a quality product, not something that will result in a cash store and crap items offered just to make a quick buck.
Please stick by your statement you once made that it would never go f2p!

Again, when did he ever say that the game will never go FTP, stop making up stuff.

[Kayo]

Hey ... so long as its a separate server that in no way possible to interact with p2p (no transfers or anything) AND we get ALL cash shop content made obtainable through gameplay, I wouldnt mind it too much.

Hell, for all I care they could be playing a completely different game in other servers. I wish LOTRO, SWTOR and Rift wouldve done this instead! More money for company and neither p2pr's or f2p have any reason to whine about it.

Again, when did he ever say that the game will never go FTP, stop making up stuff.

He said the game will shut down before its ever f2p. Feel free to look it up yourself, all I remember is it was IGN a while back.

Found it:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/...edi-mind-trick

"The folks behind Final Fantasy XIV have pushed so strongly for a subscription model that new lead director Naoki Yoshida insisted that FFXIV would be shut down without them."

[Sterob]

Wait what? Business model 101, a game change from P2P to F2P when the number of their subscribers is reduced and going down,
why does having "the number of the people who BOUGHT your game exceeded your expectation" mean the the game is going under?

[Riffy]

Yoshi P,

I know you will never read this, but your word is your word.

Please, (If you would be so kind), don't go against your word like ANet did (in regards to progression gear). I don't need to make up numbers to show how many were disappointed with that move they made two months after launch. Personally, I didn't care much for it, since I was waiting for this game.

All I have in this world is my balls and my word and I don't break them for no one

You already know what the right answer is, Yoshi P.

I offer a solution that you can revise and play with of course: Offer a free trial (yes this is nothing new) of perhaps two weeks to a month. During this trial, perhaps restrict (or not) them from such content (this is also nothing new) to show that P2P is an exclusive service, and exclusivity is means I want in. Entice them during this trial so that they know they, at the very end, they will be receiving a solid product worth every penny of the 12.99 should they elect to subscribe.

Or, unless if it's all about the benjis for you, and you're trying to appeal to the F2P market with a cash shop, then well... the only thing I could hope from this is that the quality of F2P games from competitive devs would now have to appease and even improve the bar that will be raised if you so choose to make this game F2P.

I would rather you not, tho, just imo. There's a saying here in NA I'm not sure is as prevalent in Japan, and it goes, you can't please everyone.