Blizzard: F2P (Still) Not the Best Model for WoW
To some degree, the studio has already caved in by offering an unlimited "demo" with a level cap of 20 and other limitations. Yet there's no sign that Blizzard will succumb to pressure from other games in the genre switching teams by offering a F2P option alonside its current subscription service.
"For us, and even for EA with the Star Wars game, I think that the value that you get for the $15 a month is just unmatched," he told Eurogamer. "I don't think you can get that amount of entertainment value anywhere. I'd put the $15 up against anything."
He added that there's currently an underlying, fundamental assumption in the industry that publishers and developers make more money by charging less... an assumption he claims isn't true. "It doesn't necessarily make for a better game," he said. "I mean, everybody likes free... I think that definitely, players have seen a lot of really great quality free-to-play experiences, but I'm not sure it's the best model for us right now."
Sony Online Entertainment boss John Smedley said that he understands why some developers might choose the F2P model from the start, as gamers are more forgiving about the experience because they've paid absolutely nothing. Still, he believes that Star Wars: The Old Republic may be the last large-scale subscription-funded MMOG to enter the market.
"I think it is a very difficult market to compete in, I think it's very expensive to make these games, especially if you're expecting people to pay a monthly fee just to play the game," he told Eurogamer.
"And so there are very few companies that can compete at that high level with those types of budgets. If you're not charging anybody, they're going to be a lot more forgiving about the experience they have."
Farewell Blizzard, you held my attention for many many hours, alas those days are gone. They didnt come soon enough!
"Why the heck would we go F2P when the mindless idiots are still willing to pay us $15 a month to play a grindfest of a game?"
Farewell Blizzard, you held my attention for many many hours, alas those days are gone. They didnt come soon enough!
I don't know what's with all the pandaren hate. Pandarens have been in Warcraft since Warcraft 3. And WoW has never had a "serious" tone to it to begin with, with all the references to things outside the game.
They were back in a week or two... Blizzard will never let you go, muhahahahahaha!
Look at guild wars 2. Look at the success from league of legends - it's a very bold statement to say they are all crappy and they rely on tricking; that wouldn't be a good business model so no one would use it. I'm afraid sir you are an idiot.
1 joke level doesn't represent 'being part of the story'.
From world ending scenarios to what is essentially a kung fu panda game.
I can't see how the story can develop to such high stakes without one of them saying
"oh btw mister, this guy, who no one knew about, was actually underneath this place you've managed to miss all this time, and he's even more powerful than the previous guy who was at the time the most powerful."
of all the places wow could've gone, they chose the april fools story line.
(no need to mention the aged gameplay as to why they will heamorrage players)
For me, the price is too high, especially for a PC game. Steam constantly sells games for less than £10 (often less than £5) which I can enjoy at any pace. Paying double that for something I could only get a limited time on before my period runs out just reeks of poor value. I would rather pay per hour and be charged by that rather than by date or keep your current model, just make it cheaper.
"Why the heck would we go F2P when the mindless idiots are still willing to pay us $15 a month to play a grindfest of a game?"
GW sux and so does LOL but then again LoL isnt even a mmo so who cares either way. But yes all the games that have gone FTP are all garbage. There is a reason they went that way and it wasnt becuase they were doing as good as they expected and becuase they were making butt loads of money.
I have friends that spent $500 on stuff in age of conan and pay monthly most games that have dual f2p with option to pay get much more money.
RUNSCAPE largest MMORPG F2P the free to play game can take years to master. then the P2P takes a lifetime.
Their current 12 month and get a free mount deal is a first for WoW, and it shows that they are aware of how precarious their dominance of the MMO market is. Star Wars and Pandaclysm are going to be the one-two punch that dethrones WoW.
I don't hate WoW, I still play it, but the writing is on the wall for anyone who can read it.
Eh? Rift is not F2P.
Pretty much the most rediculous thing I have heard (besides the guy saying GW2 will destroy WoW... LOL). Pretty much all the people I know on WoW are excited about the new expansion with everything that is changing and Blizz bringing back world pvp.
WoW will never go f2p. The only game that stands a chance at "de-throning" WoW is SWTOR. And if people are like me they will just play both. Beleive it or not, more than one game can be popular in a market.
This is coming from someone who works 8-10 hours a day 5-6 days a week.