Author Topic: SW:TOR - Free to Play in less than a year (Read 6249 times)

ManaByte · « **on:** July 31, 2012, 03:30:53 PM »

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/email/alert/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20120731006602

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2012, 03:36:29 PM »

The game is going to $15 to buy and F2P in August? I might just get into it.

Trent Dole · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2012, 03:37:20 PM »

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2012, 03:37:54 PM »

play as the imperial agent, it's pretty good.

archie4208 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2012, 03:48:02 PM »

Himu · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2012, 03:58:58 PM »

Now can EA kill off Origin and just put fucking FIFA 13 on steam

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2012, 03:59:07 PM »

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2012, 03:59:36 PM »

The mmo pay/sub model is dying but luckily the f2p model can provide solid revenue if done right. Even WoW is losing large amounts of subs, and will probably continue after people get tired of MoP a few months after release.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2012, 04:03:33 PM »

Subscription-only MMOs are deader than dead.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2012, 04:06:35 PM »

Someone (preferably TOR, GW2, even LOTR) should just rip off the Pokemon-esque pet system in MoP. I don't think that would kill WoW obviously, but it could shift a lot of casual players

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2012, 04:17:28 PM »

Old Republic could do that with droids.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2012, 04:23:56 PM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on July 31, 2012, 03:58:58 PM

Now can EA kill off Bioware and just put fucking KOTOR 2 on steam

truth

ManaByte · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2012, 04:26:56 PM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on July 31, 2012, 04:06:35 PM

Someone (preferably TOR, GW2, even LOTR) should just rip off the Pokemon-esque pet system in MoP. I don't think that would kill WoW obviously, but it could shift a lot of casual players

Or, people could just play MoP.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2012, 04:35:58 PM »

Quote from: ManaByte on July 31, 2012, 04:26:56 PM

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on July 31, 2012, 04:06:35 PM
Someone (preferably TOR, GW2, even LOTR) should just rip off the Pokemon-esque pet system in MoP. I don't think that would kill WoW obviously, but it could shift a lot of casual players

Or, people could just play MoP.

They will, the question is how long. Players soured on Cata rather quickly, but I expect MoP to last a bit longer due to how popular the pet system will be; everything else is the same tired gameplay for the most part. Having played since vanilla I definitely feel like WoW expansions (especially these 5 level ones) are now like building a new floor on top of a burning building. The game needs some major changes.

I'm not Etoilet: while I look forward to GW2, I know it has some problems. But it's polished and impressive enough to do very well, as are some of the other f2p MMOs. Just steal the pet system and get a foot into the casual market WoW once dominated effortlessly. With so many similar (but cheap) facebook and iOS games plus the dota market, it makes perfect sense. And the lack of sub fees would certainly help

ManaByte · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2012, 04:48:28 PM »

Enjoy your $60 yearly expansions and cash shop.

etiolate · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2012, 05:22:08 PM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on July 31, 2012, 04:06:35 PM

Someone (preferably TOR, GW2, even LOTR) should just rip off the Pokemon-esque pet system in MoP. I don't think that would kill WoW obviously, but it could shift a lot of casual players

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Polymock

Guild Wars already had it and there's portals to Polymock arenas in Rata Sum, so I assume it will be in GW2 as well.

Quote

Q: Will Polymock come back as an activity in Guild Wars 2?
John: The original version of Polymock was one of those instances where we had something that we really wanted to be able to do, but we weren’t able to see it fully realized in Guild Wars. Polymock was one of Colin Johanson’s side projects during Eye of the North. He envisioned it as something that was fully turn-based, a very different game unto itself. It would have played up the collectible element, and the meaning to bringing different pieces into the game. Unfortunately, that wasn’t something we were able to do at the time with the resources we had, but it is something we can do with Guild Wars 2. So if you see Polymock making its return, it will be in a more robust implementation, to reflect what we had always wanted it to be.

ALSO

I criticize every game including GW2. Don't come here with that nonsense. Just make sure you know what you're talking about if you make a statement about a game.

etiolate · « **Reply #16 on:** July 31, 2012, 05:44:52 PM »

As for the F2P, I think Bioware/EA's model is a little too restrictive. I do believe people will play for the story quests, but you need to level up to get through them, and that involves some of the less desirable general filler quests. I think their money maker is creating new story quest missions and adding those at level 50 as a microtransaction. Things like limiting access to their AH is just to protect the economy, but some of the other limitations don't feel like things that will push free players to spend money.

Summary: It seems like they want to make people pay for convenience and endgame. Making people pay to have a game at modern MMO convenience standards will just annoy your new userbase. Making people pay for endgame when everybody quit because the endgame was lacking is just not a good idea. Make new story missions and charge for those. Charge for new companions with story missions for them.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2012, 06:57:03 PM »

nah etoilet admit it, you're being paid by Arena Net

ManaByte · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2012, 06:57:37 PM »

EA just admitted that the game has less than a million subs.

Tasty · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2012, 07:19:20 PM »

Damn, $15 for the game and F2P later is almost too good to pass up. Do they mean the game will be free later too?

etiolate · « **Reply #20 on:** July 31, 2012, 07:22:01 PM »

The game boxes will be dropping in prices quite drastically. I would go to a gamestop, wait for it to hit like $10, buy the box and get the free full-service month, and you could probably play out your story quest in that time. Then you can just go back as F2P and probably receive some added spacebucks to spend for once buying the box.

Andrex: It seems its going Free in November.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #21 on:** July 31, 2012, 07:22:56 PM »

With twatter, facebook, and whatnot, maybe MMORPGs are just dead because people can get their social fix elsewhere.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #22 on:** July 31, 2012, 07:45:19 PM »

Quote from: The Experiment on July 31, 2012, 07:22:56 PM

With twatter, facebook, and whatnot, maybe MMORPGs are just dead because people can get their social fix elsewhere.

Yea a lot of what made MMOs unique has been adapted by other game genres, including social network/iOS shit. Meaning it's becoming more important for MMOs to evolve and add new things to the pie. Which makes me even more depressed about where WoW has been heading

pilonv1 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 31, 2012, 08:11:13 PM »

Quote from: The Experiment on July 31, 2012, 07:22:56 PM

With twatter, facebook, and whatnot, maybe MMORPGs are just dead because people can get their social fix elsewhere.

Combine that with MMOs becoming less social and more like lobbies for reward rides and I'm not surprised things aren't going well.

Meanwhile EVE is doing fine comparatively.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #24 on:** July 31, 2012, 09:08:29 PM »

I think etoilet's problem is more of starting from a failed perspective in general: he really, REALLY wants to like mmorpgs. It's sad but can't be fixed.

cool breeze · « **Reply #25 on:** July 31, 2012, 10:52:27 PM »

Quote from: Andrex on July 31, 2012, 07:19:20 PM

Damn, $15 for the game and F2P later is almost too good to pass up. Do they mean the game will be free later too?

yeah, I'm confused. When I see Free to Play, I think what happened to that DC Online game. Business model changed from traditional MMO to no cost of entry or required subscription fee, but microtransactions out its ass. And unevenly balanced favoring people who spend money. Players who don't pay spend time grinding monotonous shit.

etiolate · « **Reply #26 on:** July 31, 2012, 11:01:18 PM »

It drops to $15 in August, then F2P in November. My guess: The price drop is to create an initial surge and then F2P for a second surge, with many people maybe contemplating still paying for stuff thanks to feeling the game out with the first free month of the box purchase. The price drop will also clear out inventory for everyone. There are still stores selling box copies of F2P games like Champions Online, LOTRO and DCUO. It's hard to move those when people can DL and play for free.

ManaByte · « **Reply #27 on:** July 31, 2012, 11:02:38 PM »

Quote from: pilonv1 on July 31, 2012, 08:11:13 PM

Quote from: The Experiment on July 31, 2012, 07:22:56 PM
With twatter, facebook, and whatnot, maybe MMORPGs are just dead because people can get their social fix elsewhere.

Combine that with MMOs becoming less social and more like lobbies for reward rides and I'm not surprised things aren't going well.

Meanwhile EVE is doing fine comparatively.

Less than 15k active and paying subs isn't really doing fine comparatively.

etiolate · « **Reply #28 on:** July 31, 2012, 11:05:00 PM »

Doing fine depends on what your costs are and how much you need to succeed. I think EVE is doing fine for itself if its still getting support and a community. SWTOR cost too much to have this amount of retention and stay okay.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 31, 2012, 11:10:33 PM »

Quote from: ManaByte on July 31, 2012, 11:02:38 PM

Quote from: pilonv1 on July 31, 2012, 08:11:13 PM
Quote from: The Experiment on July 31, 2012, 07:22:56 PM
With twatter, facebook, and whatnot, maybe MMORPGs are just dead because people can get their social fix elsewhere.

Combine that with MMOs becoming less social and more like lobbies for reward rides and I'm not surprised things aren't going well.

Meanwhile EVE is doing fine comparatively.

Less than 15k active and paying subs isn't really doing fine comparatively.

Pretty good for something 8+ years old and as etiolate says with much lover overheads. Success is relative.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #30 on:** July 31, 2012, 11:18:33 PM »

Wheres the 15k from anyway? Not the best source, but there's a few around quoting 400k

http://mmodata.blogspot.com.au/

Quote

CCP has send me new EVE numbers, they look good, 361k subs, so they can celebrate their 9th anniversary knowing they are back on the rise.

etiolate · « **Reply #31 on:** August 01, 2012, 12:27:47 AM »

Mana never knows what he's talking about.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #32 on:** August 01, 2012, 01:18:28 AM »

Takao · « **Reply #33 on:** August 01, 2012, 04:30:54 AM »

Dofus is related to that Wakfu thing Square Enix brought to North America.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #34 on:** August 01, 2012, 05:43:48 AM »

I would play a Waifu MMO.

Momo · « **Reply #35 on:** August 01, 2012, 05:48:06 AM »

Takao · « **Reply #36 on:** August 01, 2012, 06:53:06 AM »

archie4208 · « **Reply #37 on:** August 01, 2012, 09:06:07 AM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on August 01, 2012, 05:43:48 AM

I would play a Waifu MMO.

But we're already discussing a Bioware MMO.

tiesto · « **Reply #38 on:** August 01, 2012, 11:52:32 AM »

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #39 on:** August 01, 2012, 03:17:21 PM »

Called it

Bioware

The next big thing for MMO's will be sandbox, sandbox or die! Days of the theme park MMO are over.

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #40 on:** August 07, 2012, 03:31:02 AM »

I ended up getting a super cheap CE. Is the game at all fun to play? can you try it before you use your codes?

etiolate · « **Reply #41 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:59:46 AM »

You can play up til level 15 for free.

News:

Author Topic: SW:TOR - Free to Play in less than a year (Read 6249 times)