PlanetSide Next free to play?

[bladetec]

With all these video games going f2p and all lately what is the chances of the next planetside being f2p?

[FortunadoAE]

Originally Posted by bladetec

With all these video games going f2p and all lately what is the chances of the next planetside being f2p?

Sounds like SOE is focusing all their efforts on two games. That's a lot of eggs for one basket.

Then again, they did experiment with Fodderside, so I could see them doing something like that again. I'd put money on something like Fodderside, but definitely not completely f2p.

[Hank]

I think it's very unlikely given PlanetSide's history and how demanding the game must be on its servers during massive conflicts. $15/month seems like the way to go to ensure SOE will see enough profits to keep investing in development.

Anyways, why would we want it F2P? Usually those types of games either have in-game features you can buy with cash (which would be horrible for PlanetSide) or a two-tier system in which there are free players and then paid members with benefits, which is also a bad idea because of the discrepancy there'll be between paid and free players, basically feeding the paid players and hurting the gameplay.

[LordReaver]

I'd prefer subscription with fodderside. I feel F2P is a flawed concept on it's own.

[CutterJohn]

I'd prefer a non subscription based service just because it makes it easy to play for a night or two every so often. Subscription is fine if you are playing a lot, but if you log in irregularly, it chafes.

[Madcow]

Subscriptions in addition to non-game changing aesthetic items for sale to boost profits (hello Team Fortress 2 hats!). Valve paved the way and proved that we as gamers are dumb enough to pay for virtual items even if they don't give us any advantage at all, and SOE can certainly use the extra cash right about now.

[Ant001]

Well I believe f2p just encourages hackers.
We could pay 15 bucks a month and for increased profit you could buy xp boosts like GA did. If you work and can't play 24/7 you just pay 10 bucks and get double xp for a month this allows you to keep up with all the kids.

[Aractain]

'Keeping up' isnt a big concern to most players. Not paying when they are not playing is. The number of MMOs comming out, plus things like Xbox live, people prioritise - for the casual player that means BF3 or even COD for their action fix rather than Planetside.

In that case its either get those customers or don't get them - you can always have subs aswell for the rich :P. If SOE thinks they can get at least a hundred thousand subscribers to stay in PS for a year then sure subs would be fine. I don't see that happening personaly though.

As for hackers which is a legitimate concern - they need to be able to deal with them without limiting thier options.

[wormywyrm]

I don't think subscriptions really deters hackers. People care more about their characters than they do the $15 it costs to start a new subscription account. Getting caught hacking pretty much feels the same either way, unless the game itself cost $50 up front, and hacking probably wont be a problem early in the games life cycle so the game won't cost much up front by the time hacking is an issue anyways.

I don't think it will really effect my experience regardless of if its F2P or P2P, as long as the game is skill based. That is why I am really excited... Theres really not much SoE can mess up here.

[LordReaver]

Subscriptions force hackers to pay every time they start up again. So unless they are sitting on a giant wad of cash, they probably wont do it more than once.

F2P are actually more expensive than subs on average. That's the whole reason companies are drawn to them. You, the average person, think you are saving money by playing f2p, so you are willing to put down a little bit extra, but you being an average person, can't keep track of your finances.

Quick, what's a better deal? Five transactions of $3? or One transaction of $15?

[Lonehunter]

I really prefer a monthly fee. With f2p-micro transactions I can end up paying way more then $15 a month, because I want all the game has to offer.

[Canaris]

I also prefer the subscription fee over a F2P with microtransations, or even worse like Activision a sub fee + micro transations. One of the reasons I can't play STO. Pure greed plain and simple.

[Robert089]

Please no free to play. I don't know if any of you have tried Battlefield Play4Free, it is pretty fun but shows exactly what free to play games are like. Basically the person who pays more money gets access to the better guns and therefore wins. It can work in other games but it's not something I want to see in Planetside.

[Firefly]

Free-to-play sucks. Just pay a goddamn subscription and stop crying. You'll thank us in the long run when you've spent less than $180 for one year instead of dropping two and three dollars every few days to get some nifty little trinket or more guns.

[Aractain]

Heh. Its more like I wont be playing with friends so I might not be paying my sub either. :\