Free to play, pay for perks.

CutterJohn · 2011-02-12, 03:39 AM

Lets pretend PSN is free to play, and that there is no premium subscription. Meaning the game supports itself with a store you can buy stuff from. This is my assumption for how its going to go, as the subscription thing didn't really work out last time.

-Extra character slots
-A character on server in another empire
-Access to the other empire specific weapons or vehicles. This could be a package deal or per item.
-Higher battle ranks
-New weapons, items, vehicles, or implants, but not necessarily better ones.
-Alternately, earlier access to those things as they are introduced
-Glamor items, like the sword, unlocking uniform colors or special uniforms/helmets/goggles!
-K/D meter.

-Outfit insignia/flags
-Named outfit bases
-Rankings on ingame leaderboards.
-Beamer that shoots OSes(Costs $100,000

)

Which do you think are appropriate/inappropriate, and what else can you think of?

Aractain · 2011-02-12, 03:53 AM

What about an alternative leveling system that gives 'perks' instead of certs as certs should be left alone and not alterted by cash at all as they are the 'core' of the game.

This system could be leveled with 'points' which is converted from XP once you hit cap. Alternatively you could just buy the points with real money to speed up this obvious grind system.

What that system could be is a 'talent tree' like system that gives 'perks' to your character that arn't big nor are they going to change a one vs one fight.
Things like reload speed, magazine size, inventory size or maybe bigger things like a chest holster (medium sized only no HA/AV) or the ability to drop in a vehicle (not an AMS?) once every 30 minuets.

Definately NOT things like accuracy, fire speed, health, armour etc.

Also I really want to see decals/paint jobs on vehicles. Doubt it will ever happen but just look at APB. Even a tiny bit of that would be awesome. Not to mention having enviroment matched camoflauge (as in white/grey for snow etc) on your infantry armour, your guns and your vehicles.

Theres a lot of stuff you could create to buy but I really don't think SOE are thinking this far ahead (please prove me wrong Smed).

DviddLeff · 2011-02-12, 05:43 AM

I would instigate a system where there are a variety of payment methods:

Free Trial through Steam account: Maximum BR6, CR0, Cannot lead squads
Box/one time fee purchased only: Maximum BR10, CR3
Subscription: Maximum BR 20, CR5.

Once a player has been subscribed for three continuous years, they get to carry on without paying further subscriptions.

Alternatively players could spend the equivalent of a years subscription to become a lifetime member, with the same opportunities of a subscribed player, but no recurring cost.

Jonny · 2011-02-12, 05:55 AM

They should just have a high box price, like 50-60 quid and no monthly fee, but maby some micro transactions for aesthetic things.

I really think it should be free to play, as gamers are less willing to put up with monthly fee's now from greedy developers - look at APB and Global Agenda.

From my point of view, I don't want to feel like I cant play a game I like one month because I havn't paid that month. Or then if I do pay for a month, then feel like I should pay more to get my monies worth, when I have alot of other commitments in life.

I have always thought that stuff like blizzards WOW is criminal how much they charge and how much money they make from one product. Many companies out there sell games then offer free updates for a long time as part of the good will of service.

With possible micro transactions (not saying i particularly like them) people can support the company in small ways for something in return, but be able to own the right to play the game any time.

JayC · 2011-02-12, 05:53 AM

The buying of currency in any form is a big no no! There were enough ChinaSider's on this game without them selling a million credits on eBay!

Lartnev · 2011-02-12, 06:05 AM

Hats.... it worked for Team Fortess 2

Seriously, assuming it's a micro transaction system: Character slots is a good one, as is custom insignias. Perhaps additional emotes or different voices - stuff that makes your characters or outfits more unique but doesn't detract from the fact you're waging war.

I agree with Aractain that anything that improves the player's abilities should be taboo.

Grimster · 2011-02-12, 08:44 AM

Yeah sure I am all for micro transactions as long as they don't give you an edge in the game. For example better gear, implants weapons or armor.

Jonny · 2011-02-12, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Grimster

Yeah sure I am all for micro transactions as long as they don't give you an edge in the game. For example better gear, implants weapons or armor.

Agree with you there.

Firefly · 2011-02-12, 09:17 AM

Leave it as a paid sub. Adding free shit is usually done poorly and with no eye towards security. As I understand it, free accounts in PS led to lots of hacking, amirite?

If for some reason they find it necessary to allow free access, even as trial players, there need to be some serious restraints. They also need to make sure accounts can't just be easily created. AND NO FUCKING ECONOMY. AT ALL.

Case in point: Warhammer Online. They opened up the game due to failing subscription levels. Anyone could play up to level 10. You could create a free trial that never ended. You could create an infinite amount. There was no email confirmation, nothing. You could literally type "asdf lkjh" as your name and "asd@asd" as your email and five seconds later you could be playing.

Now because this game had an economy and it had levels, there were all sorts of Engrish-speaking little spamming dick-suckers, INCESSANTLY, over and over, clogging up public chat and private tells and in-game mails with gold-spam and powerleveling services. CSRs couldn't keep up with the spammers because you ban one, they come right back on another account. And they're macro-programs, so it's not like there's a guy sitting there going "damn my fingers are tired".

CutterJohn · 2011-02-12, 10:31 AM

Free to play doesn't necessarily mean free, period. A guild wars model is certainly viable. Purchase the game but its free to play after. And I highly doubt they will go with a subscription based model, as thats a huge turn off for more casual FPS players. Planetside doesn't have the carrot on a stick hooks that an RPG does to keep people playing, and suffers doubly because it needs a strong population to be viable.

Plus subscriptions seriously hamper hopping in and playing on odd occasions. Over the years when I was unsubbed I would have played the game off and on. But I didn't play enough to warrant $15 for a few hours. So I didn't play. PSN will not really be an improvement if it doesn't support casual play like that.

Originally Posted by Grimster

Yeah sure I am all for micro transactions as long as they don't give you an edge in the game. For example better gear, implants weapons or armor.

In a perfect world, yeah. But if they do go the microtransaction route to support the game, the benefits of giving them money are going to have to be strong enough to get people to actually give them money. Silly hats may not be enough.

Grimster · 2011-02-12, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by CutterJohn

In a perfect world, yeah. But if they do go the microtransaction route to support the game, the benefits of giving them money are going to have to be strong enough to get people to actually give them money. Silly hats may not be enough.

Well to be honest, in my opinion they should keep the subscription model but thats not stopping them from having micro transactions also in forms of for example custom title, custom logo maybe different types of armors(visually) with of course empire colors.

I mean that way they are not dependent on micro transactions but they can still have them in the game available for those who are willing to pay money to for example get a different look on their character.

Bags · 2011-02-12, 11:02 AM

I propose --
Free Trial: BR 6 / CR 0 max. Lowest priority for continent queues.

Then, everyone pays $20 - $50 for game then:

Paid sub: BR 25(20?), CR5. Highest priority for continent queues.
($15/mo, $14/3mo, $13/6mo...)
Free Sub: BR 10 / CR 2 max. Second lowest priority for locked continents.

Requires legit CC and email to free sub / trial.
----

No other in-game micro transactions should be accepted by the community or PSN will end up as a Sci-Fi themed hat simulator similar to TF2. I can't believe you honestly suggested that you could get a higher BR by paying. Not only does that go against money = power, but BR 40 is partially the reason PS is a steaming cesspool right now, as everyone has extra certs for maxes and special assault.

I'm fine with microtransactions = more character slots, named outfit bases, and outfit flags. Most of your suggestions however should be free (leaderboards, K/D ratio, rankings, access to items) or shouldn't be available at all. (Increased BR, other faction's weapons, "Glamor items", beamers)

Originally Posted by Jonny

I have always thought that stuff like blizzards WOW is criminal how much they charge and how much money they make from one product. Many companies out there sell games then offer free updates for a long time as part of the good will of service.

You're joking right? You do know how many servers Blizzard has and how much they and their upkeep cost, right? Maintenance, upgrades, utilities, salaries etc. Sorry if you're poor enough that $15 is a criminal amount for 30 days of video game access.

I'm interested, can you tell me how much money Blizzard makes from WoW, since you're so well informed? I'm not talking about sales revenue.

Jonny · 2011-02-12, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bags

You're joking right? You do know how many servers Blizzard has and how much they and their upkeep cost, right? Maintenance, upgrades, utilities, salaries etc. Sorry if you're poor enough that $15 is a criminal amount for 30 days of video game access.

I'm interested, can you tell me how much money Blizzard makes from WoW, since you're so well informed? I'm not talking about sales revenue.

No i'm not really joking...because they have loads of subscribers they're probably making more than the GDP of a small country. I doubt paying staff and keeping servers going needs that kind of money.

I'm not saying im well informed, but from a quick google search: "With more than 12 million subscribers as of October 2010,[11] World of Warcraft is currently the world's most-subscribed MMORPG,[9][12][13] and holds the Guinness World Record for the most popular MMORPG by subscribers." - thats from wikipedia.

So this could be wide of the mark, but 12 million (subscribers) x £8.99 monthly subscription is over 100 million pounds a month.

To me, thats kind of criminal as players can end up spending hundreds - to maby a thousand on one game. That game's also known for being very addictive due to its leveling and strong identification with the forms of weapons, character upgrades etc that seem endless. An online ego fest.

Bags · 2011-02-12, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jonny

No i'm not really joking...because they have loads of subscribers they're probably making more than the GDP of a small country. I doubt paying staff and keeping servers going needs that kind of money.

I'm not saying im well informed, but from a quick google search: "With more than 12 million subscribers as of October 2010,[11] World of Warcraft is currently the world's most-subscribed MMORPG,[9][12][13] and holds the Guinness World Record for the most popular MMORPG by subscribers." - thats from wikipedia.

So this could be wide of the mark, but 12 million (subscribers) x £8.99 monthly subscription is over 100 million pounds a month.

To me, thats kind of criminal as players can end up spending hundreds - to maby a thousand on one game. That game's also known for being very addictive due to its leveling and strong identification with the forms of weapons, character upgrades etc that seem endless. An online ego fest.

First off -- almost half of those 12 million are from China, who do not pay using the same $15/month model as the rest of us.

Secondly, you forget that a lot of people buy their subscription in bulk. IE; they don't pay $15/mo, but more like $14 - 12/mo.

Thirdly, you don't have any proof to back up your assumptions. For all you know they break even with $15/mo from each player.

And lastly, $15/mo is an amazing deal for the entertainment value of MMOS. Or do you not see movies?

CutterJohn · 2011-02-12, 11:07 AM

And what BR do unsubbed characters get? Revert to 6?

Not really seeing the animosity. People say don't pay for microtransactions, but if there are, nothing that helps you. But subs for battle ranks are fine? Pretty sure those help. More certs keeps you more viable at more points in the game.

Subs do keep it simple, but I also really like the idea of playing when I feel like it.