News: SOE F2P Interview

[SKYeXile]

http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=28817&storypage=1

nothing much about planetside, but a look a SOE's perspective on F2P.

[Raymac]

There's alot of reading between the lines that can be done in that interview. Thanks for the link Sky.

Lately it's been feeling alot like it was just before Fan Faire where they couldn't say anything yet but the big announcement was coming soon. It feels like we are really close for the shackles to come off and a flood of information to be unleashed.

[SKYeXile]

Originally Posted by Raymac

There's alot of reading between the lines that can be done in that interview. Thanks for the link Sky.

Lately it's been feeling alot like it was just before Fan Faire where they couldn't say anything yet but the big announcement was coming soon. It feels like we are really close for the shackles to come off and a flood of information to be unleashed.

Yea i would think so, GW2 just let a whole lot of information fly off, i image PS2 is on track for a similar beta and launch schedule with them.

[Hamma]

Originally Posted by Raymac

Lately it's been feeling alot like it was just before Fan Faire where they couldn't say anything yet but the big announcement was coming soon. It feels like we are really close for the shackles to come off and a flood of information to be unleashed.

I would agree with this. I'm sure we will get small tidbits between now and GDC. Considering the amount of Devs that will be there I am sure we will be getting some nice new pieces of info - dunno about floodgates but probably some good stuff.

[Hamma]

Thanks SKYeXile for posting this, I think I am going to post it as news because it does somewhat relate to PlanetSide 2 even if indirectly.

[Mastachief]

interesting read

[psychosiszz]

All I want is too pay a subscription and get all the content I pay for. If I have to pay extra for stuff that I should already get I probably wont buy the game. F2P is fine... but they better not screw it up, I hope people have to buy the game first then have the option to either go with the F2P package or Monthly sub to cut down on hackers (F2P are full of em).

[Tasorin]

This was a marketing interview fluff piece on a long past its prime title (EQ II) and F2P model they can't or won't define for PS2. They went to a F2P model in EQ II primarily because the subscription rate had finally hit the intercept between cost and earning after tax revenue and SOE needed to create new revenue streams to keep the title running. The only thing it really gave any perspective too is that SOE is fundamentally moving away from the past industry standard of a full subscription business model to a Cash Store business model and micro transactions. No one has really proven they can get micro transactions right. By right, I mean power balance in game. Sooner or later it becomes Power for Sale and SOE isn't any different.

I am going to refrain from saying anything more, mostly negative, about this article.

[MilitantBob]

I don't know, I'm a big League of Legends fan, and I feel like their F2P set up is near ideal. I know its not a true MMO, but I think its good indicator it can be done. Cash just provides you shortcuts to things you could have gotten through playtime and customization that doesn't effect gameplay.

That's one of the reasons I am not so worried about PS2 being F2P, they seem to be basing it off the best system for it I have seen this far.

[Trolltaxi]

I still wonder what SOE can offer for my money. Cause I know I don't want to buy cosmetics to my avatar, I won't pay for "shortcuts" if those items can be earned with playing the game. No "power" will be sold, so I won't need to be in par with others on the field either.

Only thing I'd buy is the outfit logo. And I fear that outfit activities will cost in some way - like you need to contribute to the outfit resource so much that you need to spend on a regular basis to keep your outfit strong.

[CuddlyChud]

Originally Posted by Trolltaxi

I still wonder what SOE can offer for my money. Cause I know I don't want to buy cosmetics to my avatar, I won't pay for "shortcuts" if those items can be earned with playing the game. No "power" will be sold, so I won't need to be in par with others on the field either.

Only thing I'd buy is the outfit logo. And I fear that outfit activities will cost in some way - like you need to contribute to the outfit resource so much that you need to spend on a regular basis to keep your outfit strong.

Well, the article points out that its ok to have players who don't spend money. If you're not the kind of person who buys customization and convenience items, that's ok as long as you're playing. Players are content in MMOs. And chances are, while right now you might not consider buying any of those things, a year down the road when you've made a lot of time investment into the game, it might not seem as frivolous to buy stuff off the cash shop.

[SKYeXile]

Originally Posted by Trolltaxi

I still wonder what SOE can offer for my money. Cause I know I don't want to buy cosmetics to my avatar, I won't pay for "shortcuts" if those items can be earned with playing the game. No "power" will be sold, so I won't need to be in par with others on the field either.

Only thing I'd buy is the outfit logo. And I fear that outfit activities will cost in some way - like you need to contribute to the outfit resource so much that you need to spend on a regular basis to keep your outfit strong.

i would have to think your outfit levels up via resources, which are collected from your members via a outfit leader set tax rate.

or they just levelup like offline levelling so everybody progresses the same, not a good method to encourage new outfits though.

mostlikly you would need to be a subscriber to create an outfit...not keep the sub going, but be subbed for atleast 1 month.

[Qwan]

I just hope that F2P does not equal Pay to win.

[SKYeXile]

Originally Posted by Qwan

I just hope that F2P does not equal Pay to win.

That will likely depend on your interpretation of pay to win.

For example do you believe paying for different weapons in TF2 is paying to win?

[Qwan]

Originally Posted by SKYeXile

That will likely depend on your interpretation of pay to win.

For example do you believe paying for different weapons in TF2 is paying to win?

I see it like this if said player pays for access to better weapons and vehicles, and I dont this game is going to get old quick.