Paying for Planetside

[ChipMHazard]

Quantity would be my guess. It seems like there will be a lot of cosmetic items, and possible booster packs, in the store.
I certainly see your point about how to make sure you keep making a profit over a longer period of time, but it seems to work really well in other free to play games (although a game like LoL does sell booster packs).
I don't really think we need to "worry" that much about SOE making a viable F2P store model since they most certainly have enough experience in making them.

[Madfish]

Great responses guys, you should be pitching to investors!

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

[Serotriptomine]

I haven't been paying attention to the CS aspect of the game.

Do cosmetic items remain, permanently?
Or is it that 3-7-30 day nonsense like most other games?
Same question in regards to weapons I spose.

[Mechzz]

Originally Posted by Madfish

Great responses guys, you should be pitching to investors!

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

We're just looking for something to discuss besides how bad the NC music is!

[indirect]

Originally Posted by Kran De Loy

Once you buy something in an FTP game, it becomes easier to buy a second item, then a third and so on.

So yes, I see microtransactions keeping the game floating easily and the SOE Devs obviously know that selling power over the store is one of the fastest ways to scare off players and thus potential paying customers.

However the Devs do not own the company. This is the part where many previous games (FTP or otherwise) have been able to go so inevitably extremely wrong. While SOE hasn't made that mistake yet as far as I know, SOE has unfortunately made similar terribad decisions that have previously thrown many of their franchises into sad shells of their previous potential.

Happily nothing even near the level of EA's shenanigans over the last decade.

Name one SOE game that sells power.

Oh you can't...

[Nemises]

One other thing to consider....
In the mmo world, numbers beget numbers..

The most popular game (with the most players), by proxy attracts the most new players...usually because of the "my friend told me about this game..." , or "I saw this vid with like 400 guys shooting tanks!!!" effect..

F2P means your gonna at least try it...remove the initial barrier and WAMMO, it doesnt matter if only 10% of people make ingame purchases..

10% of 1000000 people beats 100% of 10000 if ya know what I mean

[Bags]

Originally Posted by Serotriptomine

I haven't been paying attention to the CS aspect of the game.

Do cosmetic items remain, permanently?
Or is it that 3-7-30 day nonsense like most other games?
Same question in regards to weapons I spose.

Permanent, AFAWK.

[Serotriptomine]

Glad to hear it.
I'd have been pretty disapointed if my spray on camo job of the velico-teddy-heart-cannon was only 30 days. >:[

[Murdoch]

Yep its all about maximising you ARPU.

With Sub you limit the top end what people can pay and also put off people from trying out your game. F2P with RMT allows opens up the game to anyone to try and then spend money if they so wish.

One thing you will see often with RMT shops as well is that people are more likely to spend more than a sub over a given time period as often the payments are so small and spread out that they dont often tally up the numbers in their head.

I wouldnt be supprised if they actually launch with a hybrid model being free and offering a subscription of some type. We already see this in EQ & EQ2 with silver and gold membership options along side the free to play.

[JimmyOmaha]

I hope there is a voluntary subscription for accounts.

Otherwise I'll be purchasing boosts to XP and resources pretty often. Seeing as cosmetic stuff won't interest me after I find my look. And I'd really like to support the dev-team. :]

[Dart]

They've already (apparently) confirmed they're selling exp and resource boosters (which is a little to choose to 'pay to win' for my liking; the more you pay the faster you level) SMS those twerp items will be their biggest earners.

[Dart]

Originally Posted by Murdoch

Yep its all about maximising you ARPU.

With Sub you limit the top end what people can pay and also put off people from trying out your game. F2P with RMT allows opens up the game to anyone to try and then spend money if they so wish.

One thing you will see often with RMT shops as well is that people are more likely to spend more than a sub over a given time period as often the payments are so small and spread out that they dont often tally up the numbers in their head.

I wouldnt be supprised if they actually launch with a hybrid model being free and offering a subscription of some type. We already see this in EQ & EQ2 with silver and gold membership options along side the free to play.

And for those with more than a casual interest in the game, the subscription option often works out cheaper.

[Dreamcast]

League Of Legends.

They make all their money from skins and selling boosters....and they are pretty rich.

[HEISTT]

Originally Posted by JimmyOmaha

I hope there is a voluntary subscription for accounts.

Otherwise I'll be purchasing boosts to XP and resources pretty often. Seeing as cosmetic stuff won't interest me after I find my look. And I'd really like to support the dev-team. :]

Just when you think you found your look, new content (camos etc) will be released that is often times a step up from your previous gear. I'm not worried about the F2p-model, I do hope this game is able to maintain a large player base for a long period of time.

[Zekeen]

When Team Fortress 2 went free to play, they reported some GIGANTIC leap in revenue, like 500%, or maybe it was 1500%, in any case, they make a hell of a lot going F2P.