A possible way to revitalize Planetside's player base?

i_Go_SpLaT · 2007-02-13, 09:47 PM

Well, I've always mulled this around in my head (after switching from Planetside to WoW because of Planetside's rather dead player base) and finally decided to post it here, because I still consider Planetside to be by far a better game than WoW (interactive player versus player games are so much better than grinding three characters to 70 >_> )

Think about games like Silk road online. Those games are free. LOTS of people play games simply because they're free! I think if sony could cut it's losses for about six months and make planetside free, that the player base for the game would BOOM. I mean, once silk road got around by word of mouth, the game's servers were completely packed within only a few weeks! There is talk about Silk road going pay to play, and once they get so many players hooked on the game, they'll be able to draw them into paying for it.

Also, if the decision to go free for a period is not appealing, why not cut the price per month in half? If you get people willing to pay about 6 bucks a month (which is peanuts compared to 12-15 when people look at it) and you get twice your player base, You're making no loss. And when that happens, those people should spread the game by word of mouth even further!

Planetside is an amazing game. Just amazing. It's replability is endless, and I never grew tired of it. I just wish more people would come back to it. These methods would CERTAINLY bring the players back, I'm just not sure if Sony is willing to take the financial blow it would cost to keep supporting a game with no income (outside of advertising) for a few months.

Just my .02.

Sami · 2007-02-14, 02:06 AM

*coughreserveaccountscough*

Mag-Mower · 2007-02-14, 10:27 PM

What you are saying is sort of done with reserves. Reserves is the free 1 year program out. The only problem with reserves are the level limitaions. Like BR6 and CR2, no merits, and no Core. Im not sure if that would work. It would give players more to interesting things to play with, but the thing is, would they keep playing after the free period is up?

DarthWraak · 2007-02-15, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Mag-Mower

What you are saying is sort of done with reserves. Reserves is the free 1 year program out. The only problem with reserves are the level limitaions. Like BR6 and CR2, no merits, and no Core. Im not sure if that would work. It would give players more to interesting things to play with, but the thing is, would they keep playing after the free period is up?

You are able to get merits and Core Combat on reserves.

I'm not worried about if some of them will pay for it when fodderside ends, I'm worried about the low pops that will plauge the servers. Its time to merge imo, that might get some subscribers back. Double pop locks would be a treat to see.

i_Go_SpLaT · 2007-02-15, 05:57 PM

I'm certain when you get players hooked, then they'll keep playing.

A free "trial" is never as attractive as a completely free game. especially to some of us that have some BR20CR3's that we don't play anymore because of the cost and lack of players, and the 1 year free with br6cr2 is just as unattractive because we couldn't play out higher ups.

Sami · 2007-02-16, 12:15 AM

Not really =/ I refuse to pay for games even if i think they're fun, i'll find a free way to get them.

i_Go_SpLaT · 2007-02-16, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by Sami

Not really =/ I refuse to pay for games even if i think they're fun, i'll find a free way to get them.

But you don't represent the majority.

Sami · 2007-02-16, 01:49 AM

Not true =/ As soon as i find a free way to get a game, all of the people i play with usually move the free way and ditch the paying way.

If people can save money on frivilous things, they will.

i_Go_SpLaT · 2007-02-16, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by Sami

Not true =/ As soon as i find a free way to get a game, all of the people i play with usually move the free way and ditch the paying way.

If people can save money on frivilous things, they will.

Tell that to the millions of subscribers to WoW

Hamma · 2007-02-16, 08:40 AM

Yea the subscription model is going to be around for many moons to come.

Sami · 2007-02-16, 03:50 PM

I agree that people will play, but its human nature that if you can get the same thing for nothing, you will go for the better deal.

Hamma · 2007-02-16, 03:53 PM

Well of course, but in most cases right now you can't

i_Go_SpLaT · 2007-02-16, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Hamma

Well of course, but in most cases right now you can't

So what's the PSU admin think? would a completely free game for a period be a good thing? I am one to believe that making a free game pay to play will still retain a good portion of it's players (a lot of people would have paid to play diablo II if it went pay to play, as well as silk road online. Lots of people throw real money at entropia, and the list just goes on and on)

The "free trial" just won't get players, I'm certain of that.

Ait'al · 2007-03-15, 05:16 AM

Nvm. Comment removed. Not sure what to say afterall. It may not be bad though if they show they can put the time to put true development into it again whle they do it.

planetsidepwns · 2007-04-17, 05:48 PM

To play or not to play... I've played Planetside before, a few years ago, and I wanted to take it up again because its a great game. as wondering if someone could give me a rough idea of how many people still played, like number of hotspots and if it is still play with that nf people. Thanks.