Free to play business model.

[Sharky]

So how do you all feel about the free to play business model? I know it gets a lot of shit in general for the way some developers are really sleazy about it. But personally I think it's a brilliant idea.

Take a game like PSO2 for example, this is free to play done perfectly. You can download the  game absolutely free and with no monthly subscriptions! Pirating? Go for it! Who cares, developer loses nothing- It's free! And better yet you can EASILY play through the entire game with no money grabbing restrictions. Basically, if you so choose, you can have this great game entirely free. In the past you would have to pay to own the game then possibly a monthly subscription on top of that! Instead someone else with more money than sense is paying for your enjoyment, because they want to play dress up with their character... FINE BY ME.
 
And if it's a game where toward the end it's an incredibly tedious grind unless you spend a bit? Well then it's YOUR choice, if you like the game so much you want to finish it then fuck you, you just got it free, cough up and pay the developer if you like it that much! Call it a tip!

Granted there are some games that try to bleed your wallet dry with their bullshit pay to win schemes. But there are also some games you'll pay £38 for only to find out you hate. The answer to both of those is, just stop playing... But with only one have you forked over £38.

[MadeManG74]

The problem is when they design the game around being F2P. So basically they make the game so boring/frustrating most of the time that it's either a non-fun grind, or you pay to skip those bits.

I would rather have a game designed around wanting to pay for the content because it's all so enjoyable.

In theory there isn't anything wrong with F2P games, I think it works better for some styles than others. DoA being free to play and the option to buy characters/aesthetics is a cool idea, especially as there's an option to just buy it all at once for the price of a regular game.

[Sharky]

DoA as in Dead or Alive? I didn't know the were doing that, but I think that is a great idea for genres like fighters that don't tend to be the most popular. If it ends up successful SEGA should think about that for maybe the next Virtua Fighter.

[MadeManG74]

DoA as in Dead or Alive? I didn't know the were doing that, but I think that is a great idea for genres like fighters that don't tend to be the most popular. If it ends up successful SEGA should think about that for maybe the next Virtua Fighter.

Yup Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Core Fighters was released alongside the 'full' release:

A free digital version of the game, titled Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Core Fighters, was released on the PlayStation Store alongside the retail version. Hayashi said he wants to introduce more people to the genre and make them interested, hoping it might help to bring back the fighting games' golden era of the 1990s.[39] Soon after the announcement of Core Fighters, Namco Bandai announced and quickly released Tekken Revolution, their own take on a concept of a free-to-play fighting game.[40]

Core Fighters features four playable characters (Kasumi, Ayane, Hayate and Ryu) and almost all of the game's modes, whilst additional playable characters (for $4 each) and the game's Story Mode (for $15) may purchased separately as DLC (Core Fighters is compatible with DLC costumes from DOA5, but comes with no free additional costumes[7]). The digital version has only been announced for PlayStation 3, with an Xbox 360 release slated as 'possible'

Killer Instinct on Xbone is also F2P (and then an eventual "Full" retail release):

Killer Instinct was released as a free-to-play game that includes all available game modes but only one playable character, with the ability to purchase additional fighters individually. The sole playable character in the demo version rotates on a regular basis.[43] Alternatively, players can purchase the "Combo Breaker Pack" for a single fee, which will provide immediate access to all six launch characters, as well as early access to the first two post-launch fighters (collectively titled Season One)

Aaaaand Tekken Revolution too. But that game is shit and Tekken fans hate the fuck out of it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekken_Revolution

I've been saying for a while that I would like to see Sega try a Free to Play model for VF. have a bundle for $40~50 with everything, and then have a free version with a rotating cast of characters and default costumes. You can buy costumes and characters for $5~10 a pop.

Someone like me will just buy the full package, casual players who want to try it out can play the free characters for the month and then if they like, say Jeffry, they can buy him to use forever for $5 or something.

[Barry the Nomad]

Didn't VF5:FS have a bundle system for costume packs?

[MadeManG74]

Didn't VF5:FS have a bundle system for costume packs?

Yes.

You bought the game which came with everything minus customs and 'Special Sparring'.

Then you could buy each character's packs seperately, or two 'bundles' which came with half the cast each.

Finally on PS3, there was a 'Complete' edition of the game that had everything.

[JRcade19]

The problem is when they design the game around being F2P.

Pretty much. F2P games designed around making all the money are the problem. F2P games that are interested in at least some of the money are a much better alternative and pretty much always better games.

[Barry the Nomad]

Yes.

You bought the game which came with everything minus customs and 'Special Sparring'.

Then you could buy each character's packs seperately, or two 'bundles' which came with half the cast each.

Finally on PS3, there was a 'Complete' edition of the game that had everything.

I liked that idea, especially given most people pick only a few characters as their main selection. Costume fans can blow their money on the complete packs. Personally, I want El Blaze and Sarah's costumes.

[George]

Depends on the model.

League of Legends, DOTA 2 or shitty mobile games?

[Team Andromeda]

Hate it, nothing is free in gaming and it's just a model that for me doesn't work. I also hate paid for DLC too.  This just for SEGA but for every developer on every platform . I simply hate f2p and dlc

[crackdude]

Pretty much. F2P games designed around making all the money are the problem.

Kind of. The main problem is game design.
There are grindy games that cost 40 bucks. Some people enjoy grindy games, hybrid cars and extreme masochism.

[MadeManG74]

I'm interested in seeing how Unreal Tournament 2015 turns out.

It's supposed to be entirely free, the only money is made from buying and selling custom mods/content that users make. The devs take a cut from each sale which is how they make money.

Should be a good-un.

[JRcade19]

I'm interested in seeing how Unreal Tournament 2015 turns out.

It's supposed to be entirely free, the only money is made from buying and selling custom mods/content that users make. The devs take a cut from each sale which is how they make money.

Should be a good-un.

Well Team Fortress 2 seems to be doing ok(understatement of the century), I don't see why a new UT shouldn't do well under the same model if Epic plays their cards right.

[max_cady]

@Sharky

F2P in theory is a pretty good model, it's how you implement it that might make or break a game. I should know, Spiral Knights, for example, had me spending the equivalent of 3 full priced game a couple of years back.


Of course, Three Rings eventually changed their model of service into something a little more affordable.

But there are exceptions, of course, but this game is the perfect example of how the F2P model can be warped into something unplayable:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_AgjWkNGew