18 replies to this topic

[Felicitatem Parco]

I am concerned that the label of Free-to-Play will make people think MW:Online will be cheap or cheesy before they have a chance to view its gameplay footage; This sort of bias could hurt the game's growth rate.

I feel that IGP/PGI/whomever should be heavily advertising the fact that Mechwarrior: Online will be a $80 game that you can have for free. Notice I didn't say "Play for free," I said "Have for free." MechWarrior Online isn't going to be some amusing browser-game, or a Flash cartoon robot fighting game. MW:O is built in a powerful gaming engine and [given time] will include everything you'd expcect from a top-shelf boxed game. This is fundamentally different from a "F2P" game that you play; Mechwarrior will be a game you will have.

When I use a photoediting program that's free, I don't think of it was Free-to-Edit software, I think of it as Free software. Consider, hypothetically, there are ways you can donnate cash to receive extra features that make it work a little more conceniently, like pre-programmed macros or tools that combine two brush effects into one so you can save time: I'd still consider it free software because all the basic tools are available to the free user; Paying only gives you more conveniences and personalization options.

That's how I want MW:O to be advertised - something you can own for free and upgrade it with small cash transactions as you see fit. I don't want people to hear that MW:O is F2P and pass it off as just something amusing to do while you're browsing the web.



Now, I might be way off in left field here and making a big deal out of nothing. What do you think of when you hear F2P? Do you expect anything in particular, or does it make you gravitate to/from a game that's marketed as such?

Edited by Prosperity Park, 19 April 2012 - 03:01 PM.

[Dirk Le Daring]

You have a good point. However, when I think of a game I have, I expect to be able to use it offline. Set up a lan with friends, that sort of thing, even private servers. So, the have/play line will be on a narrow edge. Just my take on it.

[Aegis Kleais]

F2P
Freemium
AAA F2P

These are all just labels. The only thing that is going to get people to know the game's worth is to play it or see some videos of it. We can't do the former, and PGI is stingy with the latter, so many people are just going to speculate for the time being that the (once less mature) F2P market only breeds cheap games. Once they see what PGI has done, it will sway that opinion.

[Garth Erlam]

The absolute best advertising we can get is word of mouth, so once it releases I look forward to an upsurge in players coming over to see what all the fuss is about.

[Ramien]

I don't think they really need to worry about rebranding of the concept, since there are several MMOs out there already that are free to play that do not look like a browser or flash-based game. See Champions Online, Star Trek Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online, or even Everquest now. I see the branding issue as more 'We're not PWO, our free to play system is going to be fair to everyone.'

[Orzorn]

League of Legends already did that for them, by the way.

[Zylo]

Most games seem to be going the F2P path so gamers have become more accepting of the concept since competition is forcing the conversion of traditional "buy the software, pay the sub" type systems into some form of F2P.

However many gamers still don't accept pay-to-win systems like the gold ammo or premium tanks in WoT so I think if this game stays away from those concepts and sells options like a premium sub that increases exp/faction/c-bill gains that would be accepted by a larger portion of the community since it wouldn't be like buying an OP premium tank in WoT.

I suspect some of the early offerings will be very similar to the WoT options that aren't pay-to-win like extra mech bay spaces, custom mech appearance, probably a hula girl for the cockpit too.

[wwiiogre]

Having never played free to play, other than beta for Tribes Ascend, and I paid to be in that. I got my money's worth so I was happy. But havn't touched it since. Cause it does not remind me of the old Tribes games I used to play.

Now I hope PGI will make a better game than the other MW titles I want a mech sim. Simple, I want a team combat game that literally does not reward individualism or head hunting. I want the reward dynamics to be such that the best team wins, the players are rewarded for team work, not for individual kills. But hey that is just me, I will get experience for my pilot tree based on hopefully the type of role I am playing. Not how many kills I got, but did I do my role, did I help the team. Did we win. Simple, team play. That is what I hope PGI gives us. And if it does, then I will be telling everyone. Everyone I know, everyone I play games with and my hundreds and hundreds of friends on the social profile apps.

So word of mouth will work when they deliver a great game. The best thing to hear from the Dev's is they are expecting word of mouth to work. Because that means they are not only building a game, but one they are proud to be a part of and want to share it. gives me hope

chris

[RoboCyberMummy]

Zylo, on 19 April 2012 - 03:13 PM, said:

Most games seem to be going the F2P path so gamers have become more accepting of the concept since competition is forcing the conversion of traditional "buy the software, pay the sub" type systems into some form of F2P.

However many gamers still don't accept pay-to-win systems like the gold ammo or premium tanks in WoT so I think if this game stays away from those concepts and sells options like a premium sub that increases exp/faction/c-bill gains that would be accepted by a larger portion of the community since it wouldn't be like buying an OP premium tank in WoT.

I suspect some of the early offerings will be very similar to the WoT options that aren't pay-to-win like extra mech bay spaces, custom mech appearance, probably a hula girl for the cockpit too.

I agree. The overall view of F2P has been shifting away from "eew Free-To-Play" since games like LoL, Tribes, and WoT. Some people will disagree with the finer points of each game's buisness model but the overall attitude is much more accepting as of late. I also think that calling it an $80 game that you get for free may be a bit confusing for some people. I do share Prosperity's concern to a certain degree, but I think it will all work out.

[MaddMaxx]

Aegis Kleais™, on 19 April 2012 - 03:11 PM, said:

F2P
Freemium
AAA F2P

These are all just labels. The only thing that is going to get people to know the game's worth is to play it or see some videos of it. We can't do the former, and PGI is stingy with the latter, so many people are just going to speculate for the time being that the (once less mature) F2P market only breeds cheap games. Once they see what PGI has done, it will sway that opinion.

And hopefully, the MVP start will be good enough to keep folks around to allow the growth we all hope for and expect to keep this Puppy Alive... for a long time.

[MagnusEffect]

I think winning over the critics at the various video game websites will have a greater impact than the semantics behind what is F2P. From what I can tell, the critics are warm to the resurgence of the MW franchise. The exposure there is sure to bring over some new players. F2P is less of a dirty word than some make it out to be. It is still a developing concept in the western world and has yet to really find the sweet spot. MWO might be among those to change all that.

Also, say what you will about Steam, but when a new free game drops on there, people scramble for it (Alien Swarm anyone?). Throw in a slick video and you can almost guarantee tens of thousands of new potential customers right there.

Edited by MagnusEffect, 19 April 2012 - 03:33 PM.

[Aegis Kleais]

MaddMaxx, on 19 April 2012 - 03:25 PM, said:

And hopefully, the MVP start will be good enough to keep folks around to allow the growth we all hope for and expect to keep this Puppy Alive... for a long time.

I'll buy this game the puppy chow it needs to grow big, strong, and, hopefully one day, powerful enough to go for the Troll Queen's jugular. Go MWO!

[Motionless]

People are changing their view of free to play as time goes on.

WoW is now permanently free with the lvl 20 restriction. TF2 is free to play, Quake live is free to play, Tribes: Ascend as well.

Now-a-days whenever you're developing a game you want to make money on you need to keep many of these 'free' titles in mind, because they are competition - even for MWO. True, you wont get your mech combat fix in TF2, but that doesn't mean you can't have a heck of a lot of fun.

[Aegis Kleais]

Garth Erlam, on 19 April 2012 - 03:11 PM, said:

The absolute best advertising we can get is word of mouth, so once it releases I look forward to an upsurge in players coming over to see what all the fuss is about.

Today's generation is a bit short with attention spans... maybe a nice video of gameplay you have, hmmm?

[LackofCertainty]

To the OP:

1. I think you're arguing semantics. Free-to-Play is the buzz word for free games with microtransactions.

2. I think it's far enough into F2P games life that people have already seen great, premium games be F2P. (LoL Team fortress 2, Tribes Ascended, etc.) PGI's lucky, I think, because the trail has already been blazed for them to establish that F2P games are good, and yet they're going to be the first (or one of the first) to launch a F2P mech game. Being first in a space is never something to look down at.


Really, this thread comes off as a message from 3-4 years ago, back when F2P games meant facebook games. (maybe even longer ago than that, actually) I think a lot of the stigma of F2P has been erased, and we're seeing a lot of high quality games (like MWO) coming out with this pay scheme.

[Thorqemada]

I dont feel that F2P will be an obstacle in the success of MWO.
Its all about how the game takes off with its early iterations.
MMOs dont get a second shot for a first impression!

They should release different Videos for the different kind of players they will have:
The Destroyer - Blow Up as many things possible
The Hunter - Sniper, Sniper!
The Pack - Lance vs Lance
The Merc - Fate or Fortune
The House - Blood and Glory
The Clans - Pride and Honour
The Tactician - Battlegrid for deadly hit
The Strategist - Conquer a Universe (or at least a tiny part of it)

With no back up proof "Word of Mouth" will only go so far...

[Kenyon Burguess]

you'll get more new players thru F2P/microtransaction than you ever will by monthly now. their time is over and everyone has realised that

Edited by Geist Null, 19 April 2012 - 03:58 PM.

[MaddMaxx]

But let's be clear. Those other Titles mentioned were pretty mature when they "Switched" to the F2P format. MWO will have to come out of the cradle and make it in the same format.

Everyone buy Puppy Chow... and keep tapping that ADD kid next to you with a Small Laser until the catch on to MWO...

Edited by MaddMaxx, 19 April 2012 - 04:04 PM.

[Motionless]

MaddMaxx, on 19 April 2012 - 04:04 PM, said:

Everyone buy Puppy Chow... and keep tapping that ADD kid next to you with a Small Laser until the catch on to MWO...

As long as puppy can perform tricks to earn that puppy chow it will get some.