605 replies to this topic

[Varjen]

I think F2P is the future.

It increases the playerbase and makes the game come alive in a whole new sense. If the content and engine is good, people will stay and start to pay. I would almost like to see ALL games go towards this model. It gives the devs a hint what is good and what is not, the games, items and things we pay for is apparently attractive and should be a focus.

As to the discussions about "The bigger wallet wins", well. Money does not equal skill in my experience.
I have many many times utterly humiliated my poor tabletop friends in games with much smaller mechs and just used skill and knowledge.
Let the people who buy a big heavy try that out, i bet the repaircosts will make the poor fella cry himself to sleep later...

Yes, if you put a light and a heavy on an open field and slug it out boxingstyle, the light WILL lose. Aint no two ways about it. So dont stand there... Move and fire. Read up on Guderian and learn tactics instead.
I have much more fun playing with my Tier 2-4 tanks in WOT than i have with the heavies.

Intense fluid combat is much more challenging than a megaton slugfest.

To the devs: I have been waiting for this game since -84. Thank you. Really.

[Senthysis]

Albeit, I am worried about the balance of this game when it comes to using the F2P model. It is reassuring to see the staff reiterate "You can't buy skill..." in both forums and in interviews. "F2P richies" have ruined most potentially fun games using this model and I would hate to see MWO fall into the same pit.

That said, I am excited at the idea of strapping back into a mech and have already purchased a brand new joystick in preparation to this game.

[S4R1N]

Aside from the fact I'm bouncing off the walls to know it's coming what I love about F2P games is the people that feel that they need to have "bought" the game to feel like it's not cheap.

I am one of those weird people.

Will there be any kind of "starter" or "paid" pack that we could get for say oh $20? Could come with things like a choice of a few camos you unlock later or 1 free variant or something small but makes you feel like an "individual" for at least the first 10 or so hours of play. (probably a bit more fleshed out than this)

Although one thing that really irks me about F2P games that I'd really like to know your stance on is the constant flashing of "DEALS DEALS DEALS!" "SAVE 30% ON THIS PAID BONUS" "GET THIS EXP BONUS LIMITED TIME ONLY" all up in my UI. I've become accustomed to the Battletech universe being very steamlined and immersive.
Will you be going the advertising route with constant popups and "if you had this premium pack you could have earned 500 more XP" and things of this nature?

[Decision Paradox]

Psyclosarin, on 13 May 2012 - 11:05 PM, said:

Although one thing that really irks me about F2P games that I'd really like to know your stance on is the constant flashing of "DEALS DEALS DEALS!" "SAVE 30% ON THIS PAID BONUS" "GET THIS EXP BONUS LIMITED TIME ONLY" all up in my UI. I've become accustomed to the Battletech universe being very steamlined and immersive.
Will you be going the advertising route with constant popups and "if you had this premium pack you could have earned 500 more XP" and things of this nature?

Why not merge both immersion and advertising?
Since the mechwarrior universe is based upon a heavily industrialized civilisation, it stands to reason that they have some sort of advertising going on.
Imagine the "world-view" or universe map has certain background images when you select a planet (some ambient city animation for example), so just sneakily putting some sort of billboard or general announcement panels promoting "premium" content into that background, merging it with the overall environment while mindcontrolling educating us about the possibilities in the paid content areas.

[BassCreator]

I hope, WMO will have good payment system. I know much good games what buried by payment system "MONEY, MONEY, MONEY". Payment system must be very balanced for have fun to all: donators and basic players.
My vision of payment system in MWO: no unique mechs/weapons/etc for donators. If you want to get good mech/weapon fast - pay for it, if you want to get mech for free - you will get good mech slower.
Or you can see to very successful payment system in World of Tanks. You can buy premium account and will get 50% more exp/money, you can buy good ammo for payment, but it is not imbalanced, you can fight vs donator as he is basic player. You can buy good mech what have not so good stats and can't be upgraded but very cheap to repair. But be carefull with this system, it is very balanced in WOT. It system very succesfull because donators have no advantage over basic players.
Also i hope, in game will trophy system. It is cool when you take good gun from strong player as trophy (or his leg ).
I hope you will hold the one secret of success of game: dont be greedy, make good game and much players will carry much money to you because they are like this game and reccomending this game to their friends.

Edited by BassCreator, 14 May 2012 - 04:36 AM.

[Robby Vitriolic]

28 pages of comments and two beers (Stella Artois to be precise) later, I feel up to joining the dialogue.

First, I've came across a number of "If this is F2P or P2W then I'm not going to buy the game" posts. Those confuse me.

Since the F stands for 'Free", perhaps "I won't download and try the game" would be more apt.

Second, as to the subject of what is and or is not fair play for purchase, I think that cosmetic stuff (e.g. my Magistracy of Canopus allegiance icon, or the Planet Hardcore Pinup for my cockpit) is of course fair game.

Weapons, ammo, mechs, anything else that can also be gained through play is fine as well. I understand that there is opposition to that concept. Think of it this way: if there is any means to transfer C-bills between players, than miners will exploit it. Might as well let the company capture some of that revenue, so they can have the resources to grow the game in the future.

I completely agree that power shouldn't be bought.

And no, I don't think buying an Atlas is buying power per se.

For example, I would imagine it unfair to pit a lance of light mechs against a lance of assault mechs. But what if there was more to the mission than "last mech standing"? Perhaps the light lance is a rearguard fighting a delaying action and fully expects to lose their mechs. But they manage to hold off the other lance for awhile, and badly damage two of the assault mechs in the process. If the light mechs inflicted more C-bills worth of damage to other side than they incurred through their own losses, then it's a win for them.

Third (and I apologize profusely if this has been addressed elsewhere), I think that to properly frame this discussion, we will need to know how currency is acquired in the game without micropurchase.

For faction warfare, I imagine you start in a light mech and a balance of C-bills, perhaps sufficient for a medium mech. Go on missions, if your side wins, you are rewarded. At least enough to repair and rearm, more if you won decisively. If your side loses, of course you need to buy another mech to go on another mission. Run out of C-bills, and you might need to wait a period of time for the supporting house to fund you again. Or, you could micropurchase some C-bills to get back into a Jenner and take to the field right away.

For players who want to be Mercs, they can join with an established, canon unit and have similar mechanics as serving a house. Player formed merc companies might only gain revenue through victory and planet occupation. In any case, I am curious to see how that ultimately works out.

Fourth (and finally), I have high hopes for this game because it is being created in Vancouver, and Canada is awesome. I met my wife there.

Just my two filthy lucre.

[Oswin Aurelius]

Robby Vitriolic, on 20 May 2012 - 06:21 PM, said:

For faction warfare, I imagine you start in a light mech and a balance of C-bills, perhaps sufficient for a medium mech. Go on missions, if your side wins, you are rewarded. At least enough to repair and rearm, more if you won decisively. If your side loses, of course you need to buy another mech to go on another mission. Run out of C-bills, and you might need to wait a period of time for the supporting house to fund you again. Or, you could micropurchase some C-bills to get back into a Jenner and take to the field right away.

As stated by the Developers, players will start with one 'mech that they choose from four "starter" 'mechs (to be announced, but one from each weight class).

You will never lose your 'mech, you'll just have to repair it before you can use it again.

The Devs have also stated that you will always make AT LEAST enough money from a match to pay your bills, even if you lose.

From what I remember, I believe you nailed it on your Merc assumption, however. Nice job!

[DuncanPwnz]

F2P model is good. Look League of Legends. Full f2p, xp/ip boosts, champ skins - its nothing, 30lvl cap assuming very fast, for example I earn it ~ 1 month. If u want this "OMGWTFSUPASKIN" - just buy it, but it don't add any skill. If think that game is fail, Google some about player amount and championships.

[Oswin Aurelius]

League of Legends is kinda legendary (pun intended) when it comes to Free-to-Play games. It has a solid core game that is offered completely for free, and the only thing you can't get with in-game currency is the XP/IP boosts and fancy skins.

The one thing I LOVE is that you CAN'T buy runes with real money, only with IP earned by playing the game. Thus, you can't max out your champions with real money, you have to grind for those runes by playing.

[Kfobx]

F2P is fine as long as they don't bow to advertisers or anything. I don't want to watch a Toyota commercial before mission launch or have a guy lined up in my sights and see a Fritos back stuck to his shin or something....

If they're gonna cheese it out or slow it down, screw it. I'll pay for it.

[Victor Morson]

Oswin Aurelius, on 21 May 2012 - 01:50 PM, said:

League of Legends is kinda legendary (pun intended) when it comes to Free-to-Play games. It has a solid core game that is offered completely for free, and the only thing you can't get with in-game currency is the XP/IP boosts and fancy skins.

The one thing I LOVE is that you CAN'T buy runes with real money, only with IP earned by playing the game. Thus, you can't max out your champions with real money, you have to grind for those runes by playing.

Really the one that lead the way started out as a paid game, Team Fortress 2. Really, I think I can credit the shift from terrible "Pay to Win" or "Not really free" F2P games into the cosmetic/different-but-equal thing we're seeing emerge now. The two games I'm most interested this year are both F2P - Planetside 2 and MWO. I'm actually upset they're coming out at the same time, because Planetside 2 would have been a great time killer while I was waiting for MWO, but MWO will without a doubt dominate my time when the two are side by side. I'm seriously planning on making MWO my primary game for the next few years if all goes well.

Edited by Victor Morson, 21 May 2012 - 08:13 PM.

[mitsurugi]

Any word on the official configuration for the subscription method? I saw some of the news posts, and it's got having concerns. If it says something akin to the LoL f2p method, I'll be happy.The extra hardpoint bit though, might be done if it was a skin change. SOme of the champs in LoL have actions changed depending on the skin they have, so it could be done, least in this case. Though I will say this; the PPC cicada variant would be OP IMHO, I'd be using it for sniping, and getting to the enemy's backside. It would be too easy for me to use hit and run tactics with it. I'll stop talking bout that before I choke on my drool,

[Kymlaar]

I love this idea. The lighter mechs have always been a favorite of mine anyway, so being able to use them for recon and harrassment is basically a dream come true.

If the game has an almost battlefield style control point system for some battle types they're even better, as they can easily be used to draw enemies out of position and maybe even to do some serious flanking and back biting.

[Tornox]

After reading this now very, very long thread, I see what your aim is Bryan and it really sounds good. I've been playing video games and MMO's since 1978 and been a huge fan of the BT universe, heck, I think I even still have the original release of the BT or CityTech box up in my attic (along with the other tons of publications). Point being I've seen it all, lots of fails and lots of wins through the years, I would strongly put this idea / direction in the win column.

As a suggestive note however, I would avoid making actual mech's purchaseable, that's typically where most games have run into trouble (recently WoT comes to mind).
Instead possibly making varients of specific mech's (think it was already suggested) available, plenty of them available in the tech readouts and house books that were released, while making sure (through heavy testing) that they don't affect game play (ex. 7 medium lazer nova cats pop tarting from MW3).

Anyways I look forward to when more information is availbile and you have firmed things up during the beta.

Best of luck! And quick last off topic question.... How many pots of coffee a hour are you up to now?

[Red October911]

I, once I get a job, (or get out of the house to start with XD) will definatly spend my money on MW: O, I've been a fanboy since childhood and I really want this to go reaaaalllllll far!

BT universe means the world to me and to keep it alive in the modern gaming community is my dream come true

I already feel my 20 bucks in my wallet crying to be giving out.

[XavierX]

Less WoT, more LoL & Tribes

Seriously. I will not spend a dime on this game if there are pay-to-win modules and weapons that are only available for whatever real money spent turns into. I won't even play it. It will turn into the crapfest that WoT is currently. At least a medium laser is a medium laser, and all mechs can be hurt. Nothing quite like queuing up in WoT with a tier 2 tank to be put against a tier 6 behemoth you can't penetrate unless you bought the pay-to-win shells.

There's so much diversity and possible customization offered by the Battletech universe that there's no reason the Devs should have to delve into that sort of WoT nonsense.

I don't like what I'm hearing, so far. "You can't buy skill" is not the same as "You can't buy an edge." I'd be pissed if I got to Elite 2 on a chassis and someone new to the game is gifted that for $15 or whatever. It's all fine that someone can, in theory, plop down enough money to buy every module and mech available. That's great for the Devs, the game, and it doesn't hurt the playerbase. The high roller sort of thing comes with the F2P territory, but they are only really buying a shortcut. But if there are +5% modules here and there or exclusive pay-only weapons, it's going to go on the F2P scrap heap with a bunch of other games that don't quite grasp equality.

The devs need to draw a box around the 'core' game (this should include ALL aspects of combat) and decide that no amount of money will compromise that experience inside the box for someone who just downloaded the game and hasn't spent a dollar. Tribes: Ascend and League of Legends does this very well, and they're successful because of it. Ultimately, the goal is to have a healthy playerbase and for the game to have longevity. Pay-to-win modules and weapons might make you the same or even more money, but having a slightly more equitable monetization system and twice the playerbase is far more valuable (or at least it should be) for a company looking to gain a foothold in the crowded market.

[Aleric]

XavierX, on 25 May 2012 - 02:13 PM, said:

Less WoT, more LoL & Tribes

Seriously. I will not spend a dime on this game if there are pay-to-win modules and weapons that are only available for whatever real money spent turns into. I won't even play it. It will turn into the crapfest that WoT is currently. At least a medium laser is a medium laser, and all mechs can be hurt. Nothing quite like queuing up in WoT with a tier 2 tank to be put against a tier 6 behemoth you can't penetrate unless you bought the pay-to-win shells.

There's so much diversity and possible customization offered by the Battletech universe that there's no reason the Devs should have to delve into that sort of WoT nonsense.

I don't like what I'm hearing, so far. "You can't buy skill" is not the same as "You can't buy an edge." I'd be pissed if I got to Elite 2 on a chassis and someone new to the game is gifted that for $15 or whatever. It's all fine that someone can, in theory, plop down enough money to buy every module and mech available. That's great for the Devs, the game, and it doesn't hurt the playerbase. The high roller sort of thing comes with the F2P territory, but they are only really buying a shortcut. But if there are +5% modules here and there or exclusive pay-only weapons, it's going to go on the F2P scrap heap with a bunch of other games that don't quite grasp equality.

The devs need to draw a box around the 'core' game (this should include ALL aspects of combat) and decide that no amount of money will compromise that experience inside the box for someone who just downloaded the game and hasn't spent a dollar. Tribes: Ascend and League of Legends does this very well, and they're successful because of it. Ultimately, the goal is to have a healthy playerbase and for the game to have longevity. Pay-to-win modules and weapons might make you the same or even more money, but having a slightly more equitable monetization system and twice the playerbase is far more valuable (or at least it should be) for a company looking to gain a foothold in the crowded market.

Lol Bonus points for the Tribes reference, I so miss that game.

[Toothman]

Sirisian, on 04 November 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

I'm indifferent to F2P, but I'm slightly bothered by this write-up.

It's hardly a problem. Even bad games I'll find I've enjoyed them for 25 hours before setting them down forever which equates to 2.50 USD per hour which is a fairly decent entertainment rate. Especially given that a movie in comparison can be a 5 USD/hour rate.

Trying to say you bought a game then only played it for 2 hours when it probably had a lot more content is less the game's fault and is a fairly weak argument for F2P.


What if I don't value cosmetics, or I value even competition in games? How does buying items play into that.


"Efficient". Clever wording. Should have just said "convenience items". It's a lot more subtle.


These aren't really exclusive to a F2P system. They're basically just describing persistent RPG mechanisms and play styles.


I don't really see the incentive in paying money then if you're basically saying it doesn't really do anything. I mean if we have all the carrots then okay this will be interesting. Good luck.

Wow someone needs to get more fiber

[AlmightyTundra]

maybe if you try asking yourselfs how do we gain more money as possible?

or how to atract many players as possible? (i think it's to make it F2P game)

i cant see the problem in F2P try look at the fx. battlefield online battlefield heroes and the rest of the f2p games. but those 2 f2p games i mentioned have this awsome F2P system where you can buy the same weapon with bolth type of money but with the real money you can keep them forever!


but ofcourse there is some game like you everyone is saying pay to win (thats mean said of u!) games like WoT i know what you ment but im having fun even if i havent spent a cent on that game!!!


so what is the ACTUAL problem with F2P game??

lets look at tf2 i see more players since the change it to F2P game! idk why maybe is because more players can actually play the game!

or is it because f2p is the "new hot thing" for online internet games?

the truth is i cant find the problem in F2P games. so why shouldn't make MWO to a F2P game!


(im not really good at english so...)


i think it's a good idea to make Mech Warroir Online to a free to play game!!


mrwtf the greenlandish viking:

wow 3 masseges in 1 side WOW

[FredPerryHUN]

F2P IS a good thing folks.I play WOT too and I can assure you that by spending money you certainly can progress faster but you don`t really get any major advantages over other players.Your equipment won`t be better and whatever people say(gold ammo is expensive and no one fool enough to spend money on it in large quantities) and however broken the game mechanics is, the concept is good hopefully the execution is a LOT better than at WOT.
I for one looking forward to be playing MWO.