P2P (B2P) vs F2P

Superman0X

As somme of you already know, Perpetuum is changing its business model from a ~$10 monthly sub (with no box price) to a single buy in of ~$30 (USD). This move from sub to a one time sale is being done in the effort to increase the population, which is the single biggest issue for this game.

The question is, will it really help? Removing the monthly sub will encourage people to continue playing, once they have purchased the game. However, it will not necessarily draw in more new people, and cause the population to grow. If the game were instead to change to a F2P model (even with monthly sub), it would draw in a much larger crowd of new players.

It will be interesting to see if this change can save the game, or if it is just too little, too late.

P.S. This is actually a pretty decent game, it just needs enough players to make it enjoyable.

DamonVile

I think the only example of a sub switching to b2p we have to go on is TSW ? and in its case it wasn't really a smashing success ?

If it's goal was really to add population f2p probably would have been the better option. That being said I really don't know enough about how the game works to know if it was at all viable for this game.

I've have a casual interest in the game for a while and would seriously consider buying it though.

Makidian

I hope it does help, the game is very good, it's a hidden gem. Population is really it's only problem. Game is great now and I can only imagine how much better it would be with a higher population. 

Superman0X

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Originally posted by DamonVile I think the only example of a sub switching to b2p we have to go on is TSW ? and in its case it wasn't really a smashing success ? If it's goal was really to add population f2p probably would have been the better option. That being said I really don't know enough about how the game works to know if it was at all viable for this game. I've have a casual interest in the game for a while and would seriously consider buying it though.

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TSW is a themepark. Perpetuum is a sandbox. The one thing that makes a sandbox fun, is the other players. Without critical mass (which it has not reached) the game just does not live up to its potential.

gibo

Originally posted by Superman0X

 

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Originally posted by DamonVile I think the only example of a sub switching to b2p we have to go on is TSW ? and in its case it wasn't really a smashing success ? If it's goal was really to add population f2p probably would have been the better option. That being said I really don't know enough about how the game works to know if it was at all viable for this game. I've have a casual interest in the game for a while and would seriously consider buying it though.

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TSW is a themepark. Perpetuum is a sandbox. The one thing that makes a sandbox fun, is the other players. Without critical mass (which it has not reached) the game just does not live up to its potential.

That is why I think they have changed the payment model, to bring a much needed population. You are right, low playerbase makes sandbox mmos really boring. Going all out F2P will bring little revenue, so I don't see the point.

 

Game is pretty solid but has failed mostly due to it's lack of popularity , and poor marketing.

Wizardry

There isn't even a link to the game on the main heading,not a quality start right there.

I will lay out the simple of it.Make a TRIPLE A quality game and it has a very good chance for success at ANY cost,otherwise it is just LUCK.

Dihoru

Originally posted by Wizardry

There isn't even a link to the game on the main heading,not a quality start right there.

I will lay out the simple of it.Make a TRIPLE A quality game and it has a very good chance for success at ANY cost,otherwise it is just LUCK.

Actually it is only ever luck, just ask SWtOR (it earns good but not as good as the makers would've liked to and certainly not in the payment model they desired).

 

Perpetuum reminds me quite a bit of EVE-Online when I first started playing it and to put it bluntly... I am getting PO first chance I get now so that is at least one new player the shift has brought in (odds are the shift will bring in old players and newer ones because B2P works if the hooks are there and by what I've read about the game it certainly has quite a few hooks).

free2play

If Perp gets face time on Steam, the whole reason for this move they will get what they 'want' and maybe more.

 

Unlike other games and other developers, other publishers I think if Perp saw 10K online flux for prime, they would be quite happy with that. Perpetuum never wanted to be the next WoW. They wanted to be the small Indi game that can pay attention to most of it's players and evolve as time went on.