Originally posted by APThug Didnt zenimax say a long time ago that ESO would start off as a p2p game for some months and then move to f2p? Or has everyone silently forgotten? Gamespot posted an article about it on their site
Please refresh my memory with some sort of direct link to that article.
To me it aint silently forgotten, more like never ever read or heard about it.
Originally posted by APThug Didnt zenimax say a long time ago that ESO would start off as a p2p game for some months and then move to f2p? Or has everyone silently forgotten? Gamespot posted an article about it on their site
Please refresh my memory with some sort of direct link to that article.
To me it aint silently forgotten, more like never ever read or heard about it.
Sorry if the link doesn't work, just copy and paste. It's an old post, idk if its still valid.
according to Nicholas Lovell, founder of game consultancy firm Gamesbrief. How is he related as someone from Zenimax? Apart from Zenimax being mentioned in the article?
Yeah the gear is to be sold for in game currency, so half of this article is pointless.
How about bringing up the fact that all these updates and improvements wouldn't be possible unless it was subscription based.
That is a big reason why people want it to stay P2P.
If it went F2P (or B2P), you would get occasional tid bits of content. Nothing like they are doing now. So yeah at that point I would probably quit because there is nothing to look forward to. I've never been able to play a F2P game over a month or two because there is nothing to look forward to.
And no F2P is not the norm. It was a stupid fad that creates a lot of bad games. The best MMO's have been P2P because they've had strong development for years. Given ESO willingness to listen to its players, it has more promise then any MMO I've played since Ultima Online.
We can bring this up time and again, but people are unwilling to see this.
Yes because people's experince is different.
'F2P is a fad that creates lots of bad games.'
You and others can say it million times more but it won't become the truth.
Currently enjoying SWTOR, EQ2, STO and Rift all F2P games.
You were quick to agree with a guy who is parroting the old myth that F2P MMOS don't get regular or quality content updates.
Please understand that a ton of people enjoy this game, and if its not for you perhaps you should try linking articles (or hey, here's a novel idea... you could try writing your own.) about things you actually DO enjoy.
You are really making me want to never visit this site again every time you post a "Hey i'm going to hide behind someone else's opinion for fear of backlash" column.
If you think I'm wrong please search this guys recent history... its blatantly obvious.
Many people cry F2P, but evidence suggest otherwise.
Game is in a healthy state ATM. Something that previous AAA MMOs were not at any point in time and went F2P as a result.
As for old gear bewing buyable, Paul expplained in an online interview gear will be buyable with gold. Amount of gold is clearly unknown at thos time.
I know people are cheap and refuse to pay for a game. But thats just fine for ESO players, less trolls in game.
Yes because if someone doesn't think a MMO is worth a monthly fee he has to be cheap.
And most importantly, if you can afford 15 bucks a month it will make you less of a troll. Since we all know for a fact that money and good behavior are co related.
Yeah the gear is to be sold for in game currency, so half of this article is pointless.
How about bringing up the fact that all these updates and improvements wouldn't be possible unless it was subscription based.
That is a big reason why people want it to stay P2P.
If it went F2P (or B2P), you would get occasional tid bits of content. Nothing like they are doing now. So yeah at that point I would probably quit because there is nothing to look forward to. I've never been able to play a F2P game over a month or two because there is nothing to look forward to.
And no F2P is not the norm. It was a stupid fad that creates a lot of bad games. The best MMO's have been P2P because they've had strong development for years. Given ESO willingness to listen to its players, it has more promise then any MMO I've played since Ultima Online.
We can bring this up time and again, but people are unwilling to see this.
Yes because people's experince is different.
'F2P is a fad that creates lots of bad games.'
You and others can say it million times more but it won't become the truth.
Currently enjoying SWTOR, EQ2, STO and Rift all F2P games.
You were quick to agree with a guy who is parroting the old myth that F2P MMOS don't get regular or quality content updates.
People still believe in this nonsense.
The amazing thing to me is how people defend a gimmick designed to squeeze more money out of them and how none of them will admit to be the player paying money to play F2P games... but somehow companies make more money that way...weird, eh?
The industry has done one hell of a good marketing job getting gamers to believe that F2P really is free... it's about as free as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is democratic.
Any minute now Mr. Obvious will post "Well, you CAN play for free." ... yes, the introductory game designed to either entice you or annoy you enough for you to start paying.
Talk about myths lol.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
once again i read one of these then skim the comments. i see some good some mehs and a lot of hate. seems like people jsut hate on games to hate on them, ESO had a rocky start, but i still keeep my sub running on it. 15 a month to me is through in this way.
Can i log on and play?: yes
Do i have fun when im on the game: yes
Do i think the game is perfect: hell no
Does reciving the subscription help improve the game: yes
So i do not mind paying the 15 a month hell its a hour of work for me to make it back, The ones who complain are kids or those who do not really NEED to be playing a game that requires a sub. Now flame all you want its what i live for, i have grown tired of the moronic posts on this forums of self entitled little kids. Get a job and you will see 15 a month is nothing. And before you ask yes i have rent/bills and a family to take care of but i still find time and funding for games.
free 7 day sub and unlocks for swtor new accounts and 90+ day inactive subs click here to get it!
Yeah the gear is to be sold for in game currency, so half of this article is pointless.
How about bringing up the fact that all these updates and improvements wouldn't be possible unless it was subscription based.
That is a big reason why people want it to stay P2P.
If it went F2P (or B2P), you would get occasional tid bits of content. Nothing like they are doing now. So yeah at that point I would probably quit because there is nothing to look forward to. I've never been able to play a F2P game over a month or two because there is nothing to look forward to.
And no F2P is not the norm. It was a stupid fad that creates a lot of bad games. The best MMO's have been P2P because they've had strong development for years. Given ESO willingness to listen to its players, it has more promise then any MMO I've played since Ultima Online.
We can bring this up time and again, but people are unwilling to see this.
Yes because people's experince is different.
'F2P is a fad that creates lots of bad games.'
You and others can say it million times more but it won't become the truth.
Currently enjoying SWTOR, EQ2, STO and Rift all F2P games.
You were quick to agree with a guy who is parroting the old myth that F2P MMOS don't get regular or quality content updates.
People still believe in this nonsense.
The amazing thing to me is how people defend a gimmick designed to squeeze more money out of them and how none of them will admit to be the player paying money to play F2P games... but somehow companies make more money that way...weird, eh?
The industry has done one hell of a good marketing job getting gamers to believe that F2P really is free... it's about as free as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is democratic.
Any minute now Mr. Obvious will post "Well, you CAN play for free." ... yes, the introductory game designed to either entice you or annoy you enough for you to start paying.
Talk about myths lol.
I sub to a F2P MMO on my own terms. And if i don't i spend 5 to 10 bucks or 20 depending upon my mood on the cash shop.
Let me tell you about another MYTH. All F2P players are cheap ass free loaders.
So nope it isn't a gimmick to squeeze more money out of me. If someone else has disposable income they are free to spend as much as they like..who am i to judge them?
I sub to SWTOR ocassionaly and spend 15 bucks on cash shop in STO every now and then. So whats the difference? more freedom to pay and choose.
By the way only because you assume i am going to say something you want me to say doesn't mean it is a myth. You jumped the gun there.
Lol, F2P, Gamers who want F2P will never pay a dime, and just be free loaders, people who sub most of the time actually care about the game.
F2P is never fully free, it has been proven time and time again that you end up paying more than 15 a month to play the game the way you want it. So again, the only reason I see some gamers begging for F2P so they can play part of a game and pay nothing.
F2P hurts communitys and I see way more trolling and trash talk with games with F2P, I have ran a guild for 15 years, I tend to stay away to F2P games. Games like ESO if they go free will only make some guilds who actually like these games leave ...
This is why WOW is one of the bigger games in my community because of its sub..
Lol, F2P, Gamers who want F2P will never pay a dime, and just be free loaders, people who sub most of the time actually care about the game.
F2P is never fully free, it has been proven time and time again that you end up paying more than 15 a month to play the game the way you want it. So again, the only reason I see some gamers begging for F2P so they can play part of a game and pay nothing.
F2P hurts communitys and I see way more trolling and trash talk with games with F2P, I have ran a guild for 15 years, I tend to stay away to F2P games. Games like ESO if they go free will only make some guilds who actually like these games leave ...
This is why WOW is one of the bigger games in my community because of its sub..
And also has one of the worst communities online. So in a way you put a whole in your own theory.
Lol, F2P, Gamers who want F2P will never pay a dime, and just be free loaders, people who sub most of the time actually care about the game.
F2P is never fully free, it has been proven time and time again that you end up paying more than 15 a month to play the game the way you want it. So again, the only reason I see some gamers begging for F2P so they can play part of a game and pay nothing.
F2P hurts communitys and I see way more trolling and trash talk with games with F2P, I have ran a guild for 15 years, I tend to stay away to F2P games. Games like ESO if they go free will only make some guilds who actually like these games leave ...
This is why WOW is one of the bigger games in my community because of its sub..
And also has one of the worst communities online. So in a way you put a whole in your own theory.
Oh look, another myth!
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
Lol, F2P, Gamers who want F2P will never pay a dime, and just be free loaders, people who sub most of the time actually care about the game.
F2P is never fully free, it has been proven time and time again that you end up paying more than 15 a month to play the game the way you want it. So again, the only reason I see some gamers begging for F2P so they can play part of a game and pay nothing.
F2P hurts communitys and I see way more trolling and trash talk with games with F2P, I have ran a guild for 15 years, I tend to stay away to F2P games. Games like ESO if they go free will only make some guilds who actually like these games leave ...
This is why WOW is one of the bigger games in my community because of its sub..
And also has one of the worst communities online. So in a way you put a whole in your own theory.
Oh look, another myth!
Maybe but i thought this was known quite well already? lets toss EVE also in that pile. Or i guess people only conveniently ignore this when they use wow's P2P success to support their own argument. Otherwise WOW is the devil of all online communities.
I also like how you only point my 'myths' and got nothing to say about what the guy i quoted said.
I scratch your back you scratch my back right? got to stick with the gang no matter how silly they sound.
If they change their subscription model to FTP, BTP or any other non-subscription model, they lose me as a customer and most other subscribers in game right now. And yes, i get this from the many players I speak to in my 5 guilds and game chat, including Zone chat.
I cannot stand free to play games and their non-stop mini transaction cash shops that constantly pop up every time you click on something. No thanks for me. I like playing my 50 cents per day to play a great game that offers consistent monthly content. That is worth the 50 cents to me.
If they change their subscription model to FTP, BTP or any other non-subscription model, they lose me as a customer and most other subscribers in game right now. And yes, i get this from the many players I speak to in my 5 guilds and game chat, including Zone chat.
I cannot stand free to play games and their non-stop mini transaction cash shops that constantly pop up every time you click on something. No thanks for me. I like playing my 50 cents per day to play a great game that offers consistent monthly content. That is worth the 50 cents to me.
When a MMO goes F2P it always gains more members so even if yo leave, it would hardly make any difference to them. So such empty threats of you leaving and taking entire zone and 5 guilds with you is pointless.
By the way is gaining more players such a bad thing? all F2P games are hybrid anyways so you can always continue to sub. Lose the client cost and let people choose between F2P and sub... this will only make ESO more successful not less.
I really never understand P2P purists like you.. really. You would rather see a game shut down then to change its sub model and continue.
We can bring this up time and again, but people are unwilling to see this.
Yes because people's experince is different.
'F2P is a fad that creates lots of bad games.'
You and others can say it million times more but it won't become the truth.
Currently enjoying SWTOR, EQ2, STO and Rift all F2P games.
You were quick to agree with a guy who is parroting the old myth that F2P MMOS don't get regular or quality content updates.
People still believe in this nonsense.
The amazing thing to me is how people defend a gimmick designed to squeeze more money out of them and how none of them will admit to be the player paying money to play F2P games... but somehow companies make more money that way...weird, eh?
The industry has done one hell of a good marketing job getting gamers to believe that F2P really is free... it's about as free as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is democratic.
Any minute now Mr. Obvious will post "Well, you CAN play for free." ... yes, the introductory game designed to either entice you or annoy you enough for you to start paying.
Talk about myths lol.
Didn't you know that people will believe anything if you repeat enough? Or at least the fools will and they are easily parted from their money and obviously there are a boat load of them out there because F2P games usually bring in a plethora of cash.
To be fair, not all people that play F2P are fools. Nope, not at all and I wasn't even implying it so if you inferred it you must feel guilty about it. Just the ones that spend money on them much less $15 a month or more are. News flash, if its free you shouldn't spend a red cent or even a wooden nickel to unlock a damn thing because its FREE. Oh, but it's ok to spend money on something that claims to cost nothing because it doesn't have a subscription fee.
yeah this site is turning into pure shit lately. I love how you stir the pot for instant flamebait with this article and others in the past then turn around and put bans on people for arguing when you idiots stirred it up to begin with. Way to be a professional site..... Half this article was inaccurate as hell anyways with reading into things that have been since clarified on their official boards. Just another nitwit writer who cant get a job in the real writing industry...
To be fair, not all people that play F2P are fools. Nope, not at all and I wasn't even implying it so if you inferred it you must feel guilty about it. Just the ones that spend money on them much less $15 a month or more are. News flash, if its free you shouldn't spend a red cent or even a wooden nickel to unlock a damn thing because its FREE. Oh, but it's ok to spend money on something that claims to cost nothing because it doesn't have a subscription fee.
Wake up and smell the marketing ploy people.
What if it's a good game that's worth money to unlock things in? Of course "free to play" really has nothing to do with free. Good luck trying to run a multi-million dollar business with a free product, LOL. Free to play just means you can play a crippled trial version of the game before you decide if you want to pony up the money to play it properly. It's similar to the shareware concept games used to use in the 90s.
That being said, F2P does make a lot of games worse (fewer updates, more annoying cash shop transactions") Real fans of the game in question don't benefit from F2P the only ones who do are people who are on the fence about playing the game and/or love to play like 10 MMOs at the same time for whatever reason. I would not play ESO if it went F2P. I have way too many other things to play and time is at least as much a consideration as money for me when I consdier taking on a new MMO because I prefer to limit myself to 1 or 2 games at a time and immerse myself in them.
"Many companies offer a loyalty program, this isn’t something new. More than likely you have two or more loyalty cards in your wallet. Gas stations, coffee shops, even grocery stores offer a loyalty program. Is it because they are losing customers and they are trying to retain them?"
You do not know this. I don't know this. For all we know all companies do loyalty stuff because they are losing customers. Or maybe not. Point is, it IS a marketing ploy to get MORE customers no matter if the reason be to fix a negative or to keep a positive going. Let's not speculate and just deal with the facts.
"Show me another company that is willing to redo their game design after it has been launched, solely because the players are not enjoying it."
Ok, FFXIV. Also, LOTRO, when Moria hit they changed the combat big time because people weren't happy with it.
Not saying Zenimax isn't doing a good job with listening to the player base, but they aren't the "only" devs around to be doing so.
I'll simply quote what I stated back before the game was in beta and a few weeks after it launched. It will release and sell based off of the IP's name, delay the console version, and use the PC MMO market to pay for it's initial fees while also getting invaluable feedback from them (like how Skyrim took ideas from player made mods and put them into DLCs) on how to make the game more "Elder Scrolls" as well as fix issues, and then announce that once the console version is released it will be Buy to Play with a DLC cash shop that console players are more acclimated to and willing to partake in (thus making millions from them, the PC players of the past and the PC players that will flock to it then and also partake in the cash shop as they tend to do).
I may or may not have a source that used to work on that project.
Due to frequent travel in my youth, English isn't something I consider my primary language (and thus I obtained quirky ways of writing). German and French were always easier for me despite my family being U.S. citizens for over a century. Spanish I learned as a requirement in school, Japanese and Korean I acquired for my youthful desire of anime and gaming (and also work now). I only debate in English to help me work with it (and limit things). In addition, I'm not smart enough to remain fluent in everything and typically need exposure to get in the groove of things again if I haven't heard it in a while. If you understand Mandarin, I know a little, but it has actually been a challenge and could use some help.
Also, I thoroughly enjoy debates and have accounts on over a dozen sites for this. If you wish to engage in such, please put effort in a post and provide sources -- I will then do the same with what I already wrote (if I didn't) as well as with my responses to your own. Expanding my information on a subject makes my stance either change or strengthen the next time I speak of it or write a thesis. Allow me to thank you sincerely for your time.
I think it was a very poor choice of words on Paul Sage’s part.
This. There have always been people crying this F2P stuff, even before the game was released. Loyalty programs are used in lots of MMOs be it subbed or free, nothing special.
Paul might want to sell stuff via dungeon tokens, raid medals, pvp glory coins - name it. Some currency which can be achieved by playing ingame to buy gear. This is usual to MMOs as well.
ESO has strong numbers, those who left leave every game after 3 months, again normal for MMOs. I doubt ESO will have to switch to an F2P model anytime soon.
Comments
guys....
F2P model does not mean a downgrade because of a lack of players.
From what I heard from Gabe Newell, F2P model increases you player count by 70% and your revenue by 30%.
I am not a fan of the F2P model either but it appears because of that fact above its going to be a trend for all games successful or not.
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Please do not respond to me
Seems expensive to me for a game with limited replay ability. What is it at now? Is it still $60 US plus $15/mo? yikes
You wanted to be shown another company that redid it's game after launch because the players didn't like it, well FFXIV did just that.
Regardless of that it is good that ESO is trying to fix some of the poorer areas of the game, still have work to do.
It's right here:
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/elder-scrolls-online-will-eventually-be-free-to-play-analyst/1100-6375882/
Sorry if the link doesn't work, just copy and paste. It's an old post, idk if its still valid.
according to Nicholas Lovell, founder of game consultancy firm Gamesbrief. How is he related as someone from Zenimax? Apart from Zenimax being mentioned in the article?
Yes because people's experince is different.
'F2P is a fad that creates lots of bad games.'
You and others can say it million times more but it won't become the truth.
Currently enjoying SWTOR, EQ2, STO and Rift all F2P games.
You were quick to agree with a guy who is parroting the old myth that F2P MMOS don't get regular or quality content updates.
People still believe in this nonsense.
Many people cry F2P, but evidence suggest otherwise.
Game is in a healthy state ATM. Something that previous AAA MMOs were not at any point in time and went F2P as a result.
As for old gear bewing buyable, Paul expplained in an online interview gear will be buyable with gold. Amount of gold is clearly unknown at thos time.
I know people are cheap and refuse to pay for a game. But thats just fine for ESO players, less trolls in game.
SB Ford....
Please stop.... [mod edit]
Please understand that a ton of people enjoy this game, and if its not for you perhaps you should try linking articles (or hey, here's a novel idea... you could try writing your own.) about things you actually DO enjoy.
You are really making me want to never visit this site again every time you post a "Hey i'm going to hide behind someone else's opinion for fear of backlash" column.
If you think I'm wrong please search this guys recent history... its blatantly obvious.
Yes because if someone doesn't think a MMO is worth a monthly fee he has to be cheap.
And most importantly, if you can afford 15 bucks a month it will make you less of a troll. Since we all know for a fact that money and good behavior are co related.
This topic is full of so many nuggets of wisdom.
The amazing thing to me is how people defend a gimmick designed to squeeze more money out of them and how none of them will admit to be the player paying money to play F2P games... but somehow companies make more money that way...weird, eh?
The industry has done one hell of a good marketing job getting gamers to believe that F2P really is free... it's about as free as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is democratic.
Any minute now Mr. Obvious will post "Well, you CAN play for free." ... yes, the introductory game designed to either entice you or annoy you enough for you to start paying.
Talk about myths lol.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
once again i read one of these then skim the comments. i see some good some mehs and a lot of hate. seems like people jsut hate on games to hate on them, ESO had a rocky start, but i still keeep my sub running on it. 15 a month to me is through in this way.
Can i log on and play?: yes
Do i have fun when im on the game: yes
Do i think the game is perfect: hell no
Does reciving the subscription help improve the game: yes
So i do not mind paying the 15 a month hell its a hour of work for me to make it back, The ones who complain are kids or those who do not really NEED to be playing a game that requires a sub. Now flame all you want its what i live for, i have grown tired of the moronic posts on this forums of self entitled little kids. Get a job and you will see 15 a month is nothing. And before you ask yes i have rent/bills and a family to take care of but i still find time and funding for games.
free 7 day sub and unlocks for swtor new accounts and 90+ day inactive subs click here to get it!
Click here for trove referral, bonuses to both!
I sub to a F2P MMO on my own terms. And if i don't i spend 5 to 10 bucks or 20 depending upon my mood on the cash shop.
Let me tell you about another MYTH. All F2P players are cheap ass free loaders.
So nope it isn't a gimmick to squeeze more money out of me. If someone else has disposable income they are free to spend as much as they like..who am i to judge them?
I sub to SWTOR ocassionaly and spend 15 bucks on cash shop in STO every now and then. So whats the difference? more freedom to pay and choose.
By the way only because you assume i am going to say something you want me to say doesn't mean it is a myth. You jumped the gun there.
Lol, F2P, Gamers who want F2P will never pay a dime, and just be free loaders, people who sub most of the time actually care about the game.
F2P is never fully free, it has been proven time and time again that you end up paying more than 15 a month to play the game the way you want it. So again, the only reason I see some gamers begging for F2P so they can play part of a game and pay nothing.
F2P hurts communitys and I see way more trolling and trash talk with games with F2P, I have ran a guild for 15 years, I tend to stay away to F2P games. Games like ESO if they go free will only make some guilds who actually like these games leave ...
This is why WOW is one of the bigger games in my community because of its sub..
And also has one of the worst communities online. So in a way you put a whole in your own theory.
Oh look, another myth!
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Maybe but i thought this was known quite well already? lets toss EVE also in that pile. Or i guess people only conveniently ignore this when they use wow's P2P success to support their own argument. Otherwise WOW is the devil of all online communities.
I also like how you only point my 'myths' and got nothing to say about what the guy i quoted said.
I scratch your back you scratch my back right? got to stick with the gang no matter how silly they sound.
If they change their subscription model to FTP, BTP or any other non-subscription model, they lose me as a customer and most other subscribers in game right now. And yes, i get this from the many players I speak to in my 5 guilds and game chat, including Zone chat.
I cannot stand free to play games and their non-stop mini transaction cash shops that constantly pop up every time you click on something. No thanks for me. I like playing my 50 cents per day to play a great game that offers consistent monthly content. That is worth the 50 cents to me.
When a MMO goes F2P it always gains more members so even if yo leave, it would hardly make any difference to them. So such empty threats of you leaving and taking entire zone and 5 guilds with you is pointless.
By the way is gaining more players such a bad thing? all F2P games are hybrid anyways so you can always continue to sub. Lose the client cost and let people choose between F2P and sub... this will only make ESO more successful not less.
I really never understand P2P purists like you.. really. You would rather see a game shut down then to change its sub model and continue.
Didn't you know that people will believe anything if you repeat enough? Or at least the fools will and they are easily parted from their money and obviously there are a boat load of them out there because F2P games usually bring in a plethora of cash.
To be fair, not all people that play F2P are fools. Nope, not at all and I wasn't even implying it so if you inferred it you must feel guilty about it. Just the ones that spend money on them much less $15 a month or more are. News flash, if its free you shouldn't spend a red cent or even a wooden nickel to unlock a damn thing because its FREE. Oh, but it's ok to spend money on something that claims to cost nothing because it doesn't have a subscription fee.
Wake up and smell the marketing ploy people.
What if it's a good game that's worth money to unlock things in? Of course "free to play" really has nothing to do with free. Good luck trying to run a multi-million dollar business with a free product, LOL. Free to play just means you can play a crippled trial version of the game before you decide if you want to pony up the money to play it properly. It's similar to the shareware concept games used to use in the 90s.
That being said, F2P does make a lot of games worse (fewer updates, more annoying cash shop transactions") Real fans of the game in question don't benefit from F2P the only ones who do are people who are on the fence about playing the game and/or love to play like 10 MMOs at the same time for whatever reason. I would not play ESO if it went F2P. I have way too many other things to play and time is at least as much a consideration as money for me when I consdier taking on a new MMO because I prefer to limit myself to 1 or 2 games at a time and immerse myself in them.
"Many companies offer a loyalty program, this isn’t something new. More than likely you have two or more loyalty cards in your wallet. Gas stations, coffee shops, even grocery stores offer a loyalty program. Is it because they are losing customers and they are trying to retain them?"
You do not know this. I don't know this. For all we know all companies do loyalty stuff because they are losing customers. Or maybe not. Point is, it IS a marketing ploy to get MORE customers no matter if the reason be to fix a negative or to keep a positive going. Let's not speculate and just deal with the facts.
"Show me another company that is willing to redo their game design after it has been launched, solely because the players are not enjoying it."
Ok, FFXIV. Also, LOTRO, when Moria hit they changed the combat big time because people weren't happy with it.
Not saying Zenimax isn't doing a good job with listening to the player base, but they aren't the "only" devs around to be doing so.
I'll simply quote what I stated back before the game was in beta and a few weeks after it launched. It will release and sell based off of the IP's name, delay the console version, and use the PC MMO market to pay for it's initial fees while also getting invaluable feedback from them (like how Skyrim took ideas from player made mods and put them into DLCs) on how to make the game more "Elder Scrolls" as well as fix issues, and then announce that once the console version is released it will be Buy to Play with a DLC cash shop that console players are more acclimated to and willing to partake in (thus making millions from them, the PC players of the past and the PC players that will flock to it then and also partake in the cash shop as they tend to do).
I may or may not have a source that used to work on that project.
F2P - As welcome as a fart in a space suit.
It would become full of asshats like swtor if it gets "big issue mode"
No trials. No tricks. No traps. No EU-RP server. NO THANKS!
...10% Benevolence, 90% Arrogance in my case!
I think it was a very poor choice of words on Paul Sage’s part.
This. There have always been people crying this F2P stuff, even before the game was released. Loyalty programs are used in lots of MMOs be it subbed or free, nothing special.
Paul might want to sell stuff via dungeon tokens, raid medals, pvp glory coins - name it. Some currency which can be achieved by playing ingame to buy gear. This is usual to MMOs as well.
ESO has strong numbers, those who left leave every game after 3 months, again normal for MMOs. I doubt ESO will have to switch to an F2P model anytime soon.