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Study: Gamers not interested in MMO subscribtions
Gameloading
Member UncommonPosts: 14,182
www.joystiq.com/2008/07/24/study-gamers-not-interested-in-mmo-subscriptions/
Market research firm Parks Associate has released a study claiming subscription-based MMOs aren't dropping enough loot for its players. According to the group's Electronic Gaming in the Digital Home II study (via Worlds in Motion) found that only the hardcore gamers were into the subscription model, whereas the casual gamer showed "significant interest" in the free-to-play, microtransaction model.
Another part of the study found that, of the non-MMO players polled, 14% would be interested to play if they could play for free, whereas only 2% of that group was interested in subscription-based MMOs. As we always caution, studies generally aren't worth more than the pixels they're displayed on (unless it's a nice monitor, then they're probably worth less). In a recent polling at Joystiq HQ, games that are "free to play" were also seven times more likely to grab our attention that games that weren't free.
Said Director of Broadband and Gaming Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai, "World of Warcraft, with over 10 million players, exceeded expectations for subscription-based MMORPGs, but it's unlikely any other publishers will achieve the same in the near term using a subscription model." Of course, that's kind of a no-brainer even for WoW's competitors.
With casuals making up for a huge amount of players, I think we can expect to a see a lot more micro transaction mmo's soon.
Comments
im a hardcore fps, rpg, multiplayer gamer. But I hate the subscription model. So I'm quite weird... but yeah, pay to play is just wrong - thus i play guild wars, even that game I dont stick to too much. Much more of CSS, DoD, TF2, Dota, SC, D2, and stuff like that. If they had an mmorpg as good as wow (graphics wise and grind wise) where you only pay for the copy of the game, and pay for microtransactions/ expacs then i wont have a problem with it. I think Anet has the model bang on.
i~ku~ra
Don't hold your breath.
Blizzard nets a billion a year on the current subscription model.
No one is in any great hurry to change it.
With a pay to get upgrades model, the company may need to produce new content as fast as it's player base wants it. Something no company has yet been able to do. Far better to just get paid anyway. The current model is well established and highly lucrative.
And with the only major company threatening to run their games on a pay to upgrade system being SOE, it is unlikely to get a lot of player support.
I'd be willing to try it, if the game was one I was intrested in playing, but I don't see that there is any competative will to start a price war.
Speak for yourself mate. Loads of FPs players pay for the servers you play on.
It's not free at all. You just aren't keeping your end up.
One of the benefits of MMO subscription models, is that it forces all the blaggers to pay their share.
That said, the Guild Wars model is by far my favourite. I can't see any other model out there that works better for the players intrests. They get no new money until the new content is delivered. If only more companies were willing to be as honest and fair trading as them.
ANET is not as big as SOE but GW2 will have no monthly charges
- and will have a persistent world unlike GW1
wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Guild_Wars_2/FAQ
EQ2 fan sites
So 6 million hardcore players are subscribed to World of Warcraft. Yeah, sure.
If any MMO that is f2p can ever come close to the quality of a game of a p2p (micro trans vs. monthly sub) I would give it a shot. GW, even if it was a persistant world is almost there but not there yet IMO. Perfect World may be the closest but it still lacks with hacks and bugs. Maybe they will fix thoes in the NA version, who knows.
I'm fine with having the micro transaction MMORPGs attract those sorts of players, and leave the rest of the players on subscription MMO"s.
I will only play the subscription MMO's, and am more than happy for those that don't like this model to go elsewhere. I'm sure there's room to make money with both models, so both sorts of games will continue to be developed.
The other point is we've seen this time and time again. The majority of players on subscription based games like Vanguard, AoC, WoW, etc. DO NOT participate on forums, or polls. They buy the box in a retail store, and play the game, the don't hang out on forums.
OTOH, free to play microtransaction games are more likely to be download only with no box in the retail store, and those sorts of players are probably more likely to be on the forums looking for the next asian grinder to download.
That's why the article mentions this:
Said Director of Broadband and Gaming Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai, "World of Warcraft, with over 10 million players, exceeded expectations for subscription-based MMORPGs, but it's unlikely any other publishers will achieve the same in the near term using a subscription model." Of course, that's kind of a no-brainer even for WoW's competitors
WoW's success is the exception, not the rule. WoW is currently leading with 10 million subscribers, the next one in line is probably Lineage 1 or Lineage 2, with about 1 millions subscribers each. That's a difference of 9 million subscribers. Next one is probably Age of Conan and Lotro, which I estimate have around 300k ~ 500k subs each, and it only goes down from there.
nice topic btw and i think that this is something more and more gaming companies should consider for future development.
When u take ANets success into account with their GW franchise this debate is a very realistic draw to the way gamers are going. In a market saturated with so many over hyped and subpar games its hard now adays to know exactly which games u want to be that committed to. Sometimes that subscription model becomes the main underlying factor and it shouldnt be, though i understand why some games have subscriptions in place.
Someone mentioned GW2 , in hindsight this seems like with the success of GW 1 to be the next big hit by all means and maybe really be the first to cut into WoWs success, however if u read the articles in which Jeff Strain or other various ppl have stated on that game, they dont know exactly how they are gonna be able to provide the game the same as thier first one with no subs, and looking into "options" ... what this tells me is GW will probably be buy and F2p for life and probably be the first "retail" game that supports a big item mall, or micro transaction system. Look at NCsoft as of late their last 2 games from that company were F2p one with small fee [DR] one Totally F2p with micro system, thats what makes me think that its not outta the question for gw2.
<takes step back and breathes>
I dont like WoWs sub thing , i played it for awhile dont get me wrong but after just a couple of months i thought to myself, IM SUCH A DUMBA$$ ... Y? .. im paying to rinse and repeat til the end , oh wait theres really no end ..same could be said with GW though too in some ways cos now adays its all bout title chasing, that was their way of keeping ppl playing while they worked on content, as in a realistic sense in order to gain those its a rinse and repeat cycle but ur not bound to it and i think thats one reason it appeals so much to so many players.
for some of u who have never read it awhile back Jeff Strain of Anet actually had a very good article on the MMO world and its future and in it this discussion is brought up, he basically says in it that gamers no longer are buying the subscription model and they know as well as the gaming companies know that this is not a necessity any longer and to make sure if ur asking for one that u stay committed to WHY u are asking for that subscription. Anyhow heres a link ...www.guildwars.com/events/tradeshows/gc2007/gcspeech.php
"Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."
BioWare's Gordon Walton had a nice mmo article too
www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php
but he doesnt discuss mmo payments
EQ2 fan sites
If someone asks you: you want to pay for this, or you want this for free?
Your answer will be 'free'.
I havent found a F2P game that had the quality of a P2P game, also, all the systems used in most of those F2P, when real bank acocunts matter how good/bad you can do in-game, is the lowest 'lifeform' of gaming.
I may not be playing a P2P game, but sure as hell i wont play a F2P...
_________________
Senhores da Guerra
You get what you pay for...and in the case of MMOs its doubly so.
I refuse to play F2P mmos mainly because of the community it attracts. Yes, I have tried F2P games, but I quickly run away screaming. I can live with subscriptions. In fact, I think Turbine's lifetime subscription option for LotRO was brilliant. Guess who's now playing that game effectively for free until they shut down the servers (not including expansions)?
<------- Hint
What market share in terms of subscribers does Blizzard have?
Venge Sunsoar
Well, I think we need to see what sort of numbers WAR does. It's the last big title (probably) to release this year.
I know, there's tons of speculation, the game will suck, it will be great, it only appeals to the niche of RvR players, etc., etc.
But, I think it has potential for substantial numbers if they release a solid game. People are looking for something else to play, but none of the developers have hit the mark so far this year. WAR could be releasing at a really good time, after all the flops we've seen this year. If they deliver a fun game, they could get some serious subscription numbers.
Sorry, but you are wrong:
1. NCSoft has the NCCoin microtransaction system they are adding to new and existing games. They also inroduced Dungeon Runner.
2. EA (who owns Bioware) announced at E3 they are going to the microtransaction route as well.
Companies realize there is more money to be made, so they are switching to it.
"If we don't attack them, they will attack us first. So we'd better retaliate before they have a chance to strike"
Sorry, but you are wrong:
1. NCSoft has the NCCoin microtransaction system they are adding to new and existing games. They also inroduced Dungeon Runner.
2. EA (who owns Bioware) announced at E3 they are going to the microtransaction route as well.
Companies realize there is more money to be made, so they are switching to it.
Sure all the Korean grinders use microtransactions.
But is there any AAA title MMORPG that is successful, and uses microtransactions?
I can't think of one.
I guess I'm a minority then, I'm not "super hardcore" about MMO's but I would rather just pay a subscription fee. I find that FTP and microtransaction games always lack polish, even if you would end up paying less per month to play them, they are almost never of high enough quality.
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
COH/COV and upcoming EA MMOs are considered Korean grinders?
"If we don't attack them, they will attack us first. So we'd better retaliate before they have a chance to strike"
You're a bit off base there. Why do you think publishers want to go with microtransactions? Micro transaction games find that players spend on average MORE than the 14.95 a month that subscription based games bring in.
Think about it. There isn't a limit to how much you can spend in a month on gear, expendables, and so forth in a micro transaction game.
In a subscription game, the publisher gets 14.95 and that's it, there is no more. In a micro transaction game, you can spend a 100 dollars in one month if you want to, and some players do.
It's it ironic that these games are supposedly FREE to play, yet people playing them spend more than subscription based games, and yet these are the same people that complain that they wont pay a monthly fee for games, because games should be FREE to play.
I agree with this article that says micro transactions suck
You're a bit off base there. Why do you think publishers want to go with microtransactions? Micro transaction games find that players spend on average MORE than the 14.95 a month that subscription based games bring in.
Think about it. There isn't a limit to how much you can spend in a month on gear, expendables, and so forth in a micro transaction game.
In a subscription game, the publisher gets 14.95 and that's it, there is no more. In a micro transaction game, you can spend a 100 dollars in one month if you want to, and some players do.
I concur. I prefer monthly subs because it helps impose limits on me. Sometimes I've got more money than common sense and if offered a chance to 'improve' my game performance by throwing money at the problem I'd be sorely tempted to take it.
Just picture this.... "Got a ganker who particularly vexes you? Pay only 25 bucks and you get an automatic I win button where you can insta-kill them every hour for 24 hours"
For some folks, I'd pay for a week's worth of time
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
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Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
I will never ever play a microtransaction game. Whats the point? Games are about making your character great, not buying a great character.
I don't mind F2P and really liked guild wars, but I don't mind paying a monthly subscription if the game is good enough. The monthly subscription is a little bit of a turn off, but I limit myself to one Subscription game at a time, and I always get more then my money's worth out of my $14.99 a month.
Honestly I feel the micro-transaction games are just taking advantage of people. They real them in with the front of "The game is free to play" and then take their money a little bit at a time. And I don't ever want to play a game where the amount of money you have in real life directly equates to how good your character is in game. That is a horrible game model imo and will never play a game like that. Ever.
Tried: LotR, CoH, AoC, WAR, Jumpgate Classic
Played: SWG, Guild Wars, WoW
Playing: Eve Online, Counter-strike
Loved: Star Wars Galaxies
Waiting for: Earthrise, Guild Wars 2, anything sandbox.