I ask you this ridiculous question as I am getting tied of your digs at those who do not support your position. You are a F2P MMO journalist but do try to have at least a smidgeon of impartiality. This is not the first time you have tried to throw some mud, and frankly I am getting fed up of it.
You link "I'll never play a free to play game." to "I'll never be in favour of gay marriage" and "I'll never support abortion on demand". Yes YOU are a homophobe or misogynist if you don't like F2P games! He links those attitudes to not wanting to play his sacred F2P games, quite unbelievable.
"The available research is limited and not necessarily conclusive," - yes but that never seems to stop Mr Aisoshi reaching the conclusion he wants. Ironically about an issue he says does not matter, so that's alright then.
I call time on Mr Aihoshi on this site as a staff writer. To be fair we need a P2P writer and we need them for as long as Mr Aihoshi has been doing articles here. Or is it MMORG.coms intention to have this F2P propagandist on this site forever?
Scot, you always tend to go off like this with RA. That being the case, why do you insist on reading his columns? It can't be good for your blood pressure. ^^
Of course he is a F2P "fanboy". F2P *IS* the focus of this column, and thus requires someone with an obvious bias in favor of F2P to be effective. I suspect that as long as RA's articles continue to drive responses such as this(look at how long the thread has become...) that hes going to be around here for quite some time.
Personally, I'm always interested in what he has to say. Having spent WAY too much time in F2P games(pre dungeon finder) I'm still interested in whats going on in that sector of the MMO market. If you aren't, perhaps you would be well advised to pass on his column.
Yes I am a MMO Snob. I do not play games that are almost entirely instanced. I do not play games that use the Unholy Trinity with no flexibility. I will not play a game that locks down a characters development to a singular path (like I could not develop a character contrary to its common usage) UNLESS the content of the game is so compelling to me I would overlook it. I will not play a game that is too much about "teh grind". I will not play a MMOG that is F2P if I cannot achieve the same things as a paying customer through hard work UNLESS I either play it casually with friends or would consider Paying to play at some point because the game is that good. This one has made me quit countless MMOGs after playing a week or two. I don't play games that you can't Solo and Group and get at least some compelling content unique to each. I don't play games that repeat quests/missions/adventures ad nausium unless I don't have to do them if I don't want to or if the other content is so compelling to me i might overlook it. I don't play or pay for MMOG's that I have to pay for upfront and every little expansion along the way. That may change when TSW comes out. Got hooked on the ARG before it was an ARG.
If you actually stick to that list of "I don'ts" you don't play many(if any) MMO's do you? You might be better served to play a solo RPG like Dragon Age or some such.
I don't much care for this article. It sounds awfully PC to me (Richard deciding what PC is.)
The whole discussion about F2P wears me out though.
It's NOT about the payment method people, it's about the quality of the game experience. We live in a so-called
"free enterprise" system (LOL) - so pretty much anybody can try to market anything in lots of different ways. That is good.
Making your own choices is also good. A person can dislike apples even if they are perfect. A person can also dislike certain apples because they have worms. Each will decide what "perfect" means and what "worms" mean.
I haven't seen any really top quality MMOs for a long time. THAT is a problem.
What I dont like about Richard's articles is that every single one tries to guilt people into playing F2P mmos. He fails to realize F2P mmos have low to no quality, and are basically short-term money grabbing schemes. Not only that, but "Pay to win", anybody?
People should want to use item shops because they enjoy the game, and NOT because the game is shit without them.
People wont suddenly enjoy them just because you try to make us feel like scumbags, Richard. Sorry.
If you stand VERY still, and close your eyes, after a minute you can actually FEEL the universe revolving around PvP.
Stopped frequenting mmorpg.com a while ago thanks to crap articles like this one and the amount of news about Korean MMO's I have to wade through to get to something worthwhile. Good thing there's still massively.com.
What I dont like about Richard's articles is that every single one tries to guilt people into playing F2P mmos. He fails to realize F2P mmos have low to no quality, and are basically short-term money grabbing schemes. Not only that, but "Pay to win", anybody? People should want to use item shops because they enjoy the game, and NOT because the game is shit without them. People wont suddenly enjoy them just because you try to make us feel like scumbags, Richard. Sorry.
It's not about making you feel guilty, if that's what you're taking away from these articles you're missing the point. He uses references from the forums to write his articles, popular opinion if you will. Much like Skeltons articles and Woods, they do so to fit in with the activity within the forums and generate a discussion based on forum activity, as well as the popular opinion within them.
Sometiems these discussions are purposefully combative to hit on hot button issues, like how players feel about F2P and the rmt associated with it. This is how oversensitivity clouds a otherwise interesting discussion, and shows how half the discussions end up as they do on the main forums.People completely miss the point, and go off on tangents of "hey don't call me that!" Rather than discuss the issue at hand.
His overall question is, are you a SNOB? Not you are a snob, and here's why. He's asking you to think about yourself and the comments you make, to find out the popular belief therein on this forum. To hit at an issue based on whether we as players say things to seem superior, or if we actually feel that way.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
I think Aioshi confuses critical sense with snobbery.
Fortunately, my refusing to eat crap sandwiches and arguing against serving them in general, does not make me a snob just cuz a crap sandwich salesman says so.
I think Aioshi confuses critical sense with snobbery. Fortunately, my refusing to eat crap sandwiches and arguing against serving them in general, does not make me a snob just cuz a crap sandwich salesman says so.
In other words, his article hit the nail on the head.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Stopped frequenting mmorpg.com a while ago thanks to crap articles like this one and the amount of news about Korean MMO's I have to wade through to get to something worthwhile. Good thing there's still massively.com.
Different tastes for different people...<shrug> I must admit that the majority of Asian F2P games tend to be low quality re purposed clones, but thats simply the nature of the eastern market. I'd not single out the Koreans, as the other Asians contribute just as much as time passes. Massively is good, so is Ten Ton Hammer.
What I dont like about Richard's articles is that every single one tries to guilt people into playing F2P mmos. He fails to realize F2P mmos have low to no quality, and are basically short-term money grabbing schemes. Not only that, but "Pay to win", anybody? People should want to use item shops because they enjoy the game, and NOT because the game is shit without them. People wont suddenly enjoy them just because you try to make us feel like scumbags, Richard. Sorry.
It's not about making you feel guilty, if that's what you're taking away from these articles you're missing the point. He uses references from the forums to write his articles, popular opinion if you will. Much like Skeltons articles and Woods, they do so to fit in with the activity within the forums and generate a discussion based on forum activity, as well as the popular opinion within them.
Sometiems these discussions are purposefully combative to hit on hot button issues, like how players feel about F2P and the rmt associated with it. This is how oversensitivity clouds a otherwise interesting discussion, and shows how half the discussions end up as they do on the main forums.People completely miss the point, and go off on tangents of "hey don't call me that!" Rather than discuss the issue at hand.
His overall question is, are you a SNOB? Not you are a snob, and here's why. He's asking you to think about yourself and the comments you make, to find out the popular belief therein on this forum. To hit at an issue based on whether we as players say things to seem superior, or if we actually feel that way.
You are over-defending and over-analyzing his articles.
This article clearly was a jab at all the people (most of North America's MMO audience) who don't agree with him. It was an attacking article and nothing more.
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
He used a lot of inflammatory writing in this article to feel good about pissing off everyone who doesn't like f2p and as a result doesn't like his articles. This same topic could of been approached in an entirely different manner and resulted in positive discussions instead of everyone yelling at him, but he wanted to attack the community. It's really that simple.
Everyone gets frustrated with the online communities at some point, but when you have a job at the website you're supposed to be professional enough to tune out that aspect and write professional articles. He's shown he can't do that.
now the richard ayoshi is getting agresive now, calling everyone who don't like F2P snobs, hey if this piss you off i'm a snob too, i'm a snob because
I like to be on the same ground against other people, only diference is time invested on the game(and I owrk so I have little)
in a pvp fight I like to have chance to fight back, no fight against someone who can cash 100 a month so he can HK you in wars and think is he good.
I like to have a good and fun game to play with don't annoy me in certain parts of the game I need to get that potion or can't do this content or need to buy the said content.
I play some F2P only for the PVE content, and since i'm more a pvp player I get bored easily soon, thing is for a pvp game IM RMT is a really bad thing, if they keep the cash shop only for fluff things lvl up potions its ok, what I don't like is random chance to get item who raise your stats by 50-100%, full heal pots with no cooldown, you drop a gold weapon and you need to buy the enchant of the cash shop if not you can't pass the lvl4 of that enchant and with cash shop after you spend 200$ you can have a lvl 20 weapon if you get luck with no breaks and lose lvls(because you also bough the no break item)
now one thing is, the mr richard really should stop to try and hype his "F2P" model, why not for once tell us the bad things about the "F2P" business? because he know he can't get all issues normally the devs do on this kind of games in one single article and he would scare at least half of the people who defend he here. also for MHO he is not a jornalist, a true one only put facts on the table don't say what he thinks, he could state his opnion on the end of his articles, but since he is not the only one (journalism is getting worse each passing day), I would only say to everyone one who really like this site state his opnion about the really bad work about this person, and say to him well myc friend we don't you work here anymore so you don't need to come back.
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's your problem not the authors.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
I have to disagree a bit on the never changing mind or opinion on some things, ie. gay marriages and the others. I have seen many people who didn't even believe in gay relationships change their minds. Yea probably many old timers still won't and my thoughts are it doesn't have to be your "cup of tea" but most are people just like all the rest so I think many may not approve but at least are beginning to accept it. I use that as example because I think that just shows that anything is possible. Please no offense was meant so don't take any. My best friend is gay and one of the greatest people I know. So back off going down the wrong road just an easy example to show my point. I raised my kids to try a new food before judging it based on what it was or how it looked. Try it then if you don't like it don't eat it, simple, but don't make fun of it just because you don't like it. Pretty much same thing can apply here. But if you don't try and refuse to then shut your trap since nothing you say will be valid.
I have played f2p and of course subscription. Some of the f2p are really rather fun. Many may play them simply because they can't afford to spend money on a game, the subscription and all the added expansion that may follow. It does get costly. Myself it is my entertainment so I will do it as long as I can. That doesn't make the f2p less worthy it is just different. Like an apple and orange.
Yea there are many MMOG snobs. For one reason or another. My game is better than yours...etc. What is good for you may not be for someone else.
Does not surprise me that China has a larger base. Not sure why but it does seem more Chinese play games than US. I know many people that play different things on -line but not that many that play MMOG; free or otherwise. Oddly though the ones I know that play have more than one account in the game they play heavy. Wonder if that is the case in China?
We have come a long way and there is many miles yet to be covered.
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
As long as the new sweet boss drops the sword - why the hell do you care how the guy next to you got his sword? If you want to go for the new boss to get it then GO !
Probably because it cheapens the point of spending time in the game and trying playing the game to quest for things. Buying things in an item shop isn't playing a game or gameplay. Time is a currency we all have.
1) Of all the F2P MMOs, can you tell us what percentage of them you think offers the epic drop items in the item mall? Seems like a bit of a strawman you're setting up there, no?
2) Time is a currency that many think they have a lot more of than they really have. In the end, some like to waste time on their entertainment/hobby, some like to waste money on it and some like to waste both.
3) To hold the position that the way you waste your time as more productive, better, more honorable, more rewarding, etc than the way someone else wastes their time is a bit odd - You're both wasting time.
I don't have the time nor inclination to supply a comprehensive list for you so I'll just give one of the more well known ones: Atlantica Online. In it you have to purchase a randomized box for mounts which give bonuses for PvE and PvP, The in game mounts do not have comparable stats, if any at all. It is less strawman and more your lack of experience playing/trying a range of games I believe.
Acutally, part of my job includes competitive analysis, so I am familiar with a good lot of the MMOs out there. You maded a claim, and it isn't unreasonable to ask you to back it. If you don't know or don't have anything to support it, just say so. The attack is unnecessary. Altantica and War Rock... yes, those two offer epic items as item mall items. What other ones, out of the hundreds of F2P MMOs do as you claim - offer the same 'cool sword' as a rare drop and as a cash shop item?
Then you are more than welcome to spend your time time downloading and playing or just going to the sites and clicking on the cash shops and looking at what they offer and then going over their forums to make yourself a little tally sheet of that number. Atlantica and War Rock (your offering) aren't the first to begin the practice and they certainly aren't the last. To think so just shows a high level of naivety and. You claim that it isn't unreasonable to ask someone to back it. Well, this isn't my first forum rodeo. I know your game. Even if I did post a list it'd never be good enough and you'd find some other excuse to continue on. Your competitive analyst skill should allow you to gather the data you require.
Money is a currency that many can not afford to waste on a hobby/entertainment in the excesses that many of these F2P games ask for in their item malls. Through wasting time, eventually everyone can attain game items desired for gameplay. This can not be said for money as there are much more demands on the money we attain than the time we amass.
Whoa there. Blaming the fat guy's weight on the donut shop? If someone can't afford to spend money on something but does it anyway under his own volition, the problem has nothing to do with cash shops and everything to do with your example character having an addiction... or are you suggesting that all of your fellow gamers are so weak-willed that they F2P MMOs will put them under some evil spell and drive them to destitution?
That's your take on what I wrote. You're assumption is wrong yet I am not here to ensure that your reading comprehension is accurate. I don't suggest, I state. Therefor you shouldn't need to make inference on anything I write.
If it were only a matter of wasting time I can agree. Unfortunately this topic includes the bestowing of in game advantages to only those who have real world currency to pay for it leaving those who either do not have the extra money or care to spend it on other vices at a disadvantage.
What percentage of F2P MMOs create this mandatory PvP arena that you present?
You compile and crunch data for a living, that seems like a good use of your free time to do. I'm sure you'd find it fascinating.
After all, you're not suggesting that you feel inferior simply at the sight of someone in a non-competitive environment with bigger or better items than you, correct?
Nice, an attempt to poke at the old manhood by throwing in an "inferior" question. Yeah, ignored.
Anyway, if you could just answer the one question regarding to your specific claim, that would own:
Of all the F2P MMOs, can you tell us what percentage of them you think offers the epic drop items in the item mall?
That is the basis to your entire argument, so it is not unreasonable to ask you for an answer to that.
Again, you have the fascination with a specific number so you go compile the data. While you're at it, don't only include "epic drop" items. Include items that easily facilitate advancement that can't be acquired in game via in game time spent or in game currency used. I'd really love to see those numbers and I think you have the skill set and time to put together such a package for our review.
I look forward to reviewing your analysis.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
I'm not sure how much you've read Mr. Aihoshi's articles but for many of us the outrage is not just with this one article but the fact that Mr. Aihoshi makes a habit of insulting those that don't share his views. We have been called "in denial", "snobs", "liars", just to name a few. It's just poor writing from a supposed professional.
This is a trend with this writer and IMO is not appropriate for this forum whether you agree with his stance or not. As others have stated, if we wrote half of what Mr. Aihoshi writes in his articles we would get warnings or bans. If Mr. Aihoshi wants to convince more people F2P might be the way to go, less insults, inflammatory comparisons, hyperbole, and reliable sources and facts(versus his almost always siting of unverifiable, or anonymous sources and use of made up facts)might be a good start as a professional(which he is supposed to be).
We don't need thicker skin, we need more professionalism from the staff member in question or he needs to be replaced. If we want to read troll posts, which this amounts to IMO, we can simply read the forums. To have one on staff is just...well...lame.
Einherjar_LC says: WTB the true successor to UO or Asheron's Call pst!
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
I'm not sure how much you've read Mr. Aihoshi's articles but for many of us the outrage is not just with this one article but the fact that Mr. Aihoshi makes a habit of insulting those that don't share his views. We have been called "in denial", "snobs", "liars", just to name a few. It's just poor writing from a supposed professional.
This is a trend with this writer and IMO is not appropriate for this forum whether you agree with his stance or not. As others have stated, if we wrote half of what Mr. Aihoshi writes in his articles we would get warnings or bans. If Mr. Aihoshi wants to convince more people F2P might be the way to go, less insults, inflammatory comparisons, hyperbole, and reliable sources and facts(versus his almost always siting of unverifiable, or anonymous sources and use of made up facts)might be a good start as a professional(which he is supposed to be).
We don't need thicker skin, we need more professionalism from the staff member in question or he needs to be replaced. If we want to read troll posts, which this amounts to IMO, we can simply read the forums. To have one on staff is just...well...lame.
"Professionalism"? In what sense? Thats a rather subjective term. What major game site do you work for, that you would have a personal understanding of the meaning of the word? I usually enjoy his articles(some more than others) because pre dungeon finder I spent WAY too much time in various F2P games. Yes, over all they tend to be low quality clones. Some do have nice graphics(2 moons and Cabal come to mind). But they have WAY too much grind for most people. I didn't see this so much as an attack article as RA finally getting annoyed at the typical western attitude towards F2P games in general. Human nature takes over, and the forums go up in nuclear flame. Just another day at the office around here. ^^
The bottom line...Is it a good game, one that one would enjoy...playit!! If not the FTP/PTP status realy doesn't mean squat.
If it weren't for the fact that every F2P game I have tried has been horrible, I would agree with you. It seems that F2P developers don't usually have much imagination, or the mechanics are built around item shop profiteering. I would MUCH rather pay a subscription and know that the game's balancing isn't based on item shop revenue.
Item shop business models are based on one concept, and one concept only. Greed.
OK...how many is that...and which ones have you tried??
I've been to to many resturants I didn't care for and will never go to another????
I avoid most 'cartoony' looking games, WOW included ( just not my game tho it is admittedly a successful game enjoyed by a huge player base). I have enjoyed Guild Wars and think GW2 is going to be a great game. I'd play it as a PTP or as it will be..FTP.
That said, I've played more than a few PTP games that just didn't work for me. WOW, AOC, Warhammer for a few. That doesn't mean I won't play PTP. Some are great! Playing Aion right now and while there are some things I don't care for there are also many things I just love. Go figure.
Just an aside issue. Richard's title is MMORPG.com's Free Zone writer . He writes about the FTP model. I can't believe how many people miss this.
I think the OP needed a subject for an article and did not have any great ideas for it so he just picked one out of the ether. His choice was not the greatest nor was the writing in the article.
Oh dear.... Some ppl seem to think Mr. OP is forcing ppl to play F2P so they can not be called snobs
F2P or P2P - its both games and one is no better or worse than the other. Again - "item" malls are now in almost every MMO game released and many are having all sorts of perks for those that pay extra money - be that changing name - gender or Faction... Or even paying for respecing your character. Its all there in the P2P games... Its also all there in the so called "F2P" game. The only diffrence is that you can CHOOSE to play F2P without paying 1 cent. But you can not do that in P2P. Like it or hate it. Its that simple. It does not mean that you will enjoy playinng a F2P without paying one cent. And neither does mean that you will not have to pay shitloads of money EXTRA than what your sub is covering in the P2P game.
Payings a sub does not make you a snob you know. Its the attitude you show to those that like to enjoy gaming a bit diffrently that makes you a snob. The OP is pretty much spot on about it to be fair.
Snob: 1. One who tends to patronize, rebuff, or ignore people regarded as social inferiors and imitate, admire, or seek association with people regarded as social superiors.
2. One who affects an offensive air of self-satisfied superiority in matters of taste or intellect.
Hmm.. I sense and air of "snobbery" in your article as well.
There is a certain expectation, if you will, of what PtP (subscription based model) represents to its patrons. Albeit, lately it seems this expectation is rapidly changing, as the definition of PtP changes within its own culture (some would call it greed). Some would attribute this to the success of the FtP market and the PtP market wanting to take part in this success.
With PtP, I as a consumer "expect", commitment to quality, commitment to service, commitment to consumer satisfaction and most of all, honest value. And these points that I have established go hand in hand with accountability for when this expectation is not reached.
Yes, call me a "snob" for demanding only the best for my hard earned money, on virtual environments that I will never establish equity in. Well, aside from personal enjoyment. Eating a giant slice of NYC style pizza would equate to better value and satisfaction not to mention nurishment, but we all have our seperate priorities.
I am allowed to believe that my payment (monthly) to ANY game, should reward me with this level of expectation. And I base my foundation of this expectation on basic consumer common sense and the rules established through a history of customer satisfaction or/and accountability to me (the customer) should there be an issue with that satisfaction.
My personal experiences with FtP models, and I don't care where they are originated, Asia, US, India, Turkey, EU... is and has been the complete opposite of this "expectation". There are NO rules, nor laws, that protect the consumer from the business/host (unless in the US and even then) that allow for any responsibility or accountability should this buisness excuse my expectation unecessary. There are gaps in definition of importance to quality, in value and in loyalty, through culture, language barriers, currency exchange, communication between levels of management, time zones, phone rates and even host providers. Most times, if not always, the host/publisher for a FtP game, say here in the US, doesn't develop the game, make the game design decisions, have little to nothing to do with direct contact or influence in codeing or systems. That makes for lack of quality and expedience to customer service falable and slow.
The FtP model is for better lack of words.. "Fire and Forget". And the process for release is usually all the same. CB (we listen to the community), OB open Item mall (we are silent to the community), Release (we ignore the community). There is noway for the consumer to directly speak with any customer service rep, (vocally/telephone) should there be a grievance. A customer grievance is 9 times out of 10 dealt with indirectly, through ticket, email or elaborate chain of events that for the most part, disuades the consumer from even trying. If your not a consumer of the Item mall, your automaticaly, most likely to be discredited to begin with. Hey your playing for free right?
The FtP model in theory is good. Buy only what you need and enjoy the core game for free, using what you purchase to enhance your environment and presence. Awsome right?
But for many, MANY US and EU (another large PtP consumer base) consumers, this model is or has become jaded due to poor (if any) customer service and neglect to quality product, late, or untimely updates, bugs, poor communication or lack there of, in tech support, and an overall sense of instability. FtP games over PtP games have a greater tendency to have larger populations of hackers, botters, glichers, gold spammers and overall unaprieciative non paying players who could care less if the paying players have greviance or not. There is a lack of support online through GM's that SHOULD police these environs but can't or won't. And even to some degree and experiences have shown favoritism TO these events listed above. And there is a solid history of complaints that address this in ANY FtP (hosts) game forum that you or anyone else should take the time to visit. Rarely, does it seem that the host even remotely cares.
Now, what does this have to do with anything in your article? If you choose to generalize "snobbery" based on the generics of what the FtP business model represents, either through community or business, then you should also address the possibility for why this "snobbery" might evolve in the first place with and in its consumer. A consumer that had been participating with the ethics of PtP models and expectation to quality from its invention of meridian 59 and Ultima Online and the foundation to customer support that started with it, and its commitment to quality model that lasts to this day (in some not all).
It's not fair to generalize PtP patrons (mostly US) as "snobs" of the FtP market without pause. A FtP model, (keep in mind), that is still considered somewhat new to a PtP culture (US) that has been established with these expectations for over a decade of service. Especially when your assuming that the consistency of this FtP model is on par or level with PtP quality, support, commitment AND accountability... when its simply not. And yes, when you use PtP as a foundation for your argument versus FtP, and thus "snobbery", you, like it or not, finger the US market because this is the model the US market evolved from.
The PtP model is not perfect, but there is a level of accountability and level of consumer respect and protection. Why? Because there HAS to be, every month that subscription is running, because it's tied to the developer that makes and supports the game. The FtP market, is overwhelmed with same based generic clones, using simliar designed engines if not same engines, with different variations to themes, for one purpose and one purpose only, to generate fast, non commital, non accountable revenue. Ask yourself the question.. "How many FtP games will be produced and released this year vs. PtP", Then ask how many different Hosts will establish a market for the same client, in seperate market stakes. There is no centralized point of contact or accountability should the consumer of that 10 dollar item, be pissed that thier game is overrun with gold sellers and bots because the host has to communicate the issue to some distant developer and wait for the bundled fix or is to busy/lazy to go online and remedy the problem. The PtP community for the most part simply accepts that this "comes with the territory".
Last but not least, level of equality in a PtP model, over a FtP cash shop. It is accepted that in a PtP model, the only thing that seperates equality between players within that community is time and skill balance. Where as in a FtP model, it's who spends the most money in either cash shop or with non policed gold seller. Sure, most FtP cash shops start with non game balancing items, but eventually gravitate to items that make the player stronger, because lets face it.. Power sells. Now, to be fair not ALL, FtP models fall to the dark side, there are still some FtP games that only sell fluff and do extremely well in doing so. But the majority doesn't. Another reason for being biased of the FtP model and a solid reason for choosing PtP.
Now, the FtP "model" surely is just a model. An Idea or concept only. And an argument for its innocence could be placed solely on the malpractice of the Publisher and Hosts that take these FtP model centric and friendly games and attach an abusive cash shop onto them to recover thier licensing investment and generate some profit. If it were only that PtP players have a bias specific to that innocent model.. sure. Snobery. But there is a great deal more to it than just the FtP model alone and I think you know this.
Your article is clear.. but shallow. And I fully admit that I am a snob.
d
"He who reigns within himself and rules his passions, desires, and fears is more than a king."
"Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much argruing, much writting, many opinions; for opinions in good men is but knowledge in the making."
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
I'm not sure how much you've read Mr. Aihoshi's articles but for many of us the outrage is not just with this one article but the fact that Mr. Aihoshi makes a habit of insulting those that don't share his views. We have been called "in denial", "snobs", "liars", just to name a few. It's just poor writing from a supposed professional.
This is a trend with this writer and IMO is not appropriate for this forum whether you agree with his stance or not. As others have stated, if we wrote half of what Mr. Aihoshi writes in his articles we would get warnings or bans. If Mr. Aihoshi wants to convince more people F2P might be the way to go, less insults, inflammatory comparisons, hyperbole, and reliable sources and facts(versus his almost always siting of unverifiable, or anonymous sources and use of made up facts)might be a good start as a professional(which he is supposed to be).
We don't need thicker skin, we need more professionalism from the staff member in question or he needs to be replaced. If we want to read troll posts, which this amounts to IMO, we can simply read the forums. To have one on staff is just...well...lame.
"Professionalism"? In what sense? Thats a rather subjective term. What major game site do you work for, that you would have a personal understanding of the meaning of the word? I usually enjoy his articles(some more than others) because pre dungeon finder I spent WAY too much time in various F2P games. Yes, over all they tend to be low quality clones. Some do have nice graphics(2 moons and Cabal come to mind). But they have WAY too much grind for most people. I didn't see this so much as an attack article as RA finally getting annoyed at the typical western attitude towards F2P games in general. Human nature takes over, and the forums go up in nuclear flame. Just another day at the office around here. ^^
One doesn't need to work in the gaming industry to have a understanding of what professionalism is and to suggest so is ridiculous.
Professionalism is not a subjective term. For reference, the definition:
–noun
1.
professional character, spirit, or methods.
2.
the standing, practice, or methods of a professional, as distinguished from an amateur.
To insult the people on the side of the debate for which Mr. Aihoshi does not champion, use of excessive hyperbole, and the use of unverifiable and anonymous sources as fact for the basis of your side of the debate does not qualify for professionalism under the above, non-subjective definition. Rather, it is more on par with some of the trollish posters here on MMORPG and I expect more than that from someone that is a staffer.
There is no typical attitude here except on Mr. Aihoshi's part. Most P2P players, no matter where they are from, are pretty much content to live and let live as far as F2P games are concerned. You then have Mr. Aihoshi coming in here on a regular basis and insulting people because they don't agree with his view, and uses spurious sources to substantiate his made up claims of F2P superiority.
If this thread is any indication, it seems a good portion of the MMORPG members are fed up with Mr. Aihoshi.
Einherjar_LC says: WTB the true successor to UO or Asheron's Call pst!
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
I'm not sure how much you've read Mr. Aihoshi's articles but for many of us the outrage is not just with this one article but the fact that Mr. Aihoshi makes a habit of insulting those that don't share his views. We have been called "in denial", "snobs", "liars", just to name a few. It's just poor writing from a supposed professional.
This is a trend with this writer and IMO is not appropriate for this forum whether you agree with his stance or not. As others have stated, if we wrote half of what Mr. Aihoshi writes in his articles we would get warnings or bans. If Mr. Aihoshi wants to convince more people F2P might be the way to go, less insults, inflammatory comparisons, hyperbole, and reliable sources and facts(versus his almost always siting of unverifiable, or anonymous sources and use of made up facts)might be a good start as a professional(which he is supposed to be).
We don't need thicker skin, we need more professionalism from the staff member in question or he needs to be replaced. If we want to read troll posts, which this amounts to IMO, we can simply read the forums. To have one on staff is just...well...lame.
"Professionalism"? In what sense? Thats a rather subjective term. What major game site do you work for, that you would have a personal understanding of the meaning of the word? I usually enjoy his articles(some more than others) because pre dungeon finder I spent WAY too much time in various F2P games. Yes, over all they tend to be low quality clones. Some do have nice graphics(2 moons and Cabal come to mind). But they have WAY too much grind for most people. I didn't see this so much as an attack article as RA finally getting annoyed at the typical western attitude towards F2P games in general. Human nature takes over, and the forums go up in nuclear flame. Just another day at the office around here. ^^
One doesn't need to work in the gaming industry to have a understanding of what professionalism is and to suggest so is ridiculous.
Professionalism is not a subjective term. For reference, the definition:
–noun
1.
professional character, spirit, or methods.
2.
the standing, practice, or methods of a professional, as distinguished from an amateur.
To insult the people on the side of the debate for which Mr. Aihoshi does not champion, use of excessive hyperbole, and the use of unverifiable and anonymous sources as fact for the basis of your side of the debate does not qualify for professionalism under the above, non-subjective definition. Rather, it is more on par with some of the trollish posters here on MMORPG and I expect more than that from someone that is a staffer.
There is no typical attitude here except on Mr. Aihoshi's part. Most P2P players, no matter where they are from, are pretty much content to live and let live as far as F2P games are concerned. You then have Mr. Aihoshi coming in here on a regular basis and insulting people because they don't agree with his view, and uses spurious sources to substantiate his made up claims of F2P superiority.
If this thread is any indication, it seems a good portion of the MMORPG members are fed up with Mr. Aihoshi.
Look at the definition. Character, spirit and methods for example. The first two are obviously subjective, the third depends on a reference frame(within a given profession). The second is much akin to the third(of the 1st). Hence my follow on question.
I must disagree with you as far as the attitude involved. All too many P2P gamers in the west tend to look down their noses at F2P games. As I've already granted, all too many are low quality. But there are a few that stand out from the rest. But they are tarred by the same broad brush(in much the same way many people do with WoW). I suspect that after awhile that grows annoying.
The focus of his articles has always been F2P games. That covers all aspects of that market sector. Anyone not interested in F2P would be well advised to steer clear of his columns.
Comments
Oh well, one can't please everyone. Bye.
Scot, you always tend to go off like this with RA. That being the case, why do you insist on reading his columns? It can't be good for your blood pressure. ^^
Of course he is a F2P "fanboy". F2P *IS* the focus of this column, and thus requires someone with an obvious bias in favor of F2P to be effective. I suspect that as long as RA's articles continue to drive responses such as this(look at how long the thread has become...) that hes going to be around here for quite some time.
Personally, I'm always interested in what he has to say. Having spent WAY too much time in F2P games(pre dungeon finder) I'm still interested in whats going on in that sector of the MMO market. If you aren't, perhaps you would be well advised to pass on his column.
If you actually stick to that list of "I don'ts" you don't play many(if any) MMO's do you? You might be better served to play a solo RPG like Dragon Age or some such.
I don't much care for this article. It sounds awfully PC to me (Richard deciding what PC is.)
The whole discussion about F2P wears me out though.
It's NOT about the payment method people, it's about the quality of the game experience. We live in a so-called
"free enterprise" system (LOL) - so pretty much anybody can try to market anything in lots of different ways. That is good.
Making your own choices is also good. A person can dislike apples even if they are perfect. A person can also dislike certain apples because they have worms. Each will decide what "perfect" means and what "worms" mean.
I haven't seen any really top quality MMOs for a long time. THAT is a problem.
---------------------------
Rose-lipped maidens,
Light-foot lads...
What I dont like about Richard's articles is that every single one tries to guilt people into playing F2P mmos. He fails to realize F2P mmos have low to no quality, and are basically short-term money grabbing schemes. Not only that, but "Pay to win", anybody?
People should want to use item shops because they enjoy the game, and NOT because the game is shit without them.
People wont suddenly enjoy them just because you try to make us feel like scumbags, Richard. Sorry.
If you stand VERY still, and close your eyes, after a minute you can actually FEEL the universe revolving around PvP.
Stopped frequenting mmorpg.com a while ago thanks to crap articles like this one and the amount of news about Korean MMO's I have to wade through to get to something worthwhile. Good thing there's still massively.com.
It's not about making you feel guilty, if that's what you're taking away from these articles you're missing the point. He uses references from the forums to write his articles, popular opinion if you will. Much like Skeltons articles and Woods, they do so to fit in with the activity within the forums and generate a discussion based on forum activity, as well as the popular opinion within them.
Sometiems these discussions are purposefully combative to hit on hot button issues, like how players feel about F2P and the rmt associated with it. This is how oversensitivity clouds a otherwise interesting discussion, and shows how half the discussions end up as they do on the main forums.People completely miss the point, and go off on tangents of "hey don't call me that!" Rather than discuss the issue at hand.
His overall question is, are you a SNOB? Not you are a snob, and here's why. He's asking you to think about yourself and the comments you make, to find out the popular belief therein on this forum. To hit at an issue based on whether we as players say things to seem superior, or if we actually feel that way.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
I think Aioshi confuses critical sense with snobbery.
Fortunately, my refusing to eat crap sandwiches and arguing against serving them in general, does not make me a snob just cuz a crap sandwich salesman says so.
In other words, his article hit the nail on the head.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Different tastes for different people...<shrug> I must admit that the majority of Asian F2P games tend to be low quality re purposed clones, but thats simply the nature of the eastern market. I'd not single out the Koreans, as the other Asians contribute just as much as time passes. Massively is good, so is Ten Ton Hammer.
It's not about making you feel guilty, if that's what you're taking away from these articles you're missing the point. He uses references from the forums to write his articles, popular opinion if you will. Much like Skeltons articles and Woods, they do so to fit in with the activity within the forums and generate a discussion based on forum activity, as well as the popular opinion within them.
Sometiems these discussions are purposefully combative to hit on hot button issues, like how players feel about F2P and the rmt associated with it. This is how oversensitivity clouds a otherwise interesting discussion, and shows how half the discussions end up as they do on the main forums.People completely miss the point, and go off on tangents of "hey don't call me that!" Rather than discuss the issue at hand.
His overall question is, are you a SNOB? Not you are a snob, and here's why. He's asking you to think about yourself and the comments you make, to find out the popular belief therein on this forum. To hit at an issue based on whether we as players say things to seem superior, or if we actually feel that way.
You are over-defending and over-analyzing his articles.
This article clearly was a jab at all the people (most of North America's MMO audience) who don't agree with him. It was an attacking article and nothing more.
It wasn't some profound look into the nature of gamers and cleverly worded to make solid discussions or show people their inner-sensitivity. It was literally an article who's sole purpose was to attack all the people on these forums that don't like the concept of f2p and say so every time he writes the same article he tends to write.
He used a lot of inflammatory writing in this article to feel good about pissing off everyone who doesn't like f2p and as a result doesn't like his articles. This same topic could of been approached in an entirely different manner and resulted in positive discussions instead of everyone yelling at him, but he wanted to attack the community. It's really that simple.
Everyone gets frustrated with the online communities at some point, but when you have a job at the website you're supposed to be professional enough to tune out that aspect and write professional articles. He's shown he can't do that.
now the richard ayoshi is getting agresive now, calling everyone who don't like F2P snobs, hey if this piss you off i'm a snob too, i'm a snob because
I like to be on the same ground against other people, only diference is time invested on the game(and I owrk so I have little)
in a pvp fight I like to have chance to fight back, no fight against someone who can cash 100 a month so he can HK you in wars and think is he good.
I like to have a good and fun game to play with don't annoy me in certain parts of the game I need to get that potion or can't do this content or need to buy the said content.
I play some F2P only for the PVE content, and since i'm more a pvp player I get bored easily soon, thing is for a pvp game IM RMT is a really bad thing, if they keep the cash shop only for fluff things lvl up potions its ok, what I don't like is random chance to get item who raise your stats by 50-100%, full heal pots with no cooldown, you drop a gold weapon and you need to buy the enchant of the cash shop if not you can't pass the lvl4 of that enchant and with cash shop after you spend 200$ you can have a lvl 20 weapon if you get luck with no breaks and lose lvls(because you also bough the no break item)
now one thing is, the mr richard really should stop to try and hype his "F2P" model, why not for once tell us the bad things about the "F2P" business? because he know he can't get all issues normally the devs do on this kind of games in one single article and he would scare at least half of the people who defend he here. also for MHO he is not a jornalist, a true one only put facts on the table don't say what he thinks, he could state his opnion on the end of his articles, but since he is not the only one (journalism is getting worse each passing day), I would only say to everyone one who really like this site state his opnion about the really bad work about this person, and say to him well myc friend we don't you work here anymore so you don't need to come back.
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's your problem not the authors.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
Richard, excellent points.
I have to disagree a bit on the never changing mind or opinion on some things, ie. gay marriages and the others. I have seen many people who didn't even believe in gay relationships change their minds. Yea probably many old timers still won't and my thoughts are it doesn't have to be your "cup of tea" but most are people just like all the rest so I think many may not approve but at least are beginning to accept it. I use that as example because I think that just shows that anything is possible. Please no offense was meant so don't take any. My best friend is gay and one of the greatest people I know. So back off going down the wrong road just an easy example to show my point. I raised my kids to try a new food before judging it based on what it was or how it looked. Try it then if you don't like it don't eat it, simple, but don't make fun of it just because you don't like it. Pretty much same thing can apply here. But if you don't try and refuse to then shut your trap since nothing you say will be valid.
I have played f2p and of course subscription. Some of the f2p are really rather fun. Many may play them simply because they can't afford to spend money on a game, the subscription and all the added expansion that may follow. It does get costly. Myself it is my entertainment so I will do it as long as I can. That doesn't make the f2p less worthy it is just different. Like an apple and orange.
Yea there are many MMOG snobs. For one reason or another. My game is better than yours...etc. What is good for you may not be for someone else.
Does not surprise me that China has a larger base. Not sure why but it does seem more Chinese play games than US. I know many people that play different things on -line but not that many that play MMOG; free or otherwise. Oddly though the ones I know that play have more than one account in the game they play heavy. Wonder if that is the case in China?
We have come a long way and there is many miles yet to be covered.
Gikku
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
As long as the new sweet boss drops the sword - why the hell do you care how the guy next to you got his sword? If you want to go for the new boss to get it then GO !
Probably because it cheapens the point of spending time in the game and trying playing the game to quest for things. Buying things in an item shop isn't playing a game or gameplay. Time is a currency we all have.
1) Of all the F2P MMOs, can you tell us what percentage of them you think offers the epic drop items in the item mall? Seems like a bit of a strawman you're setting up there, no?
2) Time is a currency that many think they have a lot more of than they really have. In the end, some like to waste time on their entertainment/hobby, some like to waste money on it and some like to waste both.
3) To hold the position that the way you waste your time as more productive, better, more honorable, more rewarding, etc than the way someone else wastes their time is a bit odd - You're both wasting time.
I don't have the time nor inclination to supply a comprehensive list for you so I'll just give one of the more well known ones: Atlantica Online. In it you have to purchase a randomized box for mounts which give bonuses for PvE and PvP, The in game mounts do not have comparable stats, if any at all. It is less strawman and more your lack of experience playing/trying a range of games I believe.
Acutally, part of my job includes competitive analysis, so I am familiar with a good lot of the MMOs out there. You maded a claim, and it isn't unreasonable to ask you to back it. If you don't know or don't have anything to support it, just say so. The attack is unnecessary. Altantica and War Rock... yes, those two offer epic items as item mall items. What other ones, out of the hundreds of F2P MMOs do as you claim - offer the same 'cool sword' as a rare drop and as a cash shop item?
Then you are more than welcome to spend your time time downloading and playing or just going to the sites and clicking on the cash shops and looking at what they offer and then going over their forums to make yourself a little tally sheet of that number. Atlantica and War Rock (your offering) aren't the first to begin the practice and they certainly aren't the last. To think so just shows a high level of naivety and. You claim that it isn't unreasonable to ask someone to back it. Well, this isn't my first forum rodeo. I know your game. Even if I did post a list it'd never be good enough and you'd find some other excuse to continue on. Your competitive analyst skill should allow you to gather the data you require.
Money is a currency that many can not afford to waste on a hobby/entertainment in the excesses that many of these F2P games ask for in their item malls. Through wasting time, eventually everyone can attain game items desired for gameplay. This can not be said for money as there are much more demands on the money we attain than the time we amass.
Whoa there. Blaming the fat guy's weight on the donut shop? If someone can't afford to spend money on something but does it anyway under his own volition, the problem has nothing to do with cash shops and everything to do with your example character having an addiction... or are you suggesting that all of your fellow gamers are so weak-willed that they F2P MMOs will put them under some evil spell and drive them to destitution?
That's your take on what I wrote. You're assumption is wrong yet I am not here to ensure that your reading comprehension is accurate. I don't suggest, I state. Therefor you shouldn't need to make inference on anything I write.
If it were only a matter of wasting time I can agree. Unfortunately this topic includes the bestowing of in game advantages to only those who have real world currency to pay for it leaving those who either do not have the extra money or care to spend it on other vices at a disadvantage.
What percentage of F2P MMOs create this mandatory PvP arena that you present?
You compile and crunch data for a living, that seems like a good use of your free time to do. I'm sure you'd find it fascinating.
After all, you're not suggesting that you feel inferior simply at the sight of someone in a non-competitive environment with bigger or better items than you, correct?
Nice, an attempt to poke at the old manhood by throwing in an "inferior" question. Yeah, ignored.
Anyway, if you could just answer the one question regarding to your specific claim, that would own:
Of all the F2P MMOs, can you tell us what percentage of them you think offers the epic drop items in the item mall?
That is the basis to your entire argument, so it is not unreasonable to ask you for an answer to that.
Again, you have the fascination with a specific number so you go compile the data. While you're at it, don't only include "epic drop" items. Include items that easily facilitate advancement that can't be acquired in game via in game time spent or in game currency used. I'd really love to see those numbers and I think you have the skill set and time to put together such a package for our review.
I look forward to reviewing your analysis.
"Many nights, my friend... Many nights I've put a blade to your throat while you were sleeping. Glad I never killed you, Steve. You're alright..."
Chavez y Chavez
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
I'm not sure how much you've read Mr. Aihoshi's articles but for many of us the outrage is not just with this one article but the fact that Mr. Aihoshi makes a habit of insulting those that don't share his views. We have been called "in denial", "snobs", "liars", just to name a few. It's just poor writing from a supposed professional.
This is a trend with this writer and IMO is not appropriate for this forum whether you agree with his stance or not. As others have stated, if we wrote half of what Mr. Aihoshi writes in his articles we would get warnings or bans. If Mr. Aihoshi wants to convince more people F2P might be the way to go, less insults, inflammatory comparisons, hyperbole, and reliable sources and facts(versus his almost always siting of unverifiable, or anonymous sources and use of made up facts)might be a good start as a professional(which he is supposed to be).
We don't need thicker skin, we need more professionalism from the staff member in question or he needs to be replaced. If we want to read troll posts, which this amounts to IMO, we can simply read the forums. To have one on staff is just...well...lame.
Einherjar_LC says: WTB the true successor to UO or Asheron's Call pst!
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
I'm not sure how much you've read Mr. Aihoshi's articles but for many of us the outrage is not just with this one article but the fact that Mr. Aihoshi makes a habit of insulting those that don't share his views. We have been called "in denial", "snobs", "liars", just to name a few. It's just poor writing from a supposed professional.
This is a trend with this writer and IMO is not appropriate for this forum whether you agree with his stance or not. As others have stated, if we wrote half of what Mr. Aihoshi writes in his articles we would get warnings or bans. If Mr. Aihoshi wants to convince more people F2P might be the way to go, less insults, inflammatory comparisons, hyperbole, and reliable sources and facts(versus his almost always siting of unverifiable, or anonymous sources and use of made up facts)might be a good start as a professional(which he is supposed to be).
We don't need thicker skin, we need more professionalism from the staff member in question or he needs to be replaced. If we want to read troll posts, which this amounts to IMO, we can simply read the forums. To have one on staff is just...well...lame.
"Professionalism"? In what sense? Thats a rather subjective term. What major game site do you work for, that you would have a personal understanding of the meaning of the word? I usually enjoy his articles(some more than others) because pre dungeon finder I spent WAY too much time in various F2P games. Yes, over all they tend to be low quality clones. Some do have nice graphics(2 moons and Cabal come to mind). But they have WAY too much grind for most people. I didn't see this so much as an attack article as RA finally getting annoyed at the typical western attitude towards F2P games in general. Human nature takes over, and the forums go up in nuclear flame. Just another day at the office around here. ^^
If it weren't for the fact that every F2P game I have tried has been horrible, I would agree with you. It seems that F2P developers don't usually have much imagination, or the mechanics are built around item shop profiteering. I would MUCH rather pay a subscription and know that the game's balancing isn't based on item shop revenue.
Item shop business models are based on one concept, and one concept only. Greed.
OK...how many is that...and which ones have you tried??
I've been to to many resturants I didn't care for and will never go to another????
I avoid most 'cartoony' looking games, WOW included ( just not my game tho it is admittedly a successful game enjoyed by a huge player base). I have enjoyed Guild Wars and think GW2 is going to be a great game. I'd play it as a PTP or as it will be..FTP.
That said, I've played more than a few PTP games that just didn't work for me. WOW, AOC, Warhammer for a few. That doesn't mean I won't play PTP. Some are great! Playing Aion right now and while there are some things I don't care for there are also many things I just love. Go figure.
Just an aside issue. Richard's title is MMORPG.com's Free Zone writer . He writes about the FTP model. I can't believe how many people miss this.
I think the OP needed a subject for an article and did not have any great ideas for it so he just picked one out of the ether. His choice was not the greatest nor was the writing in the article.
Best to just move on, we all have our bad days.
Oh dear.... Some ppl seem to think Mr. OP is forcing ppl to play F2P so they can not be called snobs
F2P or P2P - its both games and one is no better or worse than the other. Again - "item" malls are now in almost every MMO game released and many are having all sorts of perks for those that pay extra money - be that changing name - gender or Faction... Or even paying for respecing your character. Its all there in the P2P games... Its also all there in the so called "F2P" game. The only diffrence is that you can CHOOSE to play F2P without paying 1 cent. But you can not do that in P2P. Like it or hate it. Its that simple. It does not mean that you will enjoy playinng a F2P without paying one cent. And neither does mean that you will not have to pay shitloads of money EXTRA than what your sub is covering in the P2P game.
Payings a sub does not make you a snob you know. Its the attitude you show to those that like to enjoy gaming a bit diffrently that makes you a snob. The OP is pretty much spot on about it to be fair.
Hello..
Snob: 1. One who tends to patronize, rebuff, or ignore people regarded as social inferiors and imitate, admire, or seek association with people regarded as social superiors.
2. One who affects an offensive air of self-satisfied superiority in matters of taste or intellect.
Hmm.. I sense and air of "snobbery" in your article as well.
There is a certain expectation, if you will, of what PtP (subscription based model) represents to its patrons. Albeit, lately it seems this expectation is rapidly changing, as the definition of PtP changes within its own culture (some would call it greed). Some would attribute this to the success of the FtP market and the PtP market wanting to take part in this success.
With PtP, I as a consumer "expect", commitment to quality, commitment to service, commitment to consumer satisfaction and most of all, honest value. And these points that I have established go hand in hand with accountability for when this expectation is not reached.
Yes, call me a "snob" for demanding only the best for my hard earned money, on virtual environments that I will never establish equity in. Well, aside from personal enjoyment. Eating a giant slice of NYC style pizza would equate to better value and satisfaction not to mention nurishment, but we all have our seperate priorities.
I am allowed to believe that my payment (monthly) to ANY game, should reward me with this level of expectation. And I base my foundation of this expectation on basic consumer common sense and the rules established through a history of customer satisfaction or/and accountability to me (the customer) should there be an issue with that satisfaction.
My personal experiences with FtP models, and I don't care where they are originated, Asia, US, India, Turkey, EU... is and has been the complete opposite of this "expectation". There are NO rules, nor laws, that protect the consumer from the business/host (unless in the US and even then) that allow for any responsibility or accountability should this buisness excuse my expectation unecessary. There are gaps in definition of importance to quality, in value and in loyalty, through culture, language barriers, currency exchange, communication between levels of management, time zones, phone rates and even host providers. Most times, if not always, the host/publisher for a FtP game, say here in the US, doesn't develop the game, make the game design decisions, have little to nothing to do with direct contact or influence in codeing or systems. That makes for lack of quality and expedience to customer service falable and slow.
The FtP model is for better lack of words.. "Fire and Forget". And the process for release is usually all the same. CB (we listen to the community), OB open Item mall (we are silent to the community), Release (we ignore the community). There is noway for the consumer to directly speak with any customer service rep, (vocally/telephone) should there be a grievance. A customer grievance is 9 times out of 10 dealt with indirectly, through ticket, email or elaborate chain of events that for the most part, disuades the consumer from even trying. If your not a consumer of the Item mall, your automaticaly, most likely to be discredited to begin with. Hey your playing for free right?
The FtP model in theory is good. Buy only what you need and enjoy the core game for free, using what you purchase to enhance your environment and presence. Awsome right?
But for many, MANY US and EU (another large PtP consumer base) consumers, this model is or has become jaded due to poor (if any) customer service and neglect to quality product, late, or untimely updates, bugs, poor communication or lack there of, in tech support, and an overall sense of instability. FtP games over PtP games have a greater tendency to have larger populations of hackers, botters, glichers, gold spammers and overall unaprieciative non paying players who could care less if the paying players have greviance or not. There is a lack of support online through GM's that SHOULD police these environs but can't or won't. And even to some degree and experiences have shown favoritism TO these events listed above. And there is a solid history of complaints that address this in ANY FtP (hosts) game forum that you or anyone else should take the time to visit. Rarely, does it seem that the host even remotely cares.
Now, what does this have to do with anything in your article? If you choose to generalize "snobbery" based on the generics of what the FtP business model represents, either through community or business, then you should also address the possibility for why this "snobbery" might evolve in the first place with and in its consumer. A consumer that had been participating with the ethics of PtP models and expectation to quality from its invention of meridian 59 and Ultima Online and the foundation to customer support that started with it, and its commitment to quality model that lasts to this day (in some not all).
It's not fair to generalize PtP patrons (mostly US) as "snobs" of the FtP market without pause. A FtP model, (keep in mind), that is still considered somewhat new to a PtP culture (US) that has been established with these expectations for over a decade of service. Especially when your assuming that the consistency of this FtP model is on par or level with PtP quality, support, commitment AND accountability... when its simply not. And yes, when you use PtP as a foundation for your argument versus FtP, and thus "snobbery", you, like it or not, finger the US market because this is the model the US market evolved from.
The PtP model is not perfect, but there is a level of accountability and level of consumer respect and protection. Why? Because there HAS to be, every month that subscription is running, because it's tied to the developer that makes and supports the game. The FtP market, is overwhelmed with same based generic clones, using simliar designed engines if not same engines, with different variations to themes, for one purpose and one purpose only, to generate fast, non commital, non accountable revenue. Ask yourself the question.. "How many FtP games will be produced and released this year vs. PtP", Then ask how many different Hosts will establish a market for the same client, in seperate market stakes. There is no centralized point of contact or accountability should the consumer of that 10 dollar item, be pissed that thier game is overrun with gold sellers and bots because the host has to communicate the issue to some distant developer and wait for the bundled fix or is to busy/lazy to go online and remedy the problem. The PtP community for the most part simply accepts that this "comes with the territory".
Last but not least, level of equality in a PtP model, over a FtP cash shop. It is accepted that in a PtP model, the only thing that seperates equality between players within that community is time and skill balance. Where as in a FtP model, it's who spends the most money in either cash shop or with non policed gold seller. Sure, most FtP cash shops start with non game balancing items, but eventually gravitate to items that make the player stronger, because lets face it.. Power sells. Now, to be fair not ALL, FtP models fall to the dark side, there are still some FtP games that only sell fluff and do extremely well in doing so. But the majority doesn't. Another reason for being biased of the FtP model and a solid reason for choosing PtP.
Now, the FtP "model" surely is just a model. An Idea or concept only. And an argument for its innocence could be placed solely on the malpractice of the Publisher and Hosts that take these FtP model centric and friendly games and attach an abusive cash shop onto them to recover thier licensing investment and generate some profit. If it were only that PtP players have a bias specific to that innocent model.. sure. Snobery. But there is a great deal more to it than just the FtP model alone and I think you know this.
Your article is clear.. but shallow. And I fully admit that I am a snob.
d
"He who reigns within himself and rules his passions, desires, and fears is more than a king."
"Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much argruing, much writting, many opinions; for opinions in good men is but knowledge in the making."
John Milton 1608-1674
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
I'm not sure how much you've read Mr. Aihoshi's articles but for many of us the outrage is not just with this one article but the fact that Mr. Aihoshi makes a habit of insulting those that don't share his views. We have been called "in denial", "snobs", "liars", just to name a few. It's just poor writing from a supposed professional.
This is a trend with this writer and IMO is not appropriate for this forum whether you agree with his stance or not. As others have stated, if we wrote half of what Mr. Aihoshi writes in his articles we would get warnings or bans. If Mr. Aihoshi wants to convince more people F2P might be the way to go, less insults, inflammatory comparisons, hyperbole, and reliable sources and facts(versus his almost always siting of unverifiable, or anonymous sources and use of made up facts)might be a good start as a professional(which he is supposed to be).
We don't need thicker skin, we need more professionalism from the staff member in question or he needs to be replaced. If we want to read troll posts, which this amounts to IMO, we can simply read the forums. To have one on staff is just...well...lame.
"Professionalism"? In what sense? Thats a rather subjective term. What major game site do you work for, that you would have a personal understanding of the meaning of the word? I usually enjoy his articles(some more than others) because pre dungeon finder I spent WAY too much time in various F2P games. Yes, over all they tend to be low quality clones. Some do have nice graphics(2 moons and Cabal come to mind). But they have WAY too much grind for most people. I didn't see this so much as an attack article as RA finally getting annoyed at the typical western attitude towards F2P games in general. Human nature takes over, and the forums go up in nuclear flame. Just another day at the office around here. ^^
One doesn't need to work in the gaming industry to have a understanding of what professionalism is and to suggest so is ridiculous.
Professionalism is not a subjective term. For reference, the definition:
–noun
1.
professional character, spirit, or methods.
2.
the standing, practice, or methods of a professional, as distinguished from an amateur.
To insult the people on the side of the debate for which Mr. Aihoshi does not champion, use of excessive hyperbole, and the use of unverifiable and anonymous sources as fact for the basis of your side of the debate does not qualify for professionalism under the above, non-subjective definition. Rather, it is more on par with some of the trollish posters here on MMORPG and I expect more than that from someone that is a staffer.
There is no typical attitude here except on Mr. Aihoshi's part. Most P2P players, no matter where they are from, are pretty much content to live and let live as far as F2P games are concerned. You then have Mr. Aihoshi coming in here on a regular basis and insulting people because they don't agree with his view, and uses spurious sources to substantiate his made up claims of F2P superiority.
If this thread is any indication, it seems a good portion of the MMORPG members are fed up with Mr. Aihoshi.
Einherjar_LC says: WTB the true successor to UO or Asheron's Call pst!
This is exactly what I was talking about, you're focusing to much on the question and not enough on the context. Are you really offended by the question are you a snob? Did you miss the part where he explains the question and what he is saying ? I didn't over analyze what so ever, I read the article and that's what i read. Do you say "you will never play a f2p, to A: feel that makes you "better", or do you actually have a strong feeling against F2P. - In layman's terms of course.
It is a straight forward question, with an assessment attached of course (it is an article). Taking offense to such a question before actually thinking about it, in the way it was meant to be understood, is the problem. There's nothing wrong with an article asking for people to assess themselves, if you're taking offense that's you're problem not the authors.
I could care less about the question, and I answered the question earlier in this thread. I think you missed the whole rest of the article which was about insulting players and using ridiculous comparisons with death and abortion, along with saying anyone who says they won't play a f2p is a liar.
So instead of telling us to reread the question, which we all easily saw, you should perhaps try to reread the whole article and see the tone and suggestions he's saying about people who don't agree with him.
You completely misunderstood even the start of the article, and you say I should reread it?
My advice - grow some thicker skin.
MMOrpg- warn me ban me whatever, but you guys have got to start writing your articles with lollipops, hearts and kisses in mind (maybe some unicorns). Your readership can't handle much else.
I'm not sure how much you've read Mr. Aihoshi's articles but for many of us the outrage is not just with this one article but the fact that Mr. Aihoshi makes a habit of insulting those that don't share his views. We have been called "in denial", "snobs", "liars", just to name a few. It's just poor writing from a supposed professional.
This is a trend with this writer and IMO is not appropriate for this forum whether you agree with his stance or not. As others have stated, if we wrote half of what Mr. Aihoshi writes in his articles we would get warnings or bans. If Mr. Aihoshi wants to convince more people F2P might be the way to go, less insults, inflammatory comparisons, hyperbole, and reliable sources and facts(versus his almost always siting of unverifiable, or anonymous sources and use of made up facts)might be a good start as a professional(which he is supposed to be).
We don't need thicker skin, we need more professionalism from the staff member in question or he needs to be replaced. If we want to read troll posts, which this amounts to IMO, we can simply read the forums. To have one on staff is just...well...lame.
"Professionalism"? In what sense? Thats a rather subjective term. What major game site do you work for, that you would have a personal understanding of the meaning of the word? I usually enjoy his articles(some more than others) because pre dungeon finder I spent WAY too much time in various F2P games. Yes, over all they tend to be low quality clones. Some do have nice graphics(2 moons and Cabal come to mind). But they have WAY too much grind for most people. I didn't see this so much as an attack article as RA finally getting annoyed at the typical western attitude towards F2P games in general. Human nature takes over, and the forums go up in nuclear flame. Just another day at the office around here. ^^
One doesn't need to work in the gaming industry to have a understanding of what professionalism is and to suggest so is ridiculous.
Professionalism is not a subjective term. For reference, the definition:
–noun
1.
professional character, spirit, or methods.
2.
the standing, practice, or methods of a professional, as distinguished from an amateur.
To insult the people on the side of the debate for which Mr. Aihoshi does not champion, use of excessive hyperbole, and the use of unverifiable and anonymous sources as fact for the basis of your side of the debate does not qualify for professionalism under the above, non-subjective definition. Rather, it is more on par with some of the trollish posters here on MMORPG and I expect more than that from someone that is a staffer.
There is no typical attitude here except on Mr. Aihoshi's part. Most P2P players, no matter where they are from, are pretty much content to live and let live as far as F2P games are concerned. You then have Mr. Aihoshi coming in here on a regular basis and insulting people because they don't agree with his view, and uses spurious sources to substantiate his made up claims of F2P superiority.
If this thread is any indication, it seems a good portion of the MMORPG members are fed up with Mr. Aihoshi.
Look at the definition. Character, spirit and methods for example. The first two are obviously subjective, the third depends on a reference frame(within a given profession). The second is much akin to the third(of the 1st). Hence my follow on question.
I must disagree with you as far as the attitude involved. All too many P2P gamers in the west tend to look down their noses at F2P games. As I've already granted, all too many are low quality. But there are a few that stand out from the rest. But they are tarred by the same broad brush(in much the same way many people do with WoW). I suspect that after awhile that grows annoying.
The focus of his articles has always been F2P games. That covers all aspects of that market sector. Anyone not interested in F2P would be well advised to steer clear of his columns.