Now that silver has 4 characterslots and 4 bagslots I think its a great deal for a one time 10$ purchase. As silver you can also chat in the worldchannels and buy from broker and have more bank space.
A good tip for bronze or silver players is to band together as guild. Although a guildcharter has to be bought by the guildleader (10$, which is ridiculously high imo ), you get a guildvault with it. Itll be an easy way to use to share collection and lnl pieces.
For the rest I think that SOE doesnt seem to get it if it comes to microtransactions for f2p mmo's. Their whole policy seems to be still aimed at getting people to sub, instead of trying to make the money mainly from microtransactions.
Everquest II Extended was a horrid experience especially after playing Dungeons & Dragons Online and LOTRO, Turbine did great with their free to play model and set a brilliant example on how to do it, but once again, SOE messes it up. Everquest II Extended is actually quite a rip off, you have to pay more than what regular subscribers pay and you get less for it, better off with a free trial then subscribing on the normal EQ2 service, much cheaper.
Not one of the hybrid payment systems is designed to let you have a long term F2P experience. They all want you to take up a sub. In some ways the hybrid payment MMO’s are like a very long trial period, during which you work out if this MMO is for you.
So when we see stuff like “EQII went free to play! Woohoo!”, I feel like getting my +1 mace and using it on someones head! It is misleading, stop giving people the impression these hybrid models are F2P, it is feeding their misconceptions.
It was a solid review apart from that, most informative.
I spent around 120 bucks unlocking everything in lotro. With that spent I have access to all forms of storage, full char slots, all content and classes. All restrictions removed and have thousands of coins still unspent for trait unlocks and new content/expansions mostly earned playing with two classes around mid level. Now tell me I can do this with eq2x. Tell me I can sink that much cash on the free server, unlock everything and earn cash shop currency by playing to unlock anything that releases in te future. If you can't this lotro vs eq2x shouldn't even be discussed.
I spent around 120 bucks unlocking everything in lotro. With that spent I have access to all forms of storage, full char slots, all content and classes. All restrictions removed and have thousands of coins still unspent for trait unlocks and new content/expansions mostly earned playing with two classes around mid level. Now tell me I can do this with eq2x. Tell me I can sink that much cash on the free server, unlock everything and earn cash shop currency by playing to unlock anything that releases in te future. If you can't this lotro vs eq2x shouldn't even be discussed.
I spent over 300 bucks buying the lifetime subscription for LOTRO look how smart that was. Also bought the lifetime subscript for STO looks like that may go F2p here soon. My guess is these company's are just looking to squeez just alittle more money out of there players or unspecting new comers. I've been cured from buying any more lifetime subs. The only game company that is living up to there promises is Blizzard. I trust none of the others at all.
" Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Those Who Would Threaten It " MAGA
When I play a f2p system I do not spend money on it. And if i hit a sport where i have to spend money i uninstall the game and call it stupid. I Live on very strict budget, and being a poor gamer makes life hard. My computer is almost as old as EQ2.
My experience with EQ2X is great, with the exception of not enough bags. I do play EQ2live when my funds allow only cause i have friends playing on it.
I find out when i play low level toons pre 50, I never upgrade my spells and use what equipment I am given. I enjoy playing the game at my own pace . I do admit, on EQ2live, having experts/masters does help you along, but I was able to fly thru sundering frontiers on my journeyman spells, I tend not to upgrade when i am leveling cause in a few levels you get an upgrade.
But i have the feeling when playing EQ2X that it a free trial when i compare it to EQ2Live but as said if RQ2X was alone it would be great. But we don't live in that world. I play DDO since the early days also, and it went to f2p it really worked well. I switch from f2p and p2p often. The other issue I have is it dang slow, takes forever sometimes to download the new content. I have to walk away and get something to drink while I wait.
The f2p plan is allot like there Free Realms service. You can play, and add more functionality by subscribing. And cant buy off the limitations.
[1] Any valid point you may make is thrown out the window by saying they are trying to 'create a full blown cash shop'. If they wanted to create a full blown cash shop they could have. They could have made eq2x like other games where for example there are no in game mount. They could charge for housing (and EQ2s housing system is good enough they could get away with charging rl money for a place). And yes, they could charge you for the content like LOTRO does. They don't.
They actually made the cash shop into something you really dont notice is there. Sure, some people probably buy the armor or rares and some buy the extra races and classes, but there isnt the day to day dependency on the cash shop that most f2ps have.
[2] And you suggest they should have listened to their players...They did. Current players do NOT want people that can buy stuff on their servers. Current players do NOT want to have their existence threatened by EQ2X. That is why it is on its own server. That is why gold offers slightly less than the same cost on live servers. The ONLY difference is the number of races. So its not like its some abomination of a service as people make it out to be. I believe the races are $7.50 for a set of 3, so its not like they are insanely expensive. But there is enough incentive NOT to switch from live -> extended. And they continue to listen to players. Silver benefits have increased since the start (more bag slots, more broker access) at no extra cost.
[3] I still think the best way for them to move forward would be to use an old school f2p trick, make people pay for attuning tokens so they could wear the Legendary gear. The smart way would be to make a daily quest of sorts which would award you with 1/4 of a token or so. So you could attune a new piece of gear or spell every 4 days for free, and sell the full tokens for a buck each. Do that and give silver one broker slot (40+ items) for selling and youd address most of the big concerns from the people who dont want a sub.
[4]I personally think EQ2s system is way better than Turbines, even as is. But then I also am the type that if I am going to get that into a game, Id sub anyway. I would rather get a piece of gear i cant use then go to a town full of people with quests that i cant get. Content > gear to me, but i realize for many gear = content. Time will tell if SoE addresses those people or not, but its way too early to assume they wont.
[1]
This change is entirely about putting a huge cash shop into eq2 to see how it works. The cash shop has always been the primary focus of this change, not some free to play model or optional payment methods for players to use. EQ2X isn't free to play. It is an extended trial of the game with a cash shop and heavy restrictions. The only way to remove most of the restrictions is to subscribe which sort of goes against the entire nature of free to play doesn't it?
Just because soe doesn't try to sell housing or some things that are sold in other games doesn't diminish the purpose or scope of this change. The cash shop is the focus of this experiment. That is why the only way to remove most of the restriction in the game is to subscribe. Soe wants to add a full blown cash shop on top of the subscription model. EQ2X isn't a free to play game like turbines models, which you can get everything for free if you work for it and actually have payment options.
That is the difference. In lotro/ddo you can subscribe, pay for content as you go or earn it through normal gameplay. The entire point of the turbine model is to offer choices.
[2]
I don't know if you have not been following the situation, but the current players already feel threatened by the existance of EQ2X. They have had their source of new players removed and have been segregated from the EQ2X servers. The legacy players already feel abandonded as live game updates have shifted focus from end game content for long time players to making changes the focus on new player experience and cash shop offerings. Soe did not do their current players some favor by making eq2x on seperate servers, they did it because they knew people would leave if they forced a huge cash shop into the game, which is exactly what eq2x is. A huge cash shop.
Players were actually begging soe to put the extended trial on the live servers (without cash shop) which desperatly need new players. Instead of listening to players who want new/better ways to attract new players to the servers, soe removed the free trial for the live game and made eq2x the only way to try the game for free without a personal invitation from an existing player.
That isn't exactly what I would call listening to your players would you? If anything it feels more like punishing players for not allowing soe to put cash shops on the live servers.
[3]
It is funny that you think the soe model is better than the turbine model, but then you go on to talk about "the smart way" for them to do things would be... and how using systems (tricks) from tried and tested free to play games would work better. How there are many things soe could do to address the big concerns most players are having with soes approach. Doesn't that feel strange saying their model is better, but at the same time all these problems would be better servered and addressed if they changed their methods to work more like other free to play games? Can you see the contradiction there?
[4]
I think there is plenty enough content in both games offerings, but the soe model takes the reward out of the risk vs reward model and leaves nothing but risk. Sure it is fun to experience content, but when the risk taken is rewarded with something that cannot be used any other way than subscribing, it doesn't really feel like a free to play game anymore.
Most people do not like the restrictions or approach eq2x has taken. Rationalizing this by saying "the gear available is still pretty powerful" isn't a substitute. Not to mention this is a game based gear acquisition and much of the content is balanced/gated on gear levels. Just another restriction.
It doesn't matter how many excuses or rationalization people try to make. Most people do not like the soe approach to what they call a free to play model and prefer the turbine approach. EQ2X has newbie zones that are packed with new people trying the game out, but it is still stuck at one server. A constant flow of new players should translate into a need for more servers, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
[1]This change is entirely about putting a huge cash shop into eq2 to see how it works. The cash shop has always been the primary focus of this change, not some free to play model or optional payment methods for players to use. EQ2X isn't free to play. It is an extended trial of the game with a cash shop and heavy restrictions. The only way to remove most of the restrictions is to subscribe which sort of goes against the entire nature of free to play doesn't it?
Just because soe doesn't try to sell housing or some things that are sold in other games doesn't diminish the purpose or scope of this change. The cash shop is the focus of this experiment. That is why the only way to remove most of the restriction in the game is to subscribe. Soe wants to add a full blown cash shop on top of the subscription model. EQ2X isn't a free to play game like turbines models, which you can get everything for free if you work for it and actually have payment options.
That is the difference. In lotro/ddo you can subscribe, pay for content as you go or earn it through normal gameplay. The entire point of the turbine model is to offer choices.
[2]
I don't know if you have not been following the situation, but the current players already feel threatened by the existance of EQ2X. They have had their source of new players removed and have been segregated from the EQ2X servers. The legacy players already feel abandonded as live game updates have shifted focus from end game content for long time players to making changes the focus on new player experience and cash shop offerings. Soe did not do their current players some favor by making eq2x on seperate servers, they did it because they knew people would leave if they forced a huge cash shop into the game, which is exactly what eq2x is. A huge cash shop.
Players were actually begging soe to put the extended trial on the live servers (without cash shop) which desperatly need new players. Instead of listening to players who want new/better ways to attract new players to the servers, soe removed the free trial for the live game and made eq2x the only way to try the game for free without a personal invitation from an existing player.
That isn't exactly what I would call listening to your players would you? If anything it feels more like punishing players for not allowing soe to put cash shops on the live servers.
[3]
It is funny that you think the soe model is better than the turbine model, but then you go on to talk about "the smart way" for them to do things would be... and how using systems (tricks) from tried and tested free to play games would work better. How there are many things soe could do to address the big concerns most players are having with soes approach. Doesn't that feel strange saying their model is better, but at the same time all these problems would be better servered and addressed if they changed their methods to work more like other free to play games? Can you see the contradiction there?
[4]
I think there is plenty enough content in both games offerings, but the soe model takes the reward out of the risk vs reward model and leaves nothing but risk. Sure it is fun to experience content, but when the risk taken is rewarded with something that cannot be used any other way than subscribing, it doesn't really feel like a free to play game anymore.
Most people do not like the restrictions or approach eq2x has taken. Rationalizing this by saying "the gear available is still pretty powerful" isn't a substitute. Not to mention this is a game based gear acquisition and much of the content is balanced/gated on gear levels. Just another restriction.
It doesn't matter how many excuses or rationalization people try to make. Most people do not like the soe approach to what they call a free to play model and prefer the turbine approach. EQ2X has newbie zones that are packed with new people trying the game out, but it is still stuck at one server. A constant flow of new players should translate into a need for more servers, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
[1] Again, there is no HUGE CASH SHOP in the game. You dont ever need a single thing from the eq2 cash shop. Its a bunch of convenience items, even the gear. The gear and rares just save you a few hours of farming or some plat. Yes, they want you to use the cash shop. But no, its not a huge cash shop. In f2p games your ability to play the game is severely threatened if you dont use the cash shop. In EQ2 its not. I get that turbine lets you earn its currency in game. But its very tedious. Still it is a nice option and the best part of their system
[2] How much content for max level characters has been added in the last year for LOTRO. Now how much content has been added in the last year for EQ2? Every patch has had high level zones added since Sentinels Fate.
And there has always been a trickle of new players on eq2, just most of them do their research and go to AB (packed server) or a well populated server like crushbone. I play on AB and its no different now, still new people around and Ive met quite a few people that tried extended and figured they liked it and went to the regular servers.
[3] Every game can build on its system. LOTRO should make tweaks too. I mentioned in another post I couldnt take a horse from one end of Bree to the other without subscribing. Making someone pay for something as stupid as that really put me off.
But EQ2 DID try something new. It is an experiment. People dont get this, or refuse to accept this. they are so quick to jump on the soe is stupid bandwagon without really thinking things through. As you see int his thread there are people who enjoy eq2s system just fine.
[4] There is 'plenty enough content' in both games, yes. However EQ2 has about 3x of Lotros content regardless, and its all free.
And while eq2x isnt a huge success, they do have new server structure for eq2x with servers designed to hold more people than their previous servers, and AB has a rather large population.
[1] Again, there is no HUGE CASH SHOP in the game. You dont ever need a single thing from the eq2 cash shop. Its a bunch of convenience items, even the gear. The gear and rares just save you a few hours of farming or some plat. Yes, they want you to use the cash shop. But no, its not a huge cash shop. In f2p games your ability to play the game is severely threatened if you dont use the cash shop. In EQ2 its not. I get that turbine lets you earn its currency in game. But its very tedious. Still it is a nice option and the best part of their system
[2] How much content for max level characters has been added in the last year for LOTRO. Now how much content has been added in the last year for EQ2? Every patch has had high level zones added since Sentinels Fate.
And there has always been a trickle of new players on eq2, just most of them do their research and go to AB (packed server) or a well populated server like crushbone. I play on AB and its no different now, still new people around and Ive met quite a few people that tried extended and figured they liked it and went to the regular servers.
[3] Every game can build on its system. LOTRO should make tweaks too. I mentioned in another post I couldnt take a horse from one end of Bree to the other without subscribing. Making someone pay for something as stupid as that really put me off.
But EQ2 DID try something new. It is an experiment. People dont get this, or refuse to accept this. they are so quick to jump on the soe is stupid bandwagon without really thinking things through. As you see int his thread there are people who enjoy eq2s system just fine.
[4] There is 'plenty enough content' in both games, yes. However EQ2 has about 3x of Lotros content regardless, and its all free.
And while eq2x isnt a huge success, they do have new server structure for eq2x with servers designed to hold more people than their previous servers, and AB has a rather large population.
[1]
Lets keep things in context. I didn't say manditory cash shop or massively game breaking items for sale. Compared to regular EQ2, the cash shop offerings in EQ2X are a huge departure. Trade skill items, armor, weapons, bonuses, self resurrections, self cures, etc. This is what the entire experiment is about. How to monetize and sell everything in EQ2 while maintaining a subscription fee.
It isn't relevant that some other games force players into the cash shop at higher levels, especially games that don't have the subscription model tacted on like eq2 does.
[2]
Turbine spent the last year retooling LOTRO to be a free to play game. That is why there has been a lull in new content and also why the result is superior to most players.
However I would not point to the amount and speed that EQ2 releases content. Each expansion pack is generally considered worse than that last and in worse condition. Part of the reason why eq2 struggles so hard to retain players. It really is a case where soe chose quantity over quality and Smed has admitted to as much in the past.
All the content in the world isn't going to help eq2x if people don't like the system it is offered in.
[3]
Traveling is a luxury in mmos and most certainly both games have things they could improve on. Not sure why that even has to be said.
As for the experiment, just because people don't like it or disagree with your view doesn't mean they don't understand it. It just means they think eq2x sucks. SOE isn't a victom of player ignorance as you put it, they are victom of their own ignorance. How many times do they have to experiement with their games, before the come to the conclusion that player feedback and player involvement before the train wreck is not only necessary, but will produce a better product? The mindset soe has that they know what gamers want better than what gamers actually want is at the core of their business problems.
In theory their plans might sound kick ass, but somehow when it gets around to execution they seem to find ways to drive customers away.
[4]
I think it is worth pointing out the success of eq2x. If the newbie areas are packed with new players (10+ zones worth) for months on end now, but there is still only 1 server that can only mean one thing about the games retention rate. Soe said they had more servers ready for when freeport got to populated and so far it hasn't.
If EQ2x's way of F2P was as good as some make it out to be then SOE would not have to reduce the restrictions every two weeks. Even SOE see's it self falling further and further behind other F2P models.
SOE had an opportunity to flesh out the playerbase with new blood. They missed it and now are forced to close down servers.
This is just another demo version that claims to be a free to play mmorpg.
Actually, most "free to play" mmorpg are just that. I don't know why the mmorpg community has such a hard on for games that cost 200.00 per month or more to be competative, or be part of a decent guild that does things together.
Basiclly, in the particular scam, you can play for free, as long as you dont mind having the worst skills available in the game, the worst gear, the absolute worst gear, and not having the abillity to enter half the dungeons / zones.
Seriously. You wont be raiding, you wont be getting groups for dungeons, and you won't be winning in pvp unless you pay way more than you would if you just played a subscription game.
BUT LUCKY FOR YOU!!! you can pay for a subscription for THIS GAME!! how wonderfull.
Free to play mmorpg's now have two flavors. The slot machine money sink flavor that will cost you 200.00 + per month and the "bait and switch" flavor that is geared entirley to make you subscribe to a SHITTY GAME because you've already put the time in.
There is a reason WoW kicked the ever loving CRAP out of EQ2 in the first place. Don't bother with the download on this deceptive marketing tool.
"none of the restrictions will wreck your experience" Really?
Restriction to first tier skills only, cannot use items above uncommon, cannot expand bag slots beyond initial offering, cannot use crafting recipies above uncommon, ....
Not wreck your experience?
I smell a rat. As in, it seems like mmorpg.com has an agenda.
Ah EQ2, my favorite PvE MMO. The second post was so far off the writer must have been stoned though--EQ2 launched as a turd, cluttered to the max with FedEx quests that yielded a few copper at best, and a crafting system that required you to make 18 different parts to combine multiple times in order to make a Box, and literally NO differentiation between characters--every Berserker had the same skills; once WoW came out with their Talent system, SOE went "oops!" and released their superior AA trees, but too late. I bought the game at launch eagerly, and quit in <1 month. Came back a year later after I saw WoW's horrible endgame and SOE had made EQ2 into an amazing game all around (except with no PvP ) --but again, too late, and every MMO player had jumped on the WoW bandwagon and wouldn't be dislodged. Seems like that's SOE's running motto here--"The changes you want, but too late!"
While I'm glad to see the game give people an open ended trial instead of the very limited Trial of the Isle they used to have, it seems like SOE's leaving players with a bad taste in their mouth that will ultimately hurt their sales. Real bummer. Here's hoping the next generation of EQ will be well done.
First I"ll comment on the recent review, I was a little disapointed in the fact that silver level wasn't really explored or explained in much detail. Honestly with the recent changed to silver level (buying off broker without tokens being prob the biggest) there is little reason NOT to upgrade for the meger 10 bucks (less if you snag it on sale or get a SC deal etc). I do see very little reason to go Gold or higher membership wise, honestly I think it's counter to what folks playing a F2P title want to do anyway.
SoE's cash shop is still fairly sparce IMO but it's got the right idea going for it, most of it is vanety or convinence items. Nothing is "required" from the shop to play, something I hope never changes.
Some may argue the inability to equip fabled/legendary items makes the game unplayable at "end game" but honestly only if your hard core into raiding and even then you are free to go gold if thats your preference. Honestly I see no reason why you couldn't raid at bronze/silver it's just as a player there is little reason to since you wont' be able to use the rewards.
Hopefully SoE will address the Gold level differences via additional one time cash shop buys or permanent account upgrades, we can only wait and see. However there is one thing despite all the knocks SoE gets they do tend to listen to their players in the end for better or worse. IMO so far the changes their making from player feedback have been very positive overall and I'm optimistic the trend will continue.
Honestly I think all the BS back and forth about Turbine > SoE or visa versa is just that BS. The games are similar only in the fac that they were sub games converted to F2P models. Both have their pro's and con's and each will appeal to some people more than others. IMO both games are great so far from my playing em myself and there are parts I like about turbine's model and parts I like about SoE's. In the end EQ2X got the majority of my business, but thats just me /shrug.
Comments
Now that silver has 4 characterslots and 4 bagslots I think its a great deal for a one time 10$ purchase. As silver you can also chat in the worldchannels and buy from broker and have more bank space.
A good tip for bronze or silver players is to band together as guild. Although a guildcharter has to be bought by the guildleader (10$, which is ridiculously high imo ), you get a guildvault with it. Itll be an easy way to use to share collection and lnl pieces.
For the rest I think that SOE doesnt seem to get it if it comes to microtransactions for f2p mmo's. Their whole policy seems to be still aimed at getting people to sub, instead of trying to make the money mainly from microtransactions.
Everquest II Extended was a horrid experience especially after playing Dungeons & Dragons Online and LOTRO, Turbine did great with their free to play model and set a brilliant example on how to do it, but once again, SOE messes it up. Everquest II Extended is actually quite a rip off, you have to pay more than what regular subscribers pay and you get less for it, better off with a free trial then subscribing on the normal EQ2 service, much cheaper.
Not one of the hybrid payment systems is designed to let you have a long term F2P experience. They all want you to take up a sub. In some ways the hybrid payment MMO’s are like a very long trial period, during which you work out if this MMO is for you.
So when we see stuff like “EQII went free to play! Woohoo!”, I feel like getting my +1 mace and using it on someones head! It is misleading, stop giving people the impression these hybrid models are F2P, it is feeding their misconceptions.
It was a solid review apart from that, most informative.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
I spent over 300 bucks buying the lifetime subscription for LOTRO look how smart that was. Also bought the lifetime subscript for STO looks like that may go F2p here soon. My guess is these company's are just looking to squeez just alittle more money out of there players or unspecting new comers. I've been cured from buying any more lifetime subs. The only game company that is living up to there promises is Blizzard. I trust none of the others at all.
MAGA
Ok,
When I play a f2p system I do not spend money on it. And if i hit a sport where i have to spend money i uninstall the game and call it stupid. I Live on very strict budget, and being a poor gamer makes life hard. My computer is almost as old as EQ2.
My experience with EQ2X is great, with the exception of not enough bags. I do play EQ2live when my funds allow only cause i have friends playing on it.
I find out when i play low level toons pre 50, I never upgrade my spells and use what equipment I am given. I enjoy playing the game at my own pace . I do admit, on EQ2live, having experts/masters does help you along, but I was able to fly thru sundering frontiers on my journeyman spells, I tend not to upgrade when i am leveling cause in a few levels you get an upgrade.
But i have the feeling when playing EQ2X that it a free trial when i compare it to EQ2Live but as said if RQ2X was alone it would be great. But we don't live in that world. I play DDO since the early days also, and it went to f2p it really worked well. I switch from f2p and p2p often. The other issue I have is it dang slow, takes forever sometimes to download the new content. I have to walk away and get something to drink while I wait.
The f2p plan is allot like there Free Realms service. You can play, and add more functionality by subscribing. And cant buy off the limitations.
[1]
This change is entirely about putting a huge cash shop into eq2 to see how it works. The cash shop has always been the primary focus of this change, not some free to play model or optional payment methods for players to use. EQ2X isn't free to play. It is an extended trial of the game with a cash shop and heavy restrictions. The only way to remove most of the restrictions is to subscribe which sort of goes against the entire nature of free to play doesn't it?
Just because soe doesn't try to sell housing or some things that are sold in other games doesn't diminish the purpose or scope of this change. The cash shop is the focus of this experiment. That is why the only way to remove most of the restriction in the game is to subscribe. Soe wants to add a full blown cash shop on top of the subscription model. EQ2X isn't a free to play game like turbines models, which you can get everything for free if you work for it and actually have payment options.
That is the difference. In lotro/ddo you can subscribe, pay for content as you go or earn it through normal gameplay. The entire point of the turbine model is to offer choices.
[2]
I don't know if you have not been following the situation, but the current players already feel threatened by the existance of EQ2X. They have had their source of new players removed and have been segregated from the EQ2X servers. The legacy players already feel abandonded as live game updates have shifted focus from end game content for long time players to making changes the focus on new player experience and cash shop offerings. Soe did not do their current players some favor by making eq2x on seperate servers, they did it because they knew people would leave if they forced a huge cash shop into the game, which is exactly what eq2x is. A huge cash shop.
Players were actually begging soe to put the extended trial on the live servers (without cash shop) which desperatly need new players. Instead of listening to players who want new/better ways to attract new players to the servers, soe removed the free trial for the live game and made eq2x the only way to try the game for free without a personal invitation from an existing player.
That isn't exactly what I would call listening to your players would you? If anything it feels more like punishing players for not allowing soe to put cash shops on the live servers.
[3]
It is funny that you think the soe model is better than the turbine model, but then you go on to talk about "the smart way" for them to do things would be... and how using systems (tricks) from tried and tested free to play games would work better. How there are many things soe could do to address the big concerns most players are having with soes approach. Doesn't that feel strange saying their model is better, but at the same time all these problems would be better servered and addressed if they changed their methods to work more like other free to play games? Can you see the contradiction there?
[4]
I think there is plenty enough content in both games offerings, but the soe model takes the reward out of the risk vs reward model and leaves nothing but risk. Sure it is fun to experience content, but when the risk taken is rewarded with something that cannot be used any other way than subscribing, it doesn't really feel like a free to play game anymore.
Most people do not like the restrictions or approach eq2x has taken. Rationalizing this by saying "the gear available is still pretty powerful" isn't a substitute. Not to mention this is a game based gear acquisition and much of the content is balanced/gated on gear levels. Just another restriction.
It doesn't matter how many excuses or rationalization people try to make. Most people do not like the soe approach to what they call a free to play model and prefer the turbine approach. EQ2X has newbie zones that are packed with new people trying the game out, but it is still stuck at one server. A constant flow of new players should translate into a need for more servers, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
[1] Again, there is no HUGE CASH SHOP in the game. You dont ever need a single thing from the eq2 cash shop. Its a bunch of convenience items, even the gear. The gear and rares just save you a few hours of farming or some plat. Yes, they want you to use the cash shop. But no, its not a huge cash shop. In f2p games your ability to play the game is severely threatened if you dont use the cash shop. In EQ2 its not. I get that turbine lets you earn its currency in game. But its very tedious. Still it is a nice option and the best part of their system
[2] How much content for max level characters has been added in the last year for LOTRO. Now how much content has been added in the last year for EQ2? Every patch has had high level zones added since Sentinels Fate.
And there has always been a trickle of new players on eq2, just most of them do their research and go to AB (packed server) or a well populated server like crushbone. I play on AB and its no different now, still new people around and Ive met quite a few people that tried extended and figured they liked it and went to the regular servers.
[3] Every game can build on its system. LOTRO should make tweaks too. I mentioned in another post I couldnt take a horse from one end of Bree to the other without subscribing. Making someone pay for something as stupid as that really put me off.
But EQ2 DID try something new. It is an experiment. People dont get this, or refuse to accept this. they are so quick to jump on the soe is stupid bandwagon without really thinking things through. As you see int his thread there are people who enjoy eq2s system just fine.
[4] There is 'plenty enough content' in both games, yes. However EQ2 has about 3x of Lotros content regardless, and its all free.
And while eq2x isnt a huge success, they do have new server structure for eq2x with servers designed to hold more people than their previous servers, and AB has a rather large population.
[1]
Lets keep things in context. I didn't say manditory cash shop or massively game breaking items for sale. Compared to regular EQ2, the cash shop offerings in EQ2X are a huge departure. Trade skill items, armor, weapons, bonuses, self resurrections, self cures, etc. This is what the entire experiment is about. How to monetize and sell everything in EQ2 while maintaining a subscription fee.
It isn't relevant that some other games force players into the cash shop at higher levels, especially games that don't have the subscription model tacted on like eq2 does.
[2]
Turbine spent the last year retooling LOTRO to be a free to play game. That is why there has been a lull in new content and also why the result is superior to most players.
However I would not point to the amount and speed that EQ2 releases content. Each expansion pack is generally considered worse than that last and in worse condition. Part of the reason why eq2 struggles so hard to retain players. It really is a case where soe chose quantity over quality and Smed has admitted to as much in the past.
All the content in the world isn't going to help eq2x if people don't like the system it is offered in.
[3]
Traveling is a luxury in mmos and most certainly both games have things they could improve on. Not sure why that even has to be said.
As for the experiment, just because people don't like it or disagree with your view doesn't mean they don't understand it. It just means they think eq2x sucks. SOE isn't a victom of player ignorance as you put it, they are victom of their own ignorance. How many times do they have to experiement with their games, before the come to the conclusion that player feedback and player involvement before the train wreck is not only necessary, but will produce a better product? The mindset soe has that they know what gamers want better than what gamers actually want is at the core of their business problems.
In theory their plans might sound kick ass, but somehow when it gets around to execution they seem to find ways to drive customers away.
[4]
I think it is worth pointing out the success of eq2x. If the newbie areas are packed with new players (10+ zones worth) for months on end now, but there is still only 1 server that can only mean one thing about the games retention rate. Soe said they had more servers ready for when freeport got to populated and so far it hasn't.
If EQ2x's way of F2P was as good as some make it out to be then SOE would not have to reduce the restrictions every two weeks. Even SOE see's it self falling further and further behind other F2P models.
SOE had an opportunity to flesh out the playerbase with new blood. They missed it and now are forced to close down servers.
You cant play at no cost.
This is just another demo version that claims to be a free to play mmorpg.
Actually, most "free to play" mmorpg are just that. I don't know why the mmorpg community has such a hard on for games that cost 200.00 per month or more to be competative, or be part of a decent guild that does things together.
Basiclly, in the particular scam, you can play for free, as long as you dont mind having the worst skills available in the game, the worst gear, the absolute worst gear, and not having the abillity to enter half the dungeons / zones.
Seriously. You wont be raiding, you wont be getting groups for dungeons, and you won't be winning in pvp unless you pay way more than you would if you just played a subscription game.
BUT LUCKY FOR YOU!!! you can pay for a subscription for THIS GAME!! how wonderfull.
Free to play mmorpg's now have two flavors. The slot machine money sink flavor that will cost you 200.00 + per month and the "bait and switch" flavor that is geared entirley to make you subscribe to a SHITTY GAME because you've already put the time in.
There is a reason WoW kicked the ever loving CRAP out of EQ2 in the first place. Don't bother with the download on this deceptive marketing tool.
Sanity is a delusion. The only truth is madness.
"none of the restrictions will wreck your experience" Really?
Restriction to first tier skills only, cannot use items above uncommon, cannot expand bag slots beyond initial offering, cannot use crafting recipies above uncommon, ....
Not wreck your experience?
I smell a rat. As in, it seems like mmorpg.com has an agenda.
Sanity is a delusion. The only truth is madness.
Ah EQ2, my favorite PvE MMO. The second post was so far off the writer must have been stoned though--EQ2 launched as a turd, cluttered to the max with FedEx quests that yielded a few copper at best, and a crafting system that required you to make 18 different parts to combine multiple times in order to make a Box, and literally NO differentiation between characters--every Berserker had the same skills; once WoW came out with their Talent system, SOE went "oops!" and released their superior AA trees, but too late. I bought the game at launch eagerly, and quit in <1 month. Came back a year later after I saw WoW's horrible endgame and SOE had made EQ2 into an amazing game all around (except with no PvP
) --but again, too late, and every MMO player had jumped on the WoW bandwagon and wouldn't be dislodged. Seems like that's SOE's running motto here--"The changes you want, but too late!"
While I'm glad to see the game give people an open ended trial instead of the very limited Trial of the Isle they used to have, it seems like SOE's leaving players with a bad taste in their mouth that will ultimately hurt their sales. Real bummer. Here's hoping the next generation of EQ will be well done.
First I"ll comment on the recent review, I was a little disapointed in the fact that silver level wasn't really explored or explained in much detail. Honestly with the recent changed to silver level (buying off broker without tokens being prob the biggest) there is little reason NOT to upgrade for the meger 10 bucks (less if you snag it on sale or get a SC deal etc). I do see very little reason to go Gold or higher membership wise, honestly I think it's counter to what folks playing a F2P title want to do anyway.
SoE's cash shop is still fairly sparce IMO but it's got the right idea going for it, most of it is vanety or convinence items. Nothing is "required" from the shop to play, something I hope never changes.
Some may argue the inability to equip fabled/legendary items makes the game unplayable at "end game" but honestly only if your hard core into raiding and even then you are free to go gold if thats your preference. Honestly I see no reason why you couldn't raid at bronze/silver it's just as a player there is little reason to since you wont' be able to use the rewards.
Hopefully SoE will address the Gold level differences via additional one time cash shop buys or permanent account upgrades, we can only wait and see. However there is one thing despite all the knocks SoE gets they do tend to listen to their players in the end for better or worse. IMO so far the changes their making from player feedback have been very positive overall and I'm optimistic the trend will continue.
Honestly I think all the BS back and forth about Turbine > SoE or visa versa is just that BS. The games are similar only in the fac that they were sub games converted to F2P models. Both have their pro's and con's and each will appeal to some people more than others. IMO both games are great so far from my playing em myself and there are parts I like about turbine's model and parts I like about SoE's. In the end EQ2X got the majority of my business, but thats just me /shrug.
I soooooo do not agree. Sounds like typical "Oh, it was better back in the old days" grandmah talk.