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DC Universe Online: F2P and the Community

SBFordSBFord Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129

With SOE Austin’s DC Universe Online going the Free-to-Play route at the end of October, we caught up with Community Manager Tony “RadarX” Jones to chat about all things surrounding this move.  Most importantly, we talked about how it will change the way he does his job and the way the community interacts with the game as a whole. Check it out and then leave us a comment or two.

From a CM point of view, you must be a little daunted. I mean, going F2P means basically “Open the floodgates and let all the crazies rush in.” How are you planning on dealing with this new swell of people?

I personally see this as a great opportunity for DC Universe Online to open up a great game to folks who might not necessarily like the current entry point. I know the Development Team has been working hard on our servers for optimization and our forums are more than capable of sustaining a new wave of players. We are planning a warm welcome and expecting people to jump in and have a lot of fun.

Read more of Bill Murphy's DC Universe Online: F2P and the Community.


¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 


Comments

  • Harbinger1975Harbinger1975 Member UncommonPosts: 244

    Mmm.  Not bad questions, Bill.  But a little weak.  I would like to have seen you press him on issues that have been affecting the game since launch.  The horrid UI, the crappy controls for PC players.  The bugs and exploits still in the game.  Just my two cents though.

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  • Servant-XIIServant-XII Member Posts: 34

    *sigh*

    This game has more holes in it than swiss cheese. It can't light a candle to CoH which is an older game. It just doesn't have the heart for what a comic fan would look for in an MMORPG. It's lagging behind badly and it needs to catch up. I just don't think that it will have the steam to do so and it will taper off where it is currently which is. if it doesn't pick up before Marvel releases its MMO, gonna be rough though I'm not expecting big things from Marvel either, like the actual release of the game. But we'll see.

     

    CoH Supergroup: The Millennium Paladins

  • Grand_NagusGrand_Nagus Member UncommonPosts: 335

    Looking forward to F2P   =)

  • AkaisAkais Member UncommonPosts: 274

    Good Interview overall.

    It's actually a pretty decent game but hampered with content issues.

    The story premise is a great one; if only the writers had worked to expand on it ...

    Honestly, while F2P is nice, I'd be more interested to know at what point the story is actually going to move forward. It appears that all DCUO has done so far is open up multiple perspectives but in the same timeframe. 

    I still can't get over the fact that DC Comics writers could be involved in the process (it is DC's IP), were initially, and apparently aren't now.

    It's apparant that the intended bulk of content would come from PvP, but that is effectively dead due to glitches, balance, and server stability (I left off macroes since it's supposedly fixed).

    F2P is nice, but I would urge that instead of making this a vehicle for Sony as it has been, make it a vehicle for DC Comics to sell more of them. Give their writers the ability to pen storylines for the game regularly. Sony will make their money regardless in the cash shops if the subs are high. Let DC make some of it with stories and an online comic shop attached.

  • CrazybearCrazybear Member Posts: 20

    Originally posted by misles

      The horrid UI, the crappy controls for PC players. 

     

    My thoughts exactly.  I can't understand why PC players are stuck with the crappy PS3 control scheme, especailly since the PC/PS3 servers have been kept seperate.

  • Tenaka30Tenaka30 Member UncommonPosts: 84

    The only thing the game has over CoH is it is prettier.

    Not sure on the PC controls issue as from day one I played DCUO using a 360 controller which seemed easy enough.

    Bear in mind this was when chat was useless either way and rarely used so if they have brought that up to the level of functionality of other MMOs since I stopped playing I may change my tune.

  • DstiveDstive Member Posts: 42

    So is this game free to download on the PSN store now? If not it isn't very free to play is it?

  • ZolgarZolgar Member Posts: 533

    Originally posted by Dstive

    So is this game free to download on the PSN store now? If not it isn't very free to play is it?

    That's what I was wondering. Do I still need to buy the game disc on the PS3 or does it require Playstation Plus to download?

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  • KanethKaneth Member RarePosts: 2,286

    Originally posted by Dstive

    So is this game free to download on the PSN store now? If not it isn't very free to play is it?

    I believe it goes F2P on the 19th

  • DstiveDstive Member Posts: 42

    Yep will be free to download, no need to buy disc anymore

     

    http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/19/dc-universe-online-for-ps3-is-going-free-to-play/

  • AliGeniusAliGenius Member UncommonPosts: 32

    New power..... mmmm.

     

    The interviewer was too polite to slam em over the head with release date question, but hopefully almost upon us.

    -I feel safe in Arkham City. I feel safe in Arkham City..

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  • ZolgarZolgar Member Posts: 533

    Apparently the release date being tomorrow (the 19th) is just a rumor. 

     

    SOURCE: http://forums.station.sony.com/dcuops3/posts/list.m?topic_id=35026

    From: RadarX - Community Relations

     


    I've stated on a number of occassions that we have not announced a date for the Free to Play transition. Until a date comes from an official SOE sources (Wikipedia is not an official source) then I would take anything you read with a grain of salt. We should have more for you as soon as possible.

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  • Shawn964Shawn964 Member UncommonPosts: 28

    actually it was stated on x-play that it would be going f2p on the 19th in an interview.

    cant wait XD

  • Shawn964Shawn964 Member UncommonPosts: 28

    now im worried :(

  • ZolgarZolgar Member Posts: 533

    Originally posted by Shawn964

    actually it was stated on x-play that it would be going f2p on the 19th in an interview.

    cant wait XD

     

    http://forums.station.sony.com/dcuops3/posts/list.m?topic_id=35026

    RadarX just posted again saying, "It's not the 19th." So unless he meant that as in, "It's not the 19th YET." As in we'll find out soon, then it's not the 19th.

     

    It sucks a bit, as I was looking forward to trying it out, but it'll come soon enough (hopefully before November and it's wave of games rolls in).

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  • OriousOrious Member UncommonPosts: 548

    erm... I had 0 problems with controls while in beta.... Did something happen?

     

    The game was great fun for me because I had a friend and we duoed all the time during beta. I had more fun in DCUO than most mmorpgs that have come out recently. Had a lot of fun trying out many different skill sets. There were some balance issues, but the only problem was that... I don't know... I guess content. I really didn't have a problem, I just didn't want to buy it lol. I was in RIFT beta though, and that was pretty far from buggy at all... I think RIFT was way more meh than DCUO....definitely never was going to buy that game. DC I was riding the edge.

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  • ShapiroShapiro Member Posts: 8

    Originally posted by Servant-XII

    *sigh*

    This game has more holes in it than swiss cheese. It can't light a candle to CoH which is an older game. It just doesn't have the heart for what a comic fan would look for in an MMORPG. It's lagging behind badly and it needs to catch up. I just don't think that it will have the steam to do so and it will taper off where it is currently which is. if it doesn't pick up before Marvel releases its MMO, gonna be rough though I'm not expecting big things from Marvel either, like the actual release of the game. But we'll see.

     


     

    Even with all the problems that DCUO has I would rather play it than Marvel's MMO because if you didn't know everyone is going to be a Marvel character and not their own unique superhero/supervillain and that imho (as much as I love Marvel heroes and villains) is just completely stupid.

  • TheCrow2kTheCrow2k Member Posts: 953

    Ive watched a friend play this on PS3 and it looked pretty weak to me. I had kinda decided to try it once it goes f2P but watching him play I decided there wasnt much in it for me & will skip it.

  • adam_noxadam_nox Member UncommonPosts: 2,148

    It's way better than champions online, but I guess that's not saying much.  I know the PC version wasn't great, but it was pretty fun on the PS3

  • GinazGinaz Member RarePosts: 2,558

    Another article from Bill about his Precious?  Colour me suprised.  And shouldn't there be some sort of rule here where the author of an article is not to be interviewing their personal friends in the industry?  Oh well.

    Anyway, is there a date confirmed for this going f2p or is the awesome soe PR machine going to keep everyone in the dark right up until it happens.  I'd like to know when soe's "fastest selling MMO/fastest MMO to go f2p" is f2p.

    Is a man not entitled to the herp of his derp?

    Remember, I live in a world where juggalos and yugioh players are real things.

  • ZolgarZolgar Member Posts: 533

    Originally posted by Ginaz

    Anyway, is there a date confirmed for this going f2p or is the awesome soe PR machine going to keep everyone in the dark right up until it happens.  I'd like to know when soe's "fastest selling MMO/fastest MMO to go f2p" is f2p.

    It was supposedly going to be on the 19th, as reported by numerous reputable sites. But if you look a few posts up, there's a link given where the Community Rep RadarX says it's not true (and obviously isn't as it's the 20th now).

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  • BlackWatchBlackWatch Member UncommonPosts: 972

    I finally decided to quit.  When I rarely see anyone out in the open world and only 1-2 people in a hub at a time... the game appears 'dead'.

    Aside from the Star Wars IP, DC offered the most enjoyment and best memories as a kid... and as a grown up (kid, lol).  But with no other players to play with... the game just doesn't feel like fun. 

    Maybe the F2P change will help?

    Who knows.

    I think that after what SOE did to SWG and now how poorly DCO has performed... I don't think I will ever support Sony again.

     

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