TOR going F2P : Othor Games

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:11 am

Okay well as I said many months ago, oh wait not that many at all. TOR is going free to play. Gives me a reason to play with my account again and mess around. Mentok would like to thank the academy for seeing this coming. http://www.destructoid.com/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-going-free-to-play-232280.phtml

Seriously I thought it would take at least another month, so I wasn't totally correct. I underestimated the level of fail.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:24 pm

I will definitely be trying it out once it goes free to play.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:14 pm

Sweet, mayhaps I'll. Start playing games again.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:23 am

Anyone else see this coming a mile away?

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 6:18 am

Not a surprise really, it was just a matter of time. I've been curious about some of the classes, so now I'll have my chance to try them out without financially supporting the death of the KotOR series.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:51 pm

Is it just me, or does it seem that making an MMO free-to-play is synonymous with wavering success?

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:39 pm

The days of subscription based MMOs are definitely over. There's Tera which I heard is doing alright, and obviously there's WoW and EVE, but other than that I can't imagine any subscription based MMO to be successful these days.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:48 am

Is it just me, or does it seem that making an MMO free-to-play is synonymous with wavering success?

I think that's putting it mildly.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:55 am

The days of subscription based MMOs are definitely over.

I'm more inclined to say the days of TOR are definately over.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:34 pm

Ah I see they're going the LotRO route.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:29 am

Wonder how long it will take ESO to go F2P

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:05 am

Might play it now.
Star trek is still my preferred MMO though.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 1:31 am

Is it just me, or does it seem that making an MMO free-to-play is synonymous with wavering success?

It is. It's pathetic how they couldn't keep subscriptions up for a year. $200 million dollars, and all EA has to show for it is another run-of-the-mill MMORPG that was never a threat to Blizzard's might.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:19 am

Okay well as I said many months ago, oh wait not that many at all. TOR is going free to play. Gives me a reason to play with my account again and mess around. Mentok would like to thank the academy for seeing this coming. http://www.destructoid.com/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-going-free-to-play-232280.phtml

Seriously I thought it would take at least another month, so I wasn't totally correct. I underestimated the level of fail.

This sounds like DDO/LotRO-style F2P, which I'll admit is preferable to WoW-style F2P. Will definitely have to finally check it out.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:50 am

Wasn't TOR like the most expensive game ever created? Ouch.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:50 pm

Is it just me, or does it seem that making an MMO free-to-play is synonymous with wavering success?

Some people don't want to commit to a subscription I guess. The F2P model still has the potential to make them a lot of money, so their success could grow after they switch.

On the other hand, if the switch to F2P doesn't work out either, then I'd call that a bad sign.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:36 am

GW2, now ToR- F2P games are looking good this year.

WoW will become even more old news!

Long live Free to Play!

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:47 am

Wonder how long it will take ESO to go F2P

Depends on how much they copy TOR. They're already using the same engine. :unsure:

Or, you know, whatever they rebrand hero engine as and try to pass it off as something new.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 1:36 pm

GW2, now ToR- F2P games are looking good this year.

WoW will become even more old news!

Long live Free to Play!

Well technically GW2 isn't free to play but yes, no subscription fee. :smile:

I play way too many different games to be able to spend enough time in a subscription MMO that would make me feel like I got my money's worth every month. I'll probably get GW2, because it's just easy to jump in and out of whenever I want, no need to worry about subscriptions.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 2:15 pm

Well technically GW2 isn't free to play but yes, no subscription fee. :smile:

Don't you have to buy ToR as well?

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 10:36 am

Depends on how much they copy TOR. They're already using the same engine. :unsure:

They are using their own engine. :mellow:

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:24 am

They are using their own engine. :mellow:

Yeah, and Skyrim doesn't use gamebryo.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 1:27 am

I think that's putting it mildly.

It is. It's pathetic how they couldn't keep subscriptions up for a year. $200 million dollars, and all EA has to show for it is another run-of-the-mill MMORPG that was never a threat to Blizzard's might.

Well then...

It makes me wonder why anyone want to bother with making MMOs in the first place then. Comes off as a quite the high-risk gamble when looking at the expenses of making one. And considering that most MMOs seem to need maintenance long after release as well, they more or less drain more finances over a long time...

Seems to me like it's a practice of using a single dollar in order to earn a single dollar.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:30 am

Well then...

It makes me wonder why anyone want to bother with making MMOs in the first place then. Comes off as a quite the high-risk gamble when looking at the expenses of making one. And considering that most MMOs seem to need maintenance long after release as well, they more or less drain more finances over a long time...

Seems to me like it's a practice of using a single dollar in order to earn a single dollar.

Unless it's a total failure (or they spend a ton of money like ToR), the gamble probably won't lose them much.

If it turns out they make something successful then... well, just look how long WoW has lasted and imagine how much those subscriptions add up.

» Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:23 am

The days of subscription based MMOs are definitely over. There's Tera which I heard is doing alright, and obviously there's WoW and EVE, but other than that I can't imagine any subscription based MMO to be successful these days.

Final Fantasy XI is still doing fairly well, but it'll be interesting to see how Final Fantasy XIV and Dragon Quest X do. The latter will probably be fine in Japan and will also have free play periods daily (intended for kids who can't afford an MMO, but it doesn't verify age), but the Dragon Quest brand isn't nearly as strong in other regions.

And, of course, XIV is another story entirely, especially since they've spent all of that money essentially devloping the game a second time. I wouldn't be surprised if they've already got a free to play structure outlined just in case.