WoW May go Free-To-Play; Diablo II Turns 10

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Lotro will take 1-2 million WoW players overnight when it goes free to play. Mark my words.

Blizzard knows this too, that's why they are talking about it now. We are finally looking at the end of WoW's MMO domination, but it will still be a year or two before it is really noticable.
 
Brand new games rarely come along that are worth their price, MMOs fill in the waiting times for such titles. Think about it.. 4 months to play a game that may not be the best ever but is still fun and social--and well maintained--costs the same as a new console title that may or may not live up to its hype. Everyone talks about such a fee like it's some kind of violation of the wallet but not everyone gets their rocks off playing halo and COD.

I wouldn't ever claim that MMOs are the best games around but they fill the time between the 2-3 new titles I'd like to play each year very well. I used to also believe that paying to play a game I bought is ridiculous, but it seems like great titles are so few and far between these last few years. If quality games came out more often, or if gamefly's service were more on par with netflix's, I'd take my $180/year elsewhere.
 
He also added that Blizzard isn't spending much time considering a free-to-play model. "It’s not something that’s a reality for us in the near future," he said. But based on his comments, it sounds as if the MMORPG could incorporate free-to-play when the next MMO hits the PC.
Click to expand...

IOW (and IMHO it translates): "We, The OWNERS of Blizzard and Infinity Ward, and other game houses we expect to make us a minimum of $100 million, feel we are about to get our butts handed to us. Rather than killing it and alienating millions of players, we think we can milk the players another way, by borrowing a model that makes $$$ by selling in game pseudo-currency to buy special power-ups and armors. We're also afraid that after we get our butts handed to us, our previous practice of "gimping" and "nerfing" various classes will come back and bite us too, as our loyal subscribers will flock to the competition's new title that we couldn't control and milk for our own profits. Sincerely, Activision."
 
This is non-news with a misleading headline. The interviewer mentioned how MMO's are using the free to play model and then asked if
WOW would ever consider it. Chilton basically said 'no - not untill the game is dead, then maybe'
 
You know, this might be what they need to get me to give the game a second try.

I installed it three years ago, couldn't believe all the patches. Played it once I had everything squared away, by the time I had started enjoying it, trial was up. Never looked back since, but if it's free to merely play, why not?
 
they will make it like all other ftp mmo's...there are people who will spend hundreds to get an edge in pvp or to power level. then to go a step further, some games make it such a pain in the rear to play free, enticing to you to use the cash shop to up the excitement level. every single ftp mmo out there have the most crippled in-game economies because of the cash shops
 
With the time it is taking for Diablo III to be released, I fear, at the tender age of 35, that I will not be around to celebrate the 10th Birthday of Diablo III
 
I would not expect wow to go free to play for at least 5 more years. I'd be willing to bet it'll be closer to 10. Blizzard will not release a new MMO until they feel threatened buy ta competitor. Several good MMO's have come and gone due to incompetent management of said game.

TOR will probably pull 500K-1M subs away from Blizzard. If TOR can maintain those subs remains to be seen.
 
The one reason I never started playing WoW was the fact that you had to pay 2x for the game: once for the actual game and then every month just to play it online. Im a casual gamer so I couldnt justify paying monthly for something Ill play maybe once a week or so. My friend set up a free server and I played on it for a little while but it got boring because there were no real people on the server. If WoW becomes free to play I may start playing it because it is a fun game.
 
[citation][nom]hang-the-9[/nom]Windows 9 will be out before WoW is free. For them to want to go free, they will probably have to die down to under 500k subscribers, which will take a while, even if they introduce a new MMO. And even at 500k or even 100k subscribers all they need to do is combine the severs to maintain the same population densities for player interaction. Drop the price to 10 or even 5 a month, and you have a good income source from an old IP.[/citation]

Define "Free", in all reality, the MMO version of the word Free is much different from the real definition of free. Technically yes, you don't have to pay a dime, but good luck having any real fun without a micro transaction here or there. It's like "free" bumper cars that last for 20 seconds, and if you want another 20 seconds you have to pay a dollar.
 
The idea of having WOW free to play or at a cheaper price is appealing but it won't happen until blizzard release another MMO. When that MMO come out WOW will pretty much be over and subscribers will be ready to do something else. If they do such a move it'll be to insure subscribers don't have to pay for wow AND another blizzard MMO at the same time.

@those who don't play wow and commented on this : When you gave wow a try did you have anyone to play with? Also, do you play other MMOs?

Btw I play wow on a daily basis and I'm in an end-game raiding guild. Considernng the content I get and the overall experience I don't mind at all paying for WOW :)
 
[citation][nom]mikem_90[/nom]You have to understand that there is no such thing as "Free to play" unless you want to look like a total newb level 1 Pirate in starter gear. You gotta buy those Platinum Dubloon Space credits to unlock Captian Awesome mission mode.[/citation]

You obviously have no clue what you are talking about. Look up Dekaron / 2Moons, which is a 100% free to play game and is supported by "micro transactions". I personally think that is the best MMO game out there, even compared to WoW. Sure there is an incentive to spend money on the game. I have personally spent more on that in a year than I ever would a game like WoW that charges monthly. Simply because I enjoy it and want to, not because I have to. But as many people I get on and play with for hours every week, they have not spent a single penny to play and they are over level 130 with some of the best gear in the game.

Remember in the future before you hit that "Submit my comment" button, that it is better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
 
I am not a huge fan of free-to-play modeled games..I played Perfect World for a while...and while at the start it was ok, later on you realized that skill only mattered so little, it was the people willing to put the most money into the game that will be on top...but as long as they can keep it balanced still they should be good
 
[citation][nom]jellico[/nom]I fail to understand why a bunch of people who, by their own admission, do not like the product, feel compelled to comment upon a change in the subscription schema. That would be like me (decidedly NOT an Apple fan) commenting on a proposed change to iTunes or the app store... I'm not going to do it.As for the suggestion that they may go to a free-to-play model? I really don't see it in the foreseeable future. Ultima Online an Everquest were the hot games of their day; they are definitely way past their prime, and they still charge for subscriptions. WoW has far more content, and a far greater subscription base than both of those games put together in their prime. Anyway, that's my take on it.[/citation]

Got to remember that wow is dated junk (every mmo since wow, and the before it were all much better games.)

I cant believe anyone would pay to play such a simple mmo as wow. Though they do have a lot of drone subscribers that dont realise that there are much better games and continue to pay. It wont be a free game as long as it makes money.
 
And the problem with modern advanced mmos is that they always require a beast of pc to play. Any kid on his mom's 7 year old emachine can play wow. Aion during fort raids brings my 3.8 ghz, 6gb ddr3 ram and 2x 295gtx quad sli rig to its knees. The new starwars mmo is going down the same path as wow though, and keeping the graphics down so that weak pcs can play it. For this reason, and the fact that the gameplay looks horrible, i wont be buying TOR. Though im sure it will be 1000 times better than wow.

Personally, im looking forward to blade n soul. You know, the mmo with real graphics, style and new gameplay mechanics never seen in mmos before? ..... if only americans could make mmos as good as koreans, the world would be a better place.
 
[citation][nom]skippy27[/nom]You obviously have no clue what you are talking about. Look up Dekaron / 2Moons, which is a 100% free to play game and is supported by "micro transactions". I personally think that is the best MMO game out there, even compared to WoW. Sure there is an incentive to spend money on the game. I have personally spent more on that in a year than I ever would a game like WoW that charges monthly. Simply because I enjoy it and want to, not because I have to. But as many people I get on and play with for hours every week, they have not spent a single penny to play and they are over level 130 with some of the best gear in the game.Remember in the future before you hit that "Submit my comment" button, that it is better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt.[/citation]

And your snark is completely unnecessary if you read the earlier part of my post. I mentioned Micro-transactions and subscriptions. That is the focus. Either way, free to play you end up shuttered to premium content of the game in some manner, or hindered in a way premiums are not.

The other point I was making, is that other games out there (which very likely include WoW, I don't play it) would have to change dramatically to place this split of Free vs premium inside them. A number of earlier posts seem to be positive on Free to play without considering that there has to be incentive for people to pay those micro-transactions or sign up for "Premium" membership. Either current players lose something they have already, or some new thing gets added that comes with the Micro-transactions or premium status. It still takes money to keep the server lights on not to mention staff and development.

Its great you enjoy your game. I play a few here and there myself, if I had more time I would try more. But I do have some clue as to MMOs in general, free to play and otherwise. Having played several, beta tested a few, and talk with people in influencer positions and Developer positions.

I'm sorry the last sentence attempt at a bit of levity so offended you, but snark is not required.
 
Recently started playing Diablo II again myself. If WoW does become free to play I just hope that Blizzard will not lower its support on the game.
 
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