STO going F2P in near Future?

[Ezreq Blodvaerd]

http://www.massiveonlinegamer.com/announcements/1230-perfect-world-acquires-cryptic-studios?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WeeklyUpdate06032011

I think considering who just bought Cryptic, it is a pretty safe bet that it will. I also think that the F2P model will be ideal for our fleet membership. We have been utilizing the UGC very effectively and we have been creating our own events for quite some time.

That and with the changes, finally, to allowing for private 20 member fleet actions all is looking good for the Lucky 7th!

Personally, I've had about enough of this Subscription / C Store model. MMOs need to be either one or the other, and not rip us off with both. Cryptic's pace for new content is just too slow to justify it.

[VADM pRett]

Pure suspicion and conjecture.

[FLTCAPT Savar]

Yes it is conjecture... however, I do agree that there must be something done to maintain a player base. I think people are getting tired of paying for the game and then paying again to get the nicer items.

[Ezreq Blodvaerd]

Borannus wrote:

Pure suspicion and conjecture.

I'd say this is far more than conjecture:

Quote:

With the acquisition by Perfect World, Cryptic has found a strong platform for continued expansion into free to play business model and growth in the global marketplace," said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari. "The divestiture of Cryptic is in line with Atari's continued focus on key owned and third-party strategic franchises and expansion into emerging game platforms."

With a steady stream of well know MMOs going free to play (DDO, LOTRO, Champion, AOC, etc) it is pretty obvious really. Devs have discovered that the F2P model is making more money with MMos that have shrinking subscriptions. Some have even realized an increase in subscripions and an increase in revenue.

[VADM pRett]

Cryptic, not specifically STO.

[Christian M. Hanson]

I don't know what to think.. I do not like the F2P model, and then having to pay for every single item.. Plus, I think that Cryptic is more stable by charging a monthly fee to players, because they can base a budget off of how many people are subscribed to the game.

[VADM Kor]

If it goes F2P I hope they give Life Members an eternal VIP account like they did in LoTRO.

[Cleo Mavendorf]

Ensign Kor wrote:

If it goes F2P I hope they give Life Members an eternal VIP account like they did in LoTRO.

This is my biggest concern about STO going F2P...those of us who shelled out the bucks for lifetime will likely get screwed...not that having to buy everything in the C Store now ISN'T screwing us over but still...I don't feel that Cryptic appreciates us lifetime subs now as it is...going F2P will just make us even less of a concern to them

[Morgan Shackelford]

Christian M. Hanson wrote:

I don't know what to think.. I do not like the F2P model, and then having to pay for every single item.. Plus, I think that Cryptic is more stable by charging a monthly fee to players, because they can base a budget off of how many people are subscribed to the game.

Every single F2P model that I'm aware of still has the option to pay a monthly sub fee, allowing full access to all aspects of the game, with the exception of a handful of store exclusive items.

In other words, the game going to F2P will likely not affect you in the slightest if you still are willing to pony up the $15.

F2P users, however, will likely have to purchase mission packs and the like as they go if they want full game access.

Cleo Mavendorf wrote:

This is my biggest concern about STO going F2P...those of us who shelled out the bucks for lifetime will likely get screwed...not that having to buy everything in the C Store now ISN'T screwing us over but still...I don't feel that Cryptic appreciates us lifetime subs now as it is...going F2P will just make us even less of a concern to them

While this is not an invalid concern, it depends on how Cryptic would factor in lifetime subs into an F2P model. I had a lifetime sub in LotRO before they implimented F2P, and I had the exact same thoughts - that I was getting screwed - but after reading up on what they were doing, and then seeing it after it went live - I was actually very happy with what they did.

It just is going to depend on how they approach it. So far, imho, they've done fairly right by the playerbase.

And while this is all speculation, F2P is certainly a possibilty, made even more so by the fact the F2P hasn't really failed anyone who has tried it. It tends to up subscribership, and revenue.

[Christian M. Hanson]

Cleo Mavendorf wrote:

Ensign Kor wrote: If it goes F2P I hope they give Life Members an eternal VIP account like they did in LoTRO. This is my biggest concern about STO going F2P...those of us who shelled out the bucks for lifetime will likely get screwed...not that having to buy everything in the C Store now ISN'T screwing us over but still...I don't feel that Cryptic appreciates us lifetime subs now as it is...going F2P will just make us even less of a concern to them

In other words.. Ya'll are gonna get Mavendorffed! :-) (I'm coining the phrase)

[Lang S]

hot dog anyone

[Cleo Mavendorf]

In other words.. Ya'll are gonna get Mavendorffed! :-) (I'm coining the phrase)[/quote]

I get royalties for the use of my name then ;)

[Lang S]

What nobody like hot dogs geessss

[Morgan Shackelford]

Lang S wrote:

What nobody like hot dogs geessss

Hey Norm!

[Lang S]

if you were a hot dog would you eat yourself