I just noticed that my DC Universe Online game has implemented changes that are very similar to the changes Star Trek Online and Champions Online did when they went Free to play after Lord of the Ring Online's successful launch.
I guess the give paying players $5.00 back hook has now become the standard of Western MMOs?
However, there was one thing I saw on their announcement page thaI think needs to be implemented here. LOCKBOXES are free for Gold members! We need that here. And if it is too lucrative for PW to make it free for those that spend a lot(ie a lot of Gold players), then just make the Gold Lockboxes free for us since they are rare enough(I only have one lockbox after the last event out of all of my 20 characters).
Also that Replay badge thing that would allow us to immediately kreplay some of our favorite episodes or possibly even remofve the Transwarp & Azure timers instead of having to wait for the 30 mijnute timer or longer would be MOST appreciated.
Make it so Cryptic!
Comments
the common point is that subs dont drag in nearby as many as the free market does, thats why PWE took over and tossed this game down the river for a pile of cash. competing companies are always looking to maintain their edge against their rivals and frankly, if one jumps off a cliff they all do it eventually, so expect alot more games go free before long. new games like SWTOR are the last of the sub generation before it all dries out, they are just making sure they get what remains before they have to find ways to get their funds like the lockboxes.
Here is a thread on that from March 29th, last week:
Oh Look! Lockboxes Done Right!
While the boxes may not be a new concept in f2p(it's not even something cryptic invented), SOE's method of handling it is. I wish Cryptic would take a page from SOE's model, but I don't believe they have a choice in the matter.
As is stands, STO doesn't want a subscription player base. That is why they give no benefits to those subscribers.
More characters? Can do a one time purchase for that.
Vet rewards? Have to seen not seen the 800 day monkey?
SOE gives back $5 a month, gives special loot cards, better equipment and loot options! What does Cryptic give again?
They were one month apart, but SOE's f2p model was over a year old already. I edited my prior post to reflect that.
DDO went free to play ... in September 2009.
Before any of the others discussed in this thread.
Not sure the exact date but you are pretty close. I was beta test the f2p model and was not even aware of DCUO at that time. DCUO went f2p almost 1 year after launch and they just recently went f2p.
There is more money to be made in a f2p model that has a priority on subscription player base than without.
All mmo's should have some form of f2p service if you purchased the game honestly. Forcing people who bought the product to sign an EULA after the fact is not exactly legal.
I look forward to the day when all mmo's are produced and sold in a f2p model. It's coming, I have no doubts about that.
At the topic, DCUO didn't steal anything from STO or LOTR. If anything, DCUO and STO are the most similar mmo types of game. Instant action with limit on content. Only one of them has a full production team supporting it though. Any guesses? :cool:
I don't forget it. I still love my DDO! Especially my dwarf fighter, Random Axe