"Responding to a fan's inquiry, the game's executive producer Daniel Stahl stated, "I could easily see STO going into a hybrid model similar to what Lotro is doing. In that model, subscriptions stay as is - but you allow people to play for free but heavily limit what they can do ...
" He believes that model will allow new players to demo the game at no cost and then they can either pay for extra stuff via microtransactions or go with the more traditional subscription model. While Stahl doesn't flat out state that Star Trek Online will go that route the fact that he brings it up as a possiblity means that Cryptic might at least be considering such a move."
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wow, that would be SO cool
Comments
I wonder how it would affect the playerbase... if more people would slant toward just playing forever with micro-transactions. I also wonder how much more money they would make vs. box sales as the game ages and fades from stores.
time will tell, I guess.
The server size issues are still being hashed out. One idea I'd heard was that they're going to use C-Store sales to raise money to purchase the Very Big Array and house the Milky Way Galaxy server there.
So people who want Exploration Content ... like REAL exploration content ... need to start buying more Galaxy X's.
Also perhaps have certain areas only available to subscribers, such as free players would be technically "Enlisted Crewman" while subscribers would be "officers"
That would be like the perfect storm of rumors if even half of it is true.
Free-to-play is not the end of the game, though, for any dooooomsayers that might end up creeping in here. It's just another way to earn money.
I'm not. The amount of people clamoring for Real Exploration content has been quite high since "beta." So I think it makes sens. The whole thing, of course, hinges on them getting Nick Sagan, and then them being able to store/physically house the Virtual Milky Way somewhere safe.
Heck, combining it with UGC ... and I can see an "ops station" mini-game that involves the playerbase itself checking for "bugs" in the system as part of the whole "explore the galaxy" concept.
And in true Cryptic fashion, the zone barriers will be there ... as the great galactic barrier!
I doubt that it will happen with in a year or two, dstahl was just saying he wouldn't mind that type of model.
( atleast that what I got out of it. )
Huh? What? I was commenting on STO going F2P, not the exploration thingy. I would be all for that.
The people who are "opposed" to this idea really have no idea what their even talking about.
that would be rather awesome if done right, but they would never do that, as Cryptic is a one-for-all kinda company.
hmm if they reworked the levels, re-framed the game, and had a huge 're-launch' patch, they could go to a tiered structure, make a f2p section and really make the game a huge real MMO experience with a little effort.
like f2p are limited to certain 'ranked' missions and things like maybe ship certain areas of the ship, while people that sub can expand their options, ship interiors, etc.
not that they would do it, but there are a TON of ways to really do this without ****ing off everyone that is currently playing, and alienating the f2p people.
i hope they don't just sell episodes to f2p and call it done... buy... err rent a piece of the game at a time.
and the lifers are getting good perks....they get 500 free points to spend the store EVERY single month for life...... along with other perks for premium membership...and access to everywhere..
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quick question. those points they are used to buy new quests and stuff right?
that is awesome. I would be all for that... but make it 1000 points.
Not exactly. LOTRO still has a "monthly sub" that grants you access to all content. The "store" is really for the people who DONT have the monthly sub. So in relation to the "lifers", they would get full access to the game for life, and the free points they get every month would allow they to buy things like what we have in the C-store right now.
ok so it's what I thought you pay a sub, and you get access to everything, and the 500 points would be used on stuff like ship skins, and other stuff. the only other thing are the items in the store. are there any major game changing items in the LOTRO store? ( also I don't see the galaxy-x as game changing. )
I am not aware of any "major game changing" items in the store, and Turbine has actually said they are not going to put that type of item in the store:
http://www.lotro.com/betasignup/faq.html
1. The game is not good enough for a second failure. Replayability is key.
2. Subscribers shouldn't feel the need to buy from the c-store more often, free points or not.
The store probably wouldn't be just be like it is now plus area unlocks. Selling other things like consumables could even involve exchange limitations or drop frequency changes etc.
http://www.lotro.com/news/709-announcing-the-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-move-to-free-to-play-
Of course, if new content or toys come out, you'll still need points to buy them, unless you subscribe again.
Supershum's just in a nonsensical mood today it seems.
Meh. In DDO, you can, for example, buy enough Potions of Haste to permanently get the +1 attack/round and various other benefits, mobile restore points (those cost almost as much or more on their own than the monthly sub's point allocation), and the like. That's too much change of game for my tastes, at least.
An actual, full-on modeled Milky Way Galaxy would be many, many levels of awesome. I mean, in theory, it would put EVE to shame. But the database for even the near-star catalog is pretty big; it could take years to even begin to map it all out. That beings said, the <I>Star Trek Star Charts</I> could be a handy thing to pick up if they go that route... and I so wish they would!
You are also a terrible, terrible man.
psst, I don't think they are really trying to do that. They have 'homegrown' games targeted at niche audiences.
But like others have said, I don't see STO going F2P at all.
You wanna know what happens if STO goes free to play?
The only new content that gets developed is stuff that people have to pay for, and even that kinda trickles in.
Personally, I prefer it the way we have it now: monthly fee, plus microtransactions if you want them. This gives the devs enough money to give us new content fairly frequently.
Agreed, on all points.