New Business Model

[Zippity]

I just read yesterday about the New Business Model they plan on going with... I'm a bit disappointed as I was under the impression back when the game first became public that it would be going the route of Free-to-Play, but it isn't going that route anymore...

http://www.wildstar-online.com/en/news/ ... ldstar.php

Instead it's going to be Buy the game ($59) and Subscription after the first 30 days... They are offering a method for players to Purchase Game-Time that can be sold in game on the in-game exchange system, but it will cost $5 more then the Sub Fee to purchase the in-game item that you can sell... That way peeps can purchase Game Time using in-game money from players who spent real money on the game-time item...

It's an interesting idea, but is subject to inflation based on Player greed... You would have to farm for in-game money to be able to afford to keep playing the game unless you subscribe yourself... It's almost better to just subscribe unless you like farming for in-game money...

I think alot of game companies are re-thinking the FTP model out-the-door lately and although I do understand the need for the company to make a profit, we'll have to see how this works out for them, as they will not pull in as many players as hybrid-payment business models are as of lately...

It will totally depend on my financial situation come release time if I can afford an upfront cost along with a monthly sub fee... I hope I can, but it is a bit of a disappointment that they went this route since I was so looking forward to their original model...

I just finished reading an article that seems very true to me on how the gaming market is going, start off as Pay-to-Play and go Free-to-Play later and rake in the money... Something that started off as a need to keep afloat may be becoming a common business practice in order to make lots of money...

http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32974

Zip

[magicrules]

this was about a while back and we talked about it. I think it will work out if they manage the prices of the in game time well. If it gets to costly then they will lose the more casual base but if it is cheap nobody will pay the fees. I will see how the game plays and feels and decide from there.

[Zippity]

this was about a while back and we talked about it. I think it will work out if they manage the prices of the in game time well. If it gets to costly then they will lose the more casual base but if it is cheap nobody will pay the fees. I will see how the game plays and feels and decide from there.

I hadn't heard about it till this weekend... I don't check the Wildstar website every week... I usually wait till they send me newsletters in e-mail...

It's not a huge deal... Just suprising since I was originally under the impression it would be FTP with a PTP option...

No worries,

Zip

[Dresnar]

Wildstar has been very consistent stating they are a sub based game. They claim to be a premium game that is worth a sub fee. From what I have seen so far I agree. End game content is what Wildstar is all about. The better MMO's require some form of payment for end game content. WOW and SWTOR require payment for example. Wildstar having an option to pay your sub fee through in game gold is an option the other two above don't have. Seems pretty great to me.

[Nanfoodle]

Allot of triple A MMOs do this now. For the few that dont like to sub this gives them the option. Its great for the community for that part as it keep people playing. Second is you can never really remove gold sellers and this gives people the option thats risk free, no account banned and Wildstar earns 30 bucks for a sub over 15. So it really helps add new content. Between giving the gold sellers the shaft, having more people able to play if they dont want to put out the cash and keeping Wildstar funded. I like the idea. Its worked well for years with SoE.