Loading... Free to MMO

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Posted Thu, Oct 22, 2009 by B. de la Durantaye

Welcome to the 1,192nd edition of Loading...

Loading... is the premier daily MMORPG news, coverage, and commentary newsletter, only from Ten Ton Hammer.

How much are you willing to pay for an online subscription fee? Millions, obviously, are willing to pay at least $15 a month. But what happens when you want to play more than one game? Your options are usually pretty limited, but that may soon change. More and more games are trying new subscription models, and to some of them, that means a whole new life breathed into the game. Today we take a look at what going F2P means to title in Loading... Free to MMO.

The Pulse

You vote with what you view at Ten Ton Hammer, and the result is the Ten Ton Pulse (What is The Pulse?).

Here's today's top 5 Pulse results:

Biggest movers today:

Star Trek Online (Down 5 to #19)
Atlantica Online (Up 2 to #13)
The Secret World (Up 2 to #15)

Recent MMO Releases

8/25 - CrimeCraft (release date)
9/1 - Champions Online (release date)
9/9 - Dungeons & Dragons Online Unlimited (release date)
9/15 - Runes of Magic "The Elven Prophecy" (expansion)
9/22 - Fallen Earth (release date)
9/22 - Aion (release date)
10/8 - Cities XL (release date)

Upcoming Releases

11/3 - Dragon Age: Origins (release date)
12/1 - LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood (release date)
12/2 - DOFUS 2.0 (release date)
Early 2010 - APB

Important Dates

10/23 - 10/24 - Hero-Con

Loading... Daily

Earlier this week, Medawky took a look at some current Free to Play games. In today's economy, it's certainly something more and more will be looking into, but more than that, a comment from one of our forum posters, Khalus, brought up a very valid point, and thus the subject of today's Loading...

Khalus believes that we'll see more triple A MMOGs turn to the way of F2P with optional microtransactions, and I can't disagree with him. One of the major immediate advantages, as he mentions in the post, is that with such a subscription model, F2P allows gamers to have their hands in more than one game without paying a premium for each and every title. Sure, for gamers who are happy with a single game to play month after month, there's not much value there, but to many others, myself included, dabbling in multiple MMOGs is where the fun is at. But unless one has a lot of surplus cash from month to month, it's rarely an option to have more than one or two games going at once.

Dungeons and Dragons Online is a prime example of what going F2P can do to a game. The once-monthly-fee-turned-F2P game has reported a very large surge of new players since they changed their subscription model. The game is good too; not some sloppy job at pasting MMO elements together to push out yet another mindless grinder, but something that can be savored and enjoyed. Adventure packs are pretty cheap too, going for around 5 to 7 bucks, and will allow many more hours of enjoyment.

I, like Khalus, think we'll see more and more of this type of approach in the future. We're already seeing a large amount of devcos playing with the microtransaction model, and eventually I think this will become the "norm" for online gaming. Why be locked into a game for months at a time, when you know your interests change? We don't (often) buy a single console game and stay interested for six months or a year without touching another title, so why would we expect MMOGs to be any different?

I'm not the only one that thinks this either. SOE has been getting more and more into the microtransaction game with their Marketplace, and new F2P Flagship, Free Realms. Turbine, as mentioned, is seeing a lot of benefits from their model with DDO: Eberron Unlimited. Vogster is trying their hand at it with CrimeCraft. And the list goes on. Keep in mind, these aren't some one-man garage-studio developing companies. These are triple A developers who have experience in developing, publishing, and marketing a game. We're also seeing companies starting to form up plans of their own to make it all a little more appealing, such as the multi-game ONE Card.

While I don't think $15/mo subscription models will completely disappear, I do think we're going to see more and more variations on the theme, allowing players to either have a premium package for the monthly fee, or alternatively choose a cheaper, but more limited package. And in today's economy, who could disagree? Let us know in the forums.

Shayalyn's Epic Thread of the Day

From our STO News and Articles Discussion forum

New Star Trek Online Trailer Shows Things from a Klingon Perspective

Qapla'!

The Klingon perspective is not one to be taken lightly, and the latest Star Trek Online trailer shows that while the peace-loving Federation may be all about their Prime Directive, the Klingons know only of the glory and honor of battle. If you're excited about exploring the Klingon side of STO, then this is the thread for you.

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Awesome Quotes from the Epic Thread

"I'm not interested in playing the Federation. Being able to play as the Klingons, or Romulans, would definitely interest me though."

- SirRobin
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Have you spotted an Epic Thread on our forums? Tell us!

6 new Ten Ton Hammer MMOG features today! 100 in October! 2,048 in 2009!

Today's New Features & Guides

Ten Ton Hammer Karos Online Beta Key Giveaway
Ten Ton Hammer is teaming up with NHN to bring you a unique glimpse inside Karos Online this weekend.
Recession Proof Gaming - A Look at Free-to-Play Games
It has been a long time since we here at Ten Ton Hammer brought you a weekly look into the world of free-to-play games, and while we do cover many of them on a regular basis, we thought it was high time that we caught back up with this large and dynamic subset of the MMOG genre. In the past several months many new games have launched and a couple of major titles have dropped their subscription plans in favor of the free-to-play with RMT enhancement model. Join Medawky this week as we take a look at what is new and improved in the land of the free (to-play).
Sins of a Solar Spymaster #30 - Dominion Post-Fanfest Analysis
Eve Fanfest proved to be a productive event for fans in attendance and The Mittani was on-hand to sink his teeth into the juicy content and panel discussions provided by CCP developers. In the latest Sins of the Solar Spymaster, The Mittani recounts what he learned at the event about the coming Dominion expansion, sovereignty, and more all while fighting a hangover.
Heroic Nexus Boss and Achievement Guide
Tucked in the far corner of Outlands, The Nexus is the home to the malevolent leader of the Blue Dragonflight, Malygos. The area consists of three unique zones to adventure in with two five player dungeons and a ten or twenty five player raid instance at the pinnacle. Today we focus on the entry level dungeon that shares its name with the area, The Nexus. Join Medawky as he gives you the tips and tricks to take down the bosses residing inside and grab the Heroic Achievements while you are at it.
The Art of Grouping in Champions Online
Cryptic’s Champions Online is a hectic-paced game. There’s no doubt about that. And amid all the chaos on your screen, you might find it hard to organize and keep up with your fellow heroes should you decide to form a team. William “JoBildo” Murphy gives out a few tips (and jibes) of what to do and what not to do when grouping in Champions Online.
CrimeCraft Teaser Video
CrimeCraft recently changed its subscription options, and now included is an optional Free to Play model. If you like shooters, there's no reason to miss out on this one. This video trailer is a quick peek at the environment and overall feel of the game. Check it out, then check out the free trial over at CrimeCraft.com.