subsciption loyalty rewards, does this mean free to play is coming?

meglon978ub17_ESO · August 2014

Knootewoot wrote: »

inspiral1 wrote: »

I just read on the road ahead that they will be introducing subscription loyalty rewards, usually games have this as well as free to play, so i wonder if its going ftp?

i will always pay sub personally but do wonder if it might be good for the game to draw more folks in? Perhaps a free trial atleast get them hooked first.

anyway the more money they make the more content we get, just thought it was an interesting point to make in the road ahead.

I lol'ed. SWG was never free to play and had loyalty rewards. Vanguard had it for 24 months until they didnt have DEVS around to make new rewards. In fact i know many P2P mmo's who had it in the past.

It doesnt mean anything. It just means they can "trick" people into keep subbing because you might miss out on something cool. I am not sensitive to this though. I keep subbing because the game is awesome.

EQ had them, in fact they were skills/perks you could use, a new one for each year you players.... cumulative. a 6 year vet could use all of the 6 years perks, and some were pretty nice (like more XP for an hour, once a day... or something like that).

Grunim · August 2014

traigusb14_ESO2 wrote: »

ESO has a red dye now... some other games with red dyes are FTP!

Wait ESO has like 9+ red dyes... so it is 9x as likely to go FTP now!?!?!

Bingo! This is truly impeccable logic. I applaud you.

ItsGlaive · August 2014

Rewards don't necessarily mean F2P. FFXIV has rewards and it still very much subscription only

traigusb14_ESO2 · August 2014

Grunim wrote: »

traigusb14_ESO2 wrote: »

ESO has a red dye now... some other games with red dyes are FTP!

Wait ESO has like 9+ red dyes... so it is 9x as likely to go FTP now!?!?!

Bingo! This is truly impeccable logic. I applaud you.

You don't even want to know how having not only Elves, but lots of kinds of Elves effects the FTP equation... there is so much FTP math, I think Skyrim is gonna be FTP soon too because of all the Elves in ESO.

staxjax · August 2014

Game will never go f2p. People are a bit ignorant to the fact that Bethesda Softworks is one of the most successful game publishers of all time. Dudes are filthy rich and would rather pull the plug than downgrade their game to f2p status. The game is in a healthy state with a bright future, and when consoles release it is going to be HUGE.

Loyalty program is most likely due to an outcry from all the self-entitled whiners that were all butthurt they don't get the game or the dog on steam =(

Pallmor · August 2014

Nox_Aeterna wrote: »

The game will not hit F2P before console release probably , now after that , if the game really goes down the drain , then yeah you can start getting ready for F2P.

I don't think there is going to be a console version. ZOS won't even talk about a release timeframe and Sony and Microsoft didn't even mention it this year at E3 as one of their upcoming games.

That said, I hope it doesn't go F2P either way. F2P is like holding up a giant sign reading "Welcome Gold Farmers!"

technohic · August 2014

Brandalf wrote: »

technohic wrote: »

Yeah, I see it s more of a "don't unsubscribe while you wait for the content we promoted at Quakecon that is still a ways off. Look! We'll give you stuff for staying while you wait!"

Update 3 and 4 both contain content talked about at QuakeCon.

Not the good stuff. Not the champion system yet, or spellcrafting or justice system or Imperial City. Thats the ones that are IMO; big new systems. This does add arenas, but I haven't heard a lot of clamoring for that nor a big clamoring for more trials.

OrangeTheCat · August 2014

You wish.

YakoTaki · August 2014

staxjax wrote: »

Game will never go f2p. People are a bit ignorant to the fact that Bethesda Softworks is one of the most successful game publishers of all time. Dudes are filthy rich and would rather pull the plug than downgrade their game to f2p status. The game is in a healthy state with a bright future, and when consoles release it is going to be HUGE.

Loyalty program is most likely due to an outcry from all the self-entitled whiners that were all butthurt they don't get the game or the dog on steam =(

LOL

Woogawoman · August 2014

strongoakb14a_ESO wrote: »

This isn't not a direct path to Pay to Win (some call it Free to Play) but could indicate they are concerned about coming competing games.

Or it could just be an indication that they are gamers too, they appreciate their player base and can provide some fairly-easy-to-implement goodies. You know, because it's nice to do.

Tavore1138 · August 2014

@OP: No, nein, non, nyet.

But 6 months needs to be a panther!

Kokushibyou · August 2014

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

they lose me as customer

They won't.

People have posted comments like that in forums for other MMOs that went F2P and few actually followed through on the threat, they spent their time coming up with semantic arguments why the 'store' wasn't really P2W when a 10-year-old would clearly understand it was.

Examples: LOTRO and Rift.

Not sure about Rift, but a lot of people left LOTRO when it went P2W. My guild had over 50 active players before f2p and when I left, less than 1 month after f2p, it was just me and 1 other person playing.

bribear2ub14_ESO · August 2014

Kokushibyou wrote: »

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

they lose me as customer

They won't.

People have posted comments like that in forums for other MMOs that went F2P and few actually followed through on the threat, they spent their time coming up with semantic arguments why the 'store' wasn't really P2W when a 10-year-old would clearly understand it was.

Examples: LOTRO and Rift.

Not sure about Rift, but a lot of people left LOTRO when it went P2W. My guild had over 50 active players before f2p and when I left, less than 1 month after f2p, it was just me and 1 other person playing.

I was playing Rift when it went F2P. There was the usual uproar but, on the whole, the population increased. It's held steady since then, as far as I know. That said, P2W is a real stretch. You can level faster and get a bonus to currency drops, but it's cheaper to be a sub if you're going to go that route. You absolutely cannot buy BIS gear. If you're willing to farm, you can buy paid currency with in game gold. The novelty stuff is what brings in the real money though. Mounts and clothes.

babylon · August 2014

I'm just glad they took this suggestion on board, saw it mentioned a few times last month or so.

I don't think it means f2p is coming or the sky is falling, I just think it means they are trying to keep us as subscribers.

Srugzal · August 2014

SuraklinPrime wrote: »

@OP: No, nein, non, nyet.

But 6 months needs to be a panther!

Senche Tiger Pet.... now that's something to take into the bank...!

soulclaw · August 2014

inspiral1 wrote: »

I just read on the road ahead that they will be introducing subscription loyalty rewards, usually games have this as well as free to play, so i wonder if its going ftp?

i will always pay sub personally but do wonder if it might be good for the game to draw more folks in? Perhaps a free trial atleast get them hooked first.

anyway the more money they make the more content we get, just thought it was an interesting point to make in the road ahead.

Yes, not only is f2p coming, but jack booted thugs will kick down your door and force you not to pay for the game.

Bookwyrm · August 2014

Paske wrote: »

magnusnet wrote: »

Aion had loyalty rewards long time before going F2P. It's just a policy to reward people that give them the most money, aka those who stay subbed all the time.

Good thing IMO .

This really.

One would think it was kinda obvious.

Like, if you hit your head with a hammer it will hurt, a lot. Yet many people try and see what happens.

I do like the idea TBH

Completely off-topic, but my mother once stapled her finger to see what it would feel like when she was a teenager. She won't admit it, but I'm fairly certain she was "on something" at the time.

On-topic: Loyalty rewards does not equate free-to-play in any way. I'm not saying that it will never happen though I certainly hope it doesn't), but that this is not a sign of impending doom. Loyalty rewards mean that players will be getting rewards for being loyal. Period.

Edit to fix typo.

lathbury · August 2014

Wait did someone say the sky is falling brb got to warn the guildies.

moxiesauce · August 2014

inspiral1 wrote: »

I just read on the road ahead that they will be introducing subscription loyalty rewards, usually games have this as well as free to play, so i wonder if its going ftp?

i will always pay sub personally but do wonder if it might be good for the game to draw more folks in? Perhaps a free trial atleast get them hooked first.

anyway the more money they make the more content we get, just thought it was an interesting point to make in the road ahead.

I wouldn't be opposed to a level to 15 for free trial account, but obviously much further down the road when the game has more content to wave in buyers faces.

Srugzal · August 2014

moxiesauce wrote: »

I wouldn't be opposed to a level to 15 for free trial account, but obviously much further down the road when the game has more content to wave in buyers faces.

Don't look now, but the amount of content in this game is vast. I think if there is an elbow in the game, a point after which you start to "get" it, I'd say it wouldn't be until after maybe level 17-18, once you're fully into your second zone and realize that you need to start thinking long-term for your character and not just reacting. And that's even more important if you're crafting.

I don't think that this game lends itself to a "free trial" at all. It isn't, after all, a shooter. With some games, once you get the basic mechanic and the gear progression, you're off and running. It takes a couple of hours, maybe less. ESO is much, much too complex to allow for anything other than a superficial evaluation in that time period.

Aside from the pre- and early-release bugs, that's one of the main reasons why the first "weekend playtime" reviews were nearly all so terrible. You just can't see the forest for the trees until much later in the game.

Doctoruniverse · August 2014

What problematic for Zenimax is subscription fee's on consoles. Especially because the game has not been recieved very well by the general public.

But if they decide to make it F2P on consoles they have to do it on PC aswell or it will create a massive *** for them.

I can see it going F2P when consoles comes out.

smeeprocketnub19_ESO · August 2014

Bookwyrm wrote: »

Paske wrote: »

magnusnet wrote: »

Aion had loyalty rewards long time before going F2P. It's just a policy to reward people that give them the most money, aka those who stay subbed all the time.

Good thing IMO .

This really.

One would think it was kinda obvious.

Like, if you hit your head with a hammer it will hurt, a lot. Yet many people try and see what happens.

I do like the idea TBH

Completely off-topic, but my mother once stapled her finger to see what it would feel like when she was a teenager. She won't admit it, but I'm fairly certain she was "on something" at the time.

On-topic: Loyalty rewards does not equate free-to-play in any way. I'm not saying that it will never happen though I certainly hope it doesn't), but that this is not a sign of impending doom. Loyalty rewards mean that players will be getting rewards for being loyal. Period.

Edit to fix typo.

erm what teenager -hasn't- stapled their skin for fun? I used to staple my arms all the way up, but then I heard it could cause your veins to collapse. I certainly wasn't on drugs, just adolescent.

Armianlee · August 2014

smeeprocketnub19_ESO wrote: »

Bookwyrm wrote: »

Paske wrote: »

magnusnet wrote: »

Aion had loyalty rewards long time before going F2P. It's just a policy to reward people that give them the most money, aka those who stay subbed all the time.

Good thing IMO .

This really.

One would think it was kinda obvious.

Like, if you hit your head with a hammer it will hurt, a lot. Yet many people try and see what happens.

I do like the idea TBH

Completely off-topic, but my mother once stapled her finger to see what it would feel like when she was a teenager. She won't admit it, but I'm fairly certain she was "on something" at the time.

On-topic: Loyalty rewards does not equate free-to-play in any way. I'm not saying that it will never happen though I certainly hope it doesn't), but that this is not a sign of impending doom. Loyalty rewards mean that players will be getting rewards for being loyal. Period.

Edit to fix typo.

erm what teenager -hasn't- stapled their skin for fun? I used to staple my arms all the way up, but then I heard it could cause your veins to collapse. I certainly wasn't on drugs, just adolescent.

I did as well, wonder how many others did it. I thought I was alone.

deepseamk20b14_ESO · August 2014

What does this have to do with the game going F2P? I have played several games where you subscribe and the company hooks you up with some cool stuff just because you are a loyal customer. It's like a rewards card at a normal business. the more you go there the more benefits or rewards you get. Doesn't mean they suddenly make everything in the store free though lol.

deepseamk20b14_ESO · August 2014

cromica81_ESO wrote: »

Teiji wrote: »

Subscription loyalty rewards means that free to play is never coming.

Subscription loyalty rewards mean that the Ice Wraith vanity pet is coming.

Yay another worthless item that I will delete because I would rather have the bank/bag slot

Yes, damn you ZOS for making us think about what we keep and get rid of. Silly ZOS not giving us the ability to have so many characters at once as mules.......O wait.....they do. This is normal dude, jesus, WTF do want? Free legendary armor that you don't have to work for? When will people stop looking for hand outs and just appreciate the small things. Maybe they will give us free rare dyes, or free cool mounts other than horses. Have you ever played a sub based game before? this isn't new....

Jamesbr1b14_ESO · January 2015

wenxue2222b16_ESO wrote: »

I played LOTRO for 6 years and F2P killed it for me and a lot of other people. Every part of the game was infused with "buy this now!". It was pay to win and it totally broke the immersion and enjoyment for a lot of people. Even festival quests had timers put on them that could only be overridden by buying something. I played for some years after F2P started only because I had/have a lifetime account but it wasn't the same game. Lots of players I knew left. The final straw was the announcement that there would be no expansion this year. I have tried going back since I started on ESO but I can't get into it anymore.

Anyway I don't think this means ESO is going F2P at all. We are a long way from that being a possibility. It would probably be the slow death of the game if it went F2P.

I also had a Lifetime account with LOTRO (still do I suppose), but I left within weeks of it going F2P ("pay to win") because you had to buy something to get to some of the raids. It was as if the "lifetime" membership became a hollow shell of what it was before. I've played three games that went F2P and they all have many things in common, not the least was that every bit of time you had played was almost meaningless. Any 6 year old with access to a computer could play the game. They dumbed everything down to the point where the challenge was sucked right out. Oh, and the biggest thing they have in common... I quit playing them as soon as they went F2P!!! So, it will not be a surprise to Zenimax if/when ESO goes F2P and I immediately delete the game from my computer. I will not look back, I will not reload the game and I'll not play another minute or give another dime. I'll be done just like DDO, LOTRO and SWTOR.
F2P ruins games. It's the equivalent of "jumping the shark". By the time F2P happens, it's too late to fix it.

WraithAzraiel · January 2015

FFXIV has subscription loyalty rewards and to my knowledge it isn't free to play.

CodexMMO · January 2015

I hope ESO doesn't go F2P. Perhaps they could follow EVE's model and sell 'PLEX' to allow players to buy a month of subscription time from other players for gold. Rather than F2P or B2P, I think a free trial week would really help this game get some attention.

ers101284b14_ESO · January 2015

WraithAzraiel wrote: »

FFXIV has subscription loyalty rewards and to my knowledge it isn't free to play.

Yeah but in all fairness that game plays like a F2P game and they added a cash shop.

Csub · January 2015

Why do people keep reviving long forgotten "the wind is blowing outside so ESO will go F2P"-style topics? I mean we have several kinds of those already. :P