Free-to-play World of Warcraft a possibility in the future
#1
Posted 01 July 2010 - 01:14 PM
Warning: Don't put too much hope into this
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Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft has largely cornered the massively multiplayer online role-playing market since its launch in November 2004, boasting a current paid subscriber base of some 11.5 million. However, a number of other MMORPGs have been able to carve out a spot by employing a free-to-play, microstransaction supported business model, including Dungeons & Dragons Online, The Lord of the Rings Online, and a wide variety of Asian titles.
Microtransactions could be WOW's future.
So would Blizzard consider a free-to-play model for its already massively successful MMORPG? Maybe, according to WOW lead designer Tom Chilton. As part of an interview with PC Gamer magazine, the veteran game designer noted that having players pay for a $15 monthly pass might not always be the best option in terms of monetizing WOW. However, Chilton also said that the trend toward the free-to-play model isn't necessarily a reaction to WOW.
"I feel like they're doing that to compete with other games that are on a similar subscriber level to what they were at," he said. "I imagine that when one of them went free to play it cannibalized some of the other subscribers. I can definitely imagine that being the case with World of Warcraft. If another game comes along and blows us away it may not make sense for us to have a subscription fee. Or even further down the line, when we have another MMO out."
Though WOW remains a subscription-based game, Blizzard has already implemented a number of microtransaction features into WOW. In addition to in-game services ranging from server transfers for in-game characters to name and faction changes, the studio also sells in-game items such as the $25 Celestial Steed and $10 Lil' XT pet. Blizzard also offers gamers remote access to manage WOW's in-game auction house from a Web browser or mobile phone for an extra $3 a month.
Source: http://www.gamespot.com/
#2
Posted 01 July 2010 - 01:16 PM
#3
Posted 01 July 2010 - 02:05 PM
My Political Compass
Sieben Elefanten hatte Herr Dschin
Und da war dann noch der achte.
Sieben waren wild und der achte war zahm
Und der achte war's, der sie bewachte.
#4
Posted 01 July 2010 - 06:13 PM
More realistically, I would certainly play if they made it free. Or, if they make a future MMO free, I will play that. Not sure if that would be WoW2 or maybe a Diablo MMO. They did say no plans for a Starcraft MMO at this time. Or they could start an entirely new franchise.
Alternatively, maybe a while after the release of a new MMO they will make WoW free.
#5
Posted 02 July 2010 - 09:36 AM
#6
Posted 02 July 2010 - 12:46 PM
#7
Posted 02 July 2010 - 04:58 PM
#8
Posted 02 July 2010 - 07:14 PM
Never in a million years... 11.5 million people monthly paying $15 to keep on playing, that's hundreds of millions of dollars a year. I seriously doubt that microtransactions can gain that much. So, unless the game loses a lot of players to free MMOs or if noone playes it anymore in a few years due to WoW2 or Diablo Online, I don't see it happening.
Actually, I'm willing to bet that they'd gain more from a microtransaction system than they would with flat monthly payments. I don't know if WoW has lifetime subs, 3 month discount subs, etc, like LOTRO does, but there's a significant loss of money when you factor those in.
Free-to-play does not mean free access to the entire game. You'd get some of it free, then perhaps 5$ for a new zone (zones that monthly subscribers get free) or 2$ for a certain item. How about 25$ for an x-pack? 25$ for a transfer? 20$ for a name change? 10$ for the rest of the zones that monthly subs get for free but you didn't get. It adds up. Plus, people are very willing to shell out 2$ and 3$ for immediate gratification, they don't realize that all the charges build up very quickly.
#9
Posted 02 July 2010 - 08:21 PM
I wonder how many casual WoW players would actually be satisfied with how much the free version would offer. Not everyone wants to cash in extra to unlock more stuff, I bet a lot would simply enjoy a good game, which it then still would be, for free. Also, how many people are playing WoW while it's billed to mommy's or daddy's credit card every month? You'd lose a lot of teenagers who can't just pay as much as they want every month (then again, I don't know WoW's payment system so I might be totally wrong here).
My Political Compass
Sieben Elefanten hatte Herr Dschin
Und da war dann noch der achte.
Sieben waren wild und der achte war zahm
Und der achte war's, der sie bewachte.
#10
Posted 03 July 2010 - 12:41 AM
Number of player are uncertain, it's up and down for everyweek, and if other MMO gaming developer company push hard in marketing, at least they can lure many people to play their games instead of WoW.
And by this new, it isn't mean fully 100% to play, Blizzard use some itemmalls system and might finally force people to paid again though cheaper.
Still i woudn't agree less about "million years..." or "over two billion" Blizzard can dig alot of money from WoW...and they won't destroy their gold mine.
#11
Posted 03 July 2010 - 02:06 PM
#12
Posted 03 July 2010 - 04:49 PM
BTW, are any of you in Cataclysm beta or heard much about how it is? I hear it's pretty much the same as wotlk.
#13
Posted 03 July 2010 - 11:39 PM
#14
Posted 04 July 2010 - 03:33 AM
As to the topic, well... would you forefit a continuous, predictable revenue scheme for something that is significantly more random and more heavily influenced by individual customer preference? Free to play does nothing except attract more customers, and with a game that already dominates the MMO market and doesn't look like it'll be dethroned anytime soon, customer attraction is really no longer required. It's the competitors that have to mess with complex payment schemes in order to promote their product over arguably the most accessible and polished MMO out there. I mean, I have a strong dislike for the game, but even I can see that .
Edited by Nertea, 04 July 2010 - 03:35 AM.
I really don't do requests and my Arnor Soldier is not fit for BFME. Don't ask me for either.
#15
Posted 04 July 2010 - 04:40 AM
#16
Posted 04 July 2010 - 09:19 AM
But for the most of all...duh, i'm just doing my job posting new, I am not a person behind this
Edited by Dant, 04 July 2010 - 09:31 AM.
#17
Posted 04 July 2010 - 10:05 AM
Where as if you buy the CD, you will still be able to play for free but with increased limits, I think its 5g for the gold limit, but of course people will have other barriers that they will have to pay for e.g. character slot limits and of course the 5g limit.
Then of course you have the still pay per month option where everything is unlocked, for LotrO I don't think many will follow this option, but for WoW I still think a lot of people will do this option due to the players attitude towards WoW itself. If WoW follows this type of procedure then they will still make considerable revenue, even if it may be on an ad hoc basis from around 5% of the community that will play the game for free, and still get a steady stream from those that buy the CD's.
#18
Posted 04 July 2010 - 05:38 PM
#19
Posted 29 July 2010 - 10:33 AM
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