Top Ten Free-to-Play Games - Zerging the Market

[Ralsu]

In a week that saw Sony Online Entertainment bring microtransactions to EverQuest and EverQuest II and a persistent rumor that Star Wars: The Old Republic will also use microtransactions, Danny "Ralsu" Gourley couldn't help but notice some old stereotypes about the revenue system popping up in the Ten Ton Hammer forums. Ralsu thinks part of the problem is that many companies developing or publishing free-to-play games use microtransactions and the business model so far has been to flood the market:

It seems that the climate of the F2P arena pushes companies toward making or publishing multiple games so fans can play a new game every day. I think of their process being like underwear with the days of the week written on the tags: safe, comfortable, and not too flashy.

What would happen if a company focused on making just one high-quality game at a time? Would that earn a little respect for microtransactions and F2P games? Read "Zerging the Market" to find out Ralsu's answer.

[monkeydomo]

I typically play one f2p game at a time. But when you already have an account with a company, get their newsletters and such, you are more compelled to try their games.

12Sky is what got me playing at Aeria games. When we got a closed beta invite to try Domo, we were instantly hooked. My daughter has played most of their games, I have only played three.

GPotato was another one that got me to try a couple of their games, but only flyff lasted any duration.

I think that companies are smart to diversify with multiple games. If the games aren't making the money, then they should shut them down. If their operating in the black, keep them up, until you have a license that translates into more revenue.

[BahamutKaiser]

This article hits another nail on the head, wile MMOs are naturally expected to be built with duration and continous play, these F2P publishers are often introducing one product after the other in order to snare more niche interests, wile not actually backing up any single game with significant expansion or growth.

They make some more action packed MMOs like Cabal, they make RTS MMOs like Atlantica, they make some more tactical MMOs like Malbogi, and they play the spectrum of themes and genres too, but even if they did make a great F2P, how great would it remain?

I'm becoming more and more certain as I follow the F2P industry that a completely F2P model will never offer the quality I desire in an MMO. I can't even commit to "AAA" P2P titles because I'm so picky, trying to find a worthwile MMO in the F2P market is like trying to get diamonds out of peanut butter, possible, but a really dumb approach.