Why P2W will ruin the game.

Not to be obtuse, but everyone already knows why P2W is bad. We don't need a post stating the obvious.

They can try for sure. But I don't think it will go over well.

As for P2W being a bad model, I doubt that. There was recently an article on IGN were they talk to the Asian MMO developers, and they basically say all their games are P2W. The problem we have here, is that we're used to the subscription base system, and people get angry when it's different. But all MMO's might end up being P2W in the end because you have people who would and want to spend more on your game, but your model doesn't allow the extra cash to come in.

If anything, every MMO should have a cash shop, even if it's not P2W.

P2W is not a good or bad business model I think. But it definitely does not work for everyone. Which means there should always be games that do not use this model, for those that do not like P2W. Lets hope SWTOR will be such a game.

I think a P2W model decreases the life expectancy and player numbers of a game but can get you a LOT more money per player if done right. (By right I mean in a way that I totally despise.) There are people paying hundreds of dollars/euro's a month for P2W games which can make up for a lot of people leaving the game. So yeah it could be quite profitable but it is also quite a risk as you dont know exactly how many people will leave,

I can't see P2W going over any better than asian grind-model games do in the West (i.e. badly).

I can see P2W going over well (in the short-term) in a socierty where such grind-model game do well.

The problem with P2W is that it is just that pay to win, if you pay you win. Life is pay too win, however most people play games for fun and expect a level playing field, and unlike life if you don't get that you can just not play.

If you can give me a good example of a Western P2W game that is doing well, then fair enough, but I don't think there is one.




It's similar to games that allow aim-bots, they tank in the end, because everyone not using them leaves, leaving only the relative few that are using them, who then get bored because they are actually no on a level playing field with everyone else and they leave too.

I can't think of a P2W game that's done well.

Sure there's a couple where it's kept the game limping along instead of closing, but that's not the same thing at all.

Thats mostly because they dont have many players compared to sub based MMO's. If you look around for Korean grinding MMO's (outspark for instance) you'll see that some of them are making far more money than they should, considering the quality of the games. And stay alive longer than they should as well btw.

So they do relatively well in comparison to the effort put into it.

All these P2W threads are pathetic. Jeebus how about wait and see what's actually in the store before doomsaying?

P2W games don't fair well in Western markets, and this game will receive its' well deserved death if they go that route.

They've stated that there will be leveling gear and possibly entry level 50 gear, but no top end gear. To provide top end gear would greatly affect subscription income so it would not be in their best interest to do so. In trying to maximize profit, the model they are moving with will allow them to tap both markets. Doing otherwise would be counter productive to the desired outcome.

It is a bad business model in a game where they intend to tap both markets. Doing so would wipe one of those markets. The only way they could go with a P2W model is if they employed only the FTP model....which would end up changing the entirety of the game. It simply would not be profitable over the long term.

It's no use shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.