CNBC Interview with EA CEO John Riccitiello

Article on Escapist Where I found the video

CNBC Page

Video Link
SWTOR comes up in the video around the 8 minute mark.

We will see what happens. I don't think they will go F2P for a little while. With server consolidations, new content, I think they will let it linger a while to see if people will come back. And I think they just might.

They could try lowering the sub cost, or adding some cash shops for special mounts, pets and vanity items. There are a lot of things BW can do to bring in revenue.

exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly!

This ceo knows EXACTLY free to play isn't really free. He said it himself. Which is WHY we have free to play up to 15. Which he said when players try out Star Wars, they really want to get it! Free to play to 15 with SWTOR was a GENIUS move. With him saying that free isn't really "free". I doubt swtor will ever go free to play. Sorry f2p believers.

Here is a summary for anyone not wanting to invest the time to listen to EA's business pitch as to "why we're undervauled at $11.50".

Console and software retail sales are irrelevant. Investors don't understand the shift in the industry from retail to digital.

As to TOR specifically:
1) falling sub numbers are an old story from 11 weeks ago
2) we have a great product
3) sub model vs. f2p is challenging us
4) f2p is anything but free - the first gameplay is free - our content is great and once players are exposed to it they really want it

My comments - I live in MO and have adopted their motto - show me. Let's see what your sub numbers do over the next 6 months once the major "new big things" all hit the market.

BW leadership is leaving. Let's see who takes charge of BW and what he/she can do to engage the community and retain those subs once folks have beaten story mode.

What scares me most with people leaving is the WAR comparrison, where eventually you (almost) literally end up with the janitor in charge of the entire game (by simple reliance on them being the only one left).

why oh why cant EA take some of there great wisdom from designing dead space 2 and put it into this game

Wait. Taking a good survival horror game and turning it into a crappy shooter is "great wisdom" now?

I think you have failed to underastand what he is actually saying...doubting SWTOR will go F2P just because in the interview he mentions "free isn't really free" only defines that there will be boun daries to what players can expect and achieve for free.. to move beyond those boundaries will require a dip in the players pocket.. just like any F2P game out there. If a player is happy replaying the dsame content with the same gear and achieving the same things, then the game will be truly F2P for that player.. but BW will be going all out to place lures and snares to try and hook players in and extend the gaming experience "enter credit card details here... at ORIGIN plz"....

Many of the traditional F2P aspects have already entered the game... special event vendors with limited availablilty of certain items, Server transfers beyond free round is due, Legacy is just Cashcow waiting to happen a la extra toon slots and perks, poor gear appearances will entice colour dyes, armour kits, appearance tweaks, name changes (toon, guild and legacy).. all mentioned to be perhaps being offered in the future... and of course the free weekend / lvl15 F2P limit .... but yeah you keep telling yourself its not happening... not that it should make any difference to players if it does.. you just get to choose your preffered option.

The next step will probably be f2p to lvl 15 without the friends trial invite required. As for fully f2p, never say never, but I dont expect anything before 2014 by the minimum for that.

From Massively:

Full Video @ CNBC.