Stupid F2P Restrictions

Well, to be fair, LoL is the number one game right now with respect to number of players if the studio is to be believed, but it also is a different type of game than SWTOR, or even an MMO to be really fair.

That doesn't mean the way they do things there couldnt work here....it just means it's a different type of game. I mean, SIMS is the number one overall PC game series in history with over 52 millions copies sold. I dont think Id be an advocate to switch SWTOR over to a single player or even multiplayer farmville type simulator with DLC packs.

Nor would I recommend they switch SWTOR over to phones and change it to falling blocks though Tetris is the number one downloaded game in phone history at 100 million.

I think what they have is mostly along the lines of the F2P general framework out there, and with a few adjustments to preferred accounts could be a winner.

Yep, nail on the head.

Interesting indeed Artmeis yes...

I used the Tetris argument though as I would imagine a lot of those chess players are playing on a real board, as opposed to across a computer screen...though I could be gravely outdated with that guess.

It's the number one game based on INDEPENDENT METRICS LIKE THE ONE I JUST LISTED.

Xfire top ten is based on the number of people who not only are xfire members, but are logged into xfire at the time that they play the game. Speaking purely from personal experience, xfire does not seem to be as popular among MMO players who can talk to each other in game as it is for FPS players and other types of gamers.

LoL is not a standard MMO. Comparing LoL and TOR is like apples and oranges.

That being said, you do have some good points and I personally am not a *huge* fan of TOR's F2P model, but it's also really standard for comparable MMOs. And by comparable MMOs, I mean "not LoL."

1. Forbes and other independent sources put it's total user base at around 20M players. It has been independent verified that it is the largest PC GAME in the market.
2. Regardless of x-fire specificity the numbers are INTERNALLY CONSISTENT as you are you using the same metric to measure each of the games and there is no obviously biasing outlier.
3. We are not comparing MMO's we are comparing the relative values of various Free to Play Formats. One: LoL's which is the MOST SUCCESSFUL in the industry, and SWTOR's which has many people both in the community and gaming media questioning it's value and usefulness.

Tim, you're very wrong. I have no plans to cancel either of my 2 accounts, but I AM concerned about the limited play F2P players will have. I'm worried about this game Tim. I'm worried that limiting F2P players to JUST the story, will be MORE than enough for them. They may get a 'taste' of WZ's, but nothing that'll convince them the 4 boxes are worth $15 a month. They may get a chance to run an Op, but again, no reason to pay. They'll ding 50 and quit, because 90% of SWTOR is JUST the STORY, followed by nothing but a giant gear grind! Anyone who creates an alt (or new account) will quickly realize that all of their 'side quests' are identical and they'll LOL at Bioware for asking them to pay $15 a month for it.

I'm not suggesting NO LIMITS...that's stupid. But limiting players to 3 WZ's a week is weak. 3 WZ's, given the vast number of problems WZs have, is enough for players to try it, experience a major issue like a short handed team or a complete thrashing from a pre-made or get kicked out for not leaving the spawn area soon enough or get CC'd an entire match or whatever...then they'll be like "meh, not worth $15", log out and go back to some game with PvP that isn't as boring as our 4 flipping boxes.

I DO see right through you. I see nothing but anger and hate for anyone who may not like this game as much as you do. Sadly, 4 out of 5 people who paid full price ($60 or more) for this game, don't feel like it's worth $15 a month and F2P changes NOTHING about that. They have an 80% loss rate going right now Tim. Holding back WZ's or Ops doesn't entice people to pay them, hell, there's only 4 of each anyway. We need a way to HOOK new players on more than just those 8 things, not prevent them from ever experiencing them...because really, those 8 things don't compare to the story they get for free from 1-50.

A better way to hook players is to make PAYING look like an advantage. More Valor, more Comms, more XP, faster travel, more companions, reduced costs on vendors...the way it's set up, it just gives players KOTOR 3 for $15 and the ability to replay it as they like - the coming design doesn't enhance the MMO experience for paying players at all...it simply exempts F2P players from the gear grinds.

Not everyone who feels that the current model of F2P is BAD, feels that way for some self serving reason...some of us actually DO care about this games future and want to see Bioware do something right.

Paragraph 3. First sentence. Was unncessary and uncalled for.

You BOTH care about the game.

You are BOTH in VIOLENT AGREEMENT when you boil down the sum total of your post histories.

I will say with that line stricken the post was a well formed rebuttle.

Yes we do, and yes, we are. We want people that come to play this game for free, to stay and PAY for it long term. I think most of us in this entire thread all have that hope because long term, that will only mean great things for SWTOR!

I WISH they'd have limited the story to JUST act 1, allowed unlimited WZ's (with reduced returns), unlimited FP's and Ops (with reduced returns) and kept the story locked for acts 2, 3 and beyond. The stuff they're asking people to pay for, just isn't that good.

Tux,
You get a +9000

I am not saying I agree or disagree with what you wrote.
But that post is the best post I have ever seen from you.
It is clear and concise.

Well written.