The sky isn't falling. A numbers based view.

Dunno a bout the orange quote.. most FTP numbers are suspicious, once a free-to-player always always a FTP and counted always since you can't quit.. so any numbers from here out are really... well .. just dam SILLY.

The release lacked metrics from the company's large multiplayer online game, "Star Wars: The Old Republic," which made headlines this summer when the company said it was planning to offer a limited version of the game as a free-to-play title, in addition to its regular subscription price of $14.99, which allows full access to all the game's features. At the time, EA had said the new pricing model would make the game "more accessible."
The game, which EA released last December, has struggled to find a footing in the marketplace as it competes against Activision Blizzard Inc.'s (ATVI) "World of Warcraft" large multiplayer-online game. Active customers slipped below one million in the company's first quarter reported in July, down from 1.3 million in the fourth quarter and 1.7 million in the months following the game's release. "World of Warcraft," by comparison, has about 10 million subscribers.
Mr. Jorgensen, who was appointed as EA's chief financial officer July 31, said he chose not to include "Star Wars" subscription numbers because they would detract from the company's efforts to move the game forward.
"People have hung on the subscription numbers and it hasn't reflected the underlying business very well," he said. "As you move to free to play, what does a subscription really mean?"

Mr. Jorgensen, who was appointed as EA's chief financial officer July 31, said he chose not to include "Star Wars" subscription numbers because they would detract from the company's efforts to move the game forward.
"People have hung on the subscription numbers and it hasn't reflected the underlying business very well," he said. "As you move to free to play, what does a subscription really mean?"

And that makes perfect sense. Of course it will be pounced upon as a sign of weakness but soon F2P will be here and we move on.

I'm starting this thread as a place to discuss the state of the game while keeping things in perspective without employing excessive hyperbole to make my point. I hope it can generate a good discussion.


The Truth in Numbers


The Electronic Arts Q2 FY2013 earnings report just came out. The information EA provided about about Star Wars: The Old Republic is sparse. No subscription numbers.

Documents at http://investor.ea.com/ .

• "Subscriptions, advertising, and other digital revenue grew 48%, driven by Star Wars: The Old Republic. As we mentioned on the last call, a free-to-play option for this game will be available this quarter, and we will provide more insight regarding the results of this change in future calls."
  
• "Non-GAAP revenue for the quarter is expected to be between $1.25 and $1.35 billion, a decline in comparison from last year's $1.65 billion, which included the launches of Battlefield 3 and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Both titles drove packaged goods and full-game digital download revenue."

And that makes perfect sense. Of course it will be pounced upon as a sign of weakness but soon F2P will be here and we move on.

I believe it is a sign of weakness. I believe we are now under the 500k subs. However, I also believe it was the correct move and his statement is accurate. Different business model means subs are no longer relevant.... That also means they will push more F2P stuff, because that is their important customer now, while subs take a backseat.

Hardly. It's a trend toward the future of MMOGs. Blizzard has no incentive to do so with so many subscribers, but LotRO, DDO, and STO have all risen in paying subscribers / revenue since converting to F2P+Sub models (the latter a bit more modestly). Guild Wars 2 is now setting the trend with having the highest selling first month MMOG in history.

This was day 1: http://techland.time.com/2012/08/28/...aying-at-once/

Two weeks later: http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09...on-sales-mark/

Given the size, scale, and scope of SWTOR compared to that of Guild Wars 2, had SWTOR launched with an F2P+Sub model, I think the game would have proven itself to be a lot more marketable and successful. Still, the numbers don't lie, and SWTOR remains (on paper) the #2 MMOG, even though Guild Wars 2 has already far surpassed it in revenue.

If anything, this F2P launch of SWTOR is a "better late than never" sort of scenario for the game. I strongly suspect if BioWare takes the time to listen to its audience during the transition rather than oil every squeaky wheel, SWTOR will be here to stay and may even justify its existence in the plane of MMORPGs.

Yeah it's quite obvious by just logging in. Not to mention there's this thing I like to use common sense. Not everyone needs things spoon fed to them.