Free to play

[Ack-Ack]

I see wishes from some players to make AH F2P but none of these players offer any ideas on how HTC is supposed to make any money of it went F2P.  Mostly because these people really have no clue how F2P games operate nor understand the fact that F2P games really aren't free.

ack-ack

[guncrasher]

I'd proposed this in the past:

Training Arenas, Dueling Arena, Early War, WWI: No subscription needed, free to access
Mid War: Access can be bought by spending perks earned in EW

Monthly subscription gives access to all arenas.

saxman with your idea just about every paying subscriber would switch to free play. 



semp

[Fish42]

nor understand the fact that F2P games really aren't free.

ack-ack

A good F2P can be played for free, but they normally require HUGE amounts of time to be sunk into them to reach the top. Paying money gives a boost to gaining levels and cosmetic Items.

Bad F2Ps require money to win/finish. Or the restrictions are so bad for non paying customers that it becomes only 2 options, quit or pay. Looking at you Star Trek: Trexels (iOS) 

Planetside 2 Had a F2P system that was ok, but the grind was too skewed towards forcing payments out of players. I played a solid amount of Planetside and even after I had unlocked a few items it still felt like they were hunting my wallet. From my understanding they have wound that back.

World of Tanks has IMO a very good F2P model. There are only 3 consumables and a few tanks that require gold. the rest can be payed for with in game money. It used to be a case of gold ammo could only be payed for with real money but they have changed that now, and most people run with a few shells of gold ammo payed for with in game money.

Good F2P titles as a general rule of thumb are built from the start to be F2P. Converting a older game to F2P can be problematic at best.

[Ack-Ack]

A good F2P can be played for free, but they normally require HUGE amounts of time to be sunk into them to reach the top. Paying money gives a boost to gaining levels and cosmetic Items.

Bad F2Ps require money to win/finish. Or the restrictions are so bad for non paying customers that it becomes only 2 options, quit or pay. Looking at you Star Trek: Trexels (iOS) 

Planetside 2 Had a F2P system that was ok, but the grind was too skewed towards forcing payments out of players. I played a solid amount of Planetside and even after I had unlocked a few items it still felt like they were hunting my wallet. From my understanding they have wound that back.

World of Tanks has IMO a very good F2P model. There are only 3 consumables and a few tanks that require gold. the rest can be payed for with in game money. It used to be a case of gold ammo could only be payed for with real money but they have changed that now, and most people run with a few shells of gold ammo payed for with in game money.

Good F2P titles as a general rule of thumb are built from the start to be F2P. Converting a older game to F2P can be problematic at best.

All F2P games require monetization, otherwise they fail.  You use WoT as an example of it done correctly but it still doesn't change the fact that 3 out of 4 players of WoT purchase items through micro-transactions, same with WT.  That's how they make money, and the games (despite what players claim) are geared to push the player to use micro-transactions, the developers have to gently push the players to use micro-transactions, otherwise they'd get no money.

ack-ack

[Fish42]

All F2P games require monetization, otherwise they fail.  You use WoT as an example of it done correctly but it still doesn't change the fact that 3 out of 4 players of WoT purchase items through micro-transactions, same with WT.  That's how they make money, and the games (despite what players claim) are geared to push the player to use micro-transactions, the developers have to gently push the players to use micro-transactions, otherwise they'd get no money.

ack-ack

Very true, I myself have put over $120 into World of tanks. But that was after 3 years of playing on and off for free.

Its all about how they convince the player to pay. Saxmans Idea while it sounds ok, would create a paywall between the 2 groups, you want the non-playing people in the same area as the paying to fill out your world, and to show the non-paying people what benefits there are to be had by spending a little money.

There was a good extra credits video on the F2P model. I cannot link atm.

[JUGgler]

How about a model that is ftp but with a system that has if you want the later planes or weapons then you have to subscribe or buy in a one off?

Would keep more old time players like myself coming back without having the need to keep paying for something that i like but cannot justify on a monthly subscription basis.

Vox.

Changing the 12 hour rule back to 1 hour or less would do the same, and the old timers that would return for this would be "paying" old timers   



JUGgler

[jimson]

I think it might be worthwhile to lengthen the free trial period to 30 days.

[guncrasher]

Changing the 12 hour rule back to 1 hour or less would do the same, and the old timers that would return for this would be "paying" old timers   



JUGgler

I have an extra account.  just so they can keep the 12 hour rule.


semp

[Oldman731]

I think it might be worthwhile to lengthen the free trial period to 30 days.

Agreed.  Two weeks really isn't long enough to become competent enough to evaluate the game.

The two-week thing worked well back when people had one of the other games behind them, like AW and WB.  No longer true.

- oldman

[Ack-Ack]

I think it might be worthwhile to lengthen the free trial period to 30 days.

I agree, that's the standard free trial period for most subscription bases MMOs.

ack-ack

[Gray]

How about F2P 30 days in Online Training......followed by a modest free period in the online arenas?   Might encourage a better educated class of noobs.

[pembquist]

Make it free to play but the only aircraft they can fly in the P40E 

No make it free to play, choice of spit 16 or la 7 but no bullets.

[BaldEagl]

Agree on thirty days and right on about two weeks being ok for past, transitioning players but not complete noobs.

Former AW transitions got the entire beta period while transitioning FA players got 3 months but a total noob gets 2 weeks?  No wonder there's no new blood in these games.

[hotcoffe]

I would say make the game it self paid (Its very decent game i think it easily deserves at least a  $60 price tag for 1 copy) that would give HTC a good amount of cash to improve and grow.
Than the multilayer section can be stay as it is or can be changed to some other model like pay as you fly or pay for planes (small amount tops 2$ dollars per month per plane)

[Saxman]

I would say make the game it self paid (Its very decent game i think it easily deserves at least a  $60 price tag for 1 copy) that would give HTC a good amount of cash to improve and grow.
Than the multilayer section can be stay as it is or can be changed to some other model like pay as you fly or pay for planes (small amount tops 2$ dollars per month per plane)

This is a model I absolutely despise. I've already paid $60 up front for the game, I don't want to pay additional fees on top of that purchase just to play it or make content available. Either charge for the game up front, or charge the subscription. Not both.