Free to play?

[TitusPullo]

I played Ultima Online years ago up until the point I was lured away by World of Warcraft.

I recently quit World of Warcraft and have been experimenting with the free to play games.

I've tried Dungeons and Dragons, Runescape & Maple Story. Runescape seemed like a poor mans Ultima Online, and it got me thinking... If Runescape has like 10 million players, imagine how many people would play Ultima Online if it were free.

I have a feeling Ultima Online would become a massive hit as a F2P game.

I would immediately install Ultima Online if it had a F2P model and they gave us new servers untouched by the massive duping and exploits of years past.

 

[Stupid Miner]

Housing.

 

[TitusPullo]

Housing.

Simple. Housing can be unlocked with a purchase. If a swarm of players purchase housing, that's a good thing, that means F2P is working. Add housing servers if necessary.

 

[Lord Chaos]

People here on the forum don't want new clean servers, its simply horrible for them to have a cheat free economy from scratch, they'd rather keep their cheater ruined economy, regardless of it being unfixable.

 

[sablestorm]

People here on the forum don't want new clean servers, its simply horrible for them to have a cheat free economy from scratch, they'd rather keep their cheater ruined economy, regardless of it being unfixable.

In my opinion, this is a stupid post. People don't want to start over because many of us have items and housing plots we've collected over the years. It has sometimes taken quite a bit of patience to collect housing in one area to make an RP Town. If it is demanded we start all over, I probably wouldn't bother. So try and understand where people are coming from and don't make these ridiculous assumptions about everyone.

 

[canary]

In my opinion, this is a stupid post. People don't want to start over because many of us have items and housing plots we've collected over the years. It has sometimes taken quite a bit of patience to collect housing in one area to make an RP Town. If it is demanded we start all over, I probably wouldn't bother. So try and understand where people are coming from and don't make these ridiculous assumptions about everyone.

x2, agreed whole heartedly.

Lord Chaos, I swear you are contrary just for the simple sake of being contrary, going by your posting history.

 

[deadite]

Just wondering what all they could sell to keep a sustained income? Things that wouldn't screw over any particular crafting playstyle. They can't sell potions, for instance.

- Housing (Monthly rent based on size)
- Special Mounts (like the Charger)
- Alacrity Scrolls
- Special Dyes (Like Tokuno)
- The EC RP Paperdolls
- Soulstone Fragments or Full Soulstones
- Access to Fel or Other Lands?
- Adv Char Templates
- Extra Character Slots
- Extra Bank/House Space
- Other Items Currently Sold at UOGameCodes.com

What else?

 

[canary]

Just wondering what all they could sell to keep a sustained income? Things that wouldn't screw over any particular crafting playstyle. They can't sell potions, for instance.

- Housing (Monthly rent based on size)
- Special Mounts (like the Charger)
- Alacrity Scrolls
- Special Dyes (Like Tokuno)
- The EC RP Paperdolls
- Soulstone Fragments or Full Soulstones
- Access to Fel or Other Lands?
- Adv Char Templates
- Extra Character Slots
- Extra Bank/House Space
- Other Items Currently Sold at UOGameCodes.com

What else?

* Clothes
* Tokens that would change the 'skin' of armor and weapons (say you have a dagger but want the visual of a kryss)
* Pretty new things for your house
* Things that act like potions (I think, like many games, they would sell them, tbh)
* Pets (maybe just cutesy things, but still)
* New races, possibly

 

[GarthGrey]

I think I'll create an alt and make the same post in a week or so. *rolls eyes* is much better than rolleyes:

 

[TitusPullo]

People here on the forum don't want new clean servers, its simply horrible for them to have a cheat free economy from scratch, they'd rather keep their cheater ruined economy, regardless of it being unfixable.

That's fine. We surely wouldn't want to force anyone to start over here. Simply follow the Everquest 2 F2P model. Open up new servers, specifically for F2P accounts.

If any paying accounts wish to play the F2P servers, allow a character transfer to the F2P server with no transfer of items or gold. Just the character. It's up to the individual. Continue to pay the monthly fee or sacrifice your gold and items to transfer to the F2P servers.

I think it's very important to open up the F2P servers unmolested from the years of duping, scripting and exploiting that contaminate the current production servers.

 

[Lord Chaos]

In my opinion, this is a stupid post. People don't want to start over because many of us have items and housing plots we've collected over the years. It has sometimes taken quite a bit of patience to collect housing in one area to make an RP Town. If it is demanded we start all over, I probably wouldn't bother. So try and understand where people are coming from and don't make these ridiculous assumptions about everyone.

Even if new servers were started up, you wouldn't be forced to move, you could just stay.

 

[MrMightySmith]

I had a crazy idea for uo to draw new players.... Introduce a web browser/small download type game that was basically like Ultima Online but with limitations and make it a bit smaller but essentially the same game and in direct contact with Ultima Online . If that player wanted to continue with the full game there could be a easy client download and a the subscription fee and there in the real uo. Its still the same game and every you have worked on before transfers over to the the real UO. This generates exposure for UO which is the biggest problem the game is having and takes advantage of face-book and the millions that are on there. Obviously, you could not allow the back and forth between the free game and the real UO but it would be kinda cool to see a Ultima online facebook app.

 

[Lady Storm]

Gee lets look :

11mill a year vs -0- guaranteed income ....... do you see whats wrong with this pic??

 

[TitusPullo]

Gee lets look :

11mill a year vs -0- guaranteed income ....... do you see whats wrong with this pic??

You might do well to do some research on the F2P model. Dungeons and Dragons Online was a massive success and is currently making quite a bit more than Ultima Online after switching.

Lord of the Rings online is going free to play, Everquest 2 is going free to play.. Both these games have much larger subscription bases than Ultima Online.

 

[Cear Dallben Dragon]

You might do well to do some research on the F2P model. Dungeons and Dragons Online was a massive success and is currently making quite a bit more than Ultima Online after switching.

Lord of the Rings online is going free to play, Everquest 2 is going free to play.. Both these games have much larger subscription bases than Ultima Online.

what is the total number of both subscriptions combined and your source?

 

[Lady Storm]

I can see where it might but to put that through EA's head...... 11mill in hand not worth -0- in the bush to them and they are ostrich's and have sand in the board room.
Take it from a stockholder, it would take a major change on their part to do so with UO.
Its the word FREE, it means no dividends in their minds and wont fly.

 

[TitusPullo]

what is the total number of both subscriptions combined and your source?

According to http://www.mmodata.net/ it looks like Lord of the Ring has about 210-215k, Everquest 2 about 125k. I thought EQ2 had more.

Here is an interesting post on Dungeons and Dragons Online after it went F2P. This article is like 6 months old.

Over one million new accounts, revenue up over 500%.. I'd venture a guess, seeing how all these class A massively multiplayer games are going F2P, the player base has gotten much larger as well.

http://www.massively.com/2010/02/26/one-million-new-adventurers-in-dungeons-and-dragons-online/

 

[TitusPullo]

I can see where it might but to put that through EA's head...... 11mill in hand not worth -0- in the bush to them and they are ostrich's and have sand in the board room.
Take it from a stockholder, it would take a major change on their part to do so with UO.
Its the word FREE, it means no dividends in their minds and wont fly.

Perhaps that sort of short sightedness, among other things, is the reason EA has always been behind the times in the massively multiplayer market.

 

[sablestorm]

Even if new servers were started up, you wouldn't be forced to move, you could just stay.

That's besides the point. You mentioned we all want our cheater ruined economy. I don't have issues with the ideas in the thread, only with your broad sweeping misrepresentation of all us UO players.

 

[Lord Chaos]

That's besides the point. You mentioned we all want our cheater ruined economy. I don't have issues with the ideas in the thread, only with your broad sweeping misrepresentation of all us UO players.

I am referring to a very specific group of people.

 

[sablestorm]

I am referring to a very specific group of people.

By your post, your specific group of people sure sounds like people here on the forums. Even if that wasn't your intent, can you see how easily your original post can be construed that way?

 

[Basara]

According to http://www.mmodata.net/ it looks like Lord of the Ring has about 210-215k, Everquest 2 about 125k. I thought EQ2 had more.

Here is an interesting post on Dungeons and Dragons Online after it went F2P. This article is like 6 months old.

Over one million new accounts, revenue up over 500%.. I'd venture a guess, seeing how all these class A massively multiplayer games are going F2P, the player base has gotten much larger as well.

http://www.massively.com/2010/02/26/one-million-new-adventurers-in-dungeons-and-dragons-online/

If experience with friends of mine is any indication, DDO free players invariably either switch to the paid-account model or quit after a couple months, from frustration of constantly bumping their heads against the glass ceilings imposed on the F2P version.

And, it's more accurate to say that some of the games are "adding limited F2P servers" instead of "going F2P", as none of the F2P stuff is on their existing servers, and the old ones aren't going away. Too many current F2P models are just a gimmick to try to get people to pay for full accounts.

 

[Obsidian]

I think they could sell a token with a selection of magical armor and clothing choices that would provide alternatives to the current. Something like these:

Belt of Blessing
10 STR
5 HCI
2 Stam Regen
150/150

Glasses of Valor
10 DCI
10 LMC
5 DEX
15/15/15/15/15
150/150

Sash of Evasion
10 DEX
+10 Hiding
2 HPR
150/150

Papers of Socrcery (spellbook)
10 DCI
15 LMC
FC 1
25 SDI
Arcane Empowerment (auto for all summons)
150/150

Surcoat of Insight
+10 INT
+1 MR
+1 HPR
Night Sight
150/150

Those are just really quick ideas which would require greater analysis to see how they link with the current items in game. Basically a purchasable item token would give 20-30 alternative choices for those that want to spend real money for items. I'm talking about $9.99 per one item. Items would have 150/150 durability and cannot be fortified. It would not give access to current items obtainable in game (i.e. no crimson cincture, no Lieutenant Sash), but would have nearly equivalent items someone could buy. I think this would help Mythic financially and would not unbalance the game. The items would not last forever. It links with imbuing and gives a manner for folks to get their equipment up to the required level to play PvM in the SA dungeons or engage in some mid-level PvP.

Anyway that would be my idea on how to supplement EA Mythic's income (to ensure the game continues) and provide something folks would actually purchase.

-OBSIDIAN-

 

[Lord Chaos]

By your post, your specific group of people sure sounds like people here on the forums. Even if that wasn't your intent, can you see how easily your original post can be construed that way?

It was aimed at many here on the forum as a generalistic statement, hence it only has to work on the majority's sentiment. Though as stated, there are certainly valid arguments for not moving anywhere.

 

[FrejaSP]

According to http://www.mmodata.net/ it looks like Lord of the Ring has about 210-215k, Everquest 2 about 125k. I thought EQ2 had more.

Here is an interesting post on Dungeons and Dragons Online after it went F2P. This article is like 6 months old.

Over one million new accounts, revenue up over 500%.. I'd venture a guess, seeing how all these class A massively multiplayer games are going F2P, the player base has gotten much larger as well.

http://www.massively.com/2010/02/26/one-million-new-adventurers-in-dungeons-and-dragons-online/

UO is a very old game but it is doing great. Keep in mind, when UO was new, there was not really any other games like UO.

We had lost alot players to WOW, Lineage and some other games who made it to the top but we had also seen some games go to top and then down again. Warhammer and DAoC now both do have less subscribers than UO so UO is still doing well.

Max subscribers -> now, from the MMO Data
UO (1997) 		250k -> 100k
Everquest (1999) 	550k -> 100k
[COLOR="DarkRed"]DAoC (2001) 		250k -> 30k[/COLOR]
Final Fantasy (2002) 	550k -> 350k
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]EVE (2003) 		360k -> 360k[/COLOR]
[COLOR="darkred"]Star Wars (2003) 	300k -> 50k[/COLOR]
Everquest II (2004)	330k -> 120k
Lord of the Rings(2007)	280k -> 210k
Age of Conan (2008)	700k -> 120k
[COLOR="darkred"]WarHammer (2008) 	800k -> 90k[/COLOR]

Then we have WOW, it sure stole alot players from this games. Only Eve is still getting more players.

About making UO F2P, no thanks, they will only bring alot of cheating to the game.

 

[Zyon Rockler]

The reason this is probably successful is because people can come into the game and then tell their friends to come join them right away.

It's free, it's probably the best type of advertisement you can have, to have people coming thinking they're getting something for free is like the foot in the door.

This is probably necessary, more so than a debate to compete, simply because of the advertising. Think about it, you go to work or you go to school or you meet up with an old friend or a family member wants to know what you've been up to, just tell them to contact you through UO.

They would just have to set the game up so that current players would not have to change in any way and maybe even give them more perks for paying. Like housing, protection so they don't lose their houses based more on the time they've played rather than 30 days and you lose everything.

Free to play people would be able to own 1 boat or 1 small house. Both would have to be refreshed every couple of days. This alone would be enough incentive, I think for them to want to bump up to a paying account.

Maybe no use of artifacts, only special ones that can be purchased. No use of powerscrolls so that even if a character has used a powerscroll once they go free to play it puts their skills back at 100 but they're able to go back up without needing to gain the skill, just a type of incentive.

The way I look at it is, the more people that play, the better because then those people become part of the effort, even if they only play for free.

 

[SirZ]

Free 2 play - it's a game model for homeless bastards

 

[Tek]

The data is inaccurate, there is no way that UO has stayed at 100k for the past three years, there has been an obvious decrease in population.

UO is a very old game but it is doing great. Keep in mind, when UO was new, there was not really any other games like UO.

We had lost alot players to WOW, Lineage and some other games who made it to the top but we had also seen some games go to top and then down again. Warhammer and DAoC now both do have less subscribers than UO so UO is still doing well.

Max subscribers -> now, from the MMO Data
UO (1997) 		250k -> 100k
Everquest (1999) 	550k -> 100k
[COLOR="DarkRed"]DAoC (2001) 		250k -> 30k[/COLOR]
Final Fantasy (2002) 	550k -> 350k
[COLOR="DarkGreen"]EVE (2003) 		360k -> 360k[/COLOR]
[COLOR="darkred"]Star Wars (2003) 	300k -> 50k[/COLOR]
Everquest II (2004)	330k -> 120k
Lord of the Rings(2007)	280k -> 210k
Age of Conan (2008)	700k -> 120k
[COLOR="darkred"]WarHammer (2008) 	800k -> 90k[/COLOR]

Then we have WOW, it sure stole alot players from this games. Only Eve is still getting more players.

About making UO F2P, no thanks, they will only bring alot of cheating to the game.

 

[Storm]

I would rather pay for a subscription like i do now

 

[Smoot]

Theres no denying that free to play games are Huge right now, especially with kids. Personally, id love a free to play uo, as long as the only items you could buy did not effect the power of your player, just an enhanced experience of the game, like beforementioned ideas of housing, vanity pets, etc etc.

Id still keep my real UO accounts of course, but it would be refreshing to just have everyone start over, no billionares, no characters that have had 500+ million gold spent on them. If you think about it, a free to play UO would basically just cut out the goldselling sites that are so prevelant now. Like it or not RLM is a part of UO now. Ive sold stuff, people buy stuff. Everyone knows people pay 500 bucks all the time for castles. A free to play UO would actually be much cheaper for the player, the RLM would just actually go to UO, not players.

Until a classic shard (which will never happen) i would love a free to play UO.

 

[canary]

The data is inaccurate, there is no way that UO has stayed at 100k for the past three years, there has been an obvious decrease in population.

I'm sure it is under 100k, but also keep in mind we have customized player housing. Many people own upwards of 10 accounts I know, and many long time gone players still keep an account open due to the housing thing, as I sometimes hear 'Well one day I may come back'.

I wonder if the game would still be around without it.

 

[Sargon]

Too many current F2P models are just a gimmick to try to get people to pay for full accounts.

Isn't that the point? What motivation would they have to give you the entire game for free?

 

[Zalan]

If they were going to make f2p:

-Limited area all f2p are limited to Fel.
-Can purchase Lost Lands expansion(Fel only)
-Can not place a house
-Limited to the human race

Subscribers:
-Have access to everything they currently have paid for.

 

[TitusPullo]

Isn't that the point? What motivation would they have to give you the entire game for free?

Exactly!

That's the whole point. F2P brings in SWARMS of players, many who end up just outright subscribing once they get to a certain point in the game.

Many people buy everything under the sun too. New cloths on the F2P shop? Gotta have that! New expansion? Well, I gotta buy that to keep up with the Jones!

How many people will pay to start off in a game like UO when they could pay to start with a WoW type game? Now.. How many people will click 'download' on fileplanet.com when they see UO as a F2P game?


F2P is the hook to get yourself the customers.

I'm sure the development team can't comment on business models for their product. With that said, I feel very confident that any developer with even the slightest bit of knowledge of his field would agree that a F2P model would resurrect and bring new life to UO for many years to come.

 

[dum3886]

Despite the fact i know this won't happen.

I would start again if they created new shards (clean) and which was also non-transferable... It also creates a new world in a sense... one seperate from all other shards etc... one which oo i might feel like playing today instead of the other shard that has amassed a ridiculous amount of un-legit resources.

 

[Smoot]

My thought exactly Dum

 

[Nyses]

I LOVED Origin when it was opened. And then they allowed shard transfers a month later and it went to Hell, at the speed of light (or shard transfers).

 

[Ender]

I would rather pay for a subscription like i do now

Well great, you could keep doing it. You're not forced to go free.

<_<

 

[HD2300]

EA needs a Free To Play option to compete with Everquest II, D&D Online and LOTRO's Free To Play options.

 

[Basara]

Too many current F2P models are just a gimmick to try to get people to pay for full accounts.

Isn't that the point? What motivation would they have to give you the entire game for free?

When they're advertised as such, it's great.

But...

Most F2P models currently cut as close to possible to being deceptive advertising to get people drawn in.

Several of the social MMOs I saw advertised on TV in the last year, talked about how great it was to play, for free, in those commercials - but NONE of the content they showed was free material, but all either subscription-only content or gamestore content bought with real money.

The "endless trial" F2P models are at least more honest in that regard.