Titan F2P?

[Simpwn]

Source: http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/1/458...ew-direction-for-titan-project-unlikely-to-be

Blizzard Entertainment president Mike Morhaime offered a brief update on the company's in-development next-generation MMO, codenamed Titan, during an investor call today, saying that the unannounced game is "unlikely to be a subscription-based" game like World of Warcraft.

"We're in the process of selecting a new direction for the project and re-envisioning what we want the game to be," Morhaime said. "While we can't talk about the details yet, it is unlikely to be a subscription-based MMORPG."

"I also want to reiterate that there has not been an official announced or projected release date."

Morhaime said the "commitment to quality that has always been at the core of Blizzard values" is intact in Titan. "We've gone through this type of iterative process several times in the past as we create genre-defining games," he said.

In May, Blizzard confirmed reports that it was making "large design and technology changes" to Titan and shifting resources to other projects. Morhaime said today thatTitan team members have been shifted to World of Warcraft and Blizzard All-Stars, "which we believe will add immense value to those projects," he said.


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I really hope this is Blizzard just testing the waters on how people would react to Blizzard's next big MMO being F2P. I think the decision isn't 100% set in stone. A subscription model still works if the game is fun, entertaining, and well made. A lot probably rides on the subscription model and success of games like Wildstar, FFXIV and ESO.

 

[sweetloaf]

I don't understand the turn to F2P models these days, at least not at the outset. Subscriptions generate revenue that is then reinvested into the game/related material. I am perfect happy paying 15 bucks a month if it means I get a game that is complete, evolving, and fun. F2P models just don't offer that level of stability in an MMO, and it seems like most of the money made in the micro-transaction stores just goes back to make more crap for the micro-transaction store. Reskins will never be as valuable as new, fleshed out content. Look at the Makeb "expansion" for SWTOR for an example of how uninspiring content is when it doesn't have the budget to back it.

 

[Euchale]

I don't understand the turn to F2P models these days, at least not at the outset. Subscriptions generate revenue that is then reinvested into the game/related material. I am perfect happy paying 15 bucks a month if it means I get a game that is complete, evolving, and fun. F2P models just don't offer that level of stability in an MMO, and it seems like most of the money made in the micro-transaction stores just goes back to make more crap for the micro-transaction store. Reskins will never be as valuable as new, fleshed out content. Look at the Makeb "expansion" for SWTOR for an example of how uninspiring content is when it doesn't have the budget to back it.

Yes you are willing to pay 15. But most people are not. How many times have seen people that tell a Youtuber to make more Videos? Something the guy does for free.

 

[ToxicAsF]

Yes you are willing to pay 15. But most people are not. How many times have seen people that tell a Youtuber to make more Videos? Something the guy does for free.

We get that a lot. And by we, I mean Tristan lol

But I fully understand the transition. The subscription model IS outdated. While you get consistent revenue, that's exactly what it is. Consistent. You don't get the spike's that you do with, say, GW2 holiday events and such. The numbers have shown that fewer than 10% will pay actual cash for these items, but will pay more than 10 times their worth. It's a weird system, but the bottom line becomes "If we can get more people to play the game, not everyone will PAY, but the CHANCES of people paying will be higher".

The mindset of players that are used to paying subscriptions fees (such as myself) have few qualms paying the "extra" for novelty things such as bag slots, character slots, novelty items, etc. if I am not paying the monthly fee. Brand Loyalty becomes a huge factor. I want the game to succeed, I also want these things, I can pay for these things and support the game in order to succeed. It's a new marketing tactic and hits people on terms of impulse, rather than the "I'm paying $15 for what again?" It's trying to show value without actually GIVING value.

It's a great system to enable a micro-transaction system. Even with all the scams and shit out there that are meant to gouge out the wazoo, if you implement a solid, worthwhile system, people WILL pay for it. As long as Value is equal to or greater than cost, people WILL justify the purchase, even if they regret it later.

 

[TIG]

f2p with micro transactions have proven to make much more profits than subscriptions. Saying that all that money goes back into making more skins and stuff for micro transactions is just a fallacy. Money comes in, they work on the game. Or don't, but that has to do with the way the company is run, not the pay structure for the game.

Not only that micro transactions have many other benefits compared to subscriptions. Getting players who want a free game, real time marketing results, making users feel more in control of their spending.

To tell the truth, it's blizzard. They know how to do things right. They make over a billion a year with WoW, don't you think they would use the micro transaction money to make a better game instead of just lining their pockets?

 

[Euchale]

f2p with micro transactions have proven to make much more profits than subscriptions. Saying that all that money goes back into making more skins and stuff for micro transactions is just a fallacy. Money comes in, they work on the game. Or don't, but that has to do with the way the company is run, not the pay structure for the game.

Not only that micro transactions have many other benefits compared to subscriptions. Getting players who want a free game, real time marketing results, making users feel more in control of their spending.

To tell the truth, it's blizzard. They know how to do things right. They make over a billion a year with WoW, don't you think they would use the micro transaction money to make a better game instead of just lining their pockets?

And since Blizzard failed with subscription, everybody is going to say: Well it didn´t even work for WoW, so why should we try it?
This will be the reason why I will not play Wildstar if it is completely F2P.
The future may lie in a hybrid system. It worked well for EvE and I hope it will work well for Wildstar too.

 

[ToxicAsF]

To tell the truth, it's blizzard. They know how to do things right. They make over a billion a year with WoW, don't you think they would use the micro transaction money to make a better game instead of just lining their pockets?

Diablo 3. One of their biggest mistakes in Blizz's financial scheme was the D3 Auction system with Raking. I mean, it works, but was not their biggest "money maker". Hopefully they've learned in the CURRENT status of Subs/Micro's/Rakes that they will do something appropriate that will both benefit blizz and the consumer (to the best of their predictions, because let's be honest, finance is always a gamble).

 

[Rajax]

F2P also ignores the box sales which can be quite a substantial hit initially which usually goes to recouping a bunch of the R&D costs through development.

I would have less qualms about "bank slots" and all those transactions IF they were account wide where it happened once and done.

Also, how the hell has the subscription failed with WoW? Seriously? I think people use that word too much - WoW has not failed in any way, really.

 

[ToxicAsF]

Also, how the hell has the subscription failed with WoW? Seriously? I think people use that word too much - WoW has not failed in any way, really.

Poor terms really.

14m sub vs 8m sub. Numbers have dropped, so people say "fail" instead of "not as successful as once was". Sad truths.

 

[Euchale]

Also, how the hell has the subscription failed with WoW? Seriously? I think people use that word too much - WoW has not failed in any way, really.

I was over-exaggerating.

 

[Rajax]

8,000,000 x $14.99 =$119,920,000 per month revenue 9 years later. Man I wish I failed that hard lol.

 

[TIG]

In no way has wow failed with subs. In fact its the one shining star that people can hold up to say that subs is a better pay scheme for companies.

Wow is declining because it is old and people are moving on. Not because of the pay structure. In no way is it failing on any level.

F2P also ignores the box sales which can be quite a substantial hit initially which usually goes to recouping a bunch of the R&D costs through development.

F2P just means they get their money a bit later than the initial box sales would give them. They have already deferred the costs for years while developing the game, another 6 months after launch to make that box sale money is not gonna hurt them. Especially if it was baked into their profit projections.

 

[Simpwn]

And yet when Activision Blizzard splits off and becomes its own company again their stock soars. I have faith that Blizzard knows what they are doing. Just make a fun game and release it already! I expect something to be announced at Blizzcon.

 

[ToxicAsF]

And yet when Activision Blizzard splits off and becomes its own company again their stock soars. I have faith that Blizzard knows what they are doing. Just make a fun game and release it already! I expect something to be announced at Blizzcon.

like what? 2017 beta and 2019 release date?

 

[Simpwn]

F2P just means they get their money a bit later than the initial box sales would give them. They have already deferred the costs for years while developing the game, another 6 months after launch to make that box sale money is not gonna hurt them. Especially if it was baked into their profit projections.

What I worry about with F2P is the community. By not having that gate there holding everyone from trying the game you can end up polluting the community before the game can get its legs.

like what? 2017 beta and 2019 release date?

What I expect from Blizzcon is at least a CGI video with a title for whatever Titan is. They never release dates like that. I also expect an announcement for the next expansion to WoW.

 

[Zakis]

No one even knows what the fuck the game is about yet and they are worried about F2P rumors lol.

 

[Simpwn]

No one even knows what the fuck the game is about yet and they are worried about F2P rumors lol.

We are more worried that Titan will turn into something like Hearthstone.

 

[ToxicAsF]

We are more worried that Titan will turn into something like Hearthstone.

Is that still in closed beta? Wanted to try it >_>

 

[Grimnar40k]

I heard a month ago or so that Blizzard gutted their team for Titan and pretty much started over from square one assuming other than the engine maybe?

 

[Keleynal]

We are more worried that Titan will turn into something like Hearthstone.

I'm actually excited about Hearthstone. I mean, it's not an MMO, but I'm OK with other genres. I don't mind that Hearthstone will have some Pay 2 Win in it. It will match by skill (aka deck power), and I can always play the AI.