The Secret World
This weekend I participated in The Secret World monthaversary celebration. Having only seen a little bit of video and information on TSW I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed but I also wasn’t supremely impressed either.
Although I really didn’t get a lot of time in game I will give you my two cents. The first thing you get once you start TSW is a very limited character creation. Followed by and opening cinematic that as far as I can tell is the same no matter which group you choose. After the opening in typical MMO fashion you head to the main HQ of your faction. Which includes the background story and a session play as a shotgun wielding Japanese girl. Then you come back to reality and choose you weapon specialization. You then get sent to an inter earth space bridge to travel to your first questing area. As I said this seems to be the same no matter the faction. The only thing that choosing a faction seems to change are your motives for doing the things you do. (more…)
To F2P or not…
With the announcement of Bioware and EA’s joint project going to a hybrid subscription model what does that mean for the world of MMOs?
My first thought is nothing, I really believe that it is up to the developers and the MMO community to make that decision final. I mean as long as games like Rift and WOW are able to function with a subscription model that will still be the main goal for larger studios. After all they have to cover their budgets.
However smaller studios and those who don’t feel they need to be the only game you play will take the F2P or hybrid subscription model at inception.
Let’s talk free to play stigma and why it really shouldn’t be that way anymore.
Stigma part one if a game switches from a subscription to F2P they are a dying game and a last ditch effort to save themselves. I believe that this one mostly came from DDO making the switch because it was floundering. But games like Lord of the Rings Online did it completely to increase revenue. Mostly after seeing what the change did for DDO. Both of these game of course being published by Turbine.
I am sure that the swift manner in which Star Wars The Old Republic has decide to change most people are going to see this as a failure. I believe that in the eyes of the studios involved that may be the case. When your actual goal is to hit 13 million subscribers and take over the #1 spot anything less is a failure.
Next stigma if a game comes out as F2P it is low budget and not well made. Low budget maybe but not well made have you seen Firefall it is well polished, it still has some issues but it is in beta. Although most F2P games are Asian ports that don’t always translate well in the US and Canada doesn’t mean they are also bad games just that we aren’t the right audience for them.
With all that in mind are subscription MMOs dying? I don’t think so with WOW still running things. And games like Rift performing like it has. There is promise in a subscription based game. That being said it is going to take innovations like the ones in Rift and those that are being tried in games like The Secret World for that to remain true.
On the flip side games like Guild Wars 1&2, Firefall and LOTRO that are very solid MMOs. That you can play without spending a dime and they can and will continue to make the money needed to continue to develop content and turn a profit.
So what have we learned? That subscription or no there are all types of very strong MMOs out right now. So find one you might like or a couple and give them a try.
As always comment below, email Bor, or follow me on twitter @Th3B0rR3p0rt & @Bor_Jason and let me know what you think.
Bloodlines Champions
Okay you PvP’ers out there here is one for your consideration a new offering from Funcom in association with Stunlock Studios called Bloodlines Champions. You can have a look at the pricing here as with a lot of games recently there is a free option. I have only played it a little but the first impression is it could really be a lot of fun it has a sort of action RTS feel at least with the look of the arenas. (more…)
Th3 B0r R3p0rt 