Originally posted by Vagabond80

Originally posted by kaiser3282

think of it this way.... if you won a free car, but then whined that it was just the base stock version without all the upgrades and extras that cost lots more.... does that make the person giving you the car unethical? No, youre still getting it for free, theyre just not giving you everything YOU want added to it unless you spend the money on it yourself.

 

For a game with PvP and raid centered endgame you gotta add to this metaphor... you'd have to add that you are a professional driver competing against other people that have paid a lot of money for their cars.... Why would you bother racing a stock ford focus against a NOx charged import? (I know nothing about cars but hopefully that works)

That point speaks to the wrong "f2p".  It's FREE to play, not FAIR to play.  Even paying customers don't necessarily get "fair 2 play".

Just my opinion, but if you like the game enough to make it to endgame, I don't see why you wouldn't want to unlock all the content by paying for it.

Most games that say free to play says most of the time that the game has micro payments or item mall, So free to play is not misleading since you can play the game it self free however to end game or to become more powerful or enjoy the best content you might have to pay for it,

Games like this do this for the simple fact it makes more money then p2p games like WoW, Most of these games have gear and other items for sale for real money and in the end some people pay 30,40,50 a month to enjoy the game.

Most games like this I dislike for that reason it takes the fairness out of games a Doctor who makes 100k a year vs a construction worker who makes 25k a year who is able to spend more money normaly is the best in the game with all the best stuff.  This is my main reason I would suggest stay with games that are p2p and everyone has the same options makes for a better MMO In my opnion.

Originally posted by mmaize

Technically he is right, however, the OP isn't speaking technically he is speaking ethically.  Ethically the OP is right because anyone giving the customer the surface view that they are able to play in the environment for "free" is the same as giving out prescription drugs that can cure a migraine.

Take Topomax.  On the surface it will prevent Migraines...but would you still buy it knowing that it contained the following side effects:

# Unusual sensations, such as burning or tingling (paresthesias) -- in up to 51 percent of people
# Dizziness -- up to 32 percent
# Fatigue -- up to 30 percent
# Drowsiness -- up to 29 percent
# Mental and physical slowing or delays -- up to 21 percent
# Nervousness -- up to 19 percent
# Upper respiratory infection (such as the common cold) -- up to 18 percent
# Coordination problems -- up to 16 percent
# Weight loss -- up to 16 percent (see Topamax Weight Loss)
# Loss of appetite -- up to 15 percent
# Taste changes -- up to 15 percent
# Confusion -- up to 14 percent
# Difficulty with concentration or attention -- up to 14 percent
# Nausea -- up to 14 percent.

Oh wait..here's a few more:

# Diarrhea
# Memory loss
# Anxiety
# Language or speech problems
# Changes in gait (walking pattern)
# Sinus infection or irritation
# Injury
# Insomnia
# Mood problems
# Decreased sense of touch
# Viral infections
# Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
# Joint pain
# Weakness
# Sore throat
# Dry mouth
# Indigestion
# Mood problems
# Back pain.

 

Same difference with calling something F2P without explaining what is actually free and what the effects could be if you aren't paying for the stuff that other people in the game are.  It's misleading.

Hey, complainiac!  You neglected to mention that those side effects come FREE OF CHARGE!!! :P

Perfect World has a gold auction system. Most Cash shop items are either fashion or convenience although there are a few exceptions. If you have enough time to spare everything in the game can be obtained, you just need to grind or otherwise make enough coin to buy whatever gold you need.

I don think "free to play" is misleading advertising in games like these. Youd have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to realize using RMT makes the game much more convenient, but i certainly knew of many cases in which people managed to competitively reach endgame, and even turn themselves into ingame millionaires.

Its only unethical if they truly fooled you into buying it under false pretenses.  You knew what you were getting, dont deny it.

edit: Actually duh, how could it be false advertising if you never paid for it?  You are complaining because they didnt give you more free stuff? 

It is nothing more than a gimmick.They might claim to be offering you a choice,but by not giving you the entire game free,it is an outright lie.What makes it worse is how the rest of the game that they make you purchase,it always far more costly than a P2P game,so it is a VERY bad model for gamers.

There is other cheating developers that some how pull off making money from the BS claim to "Donations".When you design an entire game around paying money,then it is NOT a donation,it is a pay to play game, i can't understand how the law lets these guys away with it.

It's perfectly ethical.  I remember a time when you had to put money down on a game before you could ever step foot in the virtual world.  Or does that still happen these days?

Another one of these. Yikes. The game is f2p. No one forces you to spend money. End of story.

Free to play does not exist. Actually they are very expensive to play. End of story.

when an ad for a game says free to play i guess it is not misleading or unethical..

because from the moment you have created account, character and then

successfully log in into the game without paying anything.. that's already a f2p..

the items, systems and other features inside the game that is restricted unless you pay

that's just like their main product.. what i mean is just like in free taste or free samples

of items they will give you a piece only for you to experience how delicious

it is or how good it is.. then if you liked it and wanted a whole that's the time

that you have to pay so you can enjoy it more or continuously..

Unless the free to play game is asking for a credit card just to sign up and play, then no its not incorrect or unethical. Look, the whole point of f2p games is that they are accessable for free, and, if you like what you play then you can pay for the otherstuff, but under no circumstance is the player forced to pay to use the game. No credit card is required even.

This thread is a joke.

Can you play the game?

"Yes, but I can't do everything..."

Doesn't matter.  You can play the game.

I can give you a free house but it has no furniture and the rooms need to be painted

I can give you a free car but you have to fix the engine and  repaint it.

I can give you a free plane trip but you have to pay for hotel,food and transportation

They give you a free game.It is not misleading,it is not unethical.Video Games are not charities ,they are buinesses.Their goal is to make money.The game is free,some features are not free. It is not that hard of a concept.You can level to max level,get all your character skills and never have to pay a cent.

Just because you can play a game does not entitle you to all of the features.

I read through all the replys here, and I realize just how many have a misconception about the word "free".

Games with F2P, or "Free to Play", does exactly what the word stated: the game is FREE to PLAY.  However, it mentioned nothing about the play-styles of players, and how it will affect the game-play.  The game is what it is, free to access and play.

The people argue about purchasing stuffs from item malls are not wrong about the game now becomes not free, but it isn't due to any changes from the game system, but rather influences from the players own play-styles.

I've know people who play F2P games and never pay a single cent (they play, enjoy themselves, and reach to the top).  However, I also know people who pay $100+ each month on items from F2P games.  But when look at the difference objectively, I realize that it's not just the game system (which encourage people to use item mall, but not forced), but player's own play-style that affect whether they buy things from item mall or not.

If this is the case, then we cannot say it's the company's fault and they "mislead" anyone.  The company have satisfy their claim, which is the game is free to access and play.  However, if you want to compete against others, or just take away some inconviences in the game, then you have incentive (from yourself), to buy items from the item mall.

So in my opinion, I may no think this form of payment (F2P) is the best for MMO, but I don't think there is anything misleading or unethical about it.

Originally posted by luckturtz

I can give you a free house but it has no furniture and the rooms need to be painted

I can give you a free car but you have to fix the engine and  repaint it.

I can give you a free plane trip but you have to pay for hotel,food and transportation

 

They give you a free game.It is not misleading,it is not unethical.Video Games are not charities ,they are buinesses.Their goal is to make money.The game is free,some features are not free. It is not that hard of a concept.You can level to max level,get all your character skills and never have to pay a cent.

Just because you can play a game does not entitle you to all of the features.

 

Exactly, I give you a free car but you have to fix the engine and repaint it, but  the repair bill will be more expensive than a brand new car. This is what "free to play games" are about.

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by luckturtz

I can give you a free house but it has no furniture and the rooms need to be painted

I can give you a free car but you have to fix the engine and  repaint it.

I can give you a free plane trip but you have to pay for hotel,food and transportation

 

They give you a free game.It is not misleading,it is not unethical.Video Games are not charities ,they are buinesses.Their goal is to make money.The game is free,some features are not free. It is not that hard of a concept.You can level to max level,get all your character skills and never have to pay a cent.

Just because you can play a game does not entitle you to all of the features.

 

 

Exactly, I give you a free car but you have to fix the engine and repaint it, but  the repair bill will be more expensive than a brand new car. This is what "free to play games" are about.

 

Sounds more like a personal problem of yours than a problem with F2P MMOs...

Dont know if has been mention so ill say it again. Perfect Worlds and Rune of Magic you can get everything in game by buying the real money currency on the Auction House for in game money.

Free to Play isnt misleading, Cause if i can log on the game without paying then it is free to play.

It doesnt say free to play with all content.

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by luckturtz

I can give you a free house but it has no furniture and the rooms need to be painted

I can give you a free car but you have to fix the engine and  repaint it.

I can give you a free plane trip but you have to pay for hotel,food and transportation

 

They give you a free game.It is not misleading,it is not unethical.Video Games are not charities ,they are buinesses.Their goal is to make money.The game is free,some features are not free. It is not that hard of a concept.You can level to max level,get all your character skills and never have to pay a cent.

Just because you can play a game does not entitle you to all of the features.

 

 

Exactly, I give you a free car but you have to fix the engine and repaint it, but  the repair bill will be more expensive than a brand new car. This is what "free to play games" are about.

 

But you knew the engine needed repair going in, so you werent "mislead" at all.