I think there are many people here who don't understand how much it costs to build an MMO.  Millions of dollars!  

When people say a game company is being 'greedy' they are being naive.  Game companies do not make the big bucks.  Everyone in the industry could go into business solutions and make a lot more money if they wanted too.  Instead they choose to work longer hours at worse pay and their investors risk huge sums all merely because of their passion for games.

This game is free to play, and people are still complaining.  It boggles the mind.  The people working long hours on it still have to pay rent, build a retirement and eat.  Somebody has to pay or they go to food stamp line.

The glory of this game is that only people who have the excess cash and exuberance need to pay.  Yes, they may pay a lot more than some people think is worthy, but remember, they are carrying the rest of the community.   These people are glad to pay for because they think this is a worthwhile project.  Games are 'Art', and the Arts have always been funded by wealthy Patrons.

So quit griping. Pay or don't pay, its up to you, but don't be rude by calling those that pay names or the creators of the game greedy please.

Thanks, at least some sense!

The only way to sustain a F2P is preorder packs, & cash shop, how can it be greed?

They offer their game for free and have to rent/maintain the servers, pay the people working on updates, maybe people think money fall from trees? Everything should be free?

Finally someone who gets it! And let me tell you, playing the beta today this game is worth it!

First MMO i've ever played where the combat feels like it could be a single player game and hold up.

Originally posted by jdnyc
I agree with you, but most of the arguments aren't rational.  Your common sense will most likely fall on deaf ears.

indeed, a developer trying to explain why "free to play" doesn't mean you "play for free" is very irrational.

Originally posted by velmax
I also agree, thats why Bioware is making so many restrictions for the F2P model they've spent tons of money on SWTOR (one of the most expensive mmos made) and they want that  money back.

The problem with SWTOR is that making people feel restricted or even less powerful is not the smartest business model to attract new people.  I would've came back and spent quite a bit, but I felt nickled and dimed all over the place (pay to hide my helmet?  Dye my armor?  Display my title?  Display my last name?  Quickbar slots?  PvP Access?  Etc.), and ended up paying for nothing at all (aside from the initial digial collectors and the first few months).

Neverwinter has a very good model that doesn't restrict much of anything, and most of it will be purchasable by just dedicating quite a bit of time to playing the game (as you can even earn the cash shop currency by completing daily quests or some such).  This is a model that I save my money to support, and I agree there should be more outlets for me to express that support.  Though there is also the image with potential customers, so they would have to implement it in increments.

Originally posted by velmax
I also agree, thats why Bioware is making so many restrictions for the F2P model they've spent tons of money on SWTOR (one of the most expensive mmos made) and they want that  money back.

 I agree with the OP, but swtor is a terrible example.

If people complain about the pay 2 play model of LoTRO, Planetside2, AoC, Vanguard or similar type of games I will strongly agree with the OP.

Swtor however some of the gripes are justifiable because EA is indeed taking it to extreme.

Yeah, makes you think how screwed up is this world, with these horrible people at PWE/Cryptic intending to make some money out of years of work.

How dare they.

Agreed, very good OP.

Originally posted by Osmanthus

I think there are many people here who don't understand how much it costs to build an MMO.  Millions of dollars!  

When people say a game company is being 'greedy' they are being naive.  Game companies do not make the big bucks.  Everyone in the industry could go into business solutions and make a lot more money if they wanted too.  Instead they choose to work longer hours at worse pay and their investors risk huge sums all merely because of their passion for games.

This game is free to play, and people are still complaining.  It boggles the mind.  The people working long hours on it still have to pay rent, build a retirement and eat.  Somebody has to pay or they go to food stamp line.

The glory of this game is that only people who have the excess cash and exuberance need to pay.  Yes, they may pay a lot more than some people think is worthy, but remember, they are carrying the rest of the community.   These people are glad to pay for because they think this is a worthwhile project.  Games are 'Art', and the Arts have always been funded by wealthy Patrons.

So quit griping. Pay or don't pay, its up to you, but don't be rude by calling those that pay names or the creators of the game greedy please.

 

Speaking of naive...

Nobody should expect anything for free, but this 'woe is me, I'm in the gaming industry' picture you're trying to sell doesn't fly either.

I'm not going to defend these companies. Many of them do questionable things time after time.

Having said that the whole rant over the Founder issue is silly to me. That would be one of the few times I really don't see an issue with what the company is offering or that they should be tarred and feathered for it.

...and for some to refer to those that have bought it as somehow being idiots or simpleminded is beyond reproach.

Originally posted by Onomas
F2P doesnt mean play for free, it means subscription free option. In some way they will try to milk you, and to be honest that 15$/month seems reasonable over the amount you can spend on a cash shop in a game full of restrictions. I try to stay far away from cash shops, no better than a casino to be honest.

Really depends on the game. Some are extremely reasonable while others will make your head explode if you figure up the dollar amounts to acquire everything or needed to compete in games that push their shops to affect this aspect.

Originally posted by Wickedjelly

Originally posted by Onomas
F2P doesnt mean play for free, it means subscription free option. In some way they will try to milk you, and to be honest that 15$/month seems reasonable over the amount you can spend on a cash shop in a game full of restrictions. I try to stay far away from cash shops, no better than a casino to be honest.

Really depends on the game. Some are extremely reasonable while others will make your head explode if you figure up the dollar amounts to acquire everything or needed to compete in games that push their shops to affect this aspect.

from what i've seen in game and how the CS items will be aquired it won't be an issue.  Astral diamonds are their main currency which can be converted to Zen.  Rough astral diamonds which are rewarded often enough from quests, events etc can be converted to Astral diamonds.  On top of that the Auction house currency is Astral diamonds so by questing and getting excellent gear or crafting and selling you can get anything from the Cash shop.   When I was playing Astral diamonds were plentiful though I did have the $60 founders pack which included 125k AD (Astral Diamonds).   

I've really enjoyed the game and in other games I hate doing dungeons etc, won't touch them never have in any game prior to this and Neverwinter has really hit the spot with their dungeon experiences with me so much that I've ended up purchasing the $200 pack as well so now I have 750k diamonds + 125k.  For me the game so far has been very fun which is tough to say these days.