Perfect World is one of the best F2P games out there and you do have WASD as well as the click movement. 

Originally posted by GamerAeon

Actually Steampunk is SciFantasy a heavy blending of the two genres (Points towards NeoSteam)

There's also a secondary classification to fantasy which is HIGH fantasy, that's when you toss in all the wacky aspects of fantasy like fairies and pixies and such.

That's debatable. There are lots of sci-fi out there that have a distinct fantasy element and are usually classed as sci-fi instead of fantasy.

For example Lexx or even Doctor Who can both be heavy in fantasy elements yet are considered by most as sci-fi and not fantasy. Like I mentioned before there are many aspects and branches to sci-fi, Sci-Fi being one of them.

There are also a lot of branches in fantasy, but for the most part, video games in general tend to favor the foundation that was laid out by the table-top version of D&D, which was based in great part on Tolkien's work, which was high fantasy.

Originally posted by WingZero127

I didn't start this forum to cause any arguments, I came here to find a good game to play and for the most part I've done just that.  For those of you who like or dislike EVE and Fallen Earth, hey that's your opinions and you're welcome to them.  Personally I'm liking Fallen Earth so far and I agree that the graphics are beautiful but the gameplay is lacking in EVE, so I'll  continue until the 14 day trial is up and I'll make a decision then.

 I think the problem is that EVE has a real steep learning curve. I kind of did not care too much for it either in the begining, but things changed dramatically once I fell in with a good corp and really started researching some of the more obscure aspects of the game.  If all you do in EVE is missions and mining, then yes, it's one of the most boring and repetetive games out there. But there is so much to do there that is not emidiatly obvious that it's not even funny.
 

lso I find the biggest problem with having a sci-fi mmo is that sci-fi has so many different branches and offshoots that it's hard to make something that encompasses it all.  Steampunk, Space Opera, Post-Appocaliptic, Cyberpunk, Horror Fiction, Alternative History, Time Travel and to an extent even Super Heroes are all science fiction. Yet not everyone likes all those genres and some who might like one may even hate another.

With fantasy it's a bit more simple. Mostly because everyone seems to have used Tolkien as a benchmark. So basically throw in Elves, warriors, wizards and clerics and you are good. Or at least it's what most game designers seem to think.

Originally posted by Ironic

hello kitty online island adventures?

I don't I have sunk that low....yet 

Except for the PVP part, you described EVE to a T. Especially if you are into crafting. There are some areas and situations (such as having war declared on your corp) where PVP is somewhat inevitable, but for the most part you can work your way around these situations.

Maybe you will think that the major drawback with even is that once you create your character (and EVE allows for almost limiteless variations in that) you sort of become a static portrait since all people really see is your ship. If you can get past that though, it's an absolutely amazing game and very different then just about any MMO out there.

Other then that, City of Heroes/City of villians has most of that too, except maybe for the crafting part. It does have some sort crafting but nothing as complex as other MMOs. 

The funny part about my suggestions is that no two games in my opinion could be more polar opposites then those two.

Originally posted by Bodeus

Originally posted by Senadina

I would pick Free Realms, Wizards 101, and Runes of Magic.

 

I agree with all these ^^ but i would stay away from Neosteam that someone mentioned

While Runes of Magic does seem interesting, I'm looking for a game that is a bit more "chibi style".  You know the kind...cutusey, big headed, big eyed characters who look too inocent for the revealing outfits they are wearing. The kind that usually have some girl winking at you in their banners.

Wizards does seem to be a bit more of that style, but i'm looking for something more on the F2P/Cashshop model as well.

I did also play Neosteam (being the big fan of Steampunk that I am) but the lack of character customization kind of ruined it for me. The fact you could not even really choose the sex of your character was an increadable turn off .

I guess the game that looks closer to the style I want in Flyff, but I have read so many negative comments on it lately that I was wondering if there are better games out there.

maybe i'm being old fashined here....but why play a game you don't have to play?  If playing any game is too much of a chore then move on.

I play games because I enjoy actually going about it and leveling the character myself. I realize I'm probably a bit extreme, but then again, I could never understand they joys of power-leveling either. I play a game for the journey, not for the endgame. As a matter of fact, nothing makes me quit a game faster then getting to the top level.

Then again, i'm sure other's don't agree with my way of thinking either. But I know I'll pass on this one.

And yes, the OP did sound more like somene involved with the game writting a press release then anything else.

Ok, I must be whacked in the head for asking this and I know everyone will probably be chasing me with torches and pitchforks, but I just have to ask....

Of the flood of "cutsey" manga style f2P games out there, which one is the best.

Inquiring minds want to know... 

Grind, grind, grind, especially if you want to get a cool pet .

Every new epic they completely reset your character that you so carefully constructed. (The real fun part is they usually offer a resurection scroll that resets your skills right before this

Drops for the most part suck raw eggs. 90% of all drops are just coins and Town Portal Scrolls.

The whole Stamina thing is basically a rip-off. For those of you not familiar with Rappelzz every attack uses stamina which recharges painfully slow. However the only things that help speed up stamina regeneration are cash shop items...

Not enough variety to keep anyone interested for a long time.

That's all I can think of right now.....

Originally posted by akiira69

And this suprises you? I doubt you can name 1 MMO that you dont have to grind one thing or another to get the best in anything. The only thing different between MMO's created in America and those created in Korea is that the Koreans dont mask the grind fest that are there games.

I could not agree with you more. I have been a veteran of MMORPGs for many years and I have yet to see one where advanced levels do not require grinding, grinding and more grinding. Even in EVE where your skills are based on time and not XP you still have to grind to get money, be it PVE, PVP combat or mining asteroids
 

I also don't get people complaining on and on about the type of quests. I hate to break it to everyone, but the old "kill X amount of Y mobs" and "Deliver X to Y location" are the bulk of missions in any MMORPG. It's either that or harvest X amount of something or go into a dungeon and kill the boss or click on an item at the end of the maze.

In all honesty, the only game I saw that somewhat broke away from that was CoV with their Kidnapping and Mayhem missions. Other then that, I can't think of any game that has done anything remotely different.

Another one I can't undestand is people hooting and holloring that the game has a cash shop, and that you actually have to spend money on it. Yet these same people will turn around and gladly fork over $15 a month to play a P2P game. All I have to say to these people is at least PWI gives you a few options to play the game and even get any item, including cash shop only items without ever spending a dime of RL money. You can actually by gold, which is what you get with RL money with game coins. True, it would take you forever to buy some of the most expensive items like that, but it can be done.

Personally I like the option of spending as much as I want, when I want, if I want. In the  months I have been playing the game i spent 20 bucks all together which is $5 more then most montly charges for P2P games.

So far I'm really enjoying this game. It's the first game in a while, F2P or P2P where i catch myself loosing track of time playing and going to bed way too late more times then I care do admit.

While I don't think the game is perfect, I would venture to say that it's most likely the best F2P game out at the moment and that I even found it more enjoyable then some P2P games I have played. The character customization alone is a winner and no game, including CoH/CoV lets you control the facial feature of your character to this degree.

We are the Knights Who Say Nay!

Now go and and bring us a shrubbery !

Originally posted by trancejeremy

 

What DDO seems to be doing though, is more of a hybrid model like Free Realms (and a few others like Pirates of the Caribbean). Combining "free to play" with a monthly subscription (if you don't pay a sub your experience is gimped by a level cap or lack of using certain classes), as well as a cash item shop.

I think that's the worst of all worlds.

I completely agree with you there. I think this hybrid mode is the main reason why Dungeon Runners never really made it and games to fail miserably. 
 

As a an example from Dungeon Runners: I really liked that game, but I knew that if I ever paid for their VIP membership, I would be able to equip equipment that I would not be able to if I was playing the game for free.  If  for some reason I did decide not to pay the next month, I could no longer wear that armor or wield the weapon I would be using then. The size of my bank would also shrink and god knows what would happen to all the items in there. So I decided not to spend anything there...

By contrast, I also play Perfect World. I have been playing it for a good 3 months, and have spent like $20 to get a few items like bank extention stones and stuff. If I decide never to spend any more money there (which I doubt will be the case) I will lose nothing I already have. And that is the only reason why I chose to spent my money there.

I would say give Perfect World International a try.

I recently also had to give up my P2P accounts (darn economy!!!) and needed something to fill in that void. I tried a few and stuck with PWI. It's pretty well polished and complex for a F2P game and I was pleasently surprized by it

Graphics are definately "Asian" in flavor but they don't look overly Manga style either. 

Profit per user is not the point. Profit is.

Based on that, I would say that F2P has a larger profit margin then P2P. Here is my reasoning:

F2P usually have lower developement costs.  The game worlds are usually a lot smaller, there are less classes and in most cases, less custumizing options. There are even a lot of games where your sex is solely based on what class you choose. So less development, less costs.

F2P appeals more to the casual gamers. Sure, most of us here are die hard gamers, but that is not the reality of the world out there. Most people do not spend the equivalent hours of a part time or full time mob playing video games. Even those who were die hard gamers (myself included) get older and have to face up to real world responsabilities and simply cannot afford to play like we did when were in high-school on summer vacation.

Not only that, you are not making a financial comitement. You don't have to shell out 15 or so bucks a month, regardless if you played or not that month. In households with several accounts, that in itself could be a big factor.

By large, F2P do not have problems with RMTs like subscription MMOs have. Why would anyone in their right mind go to some site offering "cheap gold" that is not affiliated with the developer and risk having their credit card information highjacked?  If you want to buy money (which is used to get items) you simply go to their online store and spend till your hearts content.

There is also what I like to call the "dollar store factor". Basically it states that if things are cheap enough, people go on and spend more on impulse then they would if things were a bit more expensive. How many of you ever walked into a dollar store and came out without spending at least 5 bucks? Even if you went in for one thing? The same is true with F2P, they nickel and dime you and you end up spending more without noticing

Sure there are a lot of people who don't spend a single dime on the game. But to balance things out, there are people who spend increadable amounts of money per month on these games. Perfect example is Perfect World. Not too long ago they had a promotion for the Neinbeast mount. This mount would only be available for one weekend. The cost $50! 

I have lost count of how many Nainbeast I have seen since then, and now they have another such promotion for a mount, which people with more money then good sense won't bat an eye to get in on. And don't even get me started of people in Entropia Online literally spending thousands of dollars on one single item.
 

So, to make a long story short, F2P potentially make more money then P2P. Sure, they may not have the features and polish P2P games have right now, but that is no surprise. It's a new business model, and those are hardly ever top of the line when it comes to development. Anyone remember how awful Everquest graphics were compared to any boxed RPG that was released that same year?

But blocky graphics or not, Everquest proved that their business model was viable, paving the way for games that had substantially more development and polish as the years went on. I beleive the same will happen with F2P. The minute that American game developers realize just how profitable this business model can truly be, we will be seeing more cames that will easily be compared and even be superior then any current P2P game.