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Perfect World International Videos: Interview with Jon Belliss: Free to Play is the Future (4:04)

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jon Belliss, product manager for Perfect World International where he spoke to us about their take on the free to play business model, how more people are playing for free than you might think, and the future of free to play.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jon Belliss, product manager for Perfect World International where he spoke to us about their take on the free to play business model, how more people are playing for free than you might think, and the future of free to play.
Duration: 4:04
Views: 2,150 29 comments
Game: Perfect World International

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Fadedbomb writes: LOL F2P = Future, hahahahahahhhhahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha......../eyewipe Fri Apr 17 2009 1:45PM

Tominkoo writes: Why you think, that is not possible?? Some of F2P games are quite good.... according to me, F2P games may be future, why not?? Not all of us(people) have a lot of money to pay for games. For example PW is very interesting game, and I like this game, and I have a lot of fun with it ;) Fri Apr 17 2009 2:25PM

Fr0z1nDuDe writes: if you can afford to pay for a computer and internet... YOU CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR A GAME... F%$&ing cheapa$$.. Fri Apr 17 2009 4:12PM

nevrosis writes: F2P = bad The problem with these 'free' to play games is that all the decent items cost money... sure you can play for free, but if you want to compete, then you will have to pay. In the end, if you are serious about the game, you will pay more than if you had a base subscription fee. Fri Apr 17 2009 4:34PM

XAPKen writes: Easily one of the better interview videos I've seen on MMORPG.com, GJ Kieth and Jon! Fri Apr 17 2009 5:09PM

grimfall writes: I was very impressed with Mr. Belliss. He was informed, articualate and sincere. Now if we could just get the interviewers up to the same level of professionalism... Fri Apr 17 2009 6:42PM

Fadedbomb writes: @grimfall Agree, now if we can just get them to interview things we care about =). Fri Apr 17 2009 6:48PM

Arawon writes: A key point made....in todays economy...ftp is THE way to be able to play and not pay.FTP will grow to become the dominamt business modle.Not the only modle...but the dominamt modle. Fri Apr 17 2009 9:41PM

Flummoxed writes: The model described by Jon Bellis seems very fair, and if ALL FtP game companies adopted that model it would be great and a profitable way of doing business, probably becoming the dominant mmo model. Too bad some (most?) companies are greedy swine and rip people off by forcing you to pay for items if you want to advance in the game. Sat Apr 18 2009 10:25AM

Spiritof55 writes: You cheap bastards and you know who you are. If you play the game and enjoy it show your appreciation by paying occasionally. I look at f2p like I do p2p. I'll spend roughly the same amount I would monthly for a p2p. F2p games are only "free" for the cheap bastards playing. Staff, expansions and bandwith is not free for the publisher / dev team that relies on people paying. Sun Apr 19 2009 12:57PM

paulscott writes: Interesting interview. Revealed that some of the thoughts that I have had are completely true. Sun Apr 19 2009 4:53PM

purewitz writes: First off, Perfect World is a OK game. As for the free to play business model. I doubt its the future. I pay to play isn't even the future. I think buy to play is the future. You buy the game, so the company makes their money. Then you get to play for free. That way they can still charge you for expansions and sequels, but gameplay is completely free. I wouldn't mind paying say 50 buck for a starter game and then buy its 20 dollar expansion a year or two down the line, if I can play the game for free. I hope more companies start using the B2P business model. Sun Apr 19 2009 10:27PM

Jamkull writes: it really doesn't matter if it's F2P or a sub2play game. either way they are out to make money... and in some cases the F2P games can cost more than a S2P game. But as for this game and Runes of Magic they have fair F2P models and could very well become something we see more of in the future, or at least i hope so. OR as purewitz stated, B2P would be nice as well, Guild Wars is the perfect example. Mon Apr 20 2009 9:43PM

funnylumpy writes: People who call others cheap for not wanting to pay to play does honestly have too much money.. care to send me some? F2P is more versitable than other mostly because they offer something to both those who has money and those who don't. One way or the other it's the quality of the game that makes the game wether it's F2P or not. Right now I'm pretty much enjoying atlantica online which is a great game imo. I've paid my fair share of subscriptions but now as the economy got a blow and people lost their job or had their salery cut F2P is a good option and since internet is free for me then I can save some very needed cash for things I need. Tue Apr 21 2009 9:30PM

Ichmen writes: f2p = more population so better parties and guilds. as people who lack the time to sub for a p2p game (do to work/life requirements) can play when they want/are able and enjoy the game. as well people do dont have access to credit cards or mommy/daddy's bank can still play the game. arguing and saying if u have a pc u can p2p is BS i paided for my PC but i have other bills to pay which really doesnt leave much to sub for a 10-20 dollar game. only thing i really like p2p over f2p is p2p u have way less gold spammers. cause the account is banned they lose money. (unless there is a trial) where as f2p has mass spammers cause well free accounts Thu Apr 23 2009 4:20PM

ntrust writes: Instead of trying to do the best possible game and the best to make something new and interesting, ppl like this trying to squeeze money with cheap tricks and nobody have benefit of it! Fri Apr 24 2009 2:34AM

ntrust writes: micropaiments :P :) Fri Apr 24 2009 2:35AM

randomuser83 writes: I think it's only a matter of time until people properly recognize Free to Play for what it is. As game quality gets better and better within that niche market, a lot of people are going to start changing their tune. Sun Apr 26 2009 5:45PM

Rabenwolf writes: f2p will never be the future. Its a good gimmick for taking advantage of kids with their allowance, but its business model reflects on the more you spend, the better you are. Meaning money not work or skills take the lead role. Furthermore, F2P titles are a gold farmers dream come true, its literally made for them. The f2p business model stems from a large majority of asians who go to pc rooms/arcades, since they cant really afford internet at home, much less a gaming PC, they buy time to play on those computers. They lose nothing from playing f2p games and start buying needed features and items if they like it. In the end they spend more than a subscription based mmo player would pay. Furthermore, companies cannot predict the profits from the f2p model, rather its safer for investors when they know how much profit will come in based on subscriber numbers. Thats key. Tue Apr 28 2009 6:34AM

fansede writes: You can't equate Guild Wars with a true free to play model because Guild wars requires you pay for a Box. There is no monthly subscription, but major expansions are sold periodically. A true free to play model lets you download the game and play it. Anyways, F2P is here to stay and I think there is nothing wrong with it. Tue Apr 28 2009 1:47PM

randomuser83 writes: @Rabenwolf Sorry but you have no idea what you're talking about. Most of the "decent" Free to Play games are not based on how much money you invest. Most players in Asia DO NOT spend money on F2P games, same as it is in the US. You sir, are incredibly uninformed. Wed Apr 29 2009 3:00AM

Kyleran writes: Not sure about it, I've only played one F2P seriously Runes of Magic and its alot along the line as described in this interview. As such, I can say I've not run into very many folks who play it seriously (past the early levels) that haven't spent some cash on the game, for a mount at the very least. Wed Apr 29 2009 12:35PM

nefermor writes: Remember the fairy tales they used to tell kids to teach them ethics? I am reminded here of one called the goose that laid the golden egg. The daily gold was not enough so they cut open the goose to get them all and all they got was goose guts. The illusion of equality is part of the big draw into MMORPG games. If I have to compete with somebody willing to go broke paying for upgrades why would I bother , it would just be a cheaper version of the real world. Replace the word flexible here with exploitable. If this is the future model then say good-by to the golden age of MMORPG. Wed Apr 29 2009 2:32PM

Isturi writes: Lol Jon I disagree. F2P is not the WAY of the FUTURE because ppl do NOT wish to have to feel the NEED to buy something from YOUR shop just to get ahead in the game. Thu Apr 30 2009 1:02PM

alacres writes: It's hilarious that some people actually think that F2P is cheaper than paying a subscription fee. Most of these "free to play" games have such cripplingly unfair items in their cash shops that unless you spend like 30 or more dollars (depending on the game of course - Mabinogi is a decent example), you have no chance of competing or even playing the game the way it was meant to be played. I mean honestly, why do you think so many companies are switching from the subscription model in the first place? I guarantee you that it's not because they wanted to "help the community with lower prices". The only logical reason is that the "f2p" model has been proven to make even more money than the subscription model because it allows people, with money to burn, an outlet to do just that, whilst leaving those of us with limited spending in the dust. So seriously, before you go spouting, "Why no F2P? Some of us don't have money... blah blah blah", think long and hard about it. 15 dollars a month for a fair playing field and full amounts of content is an infintely better deal than these parasitic "free to play" models, any day. I sincerely hope that some companies decide to stay true to the subscription model so that quality games don't become a thing of the past. Fri May 01 2009 4:38AM

alacres writes: Man, I love how paragraphs don't seem to work here >_> Fri May 01 2009 4:39AM

alacres writes: I just wanted to add that after watching this vid, I'm actually not completely against the model that PW uses. I didn't know that you could actually buy cash shop items with currency from the game itself. That's something that wouldn't bother me too much since everyone could get everything without having to spend a ton of money. But then again, I can only imagine how much in-game currency it probably takes to purchase a cash shop item lol. Fri May 01 2009 4:45AM

Hokie writes: Free to lose Pay to win That IS the basis of all F2P micro-transaction games. Yes of course he thinks (and desperately whats you to think it also) that micro-transaction (F2P) is the future. My question to him would be..."But what about WoW? EvE? LotR? Guild Wars even? And wasnt Hell Gate London designed to be a micro-transaction game? Why do subscription based games succeed and micro-T games fail in the western market?" Sat May 02 2009 11:55PM

Esson writes: free to play makes the company able to sustain their business but makes them unable to expand. So if people want frequent updates and big patches and expansions, free to play is not the way to go. Mon May 04 2009 6:05AM

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