Post by Morreion on Sept 13, 2010 10:08:49 GMT -5
LotRO F2P launch day roundup (Massively)
Volume III, Book 2: The Ride of the Grey Company is upon us, a massive Lord of the Rings Online patch that is functioning as a virtual relaunch of the game. In addition to adding loads of new content, Turbine is transforming LotRO into a hybrid subscription/free-to-play model in the hopes that this choice will draw fresh crowds to the game. The company's even opened eight new servers for the launch -- four for US and four for EU.
Lots of links to check out here.
The Road to Mordor: Frugal free-to-play (Massively)
There are a variety of routes you can take to experience a good chunk of Lord of the Rings Online without denting your bank account. Read on for five valuable strategies to save a buck while saving Middle-earth!
Strategy 1: Pay nothing
Of course, if you go the totally free route, you will have to live with several restrictions on your character and the fact that you'll probably never be able to earn enough Turbine points (TP) to unlock all that you want, especially if you have your eye set on leveling all the way to the cap.
Of course, if you go the totally free route, you will have to live with several restrictions on your character and the fact that you'll probably never be able to earn enough Turbine points (TP) to unlock all that you want, especially if you have your eye set on leveling all the way to the cap.
Strategy 2: Pay once for premium
Strategy 3: Sub now, downgrade later
Strategy 4: The Moria clause
Strategy 5: A la carte
Strategy 3: Sub now, downgrade later
Strategy 4: The Moria clause
Strategy 5: A la carte
There are leveling plans at this link to check out.
LotRO's radiance to be run over by a train and other future tidbits revealed (Massively)
In the same WarCry developer chat, the team fielded a number of questions about where LotRO is headed after this week's mega-update. Some of the features in the works for Tolkien's digital offspring include a new raid, class changes for monster play, a barter item wallet, PvMP skirmishes, Isengard, additional minigames and -- yes -- vanity pets for all. The devs also admitted to slipping in a few pop culture mentions into the game, such as Firefly and Futurama references.
Turbine pimps Gandalf in a new LotRO commercial (Massively)
He steps out to the crowd and delivers the words they've been longing to hear: "YOU... SHALL NOT... PAY!" Cue one staff strike and the crowd goes wild.
Video is there at the link.
To Rent Or Buy The New LOTRO (Player Versus Developer)
It is possible to get from the end of the free starter areas (approx level 20) to the start of the first paid expansions (Moria, at 50, and Mirkwood at 60 are non-optional purchases even for subscribers) without paying, provided you are willing to grind for Turbine Points at a rate of pennies per hour. However, non-subscribers will be trying to get by with less content, no rested exp, and longer travel times due to the lack of swift travel. Your gaming experience will be less fun, and your character will end up worse off for missing easily obtained quest and explorer deeds in the zones that you choose not to purchase.
How to Earn Turbine Points (Mmorsel)
Looking for more Turbine Points, without spending real life money? In this article we’ll look at the specific ways to earn TP in-game, how much you can earn in the free “starter” zones and what you can do if you need more.
"You...shall not...pay!"* *Until you reach the point where we require payment for you to progress. (Keen and Graev's Gaming Blog)
The honest truth here that I’m sure is backed up with real statistics of “F2P” games is that most players will burn out grinding for points before they actually achieve enough to play for free. There’s a decent outline here of how someone can play to about level 25 without needing to spend any money. The reality is, most people will probably subscribe (as suggested in that guide) in order to be able to have an easier time playing for free (derp). It won’t take long for the player to run out of content again and be so burned out that they cancel.
There will be immense player turnover from this, but that’s how this model works. Turbine knows that. If they can get a ton of people to spend $5 then that’s already better than having a few people spend $15. That might be “good business” but that’s not good game management.
“The Adventure is Free” <– That is a bold-faced lie. Stop eating it up.
There will be immense player turnover from this, but that’s how this model works. Turbine knows that. If they can get a ton of people to spend $5 then that’s already better than having a few people spend $15. That might be “good business” but that’s not good game management.
“The Adventure is Free” <– That is a bold-faced lie. Stop eating it up.
As usual, I think Keen is on to something here. I'm sure there will be many more people trying out the game 'for free' and that the turnover will be high- few people will grind out totally free play. The cash shop sells quest packs for different regions, items that increase your stats, mounts that used to take lots of work to achieve and so on. Some veteran players will dislike having their achievements offered for cash to newbs. And I doubt those attracted to a 'free' LOTRO will stay long if they don't spend money. There will be a lot more dabblers, which is the trend in the industry in general. I expect community to suffer because of this- in my experience, F2P games are horrid in this regard- and Landroval server on LOTRO was one of the last places that there was a good server community.
Overall, I am uncomfortable with this move. Turbine used to have respect for the lore; now Gandalf is hawking 'free play'. More importantly, the game is being structured around 'play it for free in a boring way, or pay us and get goodies!', meaning that the game mechanics are intimately tied into the revenue model. Before this change, LOTRO was a game designed to be good to get you to subscribe. I'd rather have a game designed to be good than one designed to make me want to pay for multiple cash shop transactions. That's just me I guess.
