So do you think the Defiance free to play is viable?

[Ryme]

P2P (Pay to Play)= Initial Purchase, Monthly Subscription
B2P (Buy to Play)= Initial Purchase, No Subscription
F2P (Free to Play)= No Purchase, No Subscription


P2P games work well when they transition to F2P models because it's a great value. All the content updates that have been put in from when the game was P2P are already in the game, making it a very robust and enticing world that a new player can experience for very little cost.

That is not the case with games that launch as F2P or B2P, since you are coming out as a new world that needs to entice players to spend more money. The danger being that since there is no subscription cost, the game won't see profits despite not losing players, as existing players are not compelled to spend additional funds on cosmetic items and invest in what may otherwise be a barren world.

I think the hardest part of a B2P or F2P model is getting the players invested enough initially to actually want to stay and integrate further into the game world. Guild Wars 2 accomplished that by having an immense world already abundant of content, similar to the state of P2P, when they transition to F2P models.

Defiance is treading a riskier road of having less initial content and asking the TV show to shoulder the burden of hooking players and keeping them invested in the game. I feel the TV show could continue without the game, but am not as certain the game would do as well without the show.

[TheBowman]

I've never supported a pay to win model, but as it stands now all of the weapons are pretty much the same so it wouldn't bother me if you could be some super rare weapon. Also, being an action-based game, you can't get a huge advantage just because you have deeper pockets. You can't buy talent.

I'd like to see weapon skins, new uniforms, clan uniforms, vehicles and other cosmetic items. I wouldn't mind dropping $10 ~ $20 to look unique.

[Jamesericmason]

I think they should reduce the costs of all the cosmetic stuff, and try to sell quantity of them over individually high priced ones. I would like to buy a few of the cosmetic outfits but i don't feel they're worth $5 a pop.
something more like 75cents is reasonable (it didn't cost you anything to make the individual item i'm buying so you can't be overpricing it that much)

[Wtflag]

Problem of free to download and play is:

1. Consoles don't get it, only PC users do, so the business model is unequal.

2. PC is the most "hackable" platform plus the fact that accounts are free means every random a-hole will be cheating in PVP with zero consequences.

3. We will get a few nice new players and a whole lot of whiny 12 year olds doing their best to teabag everyone.

4. The influx of players will tax the current support system, which already takes a while to respond. Look forward to triple that duration.

5. Those who pay $60 and suffer the launch issues are left in the cold.

6. Servers can't handle the existing amount some times. Need more servers to work.

7. A mass season pass refund will be triggered, since you will still get everything free even if you don't pay

[Spiltmilk]

I think they should reduce the costs of all the cosmetic stuff, and try to sell quantity of them over individually high priced ones. I would like to buy a few of the cosmetic outfits but i don't feel they're worth $5 a pop.
something more like 75cents is reasonable (it didn't cost you anything to make the individual item i'm buying so you can't be overpricing it that much)

While I can understand the unreasonable price, the pricing actually provides a decent deterrent from everyone looking like everyone else. If it was 75 cents, a lot of players would buy it. Kind of defeats the purpose of looking "unique".

[TheBowman]

I think they should reduce the costs of all the cosmetic stuff, and try to sell quantity of them over individually high priced ones. I would like to buy a few of the cosmetic outfits but i don't feel they're worth $5 a pop.
something more like 75cents is reasonable (it didn't cost you anything to make the individual item i'm buying so you can't be overpricing it that much)

how about the man hours and time paid to develop these in game items? Do you expect an artist to create a beautiful painting and then give it away?

[Rhythem]

It B2P mode ( i.e. Guild Wars), and this will never be F2P. It will be reduce in value to buy, of course you will find a copy cheaper now at your local wal mart. What they are hoping, is right now people getting the word out on how much fun the game is through friend invites.

Show being renewed for season 2 will bring more in. I play both console and PC version, since I'm not always able to get on my console, if I'm at work Another reason for PC not having a lot of traffic is the play style. Some people prefer console controller over the key and mouse abilities.

[Blondin]

Another reason for PC not having a lot of traffic is the play style. Some people prefer console controller over the key and mouse abilities.

What? on a shooter?

[Tyger]

Problem of free to download and play is:

1. Consoles don't get it, only PC users do, so the business model is unequal.

2. PC is the most "hackable" platform plus the fact that accounts are free means every random a-hole will be cheating in PVP with zero consequences.

3. We will get a few nice new players and a whole lot of whiny 12 year olds doing their best to teabag everyone.

4. The influx of players will tax the current support system, which already takes a while to respond. Look forward to triple that duration.

5. Those who pay $60 and suffer the launch issues are left in the cold.

6. Servers can't handle the existing amount some times. Need more servers to work.

7. A mass season pass refund will be triggered, since you will still get everything free even if you don't pay

Apparently you haven't been paying attention for the last several years. Otherwise you wouldn't have posted Items # 2, 3, 5, 7.

Consoles not easily hacked? Ok, sure. That's why Ms has gone off the deep end with their license agreements and requirements about who can play on your crapbox, when and where. As well as how often you will need to be connected so they can scan your system and whatever other BS they plan on shoving up their customer base's @ss. Got news for ya'. The polite way of haxin' consoles is "Modding." And trust me, I know plenty of individuals who have "modded" their setups to get games and coding to work regardless of the built in limitations.

Whiny lil' dBags online in a game that's F2P only. Ha! Where have you been the last 15 years?

Nothin' new with the 'fresh-from-launch' crowd suffrage. Again, new to MMO's or is this your first time online?

And finally, 7's issue about a refund - pffft. At best you'll get ingame stuff to sweeten the issue of it happening but that's about it. Don't hold your breath thinking you'll see that $$$ returned to you in a money order thru the mail.

Not sure whether it's an extreme case of naivety or just base lvl ignorance pushin' you forward with this line of thinking. Either way, open up your search engine and take a moment to shed a lil' light on your dim views.

[Linamaria]

And finally, 7's issue about a refund - pffft. At best you'll get ingame stuff to sweeten the issue of it happening but that's about it. Don't hold your breath thinking you'll see that $$$ returned to you in a money order thru the mail.

Pretty much this. For Rift Storm Chaser Edition holders, Trion gave 8500 Rift cash shop credits (U$ 50 equivalent) as a compensation to the F2P transition.