F2P = more forgiving expectations & patience = playing things I wouldn't keep subscribed

I won't be among the first flock of gamers trying out the new F2P model for Lord of the Rings Online.  There was just a bit too much that I didn't enjoy.  However, I'm all for more payment options in the MMORPG space and say, "Hurray, for Turbine!" 

The games I'd run to more readily would be EverQuest2, Warhammer Online or Age of Conan.  In EQ2 and AOC, my enjoyment lasted long enough for me to reach the high 30s.  In WAR, I'm only 3.5 levels from max.  For AOC and WAR, I hit the notorious grind zones that many complained about and I didn't have the steam to just push through something that should be fun.  If I didn't have to pay each month, I could have tackled it bit by bit without feeling compelled to make the dollars worth it or feeling as though I was wasting my money.

In EQ2's case, I can only take that particular style of questing in spurts.  And it's mostly due to not wanting to keep a subscription if I'd only play here and there throughout the month, that keeps me unsubscribe.  There are days when I do think of playing but not enough to go re-subscribe.  Had Sony's most recent pricing option been a set number of hours versus requiring them to be consumed in consecutive days, I'd have been all in.

I think moves like this will help games that are becoming too top heavy or stagnant.  One of the great things about the consistent momentum in WOW is that anyone starting a new characters is never short of company.  I hope this model works out well for Turbine.  If it does, it will encourage other companies to give it a try. I don't remember on whose comment thread or who the commenter was but holy bejebus, if this works for Turbine, is there any chance of AC2 resurrecting under the same banner?

All that said, F2P doesn't mean I'd play any ole thing.  My leisure time holds a significant value.

Comments

[Tesh]

This is why W101 is still installed on my system. I know I'll go back to it someday and have fun with it, but I don't have to mess around with a sub. That builds goodwill in my house, and actually makes me *more* likely to give them money. They respect my time enough to make the game playable without a sub. I appreciate that. (It's also why Puzzle Pirates is still "home" in the MMO space.)