We live in an age of Free to Play, and the future is looking good

GameZone writes, "Attending trade shows for the past two years has made it more apparent than ever that the F2P model is not only here to stay, but that it will offer triple A experiences, without the need to pay a single dollar every month. Let's take a look at some of the heavy hitters that are sure to make it on your radar."

[majiebeast]

Not the biggest fan of the freemium games i played myself because paying just gave too much of a advantage. Im fine with cosmetic stuff you have too pay for but not like weapons,armor exp bonuses etc. Few i played myself.

-APB:reloaded the cash weapons were just alot better then the normal 1's and premium membership gave you twice the money and exp.
-Atlantica online without certain cash shop items you couldnt quick travel and it took ages to go from town to town without it the max was like 15-20minutes
- dc online before it went free i played that game alot got all the good raiding gear. Went back when it was f2p and the ammount of cash i could hold wasnt even enough for the repair bill.

Think the best way of doing freemium so far is Path of exile and guild wars 2.

[vortis]

They're all pay-to-win.

It's annoying how companies keep trying to force-feed this model onto everyone like it's as good as sliced bread.

Firefall was alright but it was such an isolated grindfest where most people were just trying to kill-farm by themselves. The world was also pretty static so it felt like a themepark.

That's another prob. With all these me too F2P titles why the heck are so many repetitive WoW-wannabe theme-parks? I'm hearing good things about Planetside 2 so hopefully that doesn't disappoint.

[HammadTheBeast]

Planet side 2 and Dust 514 are two free to play games that I think get the formula right. Dust is complicated, but the devs are working to never make it pay to win. Planetside's a great game by the way.

[Somebody]

Same here. I've played only one F2P where I actually bought something and it gave me a XP boost for a week. Upgraded my weapons in no time at all. Made me so powerful and then I felt guilty for taking the evil way out.

In RPGs buying cosmetic items is appropriate since you'll be exploring huge worlds with other players so you want to stand out.

In competitive shooters a powerful weapon/armour (that you can only buy with real money) is more than enough incentive to take out the credit card.

[wastedcells]

I'm not a fan either and they do feel like pay to win at times. Long live single player games! I like me some multiplayer but story mode is the heart of the game. A lot of people are buying games and never even playing the story mode they go straight online and stay there. Which is cool but I hope that is not the future of gaming.

[jessupj]

From my experience most things are pay to win and that is a very bad thing.

[mananimal]

I disagree, just more communist propaganda, free to play is just Pure Indoctrination, what the Industry wants is for all gamers to HAVE TO Play there games ONLiNE , No physical Disc, The Corporations who run the Industry are just a bunch of lying CoNtrol FrEAKAziods.

THe Industry is run by GReedy Types, they water down most gaming experiences this Gen, alot of games are just copy cat games, Hitler once said "If you tell a lie loud enough & Often enough, the people will believe it, thats essentially what these propagandist gaming journalist are attempting to do, SHOVE their LIES down the throats of the gaming consumers.