On why I will never review a free-to-play title again

Backlog Adventure's Will Harrison: The game is apparent with titles such as Candy Crush Saga and Rovio's newest release, Angry Birds Epic: Maximize profit, minimize content. Even with a unique premise for a free-to-play title, Epic continues the downward trend of mobile development ignoring quality and inviting the tropes of the era of 'freemium' gaming. I cannot stand idly by and contribute to the rise of such chicanery.

[ZodTheRipper]

Nice article, completely agree with it. It's really sad that people are spending money on F2P games or LoL skins and at the same time pirate full priced titles.

[Grilla]

A recent study showed that a very small percentage of mobile gamers actually spend $ on f2p games, if I remember correctly it was less then 1%.

[Prime157]

Might it be the addicted spenders? The ones that rack up a huge tab and go, "did I just spend a few hundred?!"

[Baka-akaB]

Wait you are really picking mobile games that are mediocre in every form , paid or free or f2p as a factor ?

[Gamer666]

There is very little difference between F2P on mobile vs. the consoles...

F2P =

1) Too much advertising in your game
2) Pay or grind for 10's or 100's of hours
3) Pay walls that you are forced into after you start the game to progress

Sure there are a few F2P that don't fit those categories... But, a good 90% do.

[Prime157]

I agree, a lot fit there. But when people start over looking the good ones based on the bad ones'reputation then there is an issue..

[Gamer666]

@Prime157.

It is a business model... Just like choosing leasing vs. renting vs. buying outright there are people that like the model and people that don't...

No matter how great a car is I will never lease it... I will buy it instead.

In gaming it is the same thing... I don't care how great the game is... If it is F2P it no longer is a download for me.

[Are_The_MaDNess]

mobile FTP games...... really now.
i dare you to make a review of Dota 2 and tell me its not great.

[EyePawd]

Not at all. I love DoTA. Regular player. I also would never consider it in the same league as Candy Crush, Angry Birds, et al. DotA is free to play, it isn't "free-to-play."

Now, if skins were sold that offered stat bonuses, or you only had so many times you could play per hour then had to wait for them to recharge or pay money to refill, etc., then we'd have a problem.

[slivery]

I think you mean Pay-to-Win. That is what you're describing, when you just say free-to-play, you cluster in every other game that is free-to-play that actually aren't bad.

Now mind you there aren't a ton of good free-to-play games but there are enough of them.

It creates a common misconception that all free-to-play games are bad and sadly many people on N4G have this notion without any experience to back it up. They just repeat what everyone else says without ever giving some decent games a chance.

[Are_The_MaDNess]

what isnt free to play about Dota 2? im asking you....
there is nothing you can buy that will change the outcome of the games you play. the only things you can pay for is clothing and gear to the heroes and some effects. other then that its just a XP booster that only will increase your loot drop rate.

[Blues Cowboy]

F2P is a great concept that can benefit everyone -- the devs and gamers alike.

*IF* and only if it's executed properly.

At best it's effectively pay what you want -- you can get a load of content for free and pay out for things because you feel the devs deserve some money. Planetside 2 got this right, as I played for 25 hours without paying a penny (all classes, vehicles, weapons etc all available to everyone and balanced), but bought £20 worth of funbucks for a cool hat because SOE earned it. Likewise, games like LOL and DOTA 2 let you pay for content that you want at your own pace, not shell out £50 up-front. See also Zen Pinball etc - we pay for what we want, no more, no less.

BUT the business model has been corrupted by a huge number of awful and cynical games and publishers, especially in the mobile space.

It's just a matter of using common sense and picking the wheat from the chaff. Swearing off 'all' F2P games is idiotic -- just swear off the ****.

EDIT: BUT (having slightly misunderstood the article on first reading) fair play to the author for not wanting to *review* F2P games from now on. They arguably need completely different criteria as value for time is just as important as value for money.

[EyePawd]

That's how I viewed what money I did give in Marvel Puzzle Quest: I almost considered it to be a tip jar, of sorts.

[diesoft]

Thank you. couldn't agree more. Free-to-play's sheer volume of games that get churned out is very disheartening alone.

[CoyoteHunter]

Good call. Totally agree with you.

[joab777]

I used to b at the very least, accepting of free to play games. Not anymore! This is why...

I bought a PS4 and really wanted to play an rpg. I had never tried an mmo but as I looked through the store library I saw DCUO and began to get very excited. So, I downloaded it and began to play. It was amazing. I level capped and began exploring the mmo landscape. I met a bunch of great ppl but as the days went on I began to realize that I HAD to sub if I was going to be able to keep up. I loved the game so much that I figured $15/month isnt so bad...I mean I dropped hundreds on launch day games.

So, I subbed and it was great. No regrets...until I realized that in order to catch up to my friends, I needed replay badges. I mean, everyone else was using them. So, like the majority of players, I dropped hundreds over the next few months to play this f2p title...and this didnt even include the marketplace items. They would sell $20 packs for the chance to get a cosmetic item. In DCUO it isnt about seeing who has the best end game gear but who has the money to buy the best and unique items.

Then Final Fantasy 14 dropped and ESO was announced for the ps4 and all I heard was how they needed to be f2p b/c subscriptions are a rip off. Really? I left DCUO behind...good riddance and hav played FF14 the last 2 months. Aside from the sub I havnt spent a penny b/c they dont ask me to...at all. Considering that I hav spent more time playing this game than all 5 launch titles I bought, $15/month isnt too bad.

Few companies r like Valve and their f2p model. Ppl will argue that it isnt pay to win or that these options r needed for casual players. No they arent and yes its is pay to win. But I will never do that again. There r simply too many other options.