EverQuest II adding "Free to Play"

***Dolby*** · #1 07-27-2010, 02:02 PM

Sony Online Entertainment has announced a new EverQuest II feature that brings the free to play MMO model to the game called EverQuest II Extended. This new service will be applied to the NEW EQII Extended servers only. The service will not be available on the existing servers.

You can read more about the service in their official announcement. You can also see a breakdown of pricing vs what you get for free here.

So what do you guys think? Good for the game? Bad for the game? Reply here.

**TalTal** · #2 07-27-2010, 02:09 PM

Bad for the current Live servers. Might be good for the game in the long run but that does not help those of us who currently play.

Silat

***Dolby*** · #3 07-27-2010, 02:21 PM

I'm kinda glad they aren't allowing F2P users on the old servers mainly because most EQ2 players at least on my server are well seasoned MMO players. I just hope it doesn't take away from the population of the regular servers.

**TalTal** · #4 07-27-2010, 02:44 PM

It can't help but take away from live.

1. There will be no trial after extended launches for live except recruit a friend.
2. The platinum Pass is $200 but nets you $60 station cash and includes the box so you save $15-$45 for that. So you are looking at a real cost for a year sub as $95-$125 assuming you currently buy lon or station cash.
3. Their will be stat items on extended that are not on live.
4. You will get bonus items for a platinum subscription on extended that are not on live.
5. You get 3 extra character slots on extended with platinum.
6. You get 12 shared bank slots extra.

Only downside (besides f2p economics and playerbase) is you only get to choose from 4 races without more money.

You will be able to transfer to extended from live but not vice versa.

So poulation will leave live and not come back. Also new population will not be added as there will be no trial for it they will be redirected to extended.

Silat

adolf102 · #5 07-27-2010, 03:52 PM

I agree it's bad for live server.

It redirects all new players to F2P stopping flow of fresh blood to Live servers.
With time Live server players will have to move to F2P to have someone to play with - leaving a lot behing, guids, friends etc.

Then player base is already split bewteen servers. Now it will be spread even thiner between F2P/Live.

***Dolby*** · #6 07-27-2010, 04:25 PM

Those are some good points I didn't think of. At first I was glad older servers weren't part of the f2p but now thinking over what you guys said I agree it might bleed the old servers dry. I don't think it will attract any of my guild mates to move but we wont be getting any new blood.