Co-Op Talk saw an intense discussion on the topic of Free to Play: The Good, the Bad, the Morally Ambiguous? this past November with members agreeing on some points, and passionately debating others.
One of the most universally agreed upon points were that many PC games do F2P well. Examples of Dota, League of Legends, and Path of Exile were all touted as fair and successful examples. Each offers a full game at no initial cost. Players can opt to purchase in-game embellishments that don’t affect the game’s overall outcome.
Many attendees mentioned Hearthstone as a middle ground. It’s pretty good without spending any money, however purchasing card packs gives players a boost against other players in the game. It’s easy to spend a lot of money without realizing it. But everyone was happy about the wide appeal of Hearthstone–our mothers are totally on board for this one!
F2P games, like Hearthstone, have found popularity across many demographics and generations of players
The most hotly debated title was Candy Crush. Areas discussed included its elegant design, nonlinear difficulty curve, and monetizing scheme, as well as moral questions about “pay to win,” forcing players to invite friends to progress, and misleading placement of purchase buttons.
While a few attendees pointed out that some of Candy Crush’s more morally ambiguous tactics have been phased out, many still feel the burn from it and similarly profit-focused games. There is a stigma around F2P and mobile games that they’re boring or out to scam the player, by forcing a “pay to win” scenario or by not offering a complete gameplay experience for the advertised cost of free. Sneaky tactics discourage players from continuing or joining in the first place.
In-app purchases can add value or frustration to players and developers alike
To help relieve this stigma, attendees made a few suggestions. First, the monetization plan should be clear, incorporated from the beginning, and not inhibit play. Another suggestion to specifically improve the mobile game market for was to create premium titles that offered innovative gameplay with an initial cost; developers will feel less pressure from the F2P model and create more diverse games. As players and consumers, supporting premium titles will encourage broader development and discourage scammy F2P games. And finally, focusing on better marketing for premium titles will bring in a stronger audience.
That was November’s Co-Op Talk in a nutshell. Want in on the next conversation? Join us on December 18th as we discuss The Impact of Social Perceptions on Video Game Culture at the Kitty Cat Klub.
