Lately I've been reading more and more complaints about players that just seem to hate the Free to Play model. I see it everywhere, in the forums, in the blog, in my cereal. And I'm sick tired of it. I keep reading and I never get to the part of someone replying "Oh no man Free to Play is really cool I like it .." No, the rest is just people nodding and as usual throwing in additional complaints of their own. 

Well I think Free To Play needs a lawyer, and since I would go down defending it, here is my effort on paying Free To Play back for all the fun that I've had.

 

Start

Curiosity was what brought me to online games, I had heard about World of Warcraft, but since I couldn't afford it, I didn't even google it. Later, I saw more and more references to online games from the TV series I watched and gaming websites, and I became inevitably more curious by the hour. One day when I finally embarked on the quest to play online I saw "Free to Play!" on a web banner and I thought to myself "There is hope!!". I kept browsing and I found Rose Online, I downloaded and played for a while, but later I read the website more carefully and realized it was just a trial. Bummer, I was just getting excited, what point was there to play then for a week if I just would be able to keep exploring after a week?  So I kept going and bumped into 2D online games, I found some nice people and some hostile encounters.

Later I got hooked on Fly For Fun, F.E.A.R. Combat and other free games. In my situation I have so many things that I have to pay that I just can't afford to pay a monthly subscription. Maybe I could pay a subscription one or two months, then I might buy a book that I need and voila! I don't have a penny.

 

Plus, paying for a game would make me feel somehow that I am wasting my money if I don't play for a certain amount of time on the week.

 

That would certainly trigger my mom's voice in the back of my head saying "You shouldn’t be paying for games you don't have time to play!!!" 

This is where Free To Play suits me like a made-to-order tuxedo, I can spare some money every now and then to buy some luxury item on the mall; and I could just login and say "Hey guys I have final exams the next two weeks, I'll be offline for a while". Maybe I will be guildless when I log back in, but I don't have to worry about money spent for nothing.

Someone to talk to

Welcome to the future, this not the 90's anymore, more and more people can afford to buy powerful computers. Hence more people have the chance to play great games with their budget computer.

It is a proven scientific fact that interaction of one being with others is an essential part of its early development. The more  a person is exposed to different and new information, the more agile his/her brain becomes. I think that free online games provide a significant opportunity of kids and teenagers. For example in global games they have the opportunity to interact with players from all ages and all over the world. They will learn about other cultures, religions, languages, etc. Hopefully they will develop tolerance towards people who think different and hear different points of view about some topics.

Wither they like it or not players will become more proficient at extracting information from the web. They will become resourceful and computer savvy. It is specially important for people who live far from populated areas, because they can be socially active and become motivated. For students it is a great way not just to have fun, but to start practicing their networking skills. Instead of just leaving their buddies idiotic comments on MySpace, they will rehearse their public speaking skills, and their ability to handle a large amount of acquaintances. From  a college point of view, networking is the most effective way to get a job, and meeting people and learning how to be respectful towards other is a concept that can be learned in MMOs.

The Free To Play model offers this for free, if you never buy from the item mall it's ok, no one will track you down and sue you for it.

Sampling

Another thing the F2P haters don't realize is that many players that begin in the MMO world are making the transition between F2P to P2P. I might include myself in this category because I am head over heels for Aion.

Some P2P games have trials but let's be plain honest here, how much of the taste of online gaming can you get in 5 days or 15 days?....Not much..  This is where F2P come in, when playing you can get a taste of:

1. What theme suits you better
2. What you find fun in online gaming
3. Experience on Guild Management
4. Good Merchant Practices

and more..

Later, Free To Play can make a more informed decision when buying a game and sticking with it. The best consumer that companies can have is one that just gets into the store, knows what he wants and will be faithful to the brand.

The Duel

Before all of you hardcore P2P people get annoyed and cranky over reading this, I want to state that I am not against P2P.  I think there shouldn't be a supremacy of any model in particular. Variety is good, but variety of free games, that is a luxury.

MMO players are becoming younger and younger, because they learn how to use computers at a younger age. P2P is not an option for them, B2P maybe, but, this are kids we are talking about they don't make long term commitments of any kind.

It doesn't matter how much you rant and blurt out about how heavenly and sacred P2P games are, if I wrote you 40 pages telling you why you should buy a Lamborghini Reventon, you would be marveled at the features; but still won't be able to afford it.

Closing Argument

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I want to appeal to your common sense about the market. The more competition we have among companies the more they will try to improve their services. The F2P market shouldn’t be discarded for a few bad apples. Bad elements happen everywhere, even inside your own family you might have a "black sheep".  My client has been bashed and flamed and even looked down by the plaintiff Mr. I-Got-Money-P2P-Is-better numerous times.

I want you to remember how many times my client has provided a fun experience for broke college students that can barely afford their books. How many times, thanks to my client's services players with depression or a broken heart have found someone to talk to, to confide in at times they were troubled the most. How my client has saved entire guilds money when they transferred to another game because they got bored of it.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, my client has problems. But can we blame the car for drunk driving? Of course not, it would be ridiculous! Should my client just apologize and withdraw from the market completely?  Imagine the impact that would have on the MMO world, no more Free To Play.

Now it's up to you honorable jury to decide over my client's faith. Before you vote "guilty" I want you to remember about all the options that will be taken away from the millions of players around the world, think about so many of them will be deprived from their escape of the hardships of life.  You have the power to help us make this better or put and end to it, remember that change is what has lead game companies to find undiscovered territory where no one had dare land a foot.