Today im looking at the freemium business model in gaming. Free 2 Play games are games that allow the player to play a game without having to purchase it. Despite what the name suggests, F2P games usually have a method of paying for in-game items and services using either game currency or real money. Usually the items in question vary from inconsequential things like skins to important ones like weapons and abilities depending on the game genre. These micro-transactions aren't compulsory to playing the game but they can be an alternate aid to players to progress.
The negative side to this that the player can easily gain access to higher level weaponry and abilities without having played the game long enough to unlock these enhancements; this can lead to players who are new to the game getting destroyed by other players who have early access to high end weapons and items. The frustration of constant defeat of new players will either cause them to leave the game entirely or give in and adopt a similar strategy to that of their assailants and go shopping. Exercises like these can be extremely game breaking as it allows little skill on the player's behalf to improve At the game. This is an example of a pay 2 win game.
The game Team Fortress 2 uses a business model that; on the surface can be viewed as pay 2 win but on closer inspection is a different story. The items shop in this game has hats, weapons and other miscellaneous objects on sale. These items can be obtained through gameplay. No weapon is superior to the other as their stats contrast significantly so if a player decides to buy a weapon they won't be giving themselves and unfair advantage over other players. The game League of Legends allows the player to only buy skins and different outfits for the player's chosen hero.
I personally don't mind games that use the freemium business model as long as whenever the player chooses to purchase doesn't instantly make player better than new players and those who play the game the legitimate way.
The negative side to this that the player can easily gain access to higher level weaponry and abilities without having played the game long enough to unlock these enhancements; this can lead to players who are new to the game getting destroyed by other players who have early access to high end weapons and items. The frustration of constant defeat of new players will either cause them to leave the game entirely or give in and adopt a similar strategy to that of their assailants and go shopping. Exercises like these can be extremely game breaking as it allows little skill on the player's behalf to improve At the game. This is an example of a pay 2 win game.
The game Team Fortress 2 uses a business model that; on the surface can be viewed as pay 2 win but on closer inspection is a different story. The items shop in this game has hats, weapons and other miscellaneous objects on sale. These items can be obtained through gameplay. No weapon is superior to the other as their stats contrast significantly so if a player decides to buy a weapon they won't be giving themselves and unfair advantage over other players. The game League of Legends allows the player to only buy skins and different outfits for the player's chosen hero.
I personally don't mind games that use the freemium business model as long as whenever the player chooses to purchase doesn't instantly make player better than new players and those who play the game the legitimate way.
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