News

The Old Republic lead designer spills beans on free-to-play [Update]
Posted: 15.06.2012 05:11 by JonahFalcon Comments: 5
[Update: Game has pulled the article, probably at the behest of LucasArts.]

Star Wars: The Old Republic lead designer Emmanuel Lusinchi has broached a sensitive subject with BioWare: the possibility of the MMO going free-to-play. This came in an interview in an upcoming issue of the UK videogames mag Games which is being released on the 5th July.

This was mentioned when asked about the affect of losing over 400,000 subscribers earlier 2012 and dealing with competition from other free-to-play MMOs.

According to Lusinchi, “I think it’s more than the free-to-play model – it’s more that there is a lot of competitive offers. If it was just free-to-play games and they weren’t very good it wouldn’t even be a question but there are definitely good games out there and good games coming out, so of course all of this competition impacts your plan with what you want to do.”

Lusinchi then noted that free-to-play for The Old Republic was an option, using the idea of being "dynamic".

“The MMO market is very dynamic and we need to be dynamic as well. Unless people are happy with what they have, they are constantly demanding updates, new modes and situations. So we are looking at free-to-play but I can’t tell you in much detail. We have to be flexible and adapt to what is going on," he admitted.

LucasArts has been reached for comment; an official statement will be coming soon.
Source: Games TM

Comments

By nocutius (SI Elite) on Jun 15, 2012
nocutius
I see the price plummeted down to ~20€, perhaps it's time to give this a try soon.
But i'll probably wait until just before it goes fp2, people will be giving it away half for free then not to mention all the extra fixed bugs in the meantime :)
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jun 15, 2012
herodotus
The price here has dropped markedly too, and despite claims to the contrary Subs have been dwindling rapidly. I've no intention of going back to the game anythime soon, but if it's a F2P along the lines of Perfect World's way of doing things (as with "STO") then I might return.
By HenoKutus (SI Core) on Jun 16, 2012
HenoKutus
As a gamer we want to play different games,after a month of playing the same game i think you have basicly seen everything and then most of the people will cancel their account,so make it free and sell new dlc and the game will live on,simple really!
By HenoKutus (SI Core) on Jun 16, 2012
HenoKutus
All the fans of Mass Effect look to every game of their developer Bioware,no doubt about that!
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jun 16, 2012
herodotus
Well it took me a good two months to get through the story arc of my main in :TOR" and it left me wanting more. Unfortunately the "more" that now awaits are Group Flashpoints and Operations that don't interest me as they do not push any story arc forward and with all the best gear to be gotten, and stats maxed I don't see the point in playing any further. Swapped to the Dark Side with a new Toon but after reaching Lvl 25, and with space combat now a very boring grind the game itself is simply....boring.