Wasting Money On F2P MMORPG's

Why does it always end up that I end up wasting money on F2P games?  Once again I invested quite a bit of money into a MMO to instantly lose interest.  Why is it that once I spend money I stop playing it?

I could understand if I did it once, but it is becoming a pattern.  I did it in Archlord, Allods Online, and most recently Realms Online.  I find myself enjoying the game, and feel I have enough time invested that spending some in the cash shop is a worthwhile investment.

I think I still have money on the books in all three games.  It isn't like I can get a refund, but the money is just sitting there.  I added over a hundred bucks to Realms Online after already spending a hundred bucks.  I spent around $15 of it in the cash shop, and $85 is still sitting there.  I have no desire to play the game again.

What made me play the game 24/7 for a month straight, and than suddenly lose all interest?  Is it like using cheat codes in console games?  I know when I would use cheat codes the game would become boring, and I would stop playing.  Is it the same for F2P games?

I did a similar thing in Allods Online a few years ago.  I decided I wanted some perfumes, and a bigger inventory bag.  Two days later I stopped playing just out of the blue.  Why am I buying stuff, and than I suddenly don't care about the game?

I think maybe subconsciously I am thinking about how the game is costing me more than a normal sub.  My brain may be telling me to cut off the relationship now before it becomes a huge money pit.

I just need to now figure out the trigger, and stop that initial spending in a F2P game, and just quit before spending anything.  I don't know maybe in the back of my mind I am not really enjoying the game, but I am trying to convince myself by buying stuff off the cash shop.

My First RvR Experience In Realms Online

I finally grinded out level 45 today, and ventured out to the Warzone in Realms Online.  My heart was pumping, and adrenaline flowing.  I headed to our gate along the great wall.  I knew our gate was under attack, but wasn't sure how it all worked.

I climbed the stairs, and noticed most of my Ignis realm mates shooting down at players from the realm Syrtis who were attacking our gate.  I began casting spells, and watching them drop like flies with the help of other Ignis players.  It felt good to be protecting our land from being invaded.

If Syrtis would have knocked down our gate they would have been able to raid our cities, and other low level players trying to level up in the normally safe zone.  This is where other pvp and rvr games have been lacking. There was really never a penalty, and a city invasion was an instance, and not really the city.  It is what makes realm pride so much more important in Realms Online.

If you decide to not help your realm than your whole realm becomes vulnerable to PvP.  Realms Online is everything I expected, and more.  It is what no game has been able to do since Dark Age of Camelot.  I have finally found a game that caters to my playstyle, and the kind of pvp I crave.

I recorded a small glimpse of my first RvR experience in Realms Online so everyone could see what it is all about.  The game is free to play, and I am playing on the Raven server, and the Ignis Faction if you decide to play the game.

Feel free to comment, and join the interactive discussion on Google +.

Realms Online Is Growing On Me

Check my pulse, and temperature.  I have logged in over 20+ hours now in Realms Online.  I am finally getting into an MMORPG.  I have played it more than any other MMORPG in the last year.  Initially I felt uncomfortable with not knowing anything in the game, and almost stopped playing.  What made me decide to give it another shot, and keep playing?

The answer is pretty easy.  I am looking past all the things I dislike, and focusing on the RvR which is just around the corner.  I am pretty excited to be entering the Warzone either today, or tomorrow.  I thought the grind was pretty hideous, but with the xp boosts about every couple hours it has made it bearable.  At level 40 I will be easy kills for the other factions, but hopefully the last 20 levels go by as quick as these have.

Realms Online is a Free to Play MMORPG, and their cash shop mainly consists of xp scrolls, leveling scrolls, enchantments, and health, and mana pots along with some mounts.  Everything seems pretty reasonably priced, and nothing in the shop is necessary, but if you want to speed things up a little it is well worth it.  I have no self control so I have spent $50 already in the cash shop, but I see it as a one time expense to level up.  I won't need xp boost scrolls, or pots once I am done leveling.

I highly suggest using the xp boost scrolls in conjuction with the GM sponsored xp boosts.  You take 200%, plus another 200%, and you are earning 4x the xp as normal.  This makes your xp bar move at quite an incredible rate.  I like using the health/mana combo pot so I am literally killing non stop during these boosts.  It is 100% worth the money.

Right now I can't say much about the RvR until I hit 40 later on today.  I know I see lots of action on my screen from forts, keeps, and gems being stolen.  I can't wait to see, and be involved in part of a game I have been longing for since the days of playing DAOC.

If anyone is interested in playing I am on the Raven server, and the Ignis faction.  I hope to see you there.

Please feel free to comment, and join the interactive discussion on Google +.

Realms Online F2P MMORPG First Impressions Review

Did you play DAOC?   Do you miss the realm pride?  Do you agree it had the best realm versus realm ever? Are you still waiting for DAOC 2?  What if I told you there is currently a game out there that is a very close clone to DAOC.  It is called Realms Online.

You have three separate factions. You have the Ignis, Syrtis, and Alsius.  Currently the Ignis server is the underdog, and receiving 25% bonus to xp to get more players to the end game quicker.  You can feel the realm pride.  The factions land is split up into three different zones.  You have the beginner zone, inner zone, and the war zone.

The War Zone is broken up into three separate sections separated by rivers.  It seems very similar to DAOC where you can venture over to the other factions area looking for fights.  It is also where the forts, and castles are when you decide as a realm to steal the gems to gain rewards for your faction.

Is it sounding really familiar yet?  It is so close to DAOC it blows my mind for the rvr aspects of the game.  The pve is basically non existent once you hit max level.  There is no crafting, or side professions.  It is all about fighting in the War Zones.

The classes remind me of how many games make you play until level 10 to pick your profession.  I started off as a Mage.  At level 10 I had to choose to either be a Warlock, or a Conjurer.  I decided I wanted to be DPS in a pvp game so I rolled Warlock.

The GM's are really cool in Realms Online.  They talk to everyone, and about every other hour they give 200% xp bonuses for an hour.  It is a way to lessen the grind, and get people to the end game quicker.  I love it.

The questing in the game is definitely its weak point.  Don't expect to see spots highlighted on the map, waypoints falling from the sky, or anything like that.  You actually have to read the quest text to know where to go.  The problem I find is most of the quests are very vague so you spend more time trying to figure out what you are supposed to be doing than actually doing it.  It is to the point now I am finding it faster just to grind mobs.

Realms Online is sort of old school when it comes to health, and mana.  After about three fights you have to sit for a minute to regen.  It gets old pretty quick.  This is one item they sell in their store for $5 is to speed it up about 500%.  For spending five bucks you get approximately 250 potions.  I am not sure that is worth it, or not.  I guess it depends on how fast you want to level up.  I am debating on only using them on the GM bonus xp hours to take full advantage of it.

All enchanting of items is also bought off the store. If you want to add gems you have to buy them, and than buy the enchanting supplies to do it.  It seems fairly cheap enough that you won't be spending more than a regular subscription MMORPG.

If grinding isn't your thing they sell special leveling scrolls.  You can spend about $50 to get level 45 automatically.  I may do it for alts later on, but with my first character I need to make sure I understand how the game works, and if I am sticking around.

The game isn't perfect, but I am looking past all of it because it is the game I have been looking for since DAOC.  If it was any other game I probably would have already ragequit from some of the annoying quirks, but if PvP is anything like my memories of DAOC it is going to be so much fun.

If you want to check it out more I suggest checking out the Realms Online's Wiki page.  They recently changed the name of the game, but all the facts are still the same.

Feel free to comment, and join the interactive discussion on Google +

A New F2P Model Is Coming To MMORPG's

Do I have insider secrets?  No, unfortunately I don't, but I do have a creative imagination.  Maybe I am reading to much into it, but I sense it is a beta test of what is to come in the future of gaming.  So what is this great F2P model that is coming to MMORPG's?

It is rather simple to figure out, and I am not sure why no one has put two and two together yet.  Every gaming blogger the last few days has been either happy, or ranting about the new Diablo 3 real life money auction house.  I never really played any of the Diablos because I was to involved with EQ at the time, or some other MMORPG.

I am actually putting a whole new twist on the Diablo 3 announcement.  I see it as a beta test for a new F2P model.  How am I theorycrafting this crazy idea?  Let's just assume once Blizzard releases their new MMORPG in a few years that they will convert World of Warcraft to free to play.

Normally free to play games have cash shops to buy novelty items, potions, storage, and so on.  It usually gets players pretty fired up to have to buy stuff just to have more backpack space, or potions to compete against others.

So now let's take the Diablo 3 announcement, and implement it into World of Warcraft.  How would it be done?  I think it could be done in a similar manner, but with a twist.  Everyone knows how the auction house currently works.  You put something up, and you pay a small deposit to place it on the auction house.

What if Blizzard, or any new F2P MMORPG ditched the cash shop concept completely, and went strictly to this new concept?  Basically instead of using in game gold for the auction house deposits it would cost real life money.  I am not saying a huge amount, but maybe a nickel, or a dime a transaction.  Yup, they could nickel and dime you to death.

You could also have it so it only charges a real money transaction fee if you buy something off the auction house.  I think either way players wouldn't think of it as a huge money sink, but of course over a month it would probably add up.

So you really want to still play the game for free?  That is easy.  You just have to do player to player trading which in turn could strengthen the game community.  It would be a win-win for any game company.

Would you be more willing to play a F2P MMORPG model like this, or do you like the current way most gaming companies do it?

If I Made A F2P MMORPG

I really think F2P is the way gaming is going.  It's either cash shops, or paying for DLC.  I don't think either one bothers me if it is done right.  I am always willing to spend money.

I just don't understand why companies are not taking advantage of what Blizzard has already paved the way for.  Everything they have sold has been vanity items, or things that don't make people with money any better in the game.

I don't see why games just don't go F2P.  There is so much money to be made with server transfers, name changes, character changes, faction changes, class changes, and so on that would generate more income than a monthly sub.

If going F2P doubles your sub numbers, and everyone spends $10 a month in the cash shop aren't you making more than you were before?

I can think of so many things that could easily generate income.  How about special looking weapons, armor, glowing stuff, vanity pets, mounts.  These are all just cosmetic things that players would buy.

You would just have to avoid special potions, + stat items, levels, gold, and so on because than it would affect players who didn't buy stuff.

Joining A New Guild In Allods Online

Yesterday I joined a new guild in Allods Online.  I basically was just asking around in zone chat, and someone invited me.

At first I thought it was going to be good. I get into guild information, and look for a website, or ventrilo information. I see nothing listed.

I see the roster is pretty active with 20+ characters, but I just can't see how any guild can operate these days without vent. When I asked about it they said they didn't want to hear a bunch of 12 year old school boys because that is all that plays free to play games like Allods Online.

How can you pvp, or even pve without vent? I left the guild. Would you join a guild without vent in Allods Online, or any MMORPG?

Cash Shop Additions Allods Online

I keep saying how much I love Allods Online. Every day they do something that simply amazes me it seems.

How can you complain about them adding Water of Life, and Water of Death to remove talents, and rubies to the cash shop? How about the new blue Dragonhide Backpack with 30 slots. Can you believe it? It is even less than the other backpack originally was. They even added a blue bank deposit box that expands to 48 slots.

How can you not love what Allods Online is doing to this game? They are the first game I have seen that really listens, and cares about their players.  I think the Allods Online Cash shop is proving that a free to play mmorpg can be successful.

Allods Online Gripe Of The Week

My gripe this week about Allods Online is the abandoned guild I am still in.  I am having issues with myself about it.  Should I just take it over, or join another guild?

Currently I am in the guild Domination. Basically everyone has left, but I am still wearing the guild tag along with just a few others.

On one hand I feel like taking over as guild leader, and actively recruiting. I just have limited playing time still for another month or two.

I would join another guild, but I see zero advertising. I sometimes wonder if the population dropped off that much, or everyone is running solo.

Things may change once the patch hits, and guild tags are visible.  I guess it's just a waiting game.

Allods Online Really Listens To Players

I keep loving Allods Online more, and more.  You have to love a MMORPG where you can vote on changes you want to see happen.

It sounds like Fear of Death may go away in Russia which means more than likely it will here in NA too.

Should they make some other death penalty though?  If Fear of Death is removed what kind of penalty would you like to see added?

Bounty Hunting in Allods Online

Today there is another GM event to hunt down, and collect a bounty by killing the GM's. It is happening in the Holy Lands today at 4pm, and 5pm.

LFG Allods Online

No, I am not looking for a group. I am looking for Guild Tags on players. I am finding it annoying to not know what guilds players are in.

Is it something that eventually will be patched in, or is it at the bottom of Allods Online list of things to do? I have looked high and low thinking that maybe I have a setting wrong, but I haven't seen anything.

Is it annoying to you to not see a players guild tag?

Allods Online Cool Stuff

Today I completed a quest in Allods Online that I thought was pretty cool.  I guess sometimes it doesn't take much to entertain me.

I Love Allods Online GM Events

I really think Allods Online is doing the things that players love.  All of the MMORPG's I have played the last few years have had no GM sponsored events.  Today Allods posted an event to fight the devs five man team in the Arena for the Goblinball Challenge.

How exciting is it to actually fight against the devs who made the game?  How many people do you think are going to show up, and watch it?  I think this shows how much they care about the Allods Online community.  This is what makes this game so great.

Allods Online Gripe Of The Week

The gripe of the week is a new feature I am going to do on Friday.  This week my gripe is about Allods Online since that is the game I am spending the most time in.

The first thing I am going to gripe about is the quest clarity.  Is it due to translation issues, or are they really that poorly worded?  It seems I have run across many quests that really don't even make it clear what you are supposed to do.  Most of the time I just start killing things in the area, or try using things that appeared in my quest bag.

My second gripe this week about Allods Online is also related to questing.   Some quests require you to target mobs after they are dead.  The first example are the spiders in ZIT.  You have to mummify them once they are dead.  I have two different issues with it.  The corpse can't be targetted even though it seems the mob is standing directly in front of you, and the corpse disappears faster than your mummifying casting bar takes.  These spiders cast a web on you when they are close to dying.  If you are a caster you have to wait for it to wear off before you can get close enough to the corpse, and by that time it's to late.

Summary:

Make quests easier to understand the objectives, and please increase the time a corpse lays on the ground if so many quests require additional objectives once mobs are dead.

Where Did The Guild Recruitment Spam Go In Allods Online?

The first few days the guild recruitment spam in Allods Online was everywhere.  I was trying to decipher it all, and make a decision.  I never see any guild recruitment spam in chat now.

Did everyone bail?  It seems like there are still tons of people running around so it doesn't make sense.  It even seems the guild recruitment threads on Allods Online forums are inactive too.

The guild I found last night ended up being a one night stand.  I thought we had a pretty good core started, and than I decide to log on to vent tonight.  The guild leader lays it on me two seconds later.  He, and a few others of the guild decided to reroll League, and abandon us.

I thought it was a pretty lame move on the guild leaders part.  I am now looking for a guild again since I don't think the one I am in will last now. 

High Five To Allods Online

Allods Online deserves a high five today.  They announced the new item shop prices, and I was simply amazed.  I really thought in the back of my mind they wouldn't reduce the prices as much as they did.

It is nice to see they actually listened to their players, and took all the feedback pretty seriously.  It makes me just want to go on a shopping spree tonight to show them my appreciation for everything they did.

On top of lowering the prices, they are refunding the difference to anyone who paid the crazy prices the last week.  This is going above, and beyond for customer service.  It is unbelievable.

Hopefully other companies look at Allods Online, and see how they turned a negative into a positive. 

Cruising Along in Allods Online

I think I have finally figured things out in Allods Online.  My xp is going pretty steady now.

I found a guild to join called Domination, and having a pretty good time.  I forgot how much fun it can be on vent.

I hit level 14 today, and hopefully one or two more levels tomorrow.  It feels pretty good to be in a guild with people around my level.

What level are you?

Allods Online Slimecrawler

Slimecrawler in Allods Online needs to die, and live in Purgatory forever.  The quest for some reason no matter what I do will not work.  I would love to take some salt, and watch it shrivel up and die a horrible death.

I finally had to abandon the quest.  I tried killing him near the pipe, in the water, away from the pipe, try to solidify before looting, grouping, and none of the above ever worked.  After killing Slimecrawler about ten times I decided to just abandon the quest.

It was a bit confusing because one part of the quest said to kill him near the pipe, and the other part said not to kill him by the pipe because it would clog the drain.  I am not sure if it was lost in translation or what. 

Were you able to complete the quest?

Free Storage in Allods Online

Would you like bottomless storage in Allods Online?  Why pay an outrageous amount on the cash shop?  This isn't the perfect solution, but it is definitely better than buying extra bank storage, or a backpack with an extra 6 slots for real life money on the cash shop.

Is the suspense killing you yet?

I use the auction house workaround.  I just put stuff on the auction house at gpotato pricing.  Once it expires it will stay in your mail for over 29 days.  It is like free storage except you do lose your small auction house deposit.  You never know someone might buy it too.

It won't work for when you are out questing, but when you do go in town it works great.