Guild Wars 2 Business Model

Just about every quality mmo out there either has a monthly subscription fee or uses the RMT model to support their games financially. Guild Wars 2 will have no monthly fee. I know it sounds good from a customers point of view not having that extra charge per month but how will Arenanet be able to support Guild Wars 2 other than the price of the box ?

Do you actually think the F2P business model will be able to support Guild Wars 2 for the long term ? People will be expecting content patches as well as expansions for the game. Other companies have no problems giving their customers those things because they have a subscription fee or use the rmt model. They can afford to do this. I know the F2P model sounds all great but for the long term I fear it might not be the best soloution. What do you guys think ?

Well, this is a complete shot in the dark but player created content is becoming very popular and is exceptionally cheap.

Were bi-monthly competitions ran for players (or anyone) to create content using a closed source, easy-to-use engine - conforming to certain parameters - with the dangling carrot of prizes (or titles), you could get an endless revenue from creating purchasable chapters.

But seriously, I don't know - probably bi-monthly releases of new content, with some pre-order one time only goodies thrown in to whet the appetite.

-Art

~6,000,000 boxes sold * $30 average price = ~$180mil of gross profit made from all of GW. While that isn't the $1.1bil that Blizzard got last year (99% of that being subs), that isn't bad considering the $18mil+ dev costs. Now GW1 was a good proof of concept: they proved that you can sell a high volume of boxes pretty easily for an MMO. GW2, however, is hopefully being designed extremely well so that it is built to last. ANet learned it's lessons very well and are only making GW2 to address the worst of the problems. All in all, I think GW2 will do just fine. With people in WoW still somewhat looking to get out and a large existing fanbase, GW2 will be in a good position. As long as Blizzard doesn't announce it's next MMO before then. >.<

I was actually thinking they could even charge more for the box rather than the usual $49.95 since they will not be using a subscription model. I know they have some book deal in place but we don't even know if that money will be used to help support the game. This game will definitely need some other source of income for the long haul.

Originally Posted by MarlinBackna

~6,000,000 boxes sold * $30 average price = ~$180mil of gross profit made from all of GW. While that isn't the $1.1bil that Blizzard got last year (99% of that being subs), that isn't bad considering the $18mil+ dev costs. Now GW1 was a good proof of concept: they proved that you can sell a high volume of boxes pretty easily for an MMO. GW2, however, is hopefully being designed extremely well so that it is built to last. ANet learned it's lessons very well and are only making GW2 to address the worst of the problems. All in all, I think GW2 will do just fine. With people in WoW still somewhat looking to get out and a large existing fanbase, GW2 will be in a good position. As long as Blizzard doesn't announce it's next MMO before then. >.<

Oh i'm sure they will announce it. But they've already stated their new MMO will not be from any of their current IPs (warcraft, starcraft and diablo). So there's still a good chance that people wont like the concept of their MMO (though i'm betting the rabid blizzard fanbois will buy into it and hype it up like they've done every other blizzard title).

Myself...I had gone to WoW before factions released so you bet your buns ill be here for GW2!

Do you actually think the F2P business model will be able to support Guild Wars 2 for the long term ?

If the economy stays the way it does when GW2 releases I wouldnt be the least bit surprised if WoW loses a large subscription base to GW2. It's a pay once deal for a new (and albeit hard hitter in the MMO genre) and innovative game, so yeah GW2 has alot going for it.

I expect some large Cash Shops
(Cough "Rune of Magic" Cough)

Originally Posted by Tro

I expect some large Cash Shops
(Cough "Rune of Magic" Cough)

Then keep expecting.

Cash shops would destroy their game.

Originally Posted by tommynj

Do you actually think the F2P business model will be able to support Guild Wars 2 for the long term?

There is no reason to suggest F2P cannot work. Even for MMO's which have a stigma for having to be P2P. If you can work around overhead costs, such as live admins/moderators, then a monthly fee isn't required.

At the risk of sounding like a critic...
What worries me is the fact Anet seems to be making the same dang mistakes all over again. For instance, when Prophecies was being released it was touted as being a platform with unlimited possibilities. The engine was so adaptable, our characters could stick around and enjoy an ever changing world. Well here we are a few years later discussing Guild Wars 2 (chuckle). As appeasement we were given the Hall of Monuments. Sure one could argue: "3+ years, 3+ major expansions...that's exactly what we got." Of course one could counter-argue: "Explain Guild Wars 2 then."

Let's cut to the chase. We're all feeling the strain (no, not Jeff). Players being spread thin over content and the programmers and developers having to pump out that content at a grueling pace. Those are the reasons for Guild Wars 2, not becuase everyone wanted to play as an Asura or dual wield or be level 215.
So far we've learned GW2's original story starts off with Cantha and Elona cut off. Logic says they are going to add those at a later date and price. Okay, so... what's changed exactly????

Q: Do you actually think the F2P business model will be able to support Guild Wars 2 for the long term?
A: Regrettably, no. It's been a great ride, however, I don't think any of us were expecting the disembark point to be so soon.

Originally Posted by Nemeon Lion

Then keep expecting.

Cash shops would destroy their game.

Which is why I dont expect it to be all that great.

I suggest In-game advertisement.

Originally Posted by Tro

Which is why I dont expect it to be all that great.

I suggest In-game advertisement.

Wow, you go from a bad idea to a terrible idea.

In-game advertisements? Holy christ! Imagine getting to the last room of the strongest boss only to be greeted with a loading time trying to persuase me to buy something when I only want to play the game I already bought!