What do you guys think of "free" games or fremium games, as they are called?

[Evoman]

Have you played any you thought were great? I have to admit, I have a bit of a bias against them. I'm not sure if it's psychological or if free games really do seem worse than games I pay for. First of all, I absolutely hate the idea that someone with money can take shortuts and get more levels or items in the game. I also hate having to pay in increments to advance in the game, or wait to get more "lives". When I got lost in a game, really invested, I hate to be reminded to play for more coins or whatever so I can keep playing. I like playing how long I want to play on my own terms.

I didn't mind Plants Vs. Zombies so much. So far, it seems the right way of going about having a free game. And I would probably play League of Legends if I didn't hate the assholes you have to play with. But I always prefer paying for my games outright. No messing around. I also never pirate games, because I like to support my favourite developers so they will keep making games. But for some reason, I feel like a chump paying for free to play games, so the developers don't get any of my cash. I feel a bit guilty but I hate paying for something that should be a reward or a given inside the game.

What do you guys think. Free to play yay or nay?

[JoeyT]

1. I totally agree with you.

I'd much prefer to pay for a game outright. If I can't do that, I usually won't bother with it. I don't mind premium content in games where you can buy the content and that's the end of it. I just look at that as an expansion or DLC. Paying real money for expendable items in a game (Potions, currency, scrolls, etc.) isn't going to happen for me, though.

Probably the most hilarious example of what I'm talking about is some of the multiplayer flash games. Where a third of your screen is taken up by buttons trying to get you to buy the in game currency, and you aren't going to advance without doing it. Killing a foo gives a dollar, and the cheapest weapon in the shop is a hundred thousand bucks sort of thing. The second I see any multiplayer game has ridiculous amounts of game balance shifting stuff for sale, I'm done with it entirely. Though when I played I didn't mind EQ's, because the vast majority of the stuff you could buy for real money was cosmetic or easily obtainable in the game, which is a different matter entirely.

[Riftaxe]

2. I prefer F2P games myself

The good ones while allowing P2P rule, still allow F2P players too thrive..

I have been playing Atlantica Online for 5 years, they have thoroughly messed up their economy and the North American version is an unsupported afterthought compared to jAO or kAO but it is still possible to play for free and accomplish the game content.

If a F2P game is good enough, I don't mind dropping $15 a month like I have done with most of the MMO's past and present, F2P has the advantage that I can always stop paying and continue playing.

[Bjorn Against]

3. I have a much bigger problem with microtransactions in paid games than I do with Free to Play

I can understand microtransactions in Free to Play games because the developers need to make a living somehow, but I am bothered by the new trend I am seeing with microtransactions popping up in full price games. Both Forza 5 and Gran Turismo 6 have introduced microtransactions into their games and those microtransactions are extremely expensive, in Gran Turismo 6 there is one car that costs almost $200.00 in real cash. Why anyone would spend that I do not know, and Forza's microtransaction system is even worse as they eliminated the ability to win cars in races which means the only way to unlock new cars is to grind for hours or else shell out money. It is a free to play model in a full price game and this should never be acceptable.

I am fine with free to play, I am not fine with gouging the consumer on full price games.

[EX500rider]

4. Love FTP games!

I give them money if and when i want to... not $14 coming out of my account every month if i play or not....
I've been in Lord Of the Rings Online lately and u can level up just fine with no money.....I bought some armor in their store just to support the game and found better armor free the next day on a few quests...