City of Heroes going F2P

[Tach Deneva]

Here we go again with yet another MMO - this time the venerable 7-year old City of Heroes - moving to a Free to Play format. Looks to be pretty much standard F2P format: play for free with various limits/restrictions, or pay the sub fee and be a 'VIP'.

http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/freedo ... rview.html

http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=263587

[PanzerMeyer]

Ever since LOTR went free to play and they doubled their income, it's been a tidal wave of other MMO's going the same route.

[Ghost]

I will probably try this one out. Tach do you know when it is going to be free?

[Tach Deneva]

Didn't see a date. It's supposed to be going into closed beta right away, though - like, today or tomorrow. So it shouldn't be long.

Edit: current subscribers will begin accruing free 'Paragon Points' beginning July 1st, at a rate of 400 per month.

http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/freedo ... m_faq.html

[Softball]

Fo shizzle! I will most CERTAINLY play this on the F2P. I miss playing this, very fun MMO.

[Buffalo Six]

Hmmm.....I cant even remember if my subscription is even up to date

[Tach Deneva]

Hmmm.....I cant even remember if my subscription is even up to date

Which one?

[Buffalo Six]

Either or.....I think the main was on a 6 month or yearly sub and the other was month to month.

I bet it fell apart when I got new CC's and the date changed

[Tach Deneva]

Originally Posted by Golden Girl on the City of Heroes forums:

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Trial accounts being flamed under the statue of Atlas. I watched paid-for costume auras glitter in the dark near the Hollows Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like QQing in a PvP zone. Time to ragequit."

[Buffalo Six]

interesting, the CC that is used on both accounts expired in 2009 but.....all my accounts are playable and billing has been able to charge to it. Heck my 6 month sub renewed (and was charged) in April and my 2nd account which is month to month was charged on the 11th of this month.....

I think I need to talk to my CC company about this.

[Tach Deneva]

Holy No Credit Check Required, Buffman!

Are the numbers on the old and new CCs the same?

[Buffalo Six]

card #s yes, ex date no and the 3 digit security codes are different

But NCsoft says both accounts are playable

[Tach Deneva]

Hmm, well, you be racking up the vet time then - might even be ahead of me thanks to my two 5-month or so hiatuses. Hiatusi?

[Tach Deneva]

Some screenies of soon to be coming soon stuff:

http://www.cityofheroes.com/images/issu ... wer_02.jpg

http://www.cityofheroes.com/images/issu ... _light.jpg

http://www.cityofheroes.com/images/issu ... ers_02.jpg

http://www.cityofheroes.com/images/issu ... serene.jpg

http://www.cityofheroes.com/images/issu ... amidon.jpg

http://www.cityofheroes.com/images/issu ... _shift.jpg

Galaxy City to go BOOM! The forecast calls for heavy meteor showers with Shivans.

http://www.cityofheroes.com/includes/im ... ic_cvr.jpg

[Softball]

I was just reading through some of the comparisons between free, premium, and VIP. It looks like you won't be able to be part of a Super Group in the free mode; bummer. Nor will free or premium players be able to get ANY Paragon points; okay....I guess, it's free. Interesting that they will have a separate VIP server for those that choose they don't want to play with "Freedom fighters."

http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/freedo ... oices.html

[Tach Deneva]

Nor will free or premium players be able to get ANY Paragon points;

Yeah. I asked about that in a couple of threads on the COH forums - no one, not even other players, responded. Makes no sense to me. In LOTRO free players can complete deeds and earn points. It's slow, sure, but it's an actual 'free' alternative to buying points.

[Tach Deneva]

"Welcome to City of Heroes Freedom! Now open to all!

"Welcome to new players and veterans alike!

"After several months' wait since the official announcement, City of Heroes Freedom™ is now accessible to all!
Free players can now join our Premium and VIP players on the live servers in order to experience the extensive content of our 7-year-old super powered MMO!"

[Softball]

*sigh* Another game I don't have time for. However, I'm sure my wife will be thrilled. She enjoys playing City of Heroes.

[Tach Deneva]

As a Premium player with enough previous paid time to put me 1 reward token away from Tier 8 (of 9) on the vet reward scale, there's not much besides the Incarnate stuff that I can't access. It just so happens that I pretty much hate the Incarnate stuff anyway, so... WINNING.

I wound up with 13 character slot unlocks available on Infinity, 2 more on Protector, and 2 Global slot unlocks for use wherever. I used one of the Global unlocks on Virtue and will probably use the other on Union, so I can team with the Titanium Debtinators.

I also had accumulated 1200 Paragon Points, 800 of which I used to unlock the new power set Time Manipulation so I could roll a new Time/Fire defender named Pastime. I've had that name reserved ever since I heard about that power set.

So I can pretty much play the entire game with only a few restrictions - for FREE! It's almost like being a lifetimer...