Star Trek Online going F2P

[Tach Deneva]

Before the end of the year, according to the CEO of Perfect World, the China-based company that now owns Cryptic. And the peasants rejoiced.

PC Gamer article

[PanzerMeyer]

Well, imagine that? I'm not surprised at all by the move.

[Gator]

good -- that means i may continue my char ...

[PanzerMeyer]

So what about the people who bought lifetime memberships? Do they kind some kind of consolation prize or something?

[Tach Deneva]

Usually the free parts of the game are limited in some way - certain classes, races, areas, quests, gear, etc. might not be available to free players unless they pay to unlock them, or subscribe. It varies from game to game. The people who pay the monthly fee - and lifetime subscribers, aka 'lifers' - have access to everything and often get 'free' monthly points for game store items.

In Age of Conan, for example, free players are limited to only two characters (vs eight for subscribers) and have access to only four of the twelve classes. They can buy game store points - in this case, Funcom Points - in the game store and use them to unlock more character slots or classes. Subscribers can also buy game store points to unlock more character slots (up to sixteen) or to obtain various other items, like vanity armors, mounts, xp-boosting potions, server transfers, character renames, etc. if they want. AoC subscribers earn a few points every month - 60, I think. Not very many compared to, say, LOTRO, which gives subscribers a whopping 500 game store points per month. Last I heard, when City of Heroes goes F2P, subscribers will get 400 per month.

The only F2P MMO I know of that lets everyone - including free players - *earn* points for various in-game achievements - completing certain quests, deeds, and earning certain titles - is LOTRO.

[Hammer]

nice, i might actually play.

yeah - free parts are limited to try and get more people to but things because they get hooked on the free part.

[Softball]

This is good news....I guess. I have a lifetime account, so it's basically free for me but with all the perks. *shrug* I would love to get back into STO with the RLG crew, it's a decent space MMO.

[Tach Deneva]

I'm currently unsubscribed from STO (FREE THE HORTA!) but Hondo is still playing and I believe Buff has a lifetime sub. Not sure about Veg, but then, who is?

Heya Veg!

[Tach Deneva]

Ze Official Details:

Engage!

Admiral, there be whales here!

[Tach Deneva]

STO lead abandons ship.

[Buffalo Six]

STO lead abandons ship.

or was pushed off the plank.................

[Tach Deneva]

...weighted down with Horta attack pets...