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So Blizzard just announced some more details about its upcoming F2P MMORPG, Diablo 3, but left out one big detail: It's an F2P MMORPG.
See, that's a big detail, because the previous Diablo games have been single-player action games with a multiplayer component. So it's no wonder players expected Diablo 3 to be the same.
But it's an F2P MMORPG, don't be tricked into thinking otherwise.
- Do you have to play online connected to their servers? YES.
- Is the game largely multiplayer with plenty of instanced solo content, though your friends can come join you any time? YES.
- Is the game supported by in-game microtransactions though auction house purchases and the sale of cosmetic items? YES.
- Do you pay a monthly subscription fee? NOPE!
- Mods? Pfft. Who's ever heard of modding an MMORPG? Of Course NOT!
So where's the confusion? Well, maybe the fact that you have to pay for the initial download and account registration. It's kind of painful, but Guild Wars did that and it was still successful, so Blizzard probably figures it can double-dip too.
I'm actually kind of amazed they aren't triple-dipping with the subscription fee, but no doubt some premium VIP service for subscribers will be added as soon as they can figure out how.
So now that we've cleared up this confusion, people can safely accept that the game has no special DRM, the online only thing is just a part of doing business with F2P MMORPGs. All F2P MMORPGs have this "internet connection required" business but no one accuses them of evil DRM, so why should Blizzard's F2P MMORPG get such a bad rep?
If there's any reason to protest, it should be because Blizzard changed the kind of game it was making; that they're making the kind of game that players might not want. Maybe you didn't actually want a F2P MMORPG from Blizzard.
Maybe you actually wanted a single-player offline game with optional multiplayer component. Well, not that Blizzard gives a shit what you want, you'll buy whatever they sell you, be it an MMORPG or a sparkling pony. But if you're going to complain about anything at all, that's where your complaints should be directed.
Me? Well, I'm interested in seeing where this new forray into F2P space takes Blizzard. Plus, I'm very interested in seeing how the in-game economy develops with their new auction house. I tend to write a lot about virtual economies, after all. If nothing else it will set a major precedent in real currency transactions in-game. Something to keep an eye on, to be sure.
What about you? Are you eager to play Blizzard's upcoming F2P MMORPG?
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Mr. Ludgate, this post is pure, unadulterated win.
However, if you look at it as an F2P MMO then it seems dated. I've played the F2P hack-and-slash MMO before and it wasn't all that appealing... and it didn't even have an initial fee. Will it have free content updates like MMOs generally offer? Probably not, we'll just get patches.
Nice article!
I wonder if this is going to be seen as gambling by the authorities and undergo the same sort of scrutiny.
I also believe that your title is a bit confusing for the less experienced gamer because a F2P MMO is totally different than what Blizzard has presented D3 to be. Here are 2 simple Reasons D3 is NOT an MMORPG:
D3 - Games are based on limited "co-op" of a max of 8 players per game.
MMO - Servers have thousands of players present simultaneously
D3 - You can theoretically solo the WHOLE Game.
MMO - No way can you solo the whole game. As a matter of fact most boss encounters require 3-5 players if not a whole raid.
Furthermore, I would like to point out your utterly incorrect (almost yellow) statements.
•Is the game supported by in-game micro-transactions though auction house purchases and the sale of cosmetic items?
--FALSE - The game is free and stable whether people use the cash AH or not, also there are NO blizzard sanctioned "cosmetic items" - where on earth did you read that? What you forget to mention is that people can opt to not use this system at all.
•Mods? Pfft. Who's ever heard of modding an MMORPG? Of Course NOT!
--You have obviously never played an MMO - I can think of at least 100 different mods for WoW alone. Not to mention the thousands of UI tweeks, texture packs, and sound packs that can be altered for at least half of the MMOs out there.
•Do you pay a monthly subscription fee? NOPE!
--Hmm I don’t pay a monthly subscription for alot of my games that have online multiplayer functionality, I guess they are all MMOs.
•Is the game largely multiplayer with plenty of instanced solo content, though your friends can come join you any time? YES.
--This is the EXACT OPPOSITE of an MMO. One game comes to mind when I read this statement. Guild Wars. There are literally millions of people that will tell you that Guild Wars is NOT an MMO, and in my opinion and by definition they are right.
In closing I feel either your article was an angry outlash with purposely bias statements or you don’t know what an MMORPG really is.