Free To Pay (F2P) - Pay at Your Discretion

Free to Play - Myth?
I always found it odd that companies were able to consistently charge fees for games online. Having been a long time player of Diablo 2, and having free subscriptions to other social gaming communities, I was very used to being able to go online, regardless of my income status, and simply play whenever I wanted. https://yasmin-yasminlife.blogspot.com/2019/01/free-to-pay-f2p-pay-at-your-discretion.html

At some point, however, the world of online subscriptions took over. Even purchased off of a shelf, games would charge $4-$12 to access the features it promised on the box cover.
But, of course, we paid.

Recently, however, there has been a massive downturn in active subscriptions for these games. Over all, only one game is known to have a growing subscription base, EVE Online, and even this is a small growth over time.

To combat this, we are now watching F2P enter the market. F2P, known as Free to Play, is a system that allows the free distribution of game clients online. The client will allow the user to log in and play a base version of the game. Instead of a subscription, the user has access to an in-game shop, known commonly as a CashShop. This shop contains everything a gamer could need, or want, to enhance their gaming experience. https://yasmin-yasminlife.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-future-of-3d-online-games.html

Of course, this means spending is entirely at the gamer's discretion. You may spend as much, or as little, as you wish while only affecting your own experience, not the content itself.
Listed below are some of the most popular F2P games currently available.

Perfect World International

Among the oldest and most successful F2P franchise around, Perfect World offers a level of immersion rarely seen among today's RPGs.

Based in Ancient China, on the myths of Pangu, PWI places the player in the middle of a world rich in community, combat, ecomonics and even love... even the ability to choose your own path. Be the hero or the anti-hero. It is up to you.

Perhaps the best thing about this platform, however, is that the game continues to grow. To follow up their five year anniversary, PWE has just announced GENESIS. This newest expansion will bring a new race which, true to the PWI form, will include two new classes. Just one more reason to take a look at what PWI has to offer.

Let it never be said that free to play isn't high on content.
With a cash shop which is updated weekly, and events designed to familiarize the player with their surrounding community, PWI truly is what you, the player, make of it.
Lord of the Rings
Having just recently made the switch from subscription to F2P, Lord of the Rings: Online is a game that will appeal to even the hardest core Tolkien fans.

Careful not to tread on the toes of the original books, LOTRO puts in the players in the shoes of an adventurer before the the first book begins. It's a tail of the background, of the small battles, skirmishes, and the effort of those less known.

Visually, the game is stunning. Still a developing world, LOTRO is successful in allowing it's players to explore regions before familiar and otherwise, and to better understand the way Tolkiens world worked.

Being so new to the world of F2P, LOTROs cash shop is still rather lacking. Free players will find themselves restricted in what they can do without purchases as well. However, gameplay will allow even free players to unlock these items at no cost to them... well... except for their time.
Dungeons and Dragons Online https://yasmin-yasminlife.blogspot.com

F2P for a while now, Dungeons and Dragons Online harkens back to the days of the ten sided die rpgs. Based on the 4th edition rules, DDO has no true storyline to travel, simply a conglomoraton of quests and instances, much the same as the old paper based system had.

While an active world, one should not expect the interaction and community found in other MMOs.
The cash shop in DDO is intended to allow the player to enhance their experience, buying items and quest packs, as well as expansions for the game itself. While none are needed to play, it does not take long to play through the original content. Good thing for those playing free... it also does not take long to build enough credit to unlock those extras simply by playing the game.
Jade Dynasty

Possibly the most intriguing game currently available for those with limited time, Jade Dynasty takes the player to Ancient Japan.

The storyline is unique to every player, not just a specific class, meaning that every character you use will have their own story to tell.

And why the unique storyline? Well, because the characters in Jade Dynasty are classless. It is up to the player to make decisions based on his or her playing style, and model their character appropriately. This game truly rewards good decisions with better results.
The cash shop here, again, is designed to further customize the characters and drive the in game marketplace. While players who don't use it will find themselves at a disadvantage, the whole game is accessible without spending a single dollar.
Rappelz
F2P since day one, Rappelz is among the oldest free games in the free roaming style. Based in an entirely fictional world, it is unique in almost every aspect of it's gameplay.
The world, as is the case in most MMOs, is entirely character driven. The storyline exists, but is not the focus. This bulk of the game takes place in the development experience, and the individuality of your avatar.
The cash shop is 100% optional, but will make your progression much easier and is designed as a supplement.
Runescape
Runescape has, without a doubt, developed a very loyal and active user base. While the game has started to show it's age graphically, and still maintains a subscription base, it also offers a limited game experience for those who wish to try it in the F2P style.

Despite it's age, Runescape continues to be a fun experience for any age. The customization and class options for your characters remain vast and uncomplicated.
Dynasty Warriors Online

Anyone who owned, or knew someone with, a console, played Dynasty Warriors at some point in their lives. It's incredible scope was enough to keep most gamers coming back.

Everyone who played also saw the obvious... it was completely set to be an MMO.

Now it is. Soon to enter it's closed beta phase, Dynasty Warriors Online takes all the wide open combat elements of the console games and combines it with the open world aspects of an MMO.
With everything from 4 vs 4 brawls, 12 vs 12 pvp battles, campaign modes designed for map ownership, and a 1 vs 1 arena, Dynasty Warriors Online promises to deliver everything you loved about Dynasty Warriors... and then some.

Dynasty Warriors Online's expected release date in North America and Europe is 2010, but it has been available in Japan since 2006.

Of course, you can also expect some of the things you didn't like (hack hack slash... hack hack slash... repeat)
Vindictus

Vindictus brings a welcome departure from other rpgs, in that instead of the medieval or Japanese mythology setting that is so common here, it drops the player into Celtic lore. With an interactive environment and enticing storyline, Vindictus can be as immersive as it is attractive.
Skill and attack animations have been finely crafted to give the player the feeling of real power, as well being distrinctive from eachother, making is easier to know what your companion is doing and aid him appropriately. And it looks cool too.

While things can get repetitive, the game will continue to reward the player with a greater story and continuos advancement, making the effort worth while.

Uncharted Waters Online

Uncharted Waters in a Nautical Themed MMORPG. It offers the user to travel on land or sea in a fantasy world displayed in full 3D.
The game itself offers a full economic system, in which players buy, sell, and ship goods to ports around the world. Of course, where there is profit there are also pirates, and you will need to fight them off to find your fortune in Uncharted Waters.

The graphics here are showing their age, but with age comes maturity. Already out for seven years in Asia, what Uncharted Waters gives up in looks it makes up for in experience.
What age also brings is the ability to run on a lower end computer. For any of you out there with a clunker from way back, why not put it to use? (other than as a backup word processor, or big freaking coaster)

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