The Ghost of Christmas Future, II

[slipper]

Waiting for Haven 2

[Rodimus]

Is this free?

[WaitingforHaven2]

Is this free?

As far as I know they have not yet announced how they will monetize the game. But it is very likely that it will be free to play with a cash shop. The question is therefore rather what will be sold in the cash shop specifically. They have also said that the game will be open for public testing once it is barely playable. Just keep track of the development and you should be able to check it out in a few months (probably).

For detailed information read this thread:
http://www.havenandhearth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34730
(contains statements from the developers concering the new game)

[soapdish]

But it is very likely that it will be free to play with a cash shop

I don't think it is likely, personally, not their style despite Salem(whether or not it was their choice in Salem)

[WaitingforHaven2]

I don't think it is likely, personally, not their style despite Salem(whether or not it was their choice in Salem)

I base my statement on these factors:

- the current trend in the MMO industry are cash shops. The new Haven will compete with other games on the market and f2p models seem to be more successful than traditional strategies.
- they already had experience with it in Salem and know how to set one up. An acquaintance of mine, who works for a small game company, told me that cash shops work rather well (though I'm not sure if Salem was advertised anywhere). I just assume they had a more or less good experience with the shop in Salem.
- a good portion of the currently rather low (and international) playerbase would probably break away if they introduced an obligatory fee of some kind. Might be a bit risky if the marketing fails (the game looks pretty good though).
- the open testing phase somewhat implies that it will be f2p eventually

Of course your expectations can vary. I can read their minds as little as you can.

[Amanda44]

I'm not reading through 88 pages but I think there was mention of monetizing it via extra chars or x amount of play time free and then a fee - I can't remember exactly so I could be wrong, I didn't like it was all I can clearly remember, lol.

[Kaios]

- the current trend in the MMO industry are cash shops. The new Haven will compete with other games on the market and f2p models seem to be more successful than tradional strategies

The only reason for this "trend" as you call it is because it is widely known that the amount of money made using the traditional P2P model pales in comparison to the amount of money that customers can be exploited for through a "not really F2P with cash shop" model. The proof is in the pudding. I highly doubt this is the direction Jorb and Loftar intend to take this game and I only hope the inclusion of a cash shop in Salem was more of a Paradox thing than a Seatribe one.

Don't think they would restrict it to P2P only but perhaps they'll take the route of free to play with a monthly sub for extra perks and/or content? In any case, I have a feeling they'll continue on a donation basis at least for a little while during the core of its development anyways so this likely won't be a concern for some time.

[soapdish]

I have a feeling they'll continue on a donation basis at least for a little while during the core of its development anyways so this likely won't be a concern for some time.

i won't pay to play
i know i need to donate, id rather mail a check

[Kaios]

i won't pay to play
i know i need to donate, id rather mail a check

I was just complaining to borka the other day that their donation page sucks. I could just use google translate to translate the page but the fact that it is in Swedish in the first place rather than English (the language most players speak on this game) is annoying and off-putting and I also could not find Canada on the list until he told me that some European languages spell it as Kanada so I did find it now.

[WaitingforHaven2]

The only reason for this "trend" as you call it is because it is widely known that the amount of money made using the traditional P2P model pales in comparison to the amount of money that customers can be exploited for through a "not really F2P with cash shop" model.

Arghh.. you had to quote my typo from before I fixed it.

Anyway, I used the word "trend" to describe a development. The meaning "fashionable" or "hip" was not intended. And while I don't like the idea of luring people to waste their money on meaningless things (gamble boxes, useable items that reduce waiting time / increase grinding speed, etc.) I also don't feel like bringing justice into the equation. Talking about exploitation is talking about how much a person is responsible for his own actions here.

Suffice to say that not every cash shop needs to be evil either. I thought Salem's was rather humane compared to others I've seen. Or take a look at Path of Exile's cash shop. This one almost exclusively sells fashion items. The idea of f2p is first and foremost to gather as many users as possible and collect money from the smaller of percentage of these users who are willing to buy objects (with the prospect of being able to apply prices according to what people can spend in a certain country). If the developers are a bunch of profit-maximizing asshats they will add a lot of unseemly shit to the selection. In that case it's a good idea to quit the game. There are always better ways to spend your time.