Interesting comment.
Then why advert it as free to play?
Home page says;
and in the Donations section;
I've only played for about a week. I don't really feel moved to donate on most things until I get a genuine "feel" for it. Right now I can't say too much as leveling is a bit of a road and I can't tell yet if this will be a "home" for me or not yet.
To make myself completely understood I am going to try to re-iterate what I feel is the important thing I said. Can't speak for others, but I don't wish my POV lumped in with everything else. I don't live in Lemmingville.
** To take items or functions that are necessary to BASIC game play mechanics and charge real money for them will be disastrous to the players morale and willingness to play this game **
I can see making basic game play maps that are stripped down of some graphics and are BASIC game play central to the game experience of Eternal Lands. That means that all necessary items to skill up in any of the skills should be available. Do I think it should be fast and easy? Not necessarily.
Instead make additional extended and better graphic rendered maps for pay. Let's say that basic play has eight maps. Extend for pay on tiers of service to 3 more $20 a year, 6 more $40 a year, ten more $60 a year <--this is ONLY an example.
Additionally put fashionable items that cannot be made in-game (without nixing in-game crafting/tailoring), but put other fashion items into a Cash Shop structure.
I don't know about the horses, but you can charge for speeding them up. I've seen this done in another game and simply haven't chosen to speed mine up. Others do though and love it.
Charge for special events if your player base is asking for these - weddings, birthday parties, etc., you can have special event maps for these that cost to rent.
Ornamental weapons and armor that don't necessarily give better damage etc., but that look really cool can be sold for cash.
If I like a game well enough I might buy a house. I don't know if I would lease one. Depends on what the yearly cost was.
There MUST be some things that you folks get PM'ed about that players want added to the game that you can't see a way to do based on whatever costs are associated with adding and maintaining them. Many of these can probably be developed for sale.
I don't necessarily expect a game or world to be free for everything they offer, what I like and more importantly what makes me stick around, is a choice to spend when I have, and not have to spend when I don't have.
