It was just announced that LotRO would is will be “free to play” with the launch of Volume 3: Book 2, which will include a whole new region – Enedwaith. What do they mean by free? In the official press release it states players will be able to proceed to level 50 totally free. For those who have played DDO, you will have an idea what the LotRO store will be. Essentially it will sell premium items that often take quite a bit of work to get to. DDO often launches new areas which cost money to get access to, while this does give players more choice of what content that will have access to, it seems like a slap to some of the current LotRO players. I know several people who have bought a lifetime subscription in the past year. At $200 some “lifetime” subscription holders, myself included, feel like we have just been punched by Turbine. Whether we will get any special benefits was not explained. LotRO will also be selling the LotRO VIP which in DDO costs $15 per month and gets you free access to all released premium content and a monthly allowance of points to buy premium items.
Turbine’s Award-winning Online Game Will Be Free-to-Play Worldwide This FallBURBANK, CA – June 4, 2010 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today that Turbine, Inc. will unveil a major update this fall, making The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) free-to-play for everyone. Extending its award-winning story, LOTRO delivers the ultimate adventure featuring a massive world with state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay, and a rich set of features that until now could only be found in premium subscription-based online games.
Launching this fall across North America and Europe, with Codemasters operating the game free-to-play in Europe, LOTRO will introduce Turbine’s innovative new pricing model that allows players to download the game and play for free, purchase expansions, quest packs, items, and account services a la carte from the new LOTRO Store, or join the VIP program to get unlimited access to all of the game’s content for one low price. Players interested in getting a sneak peek of the new LOTRO can sign up for a chance to participate in the Beta program which begins June 16, 2010 at http://www.lotro.com.
“Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is bringing quality games based on The Lord of the Rings to multiple platforms, and the franchise’s expansive adventure story lends itself perfectly for LOTRO free-to-play, giving a wide range of players the opportunity to experience the game,” said Jeff Junge, Senior Vice President Online Games and Digital Games Platforms, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We are focused on expanding our game franchises onto new digital platforms to maximize quality experiences for gamers worldwide and LOTRO’s new model is a great leading example of this.”
“Turbine’s Dungeons and Dragons Online®: Eberron Unlimited™ was the world’s first truly premium free-to-play online game that ushered in a new era of choice for online gamers seeking quality entertainment,” said Jim Crowley, President and CEO of Turbine. “The popularity of DDO validated the extraordinary demand by gamers for quality entertainment they can experience at their own pace and within their budget. Extending free-to-play to LOTRO will offer another premium game to a broad spectrum of fans.”
“Having successfully taken two titles free-to-play in the past we are very pleased to be doing the same with The Lord of the Rings Online in Europe,” said David Solari, Vice President and General Manager of Codemasters Online. “It’s a fantastic, award-winning game with a wonderfully realized world and this step will only broaden its appeal and increase its player base.”
LOTRO will offer players unlimited choice!
- Free means Free! – Players will download LOTRO by visiting www.lotro.com and join with millions of other adventurers as they explore the most complete and authentic recreation of Middle-earth ever created and participate in LOTRO’s award-winning epic story up to level 50 for free.
- Visit the new LOTRO Store! — The LOTRO Store is loaded with thousands of convenience items as well as expansion packs, premium content, additional character slots, potions, character customization and more! The LOTRO Store is seamlessly integrated into the game and lets the player identify new and exciting ways to enhance and customize their experience using points which can be purchased in the store or earned through gameplay.
- Be a LOTRO VIP! – Players who elect to become a LOTRO VIP will have unlimited access to all premium content, receive priority server access, 5 character slots, a shared bank slot, and a monthly allotment of points to spend in the new LOTRO Store.
The Lord of the Rings Online is the ultimate adventure. This award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most famous fantasy of all time. From the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to Moria, the most fearsome underground realm ever imagined, players will soon experience the world of Middle-earth for free! For more information, visit www.lotro.com.
I will continue to update everyone as news comes in. While this may sting some of the game’s veterans, it will also open new doors.
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Comments:
Balin38:
It may be wierd to those who already play it in the sense that lifetime subscriptions are put in an interesting place but the free-to- 50 system is what's going to make me try the game for the first time when that update happens.
zach:
Well it has got my friends interested in it again. We want to play a lot before the change if things start going downhill.
LegolasGreenleaf:
Can i ask a question???Is f2p only for american servers(Turbine) or for both Turbine servers and Codemasters' servers??
zach:
Its worldwide... It was just announced that the North American version would get new servers, as Turbine actually runs it. In other areas companies have joined with Turbine to offer the game, for example: Codemasters for Europe.
Samus1111111:
Bah... personally, I think this is a bad idea, but 50 is definitely too high of a level to reach in F2P. Maybe around 30 or something would be better. Then, there would be more content for the paying people. Overall, I think this is a bad move and will make a good portion of the player base mad (especially the people who have been buying monthly subscriptions) because they spent the money to get to whatever level they are right now when now new people can come in and do it for free. While this is a good move for me since I can now play to 50 without having to play which is what my parents hated, I still do not like the idea of being able to access almost, if not, 75% of the game for free.
also, with this announcement, the lifetime subscription has disappeared (hopefully not permanently...) which stinks because I was just about to purchase one... :cry
Heron:
zach:
also, with this announcement, the lifetime subscription has disappeared (hopefully not permanently...) which stinks because I was just about to purchase one... :cry
Balin38:
All of you make good points but I think this is a sign that the developers have realised that this is a move that will bring in a good amount of new blood to the game and energise the player base. I play World of Warcraft and because of that I would never have contemplated paying for LOTRO. This move is exactly what's going to make me do that. And I'm sure I'm not the only person in that boat.
While it is true that the current player base might not like it, they won't cancel their subscriptions and in a few months things will settle back down... just with much more people.
SuPeR x CuRRy:
i think that it is a bad idea that it is going free even though there will be loads of new players
Samus1111111:
ya, because then you end up with more of those people who just want to play a game and don't care about the story/lore enough to pay for it.
Willim33:
Why does it matter whether people care about the story and lore of it all?
SuPeR x CuRRy:
Because it makes it better
Samus1111111:
Balin38:
But I don't grant your premise. That most new players will not appreciate the lore. I would think the ones just looking for gameplay would choose World of Warcraft as opposed to LOTRO. Making the game F2P enables those LOTR fans who aren't so willing to instantly pay monthly fees without being confident of the game's quality to play the game.
At the very least, you can't be sure of what will happen until it becomes F2P and being unhappy about that change before any evidence exists is a pretty silly reason to be unhappy. Especially when you consider that the biggest hurdle many MMOs face is developing a player base.
Ayodon:
Awesome! I will be playing LOTRO soon. :D
Arvedui:
Well its a bummer that I've been playing a subscription for almost two years now and I still have all my characters under level 50. Looking forward to a larger player base though.
Ayodon:
QFT They should have done this from the start.
Dante:
Ayodon:
The almighty dollar takes priority over everything.
Balin38:
And they'll get the almighty dollar once we're through the door. So it's win win really.
Ilaras of The Dunedain:
Freek:
Money == what fans want. If people dont like a game ,they dont buy it :)
Samus1111111:
True, but have any of you read on lotro.com the differences in accout levels (for lack of a better word). With this switch, if you are only a free player and don't pay, basically everything outside of the starting areas will have to be bought from the lotro shop. That includes, quest packs, storage space, character slots, ect. Now I have never played an MMO that has had a store (except DDO, but not much on that and I haven't ever bought anything from the store) and it seems to me that this will costs the players MORE money than they were paying before. I still don't think that this is a good idea, even if I do like not having to pay anymore.
Here's the link to the comparision chart: http://www.lotro.com/betasignup/vipchart.html
zach:
It depends on HOW much these quest packs cost. If they only cost 10 per zone then it will prolly be cheaper in the long run for people who play a lot. At first it will be costly as you move through levels fast, but later on it will cost less than what most people pay per month now. That is if they go with DDO pricing.
Regardless ... what I would suggest is that everyone even remotely interested in LotRO F2P is to spend $10 on the MoM expansion and you will get 90% of the quest packs for free as well as the 2 premium classes. PLUS you will get a free month so you can start playing now and get a jump on playing because the Noob areas are gunna be PACKED this fall.
Cheeky Hobbit:
I don't see what's wrong with this news at all; I think it's fantastic.
Samus1111111:
I do have one question that I can't find the answer to. How does one become a Premium player? I know that a F2P player just has to download and start playing, and VIPs pay the monthly cost, but how does one become a Premium player? Do you pay to become a VIP, then stop paying?
zach:
Two Ways ...
1) Be a VIP and stop paying.
2) Pay $$ for Turbine Points(Even a $5 purchase will get you this).
Samus1111111:
ok, now that I've gotten more information I don't think that the change will be bad at all. I still think that there are a few little things about the limitations that need tweaking, but other than that I'm fine (except for them doing away with lifetime memberships before the switch even takes place... still pissed about that...).