Subscription vs. FTP

     Cannot think of a clever quote to start this with.  We all know that we need down time.  This comes in many forms.  I'll talk about my personal, which the world of games.  If you've been here awhile you know my predilection and enjoyment of said activities.  I'll begin with the brief definitions.  Then hopefully it will stay coherent instead of dissolving into a free form sort of conjecture.  So what are they?

     The 2 most common ones are 'Subscrition" or FTP aka Free To Play.  The subscription is exactly how it sounds.  You pay month to month to have an account and play.  This usually entails a support system by the network and such.  Often very secure because they have your billing information.  They can very often be in depth and quite a lot of fun.  Mine was Ultima Online.

     FTP is exactly as it sounds.  There is no money needed to play these.  These games can be found also on computers and phones.  My general experience has been limited to the ones on phones so that is where we will stay.  Although you could lump in the site POGO and those akin to them.  I have no real idea about the security of these networks.  

     What is the draw?  Well gamers like games.  The subscription based usually entails a lot of planning and development.  This takes programmers and an entire support team.  With Ultima there were good story lines but there was a free flow.  You didn't have to follow a plot.  

     The thing I enjoyed was just that freedom.  It was an ideal game set up.  I'm sure to anyone who does not know or want to care about gaming it sounds preposterous.  I however, could enjoy things as simple as a boring task of mining for an hour or two. Then go out and do another craft.  Usually I spent my time hunting dangerous monsters.  Oh I lived for a long time in the 'Blood Dungeon' hunting Daemons.  I'm actually smiling remembering it.  

     The FTP is an opposite to this sort of game.  It is rather structured.  Not to much freedom.  There are limits as to what can be done.  I imagine, no fact here, that there is no customer support.  You simply unleash it and wait for the money to come in.

     What's that you say?  Money to come in?  Yes.  There in lays the rub.  Money.  The FTP game offers advancement or in game 'gems' to get to higher levels.  Or better gear and such.  There is a segment of people that do this willingly.

     That is not to say that the subscription based doesn't have it's own offshoot of this.  However, you can get just as far without having to spend actual real world money.  I have not found this in the FTP games I have encountered.  They always offer something for some low price.  Here is where the water gets murky.

     While the subscription bangs you monthly for the same amount.  The FTP can have untold earnings if it is of good quality.  The FTP I have currently offers these 'gems' items for in game purchases.  No I don't ever intend on buying them.

     For $1.99 you can get 200 gems.  They go fast.  And when you think about it what's $1.99?  A cup of coffee?  Then factor in the player base.  Everyone has a phone and some sort of game.  Not everyone can be playing candy crush.

     Lets just say there are 100 people playing this game.  And they all forego the cup of coffee and spend the $1.99.  (yes that is the lowest price you can get more.  We'll just stick with this example.) Now multiply that.

     $200 on a spur of the moment purchase.  And we all know that 100 people is a very small quotient.  On my subscription based model that is just 3 people needed to make that money.  What is the difference?

     $200 for a game that requires little customer support, probably no webmaster, that's profit.  What the company pays on the subscription model is probably outrageous.  And just for the support and webmaster, and people I can't think of.  That $200 isn't spit in the ocean.

     The thing with the FTP games is that it is very regimented.  You can only do so much.  And many are geared so that if you wish to do more in the game you MUST buy gems.  There are a lot of people willing to do this.

     So yes the FTP is a cash cow.  But I think I would prefer subscription based.  Also I am only speaking of the free FTP in this segment.  I've not ventured into the ones that cost real $ just to buy it then play.

     I hope this was slightly informative and a good read.

-later