Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer

Blizzard is "looking at free to play as an option for the multiplayer" in StarCraft II, reports StarcraftN, quoting lead designer Dustin Browder during a panel discussion at the Valencia eSports Congress. He also notes that the nature of their RTS sequel may not make this worthwhile. "We don’t know how we would monetize it," he adds. "While it might be good fun for me to play against someone with only half the units available to them, that’s not going to be an enjoyable experience for them." Thanks Eurogamer.
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15.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 23:04
Prez
 
15.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 23:04
Sep 21, 2012, 23:04
 Prez
 
As long as Starcraft 2 continues to have a dedicated offline singleplayer campaign, I don't care what they do with multiplayer. I never touch it. I really enjoyed SC2's campaign and would like to see more with the expansions if Blizzard ever finishes the things. As an aside it is utterly befuddling that companies nowadays think consumers give a crap about their never-ending quest to monetize everything. Why in the world would they think we give a shit about their struggles with figuring out how to make more money off of their customer base?

This comment was edited on Sep 21, 2012, 23:10.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
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14.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 22:37
14.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 22:37
Sep 21, 2012, 22:37
 
Dagnamit wrote on Sep 21, 2012, 22:32:
you guys say monetize like it's a 4 letter word, but forget that free 2 play means that they have to get some cash flow from somewhere. I sure as hell don't work for free. Do you?

Starcraft 2 is not a free product, they got their money already. Several million copies and counting.
Avatar 54452
13.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 22:32
13.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 22:32
Sep 21, 2012, 22:32
 
you guys say monetize like it's a 4 letter word, but forget that free 2 play means that they have to get some cash flow from somewhere. I sure as hell don't work for free. Do you?
12.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 22:26
12.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 22:26
Sep 21, 2012, 22:26
 
"We don’t know how we would monetize it,"
Hats for your zerglings. Or if you don't want to be accused of ripping TF2's money making scheme off completely, then shoes. Think how cool your zergling rush will look when they're all wearing Jordans. You could probably even get some advertising money from NIKE, and slap in a BUY THE REAL ONES button right there in the commands box.
11.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 22:12
11.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 22:12
Sep 21, 2012, 22:12
 
TheEmissary wrote on Sep 21, 2012, 22:02:
There is nothing wrong with F2P games in general they just don't make for very competitive games.

I don't see how you can say that especially given the ubiquity of LoL and Dota2 in esports. Tribes: Ascend is getting some notoriety as a competitive FPS, though I have to wonder how much of that is due to Hi-Rez's efforts to force it on the esports scene, and how much of that is genuine acceptance. I don't think a F2P version of SC2 would be any different.
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10.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 22:02
10.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 22:02
Sep 21, 2012, 22:02
 
eunichron wrote on Sep 21, 2012, 21:55:
TheEmissary wrote on Sep 21, 2012, 21:24:
I am sure the esports crowd isn't going to be happy about this one bit. Any game played competitively needs to be balanced and every one needs to have access to the same features. Free-to-play games your forced to monetize every bit of the game in some way.

I hope they don't start requiring people to buy tickets to play on the ladder or offering F2P buildings or units. I can't see people paying for banners or portraits.

Any way this seems like desperation because of the other major free to play RTS games such as End of Nations, CnC Generals 2. I think they see the writing on the wall.

I really don't think EoN or CnC:G2 will be any sort of competition regardless. People aren't going to play shitty games just because they're free, and as far as multiplayer competitive RTS BW/SC2 have been dominating for the last decade.

As far as people bitching about them worrying about how they would monetize it, what the fuck do you expect? No one would do F2P if they couldn't make money off of it. Even Valve makes boatloads of cash off of their F2P model. If you're expecting developers to just hand you shit with no way for them to make money, you're either stupid or naive. Seriously, your complaints aren't even making sense anymore, just go fuck yourselves.

Starcraft's multiplayer was built up around and thrived because of the esports scene. The move to free to play would more or less kill that. There are only so many ways you can monetize a free to play game one is pay to win/pay-tier items another is cosmetic items. Cosmetic items don't make sense in a RTS setting and still have the game be taken seriously. Example of what I mean look at End of Nations cheese and bacon unit skins.

There is nothing wrong with F2P games in general they just don't make for very competitive games.

This comment was edited on Sep 21, 2012, 22:08.
9.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 21:55
9.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 21:55
Sep 21, 2012, 21:55
 
TheEmissary wrote on Sep 21, 2012, 21:24:
I am sure the esports crowd isn't going to be happy about this one bit. Any game played competitively needs to be balanced and every one needs to have access to the same features. Free-to-play games your forced to monetize every bit of the game in some way.

I hope they don't start requiring people to buy tickets to play on the ladder or offering F2P buildings or units. I can't see people paying for banners or portraits.

Any way this seems like desperation because of the other major free to play RTS games such as End of Nations, CnC Generals 2. I think they see the writing on the wall.

I really don't think EoN or CnC:G2 will be any sort of competition regardless. People aren't going to play shitty games just because they're free, and as far as multiplayer competitive RTS BW/SC2 have been dominating for the last decade.

As far as people bitching about them worrying about how they would monetize it, what the fuck do you expect? No one would do F2P if they couldn't make money off of it. Even Valve makes boatloads of cash off of their F2P model. If you're expecting developers to just hand you shit with no way for them to make money, you're either stupid or naive. Seriously, your complaints aren't even making sense anymore, just go fuck yourselves.
Avatar 13977
8.
 
Re: Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer<br> Blizzard is "looking at free to play as a
Sep 21, 2012, 21:32
8.
Re: Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer<br> Blizzard is "looking at free to play as a Sep 21, 2012, 21:32
Sep 21, 2012, 21:32
 
If you had even the smallest lingering doubt that the Blizzard you used to know and love is long gone...doubt no more.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
7.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 21:24
7.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 21:24
Sep 21, 2012, 21:24
 
I am sure the esports crowd isn't going to be happy about this one bit. Any game played competitively needs to be balanced and every one needs to have access to the same features. Free-to-play games your forced to monetize every bit of the game in some way.

I hope they don't start requiring people to buy tickets to play on the ladder or offering F2P buildings or units. I can't see people paying for banners or portraits.

Any way this seems like desperation because of the other major free to play RTS games such as End of Nations, CnC Generals 2. I think they see the writing on the wall.

This comment was edited on Sep 21, 2012, 21:41.
6.
 
Re: Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer<br> Blizzard is "looking at free to play as a
Sep 21, 2012, 21:16
6.
Re: Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer<br> Blizzard is "looking at free to play as a Sep 21, 2012, 21:16
Sep 21, 2012, 21:16
 
See my post in the PS2 thread.
5.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 21:09
5.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 21:09
Sep 21, 2012, 21:09
 
monetize

/facepalm
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4.
 
Re: Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer<br> Blizzard is "looking at free to play as a
Sep 21, 2012, 21:03
4.
Re: Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer<br> Blizzard is "looking at free to play as a Sep 21, 2012, 21:03
Sep 21, 2012, 21:03
 
Seeing as how SC/SC2 are pretty much built for balance in mind and eSports. I dont see how they could possibly leave out a unit from any race as this would cause a huge disadvantage. I'm guessing its something to do with more advertisement or maybe one less race which wouldnt be a game changer seeing as how all three races have counters to the others. I dont think anything will come of this personally.
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3.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 20:52
3.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 20:52
Sep 21, 2012, 20:52
 
I love how it's coming full circle. Back in the c64 days its was just one or two guys making all our games, 'companies' being nothing more than a larger indie, not all but most.

Then big money comes in changes the industry, sometimes for the better, sometimes not, mainly advances in the engine and multiplayer departments.

And now a major resurgence of indies, where gameplay is all that matters and assets aren't as important as they can be bought/leased.

Loving it, glad to see companies like Blizzard squirm a bit - get too big for your britches and the little guy wears em.
Yours truly,

Axis
Avatar 57462
2.
 
Re: Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer<br> Blizzard is "looking at free to play as a
Sep 21, 2012, 20:42
2.
Re: Blizzard "Looking At" F2P StarCraft II Multiplayer<br> Blizzard is "looking at free to play as a Sep 21, 2012, 20:42
Sep 21, 2012, 20:42
 
"We don't know how we would monetize it."

what in the hell people

Don't fucking monetize it. Releasing one side or the other of a game with two halves is called a goddamn demo. You don't fucking charge for that! It's advertising!

Aside from that, you could, oh, i don't know give them fewer maps, maybe? What the hell is wrong with you that you think you have to come up with some new stupid thing to solve this non-problem?

FUCK
Avatar 54732
1.
 
Re: Blizzard
Sep 21, 2012, 20:37
1.
Re: Blizzard Sep 21, 2012, 20:37
Sep 21, 2012, 20:37
 
Blizzard "Looking At" declining revenue, and looking at it often all a sudden!
Yours truly,

Axis
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