Zyme Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Why? Everyone who played DCS knows the barrier to entry is HUGE compared to any other flight simulator. Making CA free to play would get more people into the door, and more ground targets for pilots to shoot at (and work with) in multiplayer. The end result would mean more people who play, bigger brand awareness and the possibility to have them purchase an aircraft when they envy the players ruling the skies. I think there is a reason why soooooo many companies go free to play these days. And it seems to work as a marketing gimmick. Rise of Flight did the same. They have a couple of free aircraft and the rest you need to buy. However I do not like the "pay to win" model at all. Or the leveling tree/grind. More like a freemium/unlimited free trial model with limited resources. The free SU-25T is a great idea and I am thankful for that step in this direction. People who find the aircraft too hard to fly can play other roles. I would find it hard to believe that there will be so many people who buy CA only. Since they would probably go for Battlefield / World of Tanks instead if they want to use tanks only. I play Arma 2 a bit which focuses more on the infantry side than the aircraft. But there are rarely any aircraft available on the servers, so the fun part about flying above people and co-operating with them doesn't exist as much as I'd like. If DCS could provide this it would be tons of fun to have large scale multiplayer battles. Sure AI works aswell, but they don't have the intelligence of a human or the fun factor of co-operating with other people.
GGTharos Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 DCS world is already free. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Reminder: SAM = Speed Bump :D I used to play flight sims like you, but then I took a slammer to the knee - Yoda
GGTharos Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Yep. And like I said, DCS World is already free. ED is not in the business of making free stuff in general. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Reminder: SAM = Speed Bump :D I used to play flight sims like you, but then I took a slammer to the knee - Yoda
metalnwood Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I would guess that if you are trying to attract people who have no inclination to learn the aircraft that the game would be a bit dull for them anyway and they would prefer the BF3 arena? For those guys playing on a dcs server would be like hopping in a BF server with only a couple people in it, soon enough you look for a different server.
diveplane Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) some of this community amazes me it really does, already have basecore package for free. Edited July 13, 2012 by diveplane https://www.youtube.com/user/diveplane11 DCS Audio Modding.
bkrontz Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I think that I can speak for a lot of people (since I work in IT and have been around this stuff for the past 25 years) when I say: A sim this complex and wonderful is a complete steal at $40. CA, being only 30 bucks, is the price of a cheap dinner in my neighborhood. Skip a meal buddy.
Zyme Posted July 13, 2012 Author Posted July 13, 2012 DCS World is free yes, but it doesn't have multiplayer. CA doesn't interest me the slightest because it is too simple. I rather put the money on aircraft. But others may find it worthwhile. The model works for other games, why wouldn't it work for DCS? I highly doubt CA will be a big seller at the stage it is in right now. They should make it more advanced like the flying, and not as arcade-ish like it is right now. If you compare BF3 with CA they are at the same price point. From the gameplay I have seen they are very similar. And I'm pretty sure 9 out of 10 will purchase BF3.
chokko Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 bought BF3 for way more than $29...it got no more than 30min playtime played Combined Arms for more than 2hrs alone last night... [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
Evil.Bonsai Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I highly doubt CA will be a big seller at the stage it is in right now. . CA is not for sale, at the moment. You can only PRE-ORDER at this time. It is, in fact, an open-beta. Everyone playing now it PLAY TESTING, helping (hopefully) ED work through all the little issues, see what works and what doesn't. And as someone else posted, I've spend a lot of time these last 2 days playing it. Lot's of fun.
Weltensegler Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I think that I can speak for a lot of people (since I work in IT and have been around this stuff for the past 25 years) when I say: A sim this complex and wonderful is a complete steal at $40. CA, being only 30 bucks, is the price of a cheap dinner in my neighborhood. Skip a meal buddy. I agree you pay more for a SP game that you throw in the corner after few days...not this sim though! I was so distracted reading that...my whole 20$ note burned down without that I lit my cigar with it. Now I have to light up another one :D 4790K@4,6Ghz | EVGA Z97 Classified | 32GB @ 2400Mhz | Titan X hydro copper| SSD 850 PRO ____________________________________ Moments in DCS: --> https://www.youtube.com/user/weltensegLA --> WELD's cockpit: --> http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=92274
Purg Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I don't think I'd want a deluge of players who downloaded World and CA for free jumping on servers for the sole purpose of griefing.
diveplane Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 DCS World is free yes, but it doesn't have multiplayer. CA doesn't interest me the slightest because it is too simple. I rather put the money on aircraft. But others may find it worthwhile. The model works for other games, why wouldn't it work for DCS? I highly doubt CA will be a big seller at the stage it is in right now. They should make it more advanced like the flying, and not as arcade-ish like it is right now. If you compare BF3 with CA they are at the same price point. From the gameplay I have seen they are very similar. And I'm pretty sure 9 out of 10 will purchase BF3. CA doesn't interest me the slightest because it is too simple? ................ with time it will be as complex as aircraft details, ground units inside will be in full 3d splendor as well. even in this early stage its leaps and bounds above anything else out there. cant compare arcade xbox bf3 to this, its chalk and cheese am afraid. https://www.youtube.com/user/diveplane11 DCS Audio Modding.
Cali Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Zyme, put a bunch of hours into making something and put it out for free. That isn't a good way to stay in business, they are a comapny and need to make a profit or go under. DCSW does have multiplayer, you just need to buy the modules. i7-4820k @ 3.7, Windows 7 64-bit, 16GB 1866mhz EVGA GTX 970 2GB, 256GB SSD, 500GB WD, TM Warthog, TM Cougar MFD's, Saitek Combat Pedals, TrackIR 5, G15 keyboard, 55" 4K LED
nemises Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I don't think CA is really aimed at being a big seller...it seems to have come about as an offshoot to the jtac stuff that was left in (semi by accident) during the early A10c beta.. ...it's more of a "flourish" for the multi player community...a way of integrating player control over previously AI / scripted only tasks..with a neat by-product of being able to shoot stuff from tanks / sams..... Obviously , this is huge for those of us who play DCS in MP, as the scope of large events just got seriously cool.... but for average-Joe, the guy who wants to play a SP campaign in his F15?...not really so much.. Will you see a boxed CA on shelves?..dunno, but I doubt it.. Will you see DCS T72 on shelves?..ah, maybe maybe (just to clarify, I understand the OP was saying CA should be F2p, to be used as a gateway drug for potential payers....I don't think it would fit this well... another module perhaps (say the mustang) would be a much better gateway drug IMHO)
Corvus Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Although i see your point Zyme I don't think making CA f2p would bring many new players. For us, simfans it adds another layer to battlefield simulation, but for ppl that didn't have anything in common with DCS before it would be just simple, not so good looking tank game. You can't compare BF3 gameplay to CA. As for a way to try DCS- like others wrote- anyone that want to try DCS can just download DCS World with free Su-25T. I haven't tested it myself but from what i know you can join MP without a problem. My YT channel https://www.youtube.com/user/corvuscorp81
Nate--IRL-- Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 As for a way to try DCS- like others wrote- anyone that want to try DCS can just download DCS World with free Su-25T. I haven't tested it myself but from what i know you can join MP without a problem. There is no MP in DCS:-World until you purchase at least one module. Nate Ka-50 AutoPilot/stabilisation system description and operation by IvanK- Essential Reading
Corvus Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Thanks for clarification:) My YT channel https://www.youtube.com/user/corvuscorp81
martinistripes Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 As F2P, I doubt CA would attract many of the BF or ArmA crowd, but I do like the idea of a server full of human controlled ground forces. Also, people seem to forget what beta status means. Many are making judgements and coming to conclusions already. The way I see it, CA has just opened a door to endless possibilities. I don't buy betas (I do enough wanting for patches with full releases), but I would say at $40, CA is probably a good investment when you consider the amount of work ED will put into this over the coming months/years. Given time, we'll eventually see DCS level ground unit creeping in, I've no doubt. Valve Index | RTX 4080 (Mobile) | i9-14900HX @ 2.20 GHz | 32GB RAM
Boberro Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 What about making free one addon? Example Shilka or Bradley? Just one as "demo". People would see if they ever like it and more would encourage to buy whole product with rest vehicles. Reminder: Fighter pilots make movies. Bomber pilots make... HISTORY! :D | Also to be remembered: FRENCH TANKS HAVE ONE GEAR FORWARD AND FIVE BACKWARD :D ಠ_ಠ ツ
Nate--IRL-- Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 What about making free one addon? Example Shilka or Bradley? Just one as "demo". People would see if they ever like it and more would encourage to buy whole product with rest vehicles. Because CA is not just about Driving Vehicles - IMO the largest (and Best) part of CA is the RTS element. Nate Ka-50 AutoPilot/stabilisation system description and operation by IvanK- Essential Reading
neroroxxx Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 If anything i can see having 1 vehicle drivable for free per mission or something but not the whole thing for free, i do see your point on wanting more people to be a part of the game and having people controlling the tanks and so on. Nero 27" iMac, 3.4GHz i7 Quad Core, 16GB Ram, AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2Gb, Running Bootcamp, Windows 7 Home 64bit, Saitek X-52 Pro
Revelation Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I see where the OP was originally going with his thought process - draw more people in. What I would like to see, as a member who has paid for every release since LOCON, say in Jan 2013 release CA and SU25T with DCSW free to draw in more people. Even if it were as a limited-time promotion I think it could help draw in people. Say coincide that event with the release of DCS:Next, FC3 or shortly before the launch of some 3rd party modules. I'm in no way saying that ED should get in the habit of giving away free stuff at all. Simply that a timely promotion shortly before the release of a highly anticipated module could boost sales. I do like the occasional sales that ED runs and they may be an acceptable way, in ED's opinion, to boost sales without giving "away the farm." If ED had a way to do a "free weekend" similar to what Steam runs every now and then would be better IMHO, but I don't believe that mechanisms are currently in place to allow such an event. Win 10 Pro 64Bit | 49" UWHD AOC 5120x1440p | AMD 5900x | 64Gb DDR4 | RX 6900XT
Zyme Posted July 13, 2012 Author Posted July 13, 2012 Zyme, put a bunch of hours into making something and put it out for free. That isn't a good way to stay in business, they are a comapny and need to make a profit or go under. DCSW does have multiplayer, you just need to buy the modules. ORLY? So all these free to play companies are making a loss year after year? And every single MMO is going free to play the last couple of years. Yeah, your argument makes sense... You are missing the point. Free to play multiplayer is not the same as free to play singleplayer. How many singleplayer games can you mention that use the free to play model?
Nate--IRL-- Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 That's the thing DCS isn't an MMO - it isn't likely to be either. The Vast majority of DCS users fly SP. Nate Ka-50 AutoPilot/stabilisation system description and operation by IvanK- Essential Reading
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