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View Full Version : The Lord of the Rings Online goes free-to-play fall 2010

Creole Ned
06-04-2010, 07:34 PM
Following the successful switch of Dungeons & Dragons Online to free-to-play with a store to purchase extra items/adventure packs, Turbine is converting The Lord of the Rings Online to the same model starting this fall.

You'll be able to play the first 50 levels (of 65) free and won't have as many perks (fewer character slots, etc.) but the basic game will be free. It'll be interesting to see how this affects player numbers. It seems to have resulted in a dramatic turnaround for DDO (it's even added two new servers). One of the Turbine devs has said "the subscription model is dead (unless you're WoW)."

I'm curious to see if any other current MMOs switch to the same model.

Beta signup here (http://www.lotro.com/betasignup/)
FAQ here (http://www.lotro.com/betasignup/faq.html)
Tai
06-04-2010, 08:28 PM
interesting, I might have to check it out.
Postal
06-05-2010, 04:24 PM
I'm not sure this was a good idea. It sounds like LotR still had players. They haven't reduced servers yet. Its pissing off some of there player base. That being said I'll probably try it when it is free.
Tick
06-05-2010, 04:30 PM
I know that EVE Online is doing ok, tho that's so different from the fantasy mmo's that it's not even completely fair to call them competitors. I wouldn't be shocked if any of the fantasy ones followed this path, tho. I'm not sure there's any money to be made in being the #2 game behind WoW in the fantasy mmo market.
armerius
06-05-2010, 05:51 PM
Eve is still subscription, right? if it's not, i'll kick myself for not playing it.

but for LotR, I'm there when it goes free
Paladin
06-05-2010, 08:10 PM
Except for WoW, all the current MMO's are probably going to have to go the free route eventually to keep players. There's a finite market of MMO players, and to take players away from WoW you either have to be something special or you have to be cheaper. I'd really be surprised if more than a handful of MMO's survive the combination of WoW Cataclysm later this year and Star Wars: The Old Republic next year.

I wouldn't be surprised if NCSoft doesn't go to one subscription for access to all their MMO's at some point soon.