Though the MMO Dungeons & Dragons Online (by Turbine) has been having a subscription-based model since its launch in 2006, it seems that this summer it is going [url=http://content.turbine.com/pages/www.dd ... m:21ruysxu]free to play[/url:21ruysxu].
What that means is that everyone can play it for free, level all the way up to level 20 and everything. Though it comes with limitations and to lift those you'll have to become a VIP member by paying a monthly fee (of about $15/month). Next to that they also have additional content that you can buy for a fee.
The description of the difference between free players and VIP players can be read [url=http://www.ddo.com/vip:21ruysxu]here[/url:21ruysxu]. Basically, as a free player you're restricted to the standard classes (and have to buy classes like monk) and the standard races. Though you can buy the drow race to play for a fee without becoming a VIP member; so far I haven't found yet how much that would cost. You're also limited in the adventure areas (basically only the city and the immediate surroundings), the number of character slots, and a number of other things like limited chat and bank storage.
But hey, it's free. So it can't hurt to have a look. Last I tried it though (around the time it launched) it wasn't that great though. Didn't really feel like D&D to me, and I don't like the Eberron setting. Still can't hurt to have another look, even if I'm sure that some of whatever one would decide to pay them goes to Wizards as well and as such they're not getting a dime from me.
Still, interesting development. More information at the links.
[UDPATE] From [url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/vi ... D:21ruysxu]The Escapist[/url:21ruysxu] comes the following update:
[quote:21ruysxu]Codemasters, which operates [i:21ruysxu]Dungeons & Dragons Online[/i:21ruysxu] in Europe, has clarified that the free-to-play model will only be available in North America. "For the time being, [i:21ruysxu]DDO Europe[/i:21ruysxu] will not be assuming this new business model and the European [i:21ruysxu]DDO[/i:21ruysxu] game service will remain a monthly subscription-based game with all new content created available to all subscribers, as has been the model up until now," Codemasters said in a statement.
"As the beta progresses we will release more information regarding the future plans for EU players," the company said.[/quote:21ruysxu]
Ah well, that means that this news is, either way, moot for me anyway.
[UPDATE 20090618] And seems that Kotaku has [url=http://kotaku.com/5295366/dungeons--dra ... e:21ruysxu]a couple of screenshots[/url:21ruysxu] of the store. It seems that to buy the drow race you need either 595 points or earn 400 favor in the game. No idea how much a point costs in real money (not that I have any intention of giving them any money).
It also seems that I got into the DDO beta for this, so we'll see if it improved any; again I'm not expecting to try it more than once (yeah, I know that's not in the beta-testers spirit ).
The two most interesting screenshots:
[img:21ruysxu]http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/k ... w_Race.jpg[/img:21ruysxu]
[img:21ruysxu]http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/k ... ptions.jpg[/img:21ruysxu]
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Shir'le
Dungeons & Dragons Online goes Free to Play
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Dungeons & Dragons Online goes Free to Play
Last edited by Shir'le E. Illios on Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-= Shir'le E. Illios =-
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- Shir'le E. Illios
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Added another update, namely a link to some screenshots.
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Shir'le
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Shir'le
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