Free or not so Free to Play?
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by Angerforge
This discussion carries over from an article I responded to on www.mmorpg.com the other day and it has some bearing on our beloved eRepublik.
eRepublik is advertised as being free to play. I think we all recognize the reality that if you want to do anything at more than a snail's pace and truly participate in the eRpublik, that eRepublik is NOT free to play.
Yes, you can make the argument both ways that you can play for free, as long as you don't want to run for congress or president, own a newspaper, or own a business. But then reality sets in and a valid question results: Just how much fun can you actually have here, how much will you really get out it, if you're not participating in one or more of those activities?
In my own case, I'd still be hovering around level 2-3 and hoping that I did not die (my health level will be recovered tomorrow in the hospital) because I did not want to buy gold, so I could buy good quality food because I don't earn crap all on my startup job, or wellness packs, or etc. I chose to purchase gold because I wanted more from the game. I did exactly what the designers intended that I should do, spend real world gelt to play their game.
But there are others who will join this game, believing the adverts to be true, that will be very dissatisfied, and will eventually quit, because they will not be able to get maximum enjoyment from this amazing game. Why? Because it turns out to not actually be free.
So I would call on the designers of this and all other MMORPG games to be honest in their advertising. Make sure you call out that basic game play is free, but advanced features will require the infusion of your real world wealth to access.
Better yet, keep it really and truly free to all who wish to play by supporting the game through sponsorships and advertising and let the word "Free" truly mean "free".
Just my .02 YMMV
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The games free... Most players get by without buying gold.
Personally the only time i would be tempted to is to buy/upgrade a business.
I too have yet to buy gold, buy access to more shouts, a larger inbox, etc. In the last two days I have received over 100 messages and sent out over 160 messages. I do this on their "free" inbox size as well.
eRepublik - for those who can make it work (and I feel most can) is free.
Um. Erepublik is completly free to play. I have yet to buy gold, but i have a ton of it. Just because you bought gold, to skip...a single day of leveling does not mean that other people do.
The beginning can be rough, but keep in mind that you started just three days ago. If you really feel lost you can always ask somebody for help. If you stick with it in two weeks you'll be enjoying erep much more. I recommend you sign up for the national guard, there's to requirements to join other than that you're active: http://tinyurl.com/natgrd" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/natgrd
You don't need good quality food, Q1 is good, and if you're that desperate, get on the USPW's gift program.
Apply for a mentor, they help tremendously. I have not spent any rl money
since I came here. The first few days are tough for everyone. Just be patient.
But, you don't really have to spend any money to get somewhere on this game.
I've not been here long at all, and look where I am.
All you need to do is stay above 40 wellness until you reach level 4 then you can just buy Q1 food and fight in the war games to stay at a decent level wellness while making 10 USD a day. then it only takes 10 days to get enough money to buy a newspaper then you can run for congress once you reach level 12 which can be done in a month or two.
The only thing in the game where you might want to spend real life money is if you want to own a business but everything else is easily doable with the money you earn from working. I've gotten everything I own without paying a dime, given I have been playing for over a year but its still very well possible to get by while playing for free.
No you just stink at the game if you NEED to buy gold for those things.
You make some good points.
I've also never spent a dime. I made a fair amount of gold through arbitrage trading on the monetary market, and once I finally bought a business, I can make even more. It just takes time...be patient, you'll get there!