F2P video games allow players to access content without having to pay.
F2P is a concept that refers to the English expression free to play (that is, "free to play" ). It is a video game distribution model that allows players to enjoy the content without having to pay .
Generally, the F2P model is understood as opposed to pay to play , which forces the user to pay a certain amount of money to have access to the game. It must be clarified, however, that F2P can be structured or established in different ways.
Types of F2P
It should be considered that F2P video games are usually not 100% free. Although it is possible to start playing without paying, it is likely that a subscription will later be required or money will have to be spent to have all the alternatives and resources of the product in question.
That is why a distinction is often made between F2P and FF2P : forever free to play . In this case, it is assumed that the user will never be asked for payment .
F2P is usually a business model that, like pay to play , seeks to generate profits, although it uses another strategy . The most common mechanism today consists of encouraging players to make small transactions to have the possibility of accessing additional content. Another alternative is for the developer to include advertisements integrated into the video game.
It is common for F2P games to offer additional resources and tools to those who are willing to shell out money.
Your story
The origins of the F2P system date back to the late 1990s . Its creation is associated with what is known as MMO ( massively multiplayer online , translatable as "massively multiplayer online video game" ).
The strategy was to allow you to download, install and start using the games without requiring payment in exchange. Once the player has started using the content, they are offered the chance to access a new, more complete experience , although now they have to pay.
With F2P, therefore, the company is primarily committed to generating a large mass of players. Once this has been achieved, it takes on the challenge of making the video game profitable by seducing users with extra tools .
Negative aspects of F2P
Although F2P games enjoy massive acceptance, criticism of this model is not uncommon. One of the most common is that, in some games, there is a difference in gameplay between those who pay and those who do not.
In this framework, players who purchase an additional item gain an advantage over the rest, so success is no longer associated with skill. In other words: the person who makes a payment has a better chance of winning than the individual who uses the free modality.
According to specialists, the key to F2P is that all players (those who spend money and those who do not) feel that they are on equal terms. The premise is that the payment provides a bonus but that this bonus does not modify the probabilities of achieving a victory or become a burden that forces you to continue making periodic payments.