Forza Horizon Catch-All

Pondering:

With MS finally getting into the fully F2P world with XBLA games over the last couple of weeks, I wonder if there might be a F2P variant of Forza next gen? I think car games make perfect sense for the F2P model. You can sell people cars, paint jobs, car parts, tracks, etc.

I could see this getting really devious. I'm also not completely opposed if it isn't too predatory.

Honestly, I think that Horizon would have worked better as F2P. Launch the demo with the full world open, but sell challenge packs of 5ish events for 10 bucks or so, and cars for 2 bucks a shot.

AnimeJ wrote:

Honestly, I think that Horizon would have worked better as F2P. Launch the demo with the full world open, but sell challenge packs of 5ish events for 10 bucks or so, and cars for 2 bucks a shot.

Better for who? That sounds effing terrible to me as the consumer. You're getting over 100 events and 100 cars as it stands for $60. They'd have to go way, way lower than you're suggesting on the pricing.

For someone like me who doesn't care about the events, and wants maybe a dozen cars, tops?

Honestly, it's a start point anyway; not too hard to throw in on different ideas for packing crap out rather than jumping on my ass about it.

I didn't mean to come off aggressive toward you, sorry. Current car DLC rates go vary, but many are $7 for 10 cars. They could maybe release a free-to-play client and offer car packs at that price, but if they didn't bundle a full game's worth for $60 as well they would alienate the very hardcore and loyal fanbase the series has established. And after looking at the bundle, maybe the F2P guys catch on that they're getting a really raw deal.

While that might be the best fit for your wants, I don't think it works at the macro level.

Also, regarding events. What would you do without races? Just drive around the world? If that's your thing, more power to you, but again I don't think that'd work for the wide audience.

I was looking at it more from a pure F2P standpoint; launch the game world and some basic amount of content free, then sell a ton of addons. Think Turbine's methodology rather than Sony's, where even if you're not paying there's a ton of content available, but plenty of room to sell extra stuff. In a game like this, there's even more room for something like that, especially with cars/manufacturers to sell.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I didn't mean to come off aggressive toward you, sorry. Current car DLC rates go vary, but many are $7 for 10 cars. They could maybe release a free-to-play client and offer car packs at that price, but if they didn't bundle a full game's worth for $60 as well they would alienate the very hardcore and loyal fanbase the series has established. And after looking at the bundle, maybe the F2P guys catch on that they're getting a really raw deal.

While that might be the best fit for your wants, I don't think it works at the macro level.

Also, regarding events. What would you do without races? Just drive around the world? If that's your thing, more power to you, but again I don't think that'd work for the wide audience.

The point with good F2P game structure is that most things can be done for free, but just might take a lot longer. So you could stay in the lower class events until you earned credits for better cars, events, etc. Maybe restrict cosmetics to real money, etc.

So you could play forever without dropping an MS point.

Maybe have a full $60 "license" give you permanently higher earning rates, a garage of cars, some cosmetics, etc.

Not saying I'm necessarily for it, but to me, it makes a lot of sense. And I think that's a light model of what you get in something like iRacing.

I guess it depends on how MS feels about the series' performance as it currently exists.

The current model is great, and I can't wait until Tuesday!

MisterStatic wrote:

The current model is great, and I can't wait until Tuesday!

Less than 24 hours down here, unless someone breaks the no-sell embargo, then I'm down there lickety split!

Blind_Evil wrote:

I guess it depends on how MS feels about the series' performance as it currently exists.

I'm not necessarily saying it makes sense to make Forza 5 F2P, but games like Horizon that are offshoots in off years?

Just got a confirmation email from Best Buy saying my Limited Edition copy will be in-store for pickup tomorrow.

Can't wait!

Looks like the first car pack is up on Marketplace.

Just like in previous Forza games, you get one free car (1957 Chevrolet Bel Air) for downloading the free "placeholder" pack (i.e. the d/l cars are on your HDD but you can't access them until you pay for them, sans the free Bel Air).

It just dawned on me that they must do that to incentivize people to download the pack so they have the assets for multiplayer. That and so they can list them in the in-game car shop so people are more encouraged to buy the DLC.

I pre-ordered last night, despite not having much time for games these days. Of course, my wife might be more willing to watch me play a car game than one where I'm shooting guys in the face.

That's exactly what they're doing, LiquidMantis.

If you see a sweet ride playing multi that isn't in your garage, one might be inspired to take the plunge. Also helps in general when playing online between those who purchased DLC and others who haven't.

Works for me either way as you get one free ride with every pack.

Quite. Except the sweet rides I see that I want are in the Japanese Tuners Speedway Event, and they're all unicorns.

Gravey wrote:

Quite. Except the sweet rides I see that I want are in the Japanese Tuners Speedway Event, and they're all unicorns. :cry:

There's an option for that hankering.

Gravey wrote:

Quite. Except the sweet rides I see that I want are in the Japanese Tuners Speedway Event, and they're all unicorns. :cry:

There's an option for that hankering.

Should have mine in a little under 90 minutes. 4.5 year old off to pre-kindy, down to EB, then the next hour trying to convince my 3 year old that cars are better than Skylanders, so Daddy can play it.

Fingers crossed.

EDIT:
9 hours later I get 1 race in. F*cking Skylanders... But it was worth the wait.

Comment from the wife? "No way is that CG."

My copy is on a UPS truck "out for delivery." This is going to be a long day at the office.

I somehow didn't end up with release day delivery from Amazon, so I'll get it Thursday. Not a huge deal, as that's the first time I'm likely to have to play it.

Holy crap(!)

On a whim I checked my UPS tracking number for my MS Store free 7-day ground shipping and it said "Out For Delivery".

I might actually get it today. Woohoo!

EDIT:

Copy just landed on my desk.

Release-day shipping, 1600 space bucks, and $10 gift certificate for $60? Hells yeah!

Hoping for a call/e-mail from Best Buy before my lunch break...

IMAGE(http://www.abload.de/img/screenshot2012-10-23ajqlly.png)

I love devs with a sense of humor.

This was my "I can't get off work for Penguincon, so instead I'll resort to retail therapy" gift for myself.

Only one race in but it makes a hell of a fun first impression.

Forizon get! Can I go home now?

Aaron D. wrote:

Release-day shipping, 1600 space bucks, and $10 gift certificate for $60? Hells yeah!

I got mine too. It's strange, the package said next-day air, but I didn't pay for it.

Have you gotten an email with the other coupons yet? It said the 1600 would be sent once it was shipped, but I haven't seen anything.

Aaron D. wrote:

Holy crap(!)

On a whim I checked my UPS tracking number for my MS Store free 7-day ground shipping and it said "Out For Delivery".

I might actually get it today. Woohoo!

EDIT:

Copy just landed on my desk.

Release-day shipping, 1600 space bucks, and $10 gift certificate for $60? Hells yeah!

Huh, looks like my order through Microsoft is out for delivery already too. Pretty sweet deal.

I'll be using the MS wireless speed wheel for this, is anyone aware of a workaround for the wheels lack of a headset jack? I was planning to use another controller signed into an extra Silver account for chatting purposes, but apparently you can only private chat with a Silver account, and I WANT TO PARTY chat.

Only thing I can think would be to splurge for the wireless headset.

Have been playing for maybe an hour and a half. Have already done 250mph in a Veyron SS at night through traffic.

I think this is the racing game I needed.