Freemium vs Premium Game Apps

[iPhone15Pro]

After what happened with The Simpsons Tapped Out ... It raises the question if playing freemium app games really are worth the time ( and money spent) ?
With most premium games, at least if you buy them those games remain in your account library and don't really have to worry about some developer calling the quits and shutting the server down *

*I feel like the N eShop is probably an exception here since I don't think I've seen anyone play a 3ds game bought through there and be transferred over to the Switch ... heh

So yeah ... basically just created this thread since I was surprised that TSTO actually shut down despite generating millions for themselves ... they could have at least had offered an offline version ... but nope ... seems they decided take the dead MMO route

Makes me appreciate emulation and retro gaming more

 

[Stingy Perry]

As for Freemium my I only play such games on my phone, there are some great free games on PlayStore or AppStore some of them are offline rpg bangers (published by KEMCO, Gamevil and others).

 

[antii]

sometimes it’s just not worth it to spend to much money on these games. I have no problem maybe throwing 5–10 dollars at a free game like Fortnite (when I use to play) but a mobile game idk sometimes the micro transactions prices are ridiculous and you hardly get what you deserve and they always want you to top up

 

[Ian Naxieas]

Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia (what a fuckin' name) is the only freemium game I've played and spent money on. I got a good couple years out of it, but ultimately I wish I hadn't bothered. x) It's hard to explain, I don't feel like time is wasted if you're having a good time, but having a good time and then suddenly not being able to play it again makes it all feel wasted. I guess it's the lack of closure? It's not like I got to any ending, the game was designed to be an infinite money sink. Bleh, I don't know. I can say it's certainly turned me off both freemium and MMORPGs for good, though I never cared for either to begin with.

Premium games are fine though. I think the name premium games is weird, they're just games. x) I have Slay the Spire on both Steam as well as my phone and the phone version isn't any more premium. I'm probably just old and missing something obvious.

 

[mrbigmouth502]

I avoid freemium games like the plague these days, and I barely play any games on my phone in the first place. I have been considering getting a gamepad attachment for my phone so that I can use it for emulators though.

 

[Bakuma1997]

While i play them, thankfully i never spend money because of this, wich was a bummer since Anima Crossing Pocket Camp used to be my jam, fortunately they released the Complete Version as Premium, wich, i have to say...

 

[iPhone15Pro]

It's interesting that South Park actually covered more in-depth what game developers a decade ago (episode is called "Freemium Isn't Free"). I didn't realize I fell for the microtransaction scheme. I admit I actually spent on TSTO since I fell for the allure of getting those 'only available for purchase' characters I wanted badly. It actually took me awhile to snap out of it too since it really was like an addiction.

I'm still in a bit of a shock though about TSTO
I really was thinking that would've been the one freemium game that was gonna at least turn their game into an offline one (I wouldn't have minded if there was one final fee if EA was trike and rake in at least some profit before shutting down their servers) ... but nope ... 12 years and it was really just a cash grab ...

Yep ... I guess this is one of the many dark sides of modern gaming compared to retro ...

It's hard to explain, I don't feel like time is wasted if you're having a good time, but having a good time and then suddenly not being able to play it again makes it all feel wasted. I guess it's the lack of closure? It's not like I got to any ending, the game was designed to be an infinite money sink. Bleh, I don't know. I can say it's certainly turned me off both freemium and MMORPGs for good, though I never cared for either to begin with.

Yes ! Exactly !