The next candidate for our F2Pmeter is EverQuest II, an iconic fantasy-based MMO RPG that switched to F2P at the end of 2011 after being subscription-based since its original launch in November 2004. Before continuing reading this F2Pmeter instalment, you might be interested in having another look at the first look gameplay commentary on EQ II we published a month ago.

Set 500 years after the original EverQuest title, the game prolongs the story of the enormous fictional real of Norrath and provides players with a huge wealth of classes and races.

Just like all testing candidates before, EverQuest II begins with a 100% of free-to-play-ness, and depending on how our questions have to be answered, this percentage will change. So here we go!

No. Since introducing an F2P option in addition to its formerly exclusively subscription-based model, it's absolutely free for everybody to register for an account in order to download the game and start playing EverQuest II.

 

 

Yes (optional) – -15%. Despite the introduction of the free-to-play option, EQ II still allows players to opt for subscription-based membership options ($14.99 per months) in order to gain various perks and advantages. Subscribers are granted access to the in-game marketplace, full access to the highest level of skills and spells, early access to promotions and new content, increased coin loot and mount speed, boosts on alternate currency earnings, additional character slots and more.

 

 

No (but...) – -10%. The latest expansions "Tears of Veeshan" and "Chains of Eternity" are only available for paying users; however, all content released since release through the Destiny of Velious expansion, is available for free to everyone.

 

 

Yes – -5%. The EQ II in-game marketplace offers specific items for purchase with the Station Cash premium currency only purchasable with real-world cash. Customers are able to get their hands on features, content, services and items such as additional character slots, various helpful potions, appearance or house items, mounts, etc., all of which can enhance their overall gameplay experience.

 

 

No. Most of the stuff offered to paying members of the community obviously only help them save time, make their in-game life more convenient or enable them to aesthetically customise their characters, but don't convey any evident gameplay advantages over F2P players.

 

 

No. EverQuest II doesn't provide paying users with additional UI customisation options; there's nothing available for unlock with premium currency or real cash.

 

 

No – -15%. Only paying gamers have access to the newly introduced races and classes as part of the latest purchasable expansions. However, those new editions only make up a small part of the enormous selection and the rest of the community is still able to choose from 24 of the entirety of 26 available classes and 19 of 21 currently available races.

 

 

Yes – -10%. F2P users are unable to trade items via the Broker, the auction-house feature in EQ II, full access to which requires a subscription.

 

 

No. As regards inventory/ bank/ shared bank slots, non-paying users seemingly aren’t faced with any restrictions.

 

 

No – -15%. EverQuest II grants everyone free access to most parts of the massive in-game world; instances and zones released with the latest purchasable expansions, however, are only accessible for paying customers.

 

 

Yes – -15%. Due to the fact that F2P players are unable to access content included in the latest expansions, they obviously don't have the ability to reach the current level cap of 95, not being able to level their characters past level 92, which excludes them from access to multiple level 95 dungeons, raid instances and other high-end content.

 

 

Yes – +10%. EverQuest II seems absolutely playable without paying anything at all and rather fair in spite of certain restrictions concerning specific content and the possible purchases using real-world currency. Non-paying users are still able to choose from more freely available races and classes than most others MMO RPG games have on offer to explore an unbelievable amount of free content. Those who opt for paying money will gain access to boosters, convenience items and time-savers which will undeniably make their virtual life easier, but there are obviously no options to gain direct advantages over non-paying players.

Our F2Pmeter test of EverQuest II results in a 25% of free-to-play-ness.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 2nd, 2015 at 2:31 pm and is filed under Articles, MMO News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Puedes dejar una respuesta, o un trackback desde tu sitio web.