Free-to-play as a sale model has managed to build itself a bad reputation over the years. That’s mostly thanks to cheap, woefully developed games that shove microtransactions down your throat harder than stuffing during the holidays, making games near unplayable if you don’t fork out a few hundreds. But sometimes games get it right – respecting their players with a well-made game that doesn’t rely on extortion. Games like Threes!
Threes!, the additive mobile puzzle game turned console title, started out as a premium iOS game that forced you to cough up a few dollars to play. That worked for a good year or so, but earlier this year creator Asher Vollmer decided to offer up a free-to-play version of the game – with players open to the full experience but with a bit more ad fluff around the borders. The result? Well, Threes! is making almost double its income every day.
Vollmer admits that the free-to-play re-release wasn’t exactly glamorous, but that the additional sales avenue has allowed him to start thinking about making bigger games.
It was not a very glamorous game release, but it was a good business decision. Excited to make bigger games now!
— Asher Vollmer (@AsherVo) July 20, 2015
Part of this comes down to the model’s reliance on games respecting players – something which the majority sorely forget about. Threes! is one of those exceptions of a well built, incredible fun games that doesn’t abuse it’s free-to-play nature to function. And the results speak for themselves.
Graphs (with matching y-axises)! On the left: paid profits On the right: ad profits pic.twitter.com/hLv1n1vCo8
— Asher Vollmer (@AsherVo) July 20, 2015
It’s unlikely to change the mindsets of both players and developers eyeballing the model, but it is great to see that free-to-play is still used properly now and then. Personally, I can’t wait to see what Vollmer does with this new revenue stream.
Last Updated: July 21, 2015
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:07
Indeed, look at Planetside 2!
Hammersteyn
July 21, 2015 at 14:10
http://40.media.tumblr.com/933022dcaec8d77a0fd5fd0b5fec43c5/tumblr_mklrt3VYHA1qgw7evo1_500.jpg
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:13
Bwhahahaha kill with C4!
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:15
http://global3.memecdn.com/planetside-2-problems_o_1244212.jpg
Ottokie
July 21, 2015 at 14:09
Warframe comes to mind, and the developers are freaking awesome.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 21, 2015 at 14:18
I’m quite looking forward to the U17 update. New frame! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Ottokie
July 21, 2015 at 14:32
Saw some “Anima” frame concept art, looks good so far.
Hammersteyn
July 21, 2015 at 14:11
Free games can be just as good if they do the monetary portion correctly, just like Planetside
Ir0nseraph
July 21, 2015 at 14:15
Planetside is great as far a free to play goes, but if I had to pay R600+ for the game I might have skipped it.
konfab
July 21, 2015 at 14:20
Me too, it would have just been another Destiny otherwise.
Hammersteyn
July 21, 2015 at 14:21
And that’s how Titanfall fell.
Ir0nseraph
July 21, 2015 at 14:35
XD.
Titanfall 2 will be the full game, with a campaign hopefully, the first one was just EA’s idea of a paid for MP demo which sold pretty well.
Hammersteyn
July 21, 2015 at 14:38
According to steam charts more people are playing Evolve than Titanfall O_o
http://steamcharts.com/app/292060
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:39
Wait, what?
Ir0nseraph
July 21, 2015 at 14:41
Well there’s your problem, it sold more on the Xbox then on PC.
http://www.lazygamer.net/xbox/xbox-one/titanfall-passes-the-2-million-mark-in-sales/
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:31
*games
Dutch Matrix
July 21, 2015 at 14:32
Is what he said…
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:33
Refresh:
Dutch Matrix
July 21, 2015 at 14:42
Well, when I landed here it said games…
Ir0nseraph
July 21, 2015 at 14:33
It’s fine I speak his language.:P
Hammersteyn
July 21, 2015 at 14:35
He cant hear you from his ivory tower.
Ir0nseraph
July 21, 2015 at 14:35
XD
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:40
How is that fence working out for you?
Hammersteyn
July 21, 2015 at 14:44
Too many games.
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:55
xD
Dutch Matrix
July 21, 2015 at 14:25
ARgh! Graphs!!!!
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:34
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/c7/c7d29a78477285f54b5d7a71ecb8bf0ec9d7045d493f7fed47b17ae90727e7f4.jpg
Hammersteyn
July 21, 2015 at 14:37
So why’s NC so slow?
Admiral Chief in Skellige
July 21, 2015 at 14:41
NC is hard mode, for true warriors
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 21, 2015 at 14:45
Space ninjas can wall run.
SargonTheBatpandaOfTI5
July 21, 2015 at 14:48
And Butt Stomp®
Brady miaau
July 21, 2015 at 14:34
I had loads of fun with several free games, BUT each one, sooner or later, pushes me too hard with the purchase agenda
Neverwinter has been the best one I have played, by far. I got to a fairly high level pretty quickly and easily, had some good gear (for single player) and had loads of fun. Would be killed in two hits in PvP because my gear was not good enough for that, but I really do not care.