jrob1234 (!empty($user->lang['WROTE'])) ? $user->lang['WROTE'] : ucwords(strtolower(str_replace('_', ' ', 'WROTE'))):
I'd have to disagree, I think this might be good for the game. I've been playing it for 6 years, and it's only getting more dead and less populated every year. I think they've tried just about everything to repopulate it, and just can't compete with WoW, so they got a new plan.
Sure you all have great arguments, but the 12 day trial isn't really working. For the casual gamer, you need more than 12 days to get to end game, and that's where most the fun is at, so people get to try out EQ2X for free for months if they want, and if they decide they want more, they can always switch to the full EQ2 after they get hooked. I think this can draw in a bunch of players. Once you get them into EQ2 (even if it is in EQ2X, it won't be long before some switch to EQ2 normal).
I as many others disagree. This does nothing to bring new players to the live servers. An old says "Why buy something when you can get it free?"
That is true to this very day, when you can get the exact same thing free why buy it? Right now, there is zero incentive to swap from eq2x to eq2. You can get exactly the same thing out of eq2x as you can in eq2, even more actually since you have a more robust marketplace.
As a gamer that has played free and subscription based games, I can tell you this will not work. Reasons being, are listed below.
1) You cannot transfer your toon for free from EQ2X to EQ2 or vice verse.
2) If you decide you like the game you can always stay on EQ2x with the same subscription model as regular EQ2 players have.
3) You get benefits for playing on EQ2X, (EG: Robust Marketplace allowing you to buy better armor for a little Cash.)
4) EQ2 Live Servers, have dwindling population.
5) Server will not lag like on EQ2 Live thus, meaning you are more likely to stay. *This will be fixed soon.*
6) EQ2 Live is NOT free.
These are just "some" of the things that will keep new players on EQ2X. #6 is the main reason. The people Sony are trying to attract are basically those that are young, just starting out playing video games and have no money. Yeah sure some might be older but, its basically the same thing, they don't want to spend money on a game. Why should they when there are tons out there that are free, and FUN.
EQ2 has gotten stale over the last few years. (EG The Stupid Odyssey/The Stupid Frontier)