Free could determine future of US gaming

When I first read this article in ars technica, I was pretty baffled by how anyone could not see the infiltration of asian gaming into the US market. Let’s be honest, I’m totally bought into the fact that we pretty much have a “paid” way here Stateside. That’s obvious given by the amount of people willing to pay even $50 a year for Xbox Live and the amount of people that have shelled out for World of Warcraft.

But let’s be honest. There’s also a huge growing number of gamers that are now gaming with the “free-to-play” games. Don’t believe me? I had bumped into a friend of mine that games a little bit, but she was telling me how she now plays Silkroad during her gaming time. Now, I’ve known about Silkroad for a long time now since I not only write for VTOR, but also have played it for a long time but it was pretty interesting that a random friend of mine that is not into the gaming world would be trying their luck at SR. On top of that, there’s more and more news about free-to-play games coming into the US. In fact, many of the Korean corporations that have played out the “free” in Asia are now establishing US affiliations and are advertising in a huge way. Again, don’t believe it? Pick up a gaming magazine or go to your nearest Gamestop and check out Sword of the New World.

They’re coming and damned if anyone is going to stop them. And they’re holding that anti-piracy thing flag up in the air and laughing all the way to the bank. It’s almost as if they’ve finally figured out a way and PC gamers that are still paying are getting ripped. Let’s be frank, no one wants to pirate a “free” game. What’s the point of that?

In any case, the micropayment system is finally hitting us here and it could be the next evolution for business plans in the gaming industry. While we might not see this anytime soon in console gaming (and I have a few ideas about this also), it might be worthwhile to watch closely at EA’s venture that won’t be out for a bit, Battlefield Heroes. I have a feeling that American gaming will be going down the route of free while media for games keep getting more and more pricey.