Philippines MMORPG Industry Landscape
The Philippines Online Gaming industry is quickly evolving with every day that passes. As I mentioned in an earlier post, RF Online, the only sci-fi MMORPG in the Philippines, is going Free-to-Play. There are numerous rumors going around on why it changed business models but you’d be surprised to find out that the F2P Business model was actually part of the development plan for RF. With RF going free, it joins Perfect World, Fly for Fun, Ran Online, Supreme Destiny, and Tantra in the free MMORPG market (excluding casual games). This leaves a big space in the premium subscription segment, wherein Granado Espada and Lineage II will obviously become competitors. However, one should take note that Granado Espada in Korea is actually now F2P so that may signal a change of business models here in the Philippines. Even though at 4 years old, Ragnarok Online still remains to be one of the toughest competitors, staving off very aggressive advances by GE and L2.
More thoughts after the jump.
It’s really amazing how big the playing field is now for online gaming. When things started out in 2003, all we had was really Ragnarok Online, and now we have so many game sto choose from. Each game has their own strengths and weaknesses. Each game has it’s own personality and brand character. This is a good thing for the local gaming community because now we have a choice of what game to play. You want robots? Go RF. You want chinese fantasy? Go Perfect World. You want Golf or Basketball? There’s Pangya and Freestyle!
However, the industry comes full circle this year. Level-up Games will enter the Premium Subscription segment once again by unleashing the sequel to RO, which is still the most successful MMORPG in the Philippines. Ragnarok Online 2: Gate of the World will launch sometime late 2007. Though the business model isn’t finalized yet, it is safe to assume at this point that Ragnarok 2 will take after it’s predecessor in terms of payment.
It’s definitely a good time to be a gamer! 
August 28th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
free to play but pay to enjoy!
try nyo nga pala lineage II.. 
August 28th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
So RO2 is going to be F2p?, I SORELY WISH that if this was the case the “BOT = PERMA BAN” rule shall be implemented.
If F2p gets implemented on RO i say i’d totally STOP playing it (and seeing if RO2 won’t be strict, then that too). That would be the worst insult to all the serious gamers who play in Thor purchasing top ups and all for years now.
Really, as much as there might be variety in the MMO business, it’s the updates that jeopardize each new ones coming out. ROSE’s demise was an example, i bet most of those who have achieved stableness in the game must’ve felt like they were stabbed on the chest when ROSE went kaput.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
@Moff: RO2 will probably be subscription. It’s a premium title. Nothing definite at this point though. We’ll know for sure in the coming weeks.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
weee!!!! I’m hoping that a RO2 will follow the pricing plan of the old RO and not RF (in which I recall is a tad pricier than RO when it was introduced)
Now IF only my old friends and guildmates and Chaos mentors would play again.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
@MOFF, imho the botting problem is a worldwide problem (in terms of RO) and since gravity can’t stop it (being the chief programmer and all for our beloved game) why complain over and over again? Our local servers has been plagued by those AI using people since time in-memorial but still the legit players are the ones who are getting the attention and enjoying the game. Masisira lang ang araw mo kung patuloy kang maasar sa bots (been there and done that) so ngayon, I just enjoy Ragnarok since I like it and I dun mind it na lang if someone acts like a drone or has uber head gears than the one I’m using.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I’m hoping that RO2 will be F2P, but for one reason… Babayaran mo Change Job in Cash.. Paanu kaya?? PHP 100 per Job Change, ok na yun… Tapos pati yung pa upgrade mo ng weapon (weapons that can be levelled), real cash din… Ok yun para bawi din naman Level Up… Imagine, Swordie ka, tapos change job ka sa Acolyte, bayad ka 100PHP.. Tapos pag nakuha mo na gusto mo sa Acolyte at gusto mo nang bumalik sa Swordie, 100 nanaman… hehe.. Just my opinion…
August 28th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
UU nga pala, at dapat yung mga essentials items like Skill Books, Pa upgrade sa blacksmith (Yung Fee) at mga premium consumables (Orange, Yellow, White, Blue Pots, Fly WIng, Butterfly Wing, Speed Pots) ay PHP rin… Magiging mayaman level up dun.. Sigurado may bibili… Red Pots lang available sa Zenny market… hehe..
August 28th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
if you can’t beat them join them
or quit playing 
August 28th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Kagaya ng lahat ng pinoy sa mundo??? If you can’t beat them join them??? Mga politiko ata kayo eh.. Ala kau goal sa buhay kundi mangurakot.. Kaya d umaasenso ang pinas eh…
August 28th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
F2P plss. prioritoze the students(the most gamers!). hirap dn magbudget ng baon no? buti b kung maytrabaho ung mga studyante eh..
@Lynxx cguro ok ung idea n gnyan.. hmm wat u think people?
F2P na tau. :D
August 28th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
P2P ftw!
August 28th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
“If you can’t beat them, join them”
haha, lol, people without principles. haha.
Anyhow, try ko ulit RF pag F2P na, kc pag di ako nakalaro RF ng isang araw pag mei bayad na 100=5days, feeling ko ang sakit na nung nawala. haha
August 28th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Open ko ulit yung level 47 na Bellato ng classmate ko… hahah… tank mode… lol
August 28th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
eto nnman ang level-up!!!
sasara din yan kagaya ng ginwa nila sa MAHAL naming pROSE!!!
August 28th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
@lynxx ay uu grabeh kurakot ako
galeng papabagsakin ko pilipinas 
August 28th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
kung hindi f2p ang RO2 salamat na lang mag RF na lang ako lol!
August 28th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
One can’t expect subscription + cash items to last for long.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I doubt 100% that RO2 will be F2P. I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll be paying to play the game. It’s a good thing RF became F2P but I’m done playing with that game so the F2P came too late. I’m playing GE right now and the hybrid model they have is something I really like. You load for game time and get points for the item mall at the same time. Really worth it.
P2P -> F2P is a good model that online games are trying to do right now. Until the game’s got a stable market and profit, P2P would be good, and becoming F2P would be like a gift to most players. Let’s just hope becoming F2P won’t jeopardize the game in some way.
Really waiting for RO2, heheh.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
f2p or p2p.. bsta.. pay to enjoy prin mangyayari