I remember when “free to play” meant limited content, virtually no updates, and having to pay for the really cool stuff in order to compete with everyone else.  It was low graphics, simple game play and lack of challenge.  And the term “multiplayer” really wasn’t a true experience when connected with this type of model.

But is this the case these days?

Last week at GDC in San Francisco, I noticed a trend that was both surprising and startling.  The “new” MMO is a free-to-play model with fantastic graphics, exceptional game play, variety, challenge, and many of the same features that the traditional MMO provides.

Now, I’m old school.  I grew up with the knowledge that in order to have a fantastic online gaming experience you had to get in your car, drive to the store, purchase a retail box, take it home and install it (possibly discover that your hardware might not support the game, drive back to the store, purchase a new video/sound card, etc.), go through the online registration, input credit card billing information, input it again because somewhere it screwed up and is being purposefully frustrating now, then, once you’ve accomplished all of that (and you’re at least an hour or two into the ordeal), you must be prepared for a long patcher download, since there has been at least one update since the game launched.

So you are now asked to wait anywhere from 3 to 7 hours, depending on your connection, (remember, old school here!) before you can log into this game you’ve already been anticipating for hours!!

Yes, I am that old.  But that’s beside the point.  As time has passed, we’ve been presented with faster internet connections, better billing sites, and digital downloads of full clients.  Yet the fact remains that – to me - a good MMO experience costs you $15.00 a month on top of the initial purchase price of typically $39.99.  And don’t even mention expansions.  That’s another $20.00 to $40.00, depending on the title.  So if you have played this game for a few years by now you’ve invested enough to pay for a trip to a deserted island that has pirates and ninjas for you to pit against each other.

Now there’s a thought… anyone interested in a free-to-play MMO where we get to let pirates and ninjas finally answer that ages old question?!?

So what will we traditionalists do as we are forced to accept that we must no longer shell out our children’s college funds in order to log into the “new version” of World of Warcraft or Everquest every day to feed our need?

It was a pleasant surprise to see some of the upcoming titles that are both anticipated and exciting… and free.  I was hesitant, being an old lady set in my ways, to accept that what I was seeing is in all practical fashions the future of MMOs.  While that may be a broad statement, I still believe that as our kids become more demanding of quality and quantity at a lower price (free, to be exact), we will see this trend continue and quite possibly become the “norm”.

Watch out, gamers.  You may find yourself enjoying more online time for less cost, without losing any quality!