This doesn't seem "free to play"; it's just free?

[Deejo Wellens]

The devs keep using the term "free to play", which implies (in virtually every other instance the term is used elsewhere) that there is some monetization scheme for content or advancement or whatever, like a real-money cosmetics shop or an optional subscription or paid expansions, but judging by the website it seems this game is just completely free and the most you can pay for is $20 to have a donor tag for a character.

I think the devs should clarify that the game is just 100% free instead of "free to play"; it would be more enticing and less confusing that way.

[akirmse]

That's correct, it's completely free. Steam has a "Free to play" genre checkbox, but no "Free" genre.

[Such]

I'd second that's worth highlighting in the description - I was half expecting at least an advert bar given some of the ToS text (yes unlike 1996 actually read that now I'm an adult...).

That said, where do I send my $20?

[Deejo Wellens]

Originally posted by Such:

That said, where do I send my $20?

Donation link is in the bottom right on the webpage http://www.meridian59.com/

[akirmse]

Thanks for the suggestion; game description updated.

[Deejo Wellens]

Originally posted by S_Saga:

You're confusing the terms. "Free-to-play" always meant that it has no monetization whatsoever.

No, the word for having no monetization whatsoever is “free”. You can look this word up in a dictionary, even the really old ones.

“Free-to-play” is a specific coinage to describe games that are not actually completely free, else they would have been called “free”.

You will notice that even Steam has a categorical distinction between Free Games and Free-to-Play Games, with virtually no overlap.

I have also never heard of a single other game in the history of the medium billing itself as “free-to-play” with no monetization whatsoever, as opposed to “free”, and I’d be happy to see you provide three examples.

[Kunovega]

Originally posted by akirmse:

That's correct, it's completely free. Steam has a "Free to play" genre checkbox, but no "Free" genre.

I don't know the backend or how to mark it correctly, and you are correct that within the store your options for search are "free to play" but even within that list you'll find games marked with 1 of 3 tags on their individual store page, like these here is just "Free"

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1009950/Once10/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/882410/Age_of_Fear_The_Free_World/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/906200/Tunche_Arena/

Within Steam terminology there's 3 variations that fall into the stores "free to play" genre:

Free: no costs or microtransactions

Free to Play: No cost to start playing but has microtransactions and/or optional subscription tiers

Play for free: A game that used to have a cost to buy which is currently being offered for free (may be a temporary "play for free week", a special event of some kind or a game transitioning from one pay model to another that hasn't made up it's mind what to become yet)

Just purely technical that within Steams terminology the game would be better marked as Free, it would still show up in store searches when someone clicks the free to play category header

[akirmse]

Thanks. I changed it to "Free" a few months ago, and it's showing up that way now.

[Tobi.byte]

I want a button or option like Captain Spirit. When you click "Install game" you have it permanent in your library.
Can you change it on Meridian 59 on Steam?

store. steampowered.com/app/845070

[un.def]

I think there is a small rmm in M59, but its is outlawed by the devs

[Ouiji]

This game is completely free and there is no need to invest any $$ at all. Play and enjoy.

[Wespe]

they say that... but you can totes spend real life money buying characters and items from people ingame,, 50 dollars for a red scimitar anyone?