Team Fortress 2 and Free-To-Play

This is quite a geeky post - you have been warned.

Valve recently made their game Team Fortress 2 Free-to-Play, with ancillary revenue from the in game MANN CO store providing Valve's income. This has caused some controversy from those that have already purchased the game, but I can't see the issue. If you paid £20 on the game's release back in 2007 you've had four years of play, that works out at £5 per year. I wonder if these people complain when other things they have previously bought are discounted, would you be upset if a game you bought a few years ago is now in the Bargain Bin? If you bought a DVD player before they became available in supermarkets for £15 would you feel aggrieved?

It's not just Valve - other companies are also exploring the Free-To-Play model, with income coming via other sources. I guess it is a reaction to the rise of Facebook games like Farmville, where it is possible to play for free with income coming from people buying things they don't need for gameplay. Things like buildings in Farmville, Hats in Team Fortress are all unnecessary but people still buy them. I can see dynamic in-game advertising becoming more common as well.

I guess a good analogy would be the Low Cost Airlines. Flying to Dublin with Flybe in May, the actual fare was £0.00, of course I had to pay airport tax etc which made it £40 but on the fare breakdown the airline claimed that their share of the amount paid was nothing. (how much they add to the taxes is unknown). However then come the optional extras (the Tractors, Buildings and Hats)

• Seats are assigned automatically - but if I wanted to chose my seat on the plane = £6 each way
• Hand Baggage was free, however hold baggage was extra.
• There was advertising both in the in-flight magazine, on the seat backs and headrests.
• There was a stand promoting the airline's credit card in the departure lounge.

It's possible to avoid these extras (apart from the advertising), much like I've yet to buy anything from the Mann Co. Store in TF2

Of course airlines take things further. Ryanair have advertising over the PA during boarding and flight and have many many more extra charges and have grown to be the largest airline in Europe.

Could we see more of the Games industry going this way with games being free or very low initial cost and optional extras providing the company's profit.