Developers, publishers and retailers must make sure free-to-play games are appropriate for their audience, says Square Enix.
Free games has endured a backlash from core fans who accuse them of ripping off gamers and being of poor quality.
“Different business models give us an option to make different games for different gamers,” said Square Enix West CEO Phil Rogers. “Today people might be suspicious of free-to-play – some fear it is a tag for low quality.
“Core gamers don’t like the idea of free-to-play if it’s a way to charge them more than they want for something. That’s not a strategy that will take any business forward.”
The business model has hit the headlines as children rack up huge bills with micro-transactions, and the UK Office of Fair Trading is currently investigating in-app purchases.
“Free-to-play has made games more accessible but also brought challenges as the industry adjusted to these shifts,” added Chillingo COO Ed Rumley. “Developers, publishers, and app store retailers have a part in ensuring free-to-play games are appropriate.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/squar...priate/0127041