The value of Free

[strawdog]

There is a lot of discussion in the games industry about free to play games, alternative business models etc etc. I have been giving some thought to the issue of price and how it impacts on perceived value and I just wanted to ask a question of those of you who have played a free game at some time (either online, iPhone or any other format - but excluding free demos/Lite versions)

Is your favourite game (or even your top 5) out of all the games you have played paid or free?

Basically I am just wondering how we value free versus paid for. Lots of people claim that "people don't want to pay" (especially kids) and yet my favourite games are the ones I have paid for. Just wondering what everyone else thinks.

[Tmonine]

I am not completely sure whether you are talking about the whole gaming industry or just iPhone games.

Out of the iPhone games my top favorites are the ones that I paid for but there are a couple of free games that came quite close to the top (TTR, jelly car)

[c0re]

There will always be more advantage for both the gamer & the dev to have a paid game with unlimited released content than a free game with step by step content buying (or with poor quality).

Free prices are no good, really.

[freedog]

Common now, sure there are a few free apps that are ok, but paid apps are way better 99% of the time.

[minga]

there are hardly any good free games. my only free games are TapDefence, JumpTheCat and Lemonade Tycoon.

[ericxd]

Only a Quest of Knights Onrush is free on my iPhone. Most of the free apps I had just end up being deleted. With that being said paid apps are better 99% of the time

[Ravenblack]

Most of my favorites are originally priced at 2.99 and above.

Free games are not as cherished. Mostly I just play them, rate them if I think it's good and then move on.

There are two free games that I will keep forever, the Game&Watch Helmet (which has been pulled from the appstore) and iNethack.

[shawn_10]

Only a Quest of Knights Onrush is free on my iPhone. Most of the free apps I had just end up being deleted. With that being said paid apps are better 99% of the time

+1 same here

[XciteMe83]

It's a little stupid to delete an app off your iPhone just because it's free. Trace, Jelly Car and Tap Defense are some of the best games in their respective categories, most sane gamers will tell you that.

Free =/= crappy. Just like paid =/= quality.

[Tmonine]

It's a little stupid to delete an app off your iPhone just because it's free. Trace, Jelly Car and Tap Defense are some of the best games in their respective categories, most sane gamers will tell you that.

Free =/= crappy. Just like paid =/= quality.

Strongly agree with that statement

[samoreg]

Only free game I have kept is Quest for Knights Onrush.

[ArtNJ]

Glaruung chess, the rush hour lite versions (which have a lot of puzzles) and scramble (which the wife and I played competitively once) are the only ones that I have really liked.

I'm not biased against free, its just that high production values are relevant to me. For example, maybe I shouldnt like Minigore...but I do.

[drelbs]

One of my top 10 is Jelly Car, which is free, but I'm not sure if it's in my top 5 anymore. ;)

[MidianGTX]

It's a little stupid to delete an app off your iPhone just because it's free. Trace, Jelly Car and Tap Defense are some of the best games in their respective categories, most sane gamers will tell you that.

Free =/= crappy. Just like paid =/= quality.

I'm going with this, and adding rRootage to that list.