[citation][nom]lpedraja2002[/nom]The game supports micro-transactions but not a free to play model! Lord of the rings online supports a free to play model since it requires you to buy game content to fully experience the game, quest packs, expansions, mounts etc.[/citation]
apparently we have completely different ideas on what free to play means.
at least in an mmo sense, playing it without paying monthly, is free to play, whether you have to buy it or not up front is up to you.
the old republic, i believe that game allows you the full story of the game for free much like guild wars 2, and that is a free to play.
the cash shop, something in all f2p anything, is a free to play model.
holding things from the player, like comedic things only (there are a few action rpgs from korea like that) is a free to play model that promotes sales to look different.
not giving you every slot programmed into the game is again, a free to play model to promote the sale of those slots.
not giving you every slot available from the beginning when making characters, is another free to play model to get more money. everquest as an example, gave you 8 character slots from day 1, and later on gave you a few more by either being a premium soe member, or by buying more, that is not the same as having a higher cap from day 1 and not allowing you to have it till you pay more.
now, from my time in the game so far, their are items that i am damn sure i cant get through in game means outside of the first time you get them, like when you get drugs from a dealer, the first hit is free. so that again, promotes in game sales.
yes i know, there is a currency exchange, but you the gems come from you paying money, and if someone values a gem at 1 gold something, than thats up to them.
the game costs money to buy, that innitial purchase price is to cover development cost, its why the game has high production values, the cash shop is what keep the servers going.
the game is F2P, just because normally free to play means you have to buy content to get everything does not mean everything has to do that. if you want a better than free to play name, i have heard this kind called freemium