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Sorry if that seemed snappy, but as an MMO player for some 13 years, who is around the terms regularly, and posts on several MMO forums, the distinction seemed pointless. I've never assumed there was any doubt as to what the p2p or f2p was talking about. As I said, it is a clarification used in MMOs due to most western MMOs using a subscription based business model. To play most western style MMOs (eastern/Asian are typically f2p), to play requires a subscription fee. Regardless of initial fee, subscriptions are considered pay to play, and lack of subscription is f2p. The initial fee, or lack thereof, is not taken into account with such classification. I'm not saying either makes more sense than what you might assume. I'm just saying those are the classifications that have formed naturally over the years in the MMO genre. When marketing games, and as people discuss them online, these terms just seem attached to the genre and hold an association with subscription fees.
In normal games, the specification is different. I wouldn't call every game on the market free2play just because it has no subscription cost, because that is not a defining point in the genre. Games with no cost whatsoever, certainly fall under the f2p category. TF2 comes to mind, as a game that you can play without paying a dime. However, this market is way smaller in 'normal' games. I struggle to think of many AAA quality titles that are entirely free. Hell, many games in general, regardless of quality.. it's just not a major market or classification outside of MMOs.
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