There seems to be some confusion about our business model, so we'd like to make a few quick clarifications.
Ironbound is not free to play. The client can be downloaded for free on all platforms, so that you can unlock your account once, and use it to play on any supported platform or device. Before you unlock, we give you access to all the single player content and a number of multiplayer games, so that you can try the game and see if you like it.
Similar games let you play for free, but offer micro-transactions for unlocking content or accessing special game modes, and unlocking everything can easily cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Alternatively, you can spend a lot of time trying to unlock the content by playing, but users who spend have an obvious advantage. We have a different approach: try the game, and if you like it, buy it once. No micro-transactions, no uncapped spending, no pay to win features.
It would have been easier for us to ask for an upfront payment. However, we are working on tablet versions of the game (iOS and Android), and we want players to be able to pay once and play everywhere. If you unlock on Steam now, you'll be able to download the iPad client for free, login with the same account, and play. Conversely, people who unlock on iPad can come to Steam later, download the game and play without spending anything extra.
We're sorry about the confusion, and we hope you agree that this is a fair and simple model.