as long as there's no cash shop idc what model they have.
that's my only condition: no cash shop. rest is up to them.
I dont even remember the last time I looked at a cash shop to be honest...To me its much less of a deterrant than a sub model......THe cash shop is fine because you determine what you pay (often nothing) instead of a sub model where its $10+ regardless of how little you play.
I disagree, I prefer sub based/no cash shop, but that has become a dream in itself it seems....But I still like the sub based system. I f something is good, I do not mind paying a sub, it is a pitance for the amount of time spent on a good game imo. I also like the climate of a sub game, over free.
It depends on the game. I'm no longer prepeared to pay a sub for WoW, due to the changes made over the years. I no longer think it's worth a sub but I'd probably still dabble if it was FTP.
On the other hand I have a subscription to EVE which is worth every penny IMHO, and I'll happily pay it because the game is worth it.
I un-subbed from TOR because it was a poor game, and even when it goes FTP I can't see me going back, because it's a poor game.
So it really depends on the game, not the payment model. Make a good game and you can charge a sub. Simple.
I un-subbed from TOR because it was a poor game, and even when it goes FTP I can't see me going back, because it's a poor game.
....
Actually is great game. Only game so far I continue to pay sub as act of support despite I'm not playing it for last 2 to 3 months. No matter if somebody love some food can not eat 5 times per day for years and years. So I felt need for detour of few months to half year. In mean time will continue to be subbed.
Originally posted by Istavaan I doubt any new mmo will launch with a subscription fee, it's just not cost effective. the subscription model only works for one game all the rest cannot keep players satisfied hence why they all go f2p.
There are multiple MMOs that do a monthly fee, and monthly fee has never been "a scam" it has existed for a very specific reason. MMO servers are expensive.
Lately I was thinking about it again, when reading about SOE ideas in business model and their plans to Introduce of Krono and plans to monetize player's creation and so on.
It is just more and more clear to me that for MMORPG's ONLY model that is working for me is subscirption withoutANY cash shops, rmah's, plex, gems and any stuff like that. Box + sub + expansions ONLY.
Since both gameplay and business model trends are going into totally opposite direction that what I like in mmorpg's - it seem that my hiatus in playing mmropg's will continue.
PS. Other type of MMO, like mmofps, mmorts, and others - don't care I am not really interested in them anyway.
MMO's are going to have to go to a FTP / BTP model otherwise they won't survive.
In 2001 I started playing MMO's and I happily paid a sub due to the lack of MMO's out there. Not to mention virtually no competition from console or PC. (Wii, smartphones, hand held devices didn't even exist!)
In today's market there are:
- consoles
- PC single player games like Skyrim
- Hand held devices
- dozens of MMO's
- Wii
- Flash games on Face book
- Smart phones / iPad
There are multiple ways for a gamer to get a fix. In the past 3 years I have seen a trend of MMO's being packed for 3 months at launch then dying a quick death. Players won't commit to an MMO long term if there is a sub. There is always a new MMO on the horizon or a new console or game being released.
An MMO needs a lot of population or by its very nature it dies badly. FTP / BTP is the only model that will work going forward and if companies insist on sticking with a sub model, then they have literally set themselves up to fail.
My thread isn't a support thread for FTP / BTP btw. Its about the changing gaming market and how subs are not justifiable anymore.
SWTOR proved that there are plenty of people who are more than willing to pay a subscription for an MMO (as well as paying a high box price).
They're just not willing to pay a sub for a game that's not good enough to justify keeping on paying for.
You're right in that we're long past the day when all online games are automatically able to command a subscription, but subscriptions are still a viable payment model. They're just not the only viable model in the spectrum any more, and not one that's appropriate for limited-content themeparks.
If Publishers want to go with a subscription model for their Shiny New MMO™ then they also have to provide continued content upgrades, live events, frequent patching, game engine development and so on. In short, they're going going to have to earn that sub money by doing something more than paying the server bills. CCP are good example here; they charge a subscription, but their expansions are all free, they're still continuously developing & polishing EVE almost 10 years after launch, they allow a 14 or 21 day free trial, and there's no "box price" to pay up front, and they've quietly backed away from their misguided attempt to introduce a cash shop. And there is actually a free-to-play option with the very clever PLEX system. Those guys are justifying their subscription charges (even if you personally don't happen to like EVE).
Conversely look at TSW: Box price, sub and a cash shop, for a game with limited quantities of themepark entertainment. It's brilliant that it's got an original theme, but the fact is that the monetisation model just isn't appropriate. They might have been better advised to go with a low-priced B2P and/or DLC route. Certainly their "triple whammy" model hasn't exactly inspired customers.
In short, publishers need to chose a monetisation model that fits with their game. EVE going F2P would break a number of game mechanics horribly. Casual massively singleplayer grinder games are best served by F2P/Cash shop. Story-based games like TSW are no-brainer candidates for the DLC model.
Why do gamers continually come out in favor of a model that will cost them more money 90% of the time, well unless you're a broke college student that can grind all week for items that take a couple days to get in a sub game?
f2p isn't free, just like government healthcare and welfare programs, you pay one way or another, and usually the price is higher than what you'd pay otherwise.
memo to the world; people don't make a business to give you things for free, they do so to make money. There is no such thing as free 2 play.
If I actually saw any benefit from my sub in any game ever I'd be willing to continue engaging in said business model. The fact is I've seen no less botting, gold spam, or hacking, no more content, no better gameplay, no better customer service, cash shops on top of subs, etc etc. If there was a game where I actually felt my sub had value I'd sub in a heartbeat. DF:UW is the first game in 3 years that I actually find worth paying the sub to check it out and that's largely because they're giving me the game for free anyway.
Originally posted by DSWBeef I disagree totally. The reason soo many sub games fail is not due to the model but how they are made. SWTOR, Wow clone, RIFT wow clone at lunch, WAR buggy mess, VG buggy mess, AION grind, TSW no end game. The list goes on and on. Sub will work if the game is unique and not broken.
Rift is a sub based game and it does work. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean that other don't.
And therein lies the problem, insofar as game-creator mentality resides.
I have an iPhone and iPad, but I've never once considered playing a game on them. Not once. I'm not looking for a fix or short-term gratification. Consequently, I'm not currently playing any online game.
Don't get me wrong, I crave the experience of a good MMO, but I'm tired of the ubiquitous brain dead, treadmill-based pablum that developers can't resist puking out.
I will never again waist my time on another escalator ride -- unless there's meaningful scenery on the way up and even more substantive content once I've gotten there.
MMO's are going to have to go to a FTP / BTP model otherwise they won't survive.
In 2001 I started playing MMO's and I happily paid a sub due to the lack of MMO's out there. Not to mention virtually no competition from console or PC. (Wii, smartphones, hand held devices didn't even exist!)
In today's market there are:
- consoles
- PC single player games like Skyrim
- Hand held devices
- dozens of MMO's
- Wii
- Flash games on Face book
- Smart phones / iPad
There are multiple ways for a gamer to get a fix. In the past 3 years I have seen a trend of MMO's being packed for 3 months at launch then dying a quick death. Players won't commit to an MMO long term if there is a sub. There is always a new MMO on the horizon or a new console or game being released.
An MMO needs a lot of population or by its very nature it dies badly. FTP / BTP is the only model that will work going forward and if companies insist on sticking with a sub model, then they have literally set themselves up to fail.
My thread isn't a support thread for FTP / BTP btw. Its about the changing gaming market and how subs are not justifiable anymore.
This argument makes no sense. People pay for value. If there is a game that has value in a monthly sub, people will pay for it. If there is no value, people won't. There is nothing to be outdated. Value never gets old. If someone creates a $15.00/mo experience that is a value, then it's not out dated. If someone releases a game with no replayability and/or poor ongoing game play, there is no value in a monthly fee.
Too many people are getting the quality of released products not being worth a monthly fee and the developer's decision to use the wrong billing model, confused with the validity of the model itself.
It's not like B2P has been fully embraced either. I think many players are starting to see the true nature behind this model. Especially in the last 12 hrs. Thing is, I don't care what you personally believe the publisher's ideals are. Whether they are an altruistic benevolent group of allaround nice guys, or whehter they are a bunch of bottom feeding, pond scum sucking predators or whether they are just another company trying to turn a profit with a reasonable product at a reasonable price, it doesn't matter. It's a fact. If you do not use the cash shop, you are generating overhead with no further return on investment. That is, you cost them money.
Comments
I dont even remember the last time I looked at a cash shop to be honest...To me its much less of a deterrant than a sub model......THe cash shop is fine because you determine what you pay (often nothing) instead of a sub model where its $10+ regardless of how little you play.
Subs only is the fairest model...
All the other models try to trick players intoo spending more then what they would spend on a sub. And obviously it works.
Best MMO experiences : EQ(PvE), DAoC(PvP), WoW(total package) LOTRO (worldfeel) GW2 (Artstyle and animations and worlddesign) SWTOR (Story immersion) TSW (story) ESO (character advancement)
It depends on the game. I'm no longer prepeared to pay a sub for WoW, due to the changes made over the years. I no longer think it's worth a sub but I'd probably still dabble if it was FTP.
On the other hand I have a subscription to EVE which is worth every penny IMHO, and I'll happily pay it because the game is worth it.
I un-subbed from TOR because it was a poor game, and even when it goes FTP I can't see me going back, because it's a poor game.
So it really depends on the game, not the payment model. Make a good game and you can charge a sub. Simple.
Actually is great game. Only game so far I continue to pay sub as act of support despite I'm not playing it for last 2 to 3 months. No matter if somebody love some food can not eat 5 times per day for years and years. So I felt need for detour of few months to half year. In mean time will continue to be subbed.
There are multiple MMOs that do a monthly fee, and monthly fee has never been "a scam" it has existed for a very specific reason. MMO servers are expensive.
Lately I was thinking about it again, when reading about SOE ideas in business model and their plans to Introduce of Krono and plans to monetize player's creation and so on.
It is just more and more clear to me that for MMORPG's ONLY model that is working for me is subscirption without ANY cash shops, rmah's, plex, gems and any stuff like that. Box + sub + expansions ONLY.
Since both gameplay and business model trends are going into totally opposite direction that what I like in mmorpg's - it seem that my hiatus in playing mmropg's will continue.
PS. Other type of MMO, like mmofps, mmorts, and others - don't care I am not really interested in them anyway.
^this 100%
good games deserve a sub
"Come and have a look at what you could have won."
agreed here !
I ll pay for my favorites mmo's with satisfied
SWTOR proved that there are plenty of people who are more than willing to pay a subscription for an MMO (as well as paying a high box price).
They're just not willing to pay a sub for a game that's not good enough to justify keeping on paying for.
You're right in that we're long past the day when all online games are automatically able to command a subscription, but subscriptions are still a viable payment model. They're just not the only viable model in the spectrum any more, and not one that's appropriate for limited-content themeparks.
If Publishers want to go with a subscription model for their Shiny New MMO™ then they also have to provide continued content upgrades, live events, frequent patching, game engine development and so on. In short, they're going going to have to earn that sub money by doing something more than paying the server bills. CCP are good example here; they charge a subscription, but their expansions are all free, they're still continuously developing & polishing EVE almost 10 years after launch, they allow a 14 or 21 day free trial, and there's no "box price" to pay up front, and they've quietly backed away from their misguided attempt to introduce a cash shop. And there is actually a free-to-play option with the very clever PLEX system. Those guys are justifying their subscription charges (even if you personally don't happen to like EVE).
Conversely look at TSW: Box price, sub and a cash shop, for a game with limited quantities of themepark entertainment. It's brilliant that it's got an original theme, but the fact is that the monetisation model just isn't appropriate. They might have been better advised to go with a low-priced B2P and/or DLC route. Certainly their "triple whammy" model hasn't exactly inspired customers.
In short, publishers need to chose a monetisation model that fits with their game. EVE going F2P would break a number of game mechanics horribly. Casual massively singleplayer grinder games are best served by F2P/Cash shop. Story-based games like TSW are no-brainer candidates for the DLC model.
Give me liberty or give me lasers
Why do gamers continually come out in favor of a model that will cost them more money 90% of the time, well unless you're a broke college student that can grind all week for items that take a couple days to get in a sub game?
f2p isn't free, just like government healthcare and welfare programs, you pay one way or another, and usually the price is higher than what you'd pay otherwise.
memo to the world; people don't make a business to give you things for free, they do so to make money. There is no such thing as free 2 play.
A very large number of those "10 million" (Isn't it 9 million now?) accounts aren't supported with a regular subscription.
Give me liberty or give me lasers
Steam: Neph
Rift is a sub based game and it does work. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean that other don't.
And therein lies the problem, insofar as game-creator mentality resides.
I have an iPhone and iPad, but I've never once considered playing a game on them. Not once. I'm not looking for a fix or short-term gratification. Consequently, I'm not currently playing any online game.
Don't get me wrong, I crave the experience of a good MMO, but I'm tired of the ubiquitous brain dead, treadmill-based pablum that developers can't resist puking out.
I will never again waist my time on another escalator ride -- unless there's meaningful scenery on the way up and even more substantive content once I've gotten there.
This argument makes no sense. People pay for value. If there is a game that has value in a monthly sub, people will pay for it. If there is no value, people won't. There is nothing to be outdated. Value never gets old. If someone creates a $15.00/mo experience that is a value, then it's not out dated. If someone releases a game with no replayability and/or poor ongoing game play, there is no value in a monthly fee.
Too many people are getting the quality of released products not being worth a monthly fee and the developer's decision to use the wrong billing model, confused with the validity of the model itself.
It's not like B2P has been fully embraced either. I think many players are starting to see the true nature behind this model. Especially in the last 12 hrs. Thing is, I don't care what you personally believe the publisher's ideals are. Whether they are an altruistic benevolent group of allaround nice guys, or whehter they are a bunch of bottom feeding, pond scum sucking predators or whether they are just another company trying to turn a profit with a reasonable product at a reasonable price, it doesn't matter. It's a fact. If you do not use the cash shop, you are generating overhead with no further return on investment. That is, you cost them money.