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(Poll)Think its time for a new Payment adjustment? If so, what?

MMOExposedMMOExposed Member RarePosts: 7,387

Whats your opinion on Subscription fee changes?



I know it once changed before, to the normal 15 dollars a month.



But with the large number of mmos on the market, do you feel the genre should change the Payment model to a new norm?



If so, what?

Philosophy of MMO Game Design

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Comments

  • MehveMehve Member Posts: 487

    It's not that I'd find $20 so wallet-breaking, but $15/month over long-term is a pretty damn serious wad of cash, even after the ongoing server costs are figured in. Which is why the prospect is so attractive to developers over a one-time <$60 payment. It's sad that there seems to be so much difficulty in keeping players around long enough for it to really pay off.

    And lifetime subscriptions are even worse than cash shops in their own way - in one move, they neuter the player's voice to the developers, leave the developers sitting on a chunk of cash with very little obligation towards the future, and in the long-term, actually turn into a negative cashflow issue for the developer. If I learned that an MMO I was interested in was offering a lifetime subscription, I'd have them unbookmarked before the news even finished loading.

    A Modest Proposal for MMORPGs:
    That the means of progression would not be mutually exclusive from the means of enjoyment.

  • JoliustJoliust Member Posts: 1,329

    I agree with the poster above. I would pay $20 dollars a month for something really superb but other than that I don't see a reason for them to raise it. 20 is starting to hit, buy a single player game, level of cost.

    Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.

  • slashbeastslashbeast Member Posts: 533

    They just need to reduce the monthly cost to about 10$ and equivlant for other currencies.

  • bastionixbastionix Member Posts: 547

    I don't mind 15$ a month. But the game needs to have awesome support, needs to be around a long time and it needs to have many players.

    Only WoW can offer me that right now until a new cames comes along.

    15$ isn't the issue for me, it's finding a game that's worth spending it on.

  • ariestearieste Member UncommonPosts: 3,309

    $15 works for me.  For $20, i want more than current games give me.  I'd be willing to pay an extra $5 a month for a

    "manually enforced RP server" where live GMs hang out and kick people who don't RP (in the sense of whatever ruleset it used for the server) off the server.  I would probably disagree with any RP ruleset a game put together, but that's fine, we can't all agree on everything - as long as there is a ruleset and it's fully enforced by live GMs, you can have my $5 for playing on it.

    "I’d rather work on something with great potential than on fulfilling a promise of mediocrity."

    - Raph Koster

    Tried: AO,EQ,EQ2,DAoC,SWG,AA,SB,HZ,CoX,PS,GA,TR,IV,GnH,EVE, PP,DnL,WAR,MxO,SWG,FE,VG,AoC,DDO,LoTRO,Rift,TOR,Aion,Tera,TSW,GW2,DCUO,CO,STO
    Favourites: AO,SWG,EVE,TR,LoTRO,TSW,EQ2, Firefall
    Currently Playing: ESO

  • GrayGhost79GrayGhost79 Member UncommonPosts: 4,775

    Well honestly I can't pick because you have left it way to broad. For me it really depends on the MMO. 

     

    CO and STO - Games didn't have a lot of depth and Cryptic wanted to capitalize on the item mall. Both games should have been free to play with item malls. They certainly didn't have the depth, quality or longevity to be $14.99 a month with item mall. 

     

    DCUO - I believe it should either be a free to play with an item mall which could have fluff items, power sets, or w/e or reduced pay to play ($7-$10) a month with an item mall that consists of nothing but fluff items. 

     

    GW2 - Actually falls in line with what I would consider worth the $14.99 a month from what I know of it and have seen. Depth, looks like they will have a fair amount of content, quality, and something that is likely to keep my playing for a long while. Though, they are willing to throw me a bone on this one and have deemed it buy to play, and I won't argue with them. 

     

    SW:TOR - Quality, depth, lots to do, over all it looks to be a well done game. Certainly falls into the $14.99 slot in my book. 

     

    APB - Fun game, lots to do but not a lot of depth. This like DCUO and CO as well as STO feels better suited as a side MMO. Something to play for 2-5 hours a week when your bored. They've priced it accordingly reduced monthly fee and even through in a nice pay by the hour style option. You can buy a 20 hour block of time for only $7. No item mall. And I agree with the business model, it certainly suits the game well. 

     

    It's not really so much.... how much should MMO's in general cost...... it's more of how much of a monthly fee does an individual MMO warrant based on it's own merits. 

     

  • LoktofeitLoktofeit Member RarePosts: 14,247

    Poll is missing "All of the Above" as an option. I like choice.

    There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
    "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre

  • ThebozzThebozz Member UncommonPosts: 117

    I also like choice, but the choice I would like to see is an hourly pricing option.

  • arcdevilarcdevil Member Posts: 864

    Originally posted by arieste

    I'd be willing to pay an extra $5 a month for a "manually enforced RP server" where live GMs hang out and kick people who don't RP (in the sense of whatever ruleset it used for the server) off the server.  

    would you pay $5 extra for a completly dead server?

     

    ontopic, $15 for me, with the option of a pure vanity mall.

    If someone is imbecile and has a fat wallet, as long as it doesnt imbalance the game field for the rest I cant see why game developers shouldnt profit from him (if its not them, someone will sell him a bridge)

  • wolfmannwolfmann Member Posts: 1,159

    15$ max, with NO item mall.

    Item malls always lets one part of their playerbase pay for the rest. And even if I'm not the one paying (I wouldnt buy PvP gear or XP potions...even if they tuned down xp earning to a crawl so people would buy em... wich they do), onr of my buddies surely would. Since I have friends of all player types.

    From the crafters to the questers to the PvP'ers to the explorers to the RP'ers to the socilisers etc etc etc. I have friends... A flat fee is fair to all of us.

     

    As for saying "vanity items is okay for malls".. Thats like saying "Let X playerbase pay, as long as I don't need to".

    imageThe last of the Trackers

  • Superman0XSuperman0X Member RarePosts: 2,292

    The option that I would choose is not even on the list:

     

    F2P + $10 Month and/or item mall

    DDO (and soon LOTR) have this business model, and they work great. My kids pay the monthly fee (and play a lot more) but I ocassionally play with them, and use the item mall when needed. I am looking for games that give me the OPTION to pay in whatever form works best for me... not games that dictate how I pay, and then I have to decide whether they are worth it.

  • CeridithCeridith Member UncommonPosts: 2,980

    For me, pure subscription only, absolutely no RMT whatsoever.

    If the developer can make the case that their game is worth $20 a month, I will pay it, if not, then the standard $15 a month.

    $15 a month is still a good bit of cash when added up between a respectably sized subscriberbase.

  • arcdevilarcdevil Member Posts: 864

    Originally posted by wolfmann

    As for saying "vanity items is okay for malls".. Thats like saying "Let X playerbase pay, as long as I don't need to".

    and saying they are not ok is like saying "If I cant afford a ferrari everybody should use fords"

     

    as long as you both have a car that takes you where you want to go fast, why would you care if the guy next to you is driving someting prettier for $200k extra bucks? 

  • CeridithCeridith Member UncommonPosts: 2,980

    Originally posted by arcdevil

    Originally posted by wolfmann

    As for saying "vanity items is okay for malls".. Thats like saying "Let X playerbase pay, as long as I don't need to".

    and saying they are not ok is like saying "If I cant afford a ferrari everybody should use fords"

     

    as long as you both have a car that takes you where you want to go fast, why would you care if the guy next to you is driving someting prettier for $200k extra bucks? 

    Yeah... the problem with your analogy is that there is a very high cost associated to manufacturing a new Ferrari, and limited production of them which inflates their cost due to scarcity of supply. Those "vanity items" only need to be 'manufactured' once, which is still maybe an afternoon of work for one person, and then they can be infinitely replicated.

  • arcdevilarcdevil Member Posts: 864

    Originally posted by Ceridith

    Originally posted by arcdevil


    Originally posted by wolfmann

    As for saying "vanity items is okay for malls".. Thats like saying "Let X playerbase pay, as long as I don't need to".

    and saying they are not ok is like saying "If I cant afford a ferrari everybody should use fords"

     

    as long as you both have a car that takes you where you want to go fast, why would you care if the guy next to you is driving someting prettier for $200k extra bucks? 

    Yeah... the problem with your analogy is that there is a very high cost associated to manufacturing a new Ferrari, and limited production of them which inflates their cost due to scarcity of supply. Those "vanity items" only need to be 'manufactured' once, which is still maybe an afternoon of work for one person, and then they can be infinitely replicated.

    so what? thats between game developers and their customers. If you feel that the cash isnt well spent, well...dont spend it?

    I'd rarely if ever buy a vanity item, but if they price is fair and the item cool I might aswell....its up to me to decide 

     

    the thing that we all should focus on, is that looking cool isnt actually giving me an edge in the game....thats why I support vanity malls' existance...even if I dont plan to buy

  • ZhylawZhylaw Member Posts: 115

    I'd gladly pay 20$ a month if it meant NO item mall or microtransactions of any kind

  • wolfmannwolfmann Member Posts: 1,159

    Originally posted by arcdevil

    Originally posted by Ceridith


    Originally posted by arcdevil


    Originally posted by wolfmann

    As for saying "vanity items is okay for malls".. Thats like saying "Let X playerbase pay, as long as I don't need to".

    and saying they are not ok is like saying "If I cant afford a ferrari everybody should use fords"

     

    as long as you both have a car that takes you where you want to go fast, why would you care if the guy next to you is driving someting prettier for $200k extra bucks? 

    Yeah... the problem with your analogy is that there is a very high cost associated to manufacturing a new Ferrari, and limited production of them which inflates their cost due to scarcity of supply. Those "vanity items" only need to be 'manufactured' once, which is still maybe an afternoon of work for one person, and then they can be infinitely replicated.

    so what? thats between game developers and their customers. If you feel that the cash isnt well spent, well...dont spend it?

    I'd rarely if ever buy a vanity item, but if they price is fair and the item cool I might aswell....its up to me to decide 

     

    the thing that we all should focus on, is that looking cool isnt actually giving me an edge in the game....thats why I support vanity malls' existance...even if I dont plan to buy

    Vanity items don't give your playstyle an edge you mean...

    What if it was me saying the same, except that it was a uber PvP item? How much would the playerbase affected by that cry? While I could happily sit in my corner and say "H2P babeh! I dun have to pay a buck to play... It's only meh PvP items in the store anyway, it doesnt affect me a bit. Let PvP'ers pay for the game, w00t!"

    imageThe last of the Trackers

  • laokokolaokoko Member UncommonPosts: 2,004

    What players want don't necessary mean it's profitable for the developers.

    I'm sure very few people like item mall model, but apparently many f2p games are making lots of money.

  • VowOfSilenceVowOfSilence Member UncommonPosts: 565

    Originally posted by wolfmann

    Originally posted by arcdevil

    so what? thats between game developers and their customers. If you feel that the cash isnt well spent, well...dont spend it?

    I'd rarely if ever buy a vanity item, but if they price is fair and the item cool I might aswell....its up to me to decide 

     

    the thing that we all should focus on, is that looking cool isnt actually giving me an edge in the game....thats why I support vanity malls' existance...even if I dont plan to buy

    Vanity items don't give your playstyle an edge you mean...

    What if it was me saying the same, except that it was a uber PvP item? How much would the playerbase affected by that cry? While I could happily sit in my corner and say "H2P babeh! I dun have to pay a buck to play... It's only meh PvP items in the store anyway, it doesnt affect me a bit. Let PvP'ers pay for the game, w00t!"

    So what you're trying to say is that your playstyle is "dress-up-doll"?

    Yeah, you deserve to pay, then.

    Hype train -> Reality

  • MMOExposedMMOExposed Member RarePosts: 7,387

    B2P should be a new standard.

     

    not going to say any names, but without it, they wouldnt have last this long

    Philosophy of MMO Game Design

  • brostynbrostyn Member, Newbie CommonPosts: 3,092

    Well, since quality has gone down, and quantity has gone up I think we deserve a reduction in price.

     

    I've no interest in paying for MMOs that all play the exact same. Just like I have no interest in going to Wendy's, McDonald's, Hardee's, Arby's, Rally's, etc. You've been to one you've been to them all. I'm no fan of quantity over quality.

  • eburneburn Member Posts: 740

    $7.99

    Cuz if you do the math for people getting 'WoW taxed' it'll save'em money.

    I kill other players because they're smarter than AI, sometimes.

  • fnorgbyfnorgby Member Posts: 158

    Originally posted by MMOExposed

    B2P should be a new standard.

     

    Disagree.  That is, unless the B2P offers a free trial somehow.  I'm not spending a penny on an online-only game unless I know I'm going to enjoy it.

    I can also roleplay the tower in a chess game and shout "is that a peasant at the horizon I see? I will smash it I will! Oh damn I broke one of my merlons!". -- maji

  • laokokolaokoko Member UncommonPosts: 2,004

    Originally posted by MMOExposed

    B2P should be a new standard.

     

    not going to say any names, but without it, they wouldnt have last this long

    That's what players want  But that's not necessray profitable for the developers.

    As a customer, I want to eat steaks for 2$.  And you'll get alot of customer if you sell steaks for 2$.  But that dont' necessary means you'll make alot of money.

    Take guild war or diablo for example.  You go to xfire, you see the playing hours, alot of people is playing it, I'm sure the developers are racking money from the initial sells, but that dont' necessary means it's very profitable.  If it is, there'll be alot more B2P MMOs.

  • MadimorgaMadimorga Member UncommonPosts: 1,920

    If you want to spend real money to look prettier than me in a game, go for it.  If you want to spend real money to level faster, I might be okay with it, provided doing it the long way isn't so boring I want to claw the developers' eyes out.  If you want to spend limitless amounts of real money on weapons and armor that are better than mine and that I can't obtain for free with a reasonable amount of ingame effort, now we have a problem.

    Pay per hour is not in my best interests and I think companies would gouge us all to death with it.

    If a game comes out that costs $20 a month, fine, but it better be more fun to me than any game out there, and be rated M and require age verification.  That's just what would get me paying the twenty. 

    A cash shop game where better gear is available but where no one can spend more than around $25 per month would get my attention, but only if it was better than anything out there at fifteen per month, or if clever use of the cash shop plus time and effort ingame made it possible to compete with the max spenders for less than the max.

     

    image

    I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.

    ~Albert Einstein

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