60 levels with a healthy amount of content.
Healthy level of content needs a solid definition. So here is my example, Vanilla WoW took 4>10 months of play time on average on the first character play through. The only argument to this are extreme power players with "the gift", so they can't count in the equation of 4>10 months.
1-30 = $60 with soft end game.
31-50= $60 with soft end game.
51-60= $60 with FULL end game.
= $180
or
1-20 = $30 with a soft end game.
21-30= $30 with a soft end game.
31-40= $30 with a soft end game.
41-50= $30 with a soft end game.
51-60= $30 with a FULL end game.
= $150
Cash shop includes Level increments, and $30 additional character's.
The original World of Warcraft $59.99+one month free. Add another 9 months.
total= $194.90
Con's are:
- Developers will not make a game this large (not even close)
- mmorpg's suck anymore... Many players wouldn't subscribe after level 30
- For a game of WoW quality, just as well charge the same a WoW.
Feel free to make variations
Comments
You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent.
"At one point technology meant making tech that could get to the moon, now it means making tech that could get you a taxi."
This is basically what happens when an expansion launches. You have a soft endgame still if you don't buy the expansion. You need to pay for another 10 levels of progression. You have to pay for all the expansions to get the full endgame.
Then if their idea is met with harsh criticism they can always roll back to a less greedy one.Thing is the market seems to be decided on the first day,millions of copies sold then all the criticism begins but by that point the developer /publisher doesn't care anymore ,they already made their millions selling you a half baked game.
There lies part of the problem,they don't need to fall back on anything,they only need to market their game to make those sales on the first couple days.Nobody will know if the game is half baked,unfinished,bugs until it is too late,millions already made>>>see FO76 as just one o the many examples.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
"publisher and developer only care about themselves"
With this, It would be a cash flow gamble each and every three steps along the way.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Being charged a subscription every month, for however much it is in your currencies, is a far easier pill to swallow then something saying "Buy the next installment!" or however it'd be displayed in your examples.
Recurring payments give the illusion of constant access whereas your proposed models actively remind the player "Drop another chunk of cash now for access."
To summarise, £10 (I'm just guessing at the sub price right now) taken with minimal interference is easier to let run than breaking out your debit/credit card every 10/20/30 levels.
People overestimate themselves. They would overestimate their ability and speed in reaching higher levels, and thus overestimate the short-term cost of playing that game.
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.