$15 dollar subscription ????

ArchivedUser

to much and you will lose global market share and player base potential. To low and you will see more exploitative antisocial behavior and smurf accounts. $15 per month or less with monthly bundles and referrals seems acceptable for what is hopefully delivered.

ArchivedUser

Drudge said:

I am currently playing Black Desert Online. It is almost a must to have a Value Pack. They are $30 monthly. You can get them off market place but it isn't easy.

I am an over 16 yr EQ player. $15 subscription was the standard almost 20 yrs ago. I really believe that you are WAY under pricing your proposed subscription pricing.

I want your game to succeed and grow. I know you need money to do this.

Charge more than $15 and go free to play after 6 months. No way dude, get a ride out of your bubble and to the real world once in a while.

ArchivedUser

we should move onto a better topic worth talking about. the monthly fee wont ever go past 15$

ArchivedUser

I disagree that you need to buy anything in BDO - that's a player-sanctioned requirement, and nothing to do with the game.

But I also agree, I'd like to see a game with a higher subscription. Ashes may be a little too general for that, but for some of these more niche games, I fully believe it could support more.

ArchivedUser

30 $ is to much for a new started game. World of Warcraft didn't go that fare and in the end it it got a bit cheaper and now you can buy month if you farm enough gold to do so. 15 $ subscription will be enough and still be on the edge on to fare. The game should grow with the fan base/community and not by money. Money will always be in your pocket, but fan base will not.
And if they change the prize now it will not look good on them crushing there own setup like other says in this discussion, but I can also understand your feeling that you want this game great and yeah more money can make it grow but will it be worth it when people dont play your super awesome game    

ArchivedUser

Lilem said:

@Canterbury why do so many modern services use subscription then? Netflix, Okko, Playstation (with PS+), not to mention the MMO - World of Warcraft, and many others. Heck, even some magazines and news sites switch to subscription, at least partly.

It's not a new system, but it works, and I don't see how it is archaic. Don't fix something that isn't broken.

Well, very simply, subscriptions work for some businesses, but not all. If WoW was starting today, it likely wouldn't have a sub. However it started in an era that was sub-friendly and now has so many rusted-on fans that it can keep charging one easily while newer MMOs, depending on how big they want to be, will struggle to do the same thing. Make no mistake, a subscription is an impediment to huge growth in today's market. The AoC lads are smart cookies and they will have realised this long ago, but clearly value quality over quantity and that's great; that's what we all want to pay for. But an absurd amount like $30 is not going to fly with people. It would diminish the potential userbase even further from where it already sits. 

ArchivedUser

Arkanth said:

I don't think BDO having an almost required cash shop monthly buy is the best example to set a prize for a game's suscription, since it's exactly this which has made BDO lose tons of players over it's abusive advantages.

Not everyone can afford to invest so much money on something.

I cannot applaud this enough. Thank you for making this (much-needed!) distinction.

ArchivedUser

Interesting note: We will have a cash shop which allows us to purchase aesthetic items.

@Possum  and I were well known, in GW2, for spending above and beyond $15/month for these items; I think we spent a good amount in Rift, as well, for costumes/etc, and in ESO.

We'll probably spend less here, since there is actually a sub fee, but we'll still be pouring money into that shop regularly. If they sell items in there that make us drool ... well? That $15 may begin to seem like nothing, really, compared to what can be generated through the shops.

ArchivedUser

Isende said:

Interesting note: We will have a cash shop which allows us to purchase aesthetic items.

@Possum  and I were well known, in GW2, for spending above and beyond $15/month for these items; I think we spent a good amount in Rift, as well, for costumes/etc, and in ESO.

We'll probably spend less here, since there is actually a sub fee, but we'll still be pouring money into that shop regularly. If they sell items in there that make us drool ... well? That $15 may begin to seem like nothing, really, compared to what can be generated through the shops.

Exactly.  
$15 a month sounds fair.  There are those who will cry for FTP and PTW.  I'll hand them a tissue.  I know many good younger people as well as older, some seniors even who will play this game for $15/mo  more then that goes beyond their budgets.  Make the subs more then $15/mo  and I'm afraid too many good people will turn away.  

Also as I stated earlier, I've known families, couples and their children, who played together on separate accounts.  Let's not price them out.  Lucky them that they can afford it for a family of four.  

The OP sounds like someone just trying to stir things up like on other forums.  When you think about it, WHO in their right mind would want to increase the price of something to make it out of reach for many?

Controversy is this guy/gals middle name. 

ArchivedUser

I'd gladly pay 60 a month for this game if the promises are held up. If you cannot afford 15 a month then I suggest focusing on something other than gaming..  :-/

ArchivedUser

Lifetime sub for me!!

ArchivedUser

The original post is like a "how to" on becoming unpopular with a community. I doubt he even seriously thinks a sub over $15 would be a good idea, because as many have pointed out, that would be a terrible idea.

But it doesn't really matter because no one at Intrepid would be dumb enough to even suggest it, let alone implement it, so it's a moot point at the end of the day.

ArchivedUser

Ezenkrul87 said:

I'd gladly pay 60 a month for this game if the promises are held up. If you cannot afford 15 a month then I suggest focusing on something other than gaming..  :-/

If the game doesn't attract enough people to play then you will play pretty much alone and the game will fall into an abyss.  But then of course some people like to feel exclusive by not including others.

ArchivedUser

CylverRayne said:

Isende said:

Interesting note: We will have a cash shop which allows us to purchase aesthetic items.

@Possum  and I were well known, in GW2, for spending above and beyond $15/month for these items; I think we spent a good amount in Rift, as well, for costumes/etc, and in ESO.

We'll probably spend less here, since there is actually a sub fee, but we'll still be pouring money into that shop regularly. If they sell items in there that make us drool ... well? That $15 may begin to seem like nothing, really, compared to what can be generated through the shops.

Exactly.  
$15 a month sounds fair.  There are those who will cry for FTP and PTW.  I'll hand them a tissue.  I know many good younger people as well as older, some seniors even who will play this game for $15/mo  more then that goes beyond their budgets.  Make the subs more then $15/mo  and I'm afraid too many good people will turn away.  

Also as I stated earlier, I've known families, couples and their children, who played together on separate accounts.  Let's not price them out.  Lucky them that they can afford it for a family of four.  

The OP sounds like someone just trying to stir things up like on other forums.  When you think about it, WHO in their right mind would want to increase the price of something to make it out of reach for many?

Controversy is this guy/gals middle name. 

I agree that subscription should be $15 (or below) as well, but I wouldn't assume that the OP's goal was controversy. It's easy for people in such countries to forget that there are people who live relatively frugal lifestyles but could afford $15 a month on a game subscription. It is not so much as them being not able to afford the game, more like anything above that threshold is outside a comfort zone, towards a "luxury" level that they try not to step into that area. 

I want more of these players around, because they more often than not have more time to spare. They will be what will be driving the development of the plot. They will be driving the growth of nodes. They will be the ones that will lead the charge on sieges. To price them out of the game is a damn shame for the game. 

ArchivedUser

The OP made this post on June 12th, and ironically that was the last day he logged in. Hope all is well.

ArchivedUser

I think intrepid is aiming for a larger player base rather then a high subscription fee. The fact that we're getting OCE servers proves there are already enough people willing to pay to cover costs. The only thing left is to see if they can keep us playing. 

ArchivedUser

$15 a month is fine and if you want to back the game anymore you can

1. spread the word of the game
2. buy items from the cash shop
3. donate to the devs

Raising the $15 subscription will most likely push members away instead of drawing them 

ArchivedUser

@Nagash, the most recent changes to your signature remind me of the outside of a Las Vegas wedding chapel.  Albeit, considerably more creepy than a wedding chapel.  

ArchivedUser

Possum said:

@Nagash, the most recent changes to your signature remind me of the outside of a Las Vegas wedding chapel.  Albeit, considerably more creepy than a wedding chapel.  

I just wanted to get that dark overlord feel and with the mouth moving I think its close ^^

ArchivedUser

I'm not hurting for money and there is no way I would pay a $30/mo sub. $15 is reasonable.

ArchivedUser

nagash said:

Possum said:

@Nagash, the most recent changes to your signature remind me of the outside of a Las Vegas wedding chapel.  Albeit, considerably more creepy than a wedding chapel.  

I just wanted to get that dark overlord feel and with the mouth moving I think its close ^^

Oh, I didn't notice the mouth moving.  Nice.  I was looking at your name flashing in lights.  

ArchivedUser

$30 a month??? Hell no. 

ArchivedUser

Ezenkrul87 said:

I'd gladly pay 60 a month for this game if the promises are held up. If you cannot afford 15 a month then I suggest focusing on something other than gaming..  :-/

Booyah for you, me bucko. But I'd just like to know one small little thing:

Who in all hades died and made you arbiter of how people should/should not spend their money? Or yet, more, how much they "should" be charged to enjoy themselves? 

"Exclusive," contrary to what most people think, doesn't mean "elite." It means alone. If that's what you want, build your own little mini-kingd... er, game. Bam! Instant exclusivity, you can charge what you want.

The rest of us? We'll take our pittance, give it happily to IS, and wave you a not-so-fond farewell.

ArchivedUser

Isende said:

Ezenkrul87 said:

I'd gladly pay 60 a month for this game if the promises are held up. If you cannot afford 15 a month then I suggest focusing on something other than gaming..  :-/

Booyah for you, me bucko. But I'd just like to know one small little thing:

Who in all hades died and made you arbiter of how people should/should not spend their money? Or yet, more, how much they "should" be charged to enjoy themselves? 

"Exclusive," contrary to what most people think, doesn't mean "elite." It means alone. If that's what you want, build your own little mini-kingd... er, game. Bam! Instant exclusivity, you can charge what you want.

The rest of us? We'll take our pittance, give it happily to IS, and wave you a not-so-fond farewell.

@Isende Well put. 

ArchivedUser

Ezenkrul87 said:

I'd gladly pay 60 a month for this game if the promises are held up. If you cannot afford 15 a month then I suggest focusing on something other than gaming..  :-/

It's not affording it that's the issue. Some of us can afford much more than that. There are people here that can afford a new car every year. Doesn't mean they purchase it Why? Because we don't have the mentality that just because something is "affordable" means we should pay that much. $15 a month is plenty, that will put me at $45 a month for the household.

Besides, you'll scare off too many players who know there are tons of free2play games out there. We need this subscription to be done correctly

ArchivedUser

I'm quite surprised some people are willing to literally throw excessive amounts of money for a subscription at this... The standard for a triple A title right now is what 60? 80+ if you go for the fancier editions. You keep it forever though and can play it as much as you want.

So you pay 4x the current sub for that scenario or you pay that game price and play it for a month? Sounds like you want to shaft yourself more than support the game. That's a bit financially masochistic.

ArchivedUser

I'm going to add my 2 cents as someone who already got a lifetime subscription to the game, so take my perspective with a grain of salt, I suppose.

You want the largest audience possible, and you absolutely want to cater to the people who are long-time MMO fans, because that's what Steven is and that is the audience he seems to be pitching hard to.

I think that we long-time MMO fans will have a very hard time justifying more than $15/mo as a subscription fee - to ourselves, to our spouses (my wife would stab me with a fork), or to our gamer friends that we are trying to convince to join the game.

Industry standard monthly fee that leads to consistent rollout of content sounds good to me!

ArchivedUser

Possum said:

Ghyx said:

$15 has been an industry standard for years, driven home in large part thanks to the WoW subscription model.

Intrepid does not have the same pricing power as a traditional AAA studio. They are a new studio, headed by a founder who has raised some key questions among the community (re: his background). Pricing a monthly sub above $15 would exacerbate the worries among the community, and undoubtedly draw the ire of the media, that a new studio with an ambitious project does not need.

 Ghyx is absolutely correct.  If Intrepid tried to go with a sub higher than what the other sub games are charging, they would lose a lot of people.

Both of you are correct but I have always found it curious that ever since WoW set the price at 15.00, not a single MMO I know of has dared to challenge that ceiling, not even by say .50. If you asked me 10 years ago I would have said an MMO today would probably be charging 18.00 + monthly by now. Instead the sub models have been veering away from monthly subs in lieu of other models like micro transactions, free to play (with strings), etc.

I prefer monthly sub and 15.00 so AoC works for me

ArchivedUser

PlagueMonk said:

Possum said:

Ghyx said:

$15 has been an industry standard for years, driven home in large part thanks to the WoW subscription model.

Intrepid does not have the same pricing power as a traditional AAA studio. They are a new studio, headed by a founder who has raised some key questions among the community (re: his background). Pricing a monthly sub above $15 would exacerbate the worries among the community, and undoubtedly draw the ire of the media, that a new studio with an ambitious project does not need.

 Ghyx is absolutely correct.  If Intrepid tried to go with a sub higher than what the other sub games are charging, they would lose a lot of people.

Both of you are correct but I have always found it curious that ever since WoW set the price at 15.00, not a single MMO I know of has dared to challenge that ceiling, not even by say .50. If you asked me 10 years ago I would have said an MMO today would probably be charging 18.00 + monthly by now. Instead the sub models have been veering away from monthly subs in lieu of other models like micro transactions, free to play (with strings), etc.

I prefer monthly sub and 15.00 so AoC works for me

I believe the prevalance of the other business models is why the sub hasn't gone up.  If all the games were subs and there were no other options, it likely would be $18 by now.

ArchivedUser

Canadian here, 15 USD is almost 20 bucks a month. Also cost for games have gone down. Network cost are now footnotes. Cloud servers and world building tool sets. 15 bucks a month goes farther then it used to. Also games make a small fortune on cosmetic cash shops. Lastly I won't pay more then 15 a month.