Hellgate is not a mmorpg, not even close. Its more like between Diablo 2 and GW. The game is fun as hell and its probably what every diablo fans have been looking for (i love those games too) and i dont usually mind paying for a good online game. The money here is not the issue really. Fact is i have to buy the game at normal price ( here about 55/60 bucks, have fun with it and then realize how the game is incomplet without the monthly fee. So you dont mind paying every month for more content in a diablo like game ? good for you i wont. That not different than haveing to pay a monthly fee for lets say ETQW to have more maps, more classes and more gaming options. PS: dont missunderstand me, the game is great that jsut the marketing policy that disapoint me.
I would of gladly payed a monthly subscription to keep getting updates for Diablo2. The fact of the matter is when you are going solely on the sales of your product (when losing money for server hosting and bandwidth, along with forum support etc it doesn't make it profitable enough or even cut even if hiring constant developers/programmers). If I have to pay a monthly fee for updates with pertanant content along with getting perks I am all for it. The sad thing is people don't realize that free games can hemorage cash. (Only thing guild wars does for money is pump out half decent expansions which is basicly like paying for your elite access due to the sheer number of them since the release of the game).
This also falls under the Korean game model of if people want the extra they will pay for it, but in no way are we going to prevent you from getting your FULL story mode of the game along with the ability to play with friends online. Hell Half Life 2 is one of my favorite games for not only offline single player mode but the online death matches. These death matches never really change though which also they finally released the 2nd chapter to the HL2 story arc essentially.
Just because it has offline play doesn't mean it is not an MMo. AoC has offline play along with others in testing currently. I believe HG:L hit the nose on the head with the new style of Mmo development, and it may take a little to catch on, but once people understand that new content takes programmers and programmers cost money, along with bandwidth for servers costing a butt load of cash the elite membership won't look so odd to people.
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I would of gladly payed a monthly subscription to keep getting updates for Diablo2. The fact of the matter is when you are going solely on the sales of your product (when losing money for server hosting and bandwidth, along with forum support etc it doesn't make it profitable enough or even cut even if hiring constant developers/programmers). If I have to pay a monthly fee for updates with pertanant content along with getting perks I am all for it. The sad thing is people don't realize that free games can hemorage cash. (Only thing guild wars does for money is pump out half decent expansions which is basicly like paying for your elite access due to the sheer number of them since the release of the game).
This also falls under the Korean game model of if people want the extra they will pay for it, but in no way are we going to prevent you from getting your FULL story mode of the game along with the ability to play with friends online. Hell Half Life 2 is one of my favorite games for not only offline single player mode but the online death matches. These death matches never really change though which also they finally released the 2nd chapter to the HL2 story arc essentially.
Just because it has offline play doesn't mean it is not an MMo. AoC has offline play along with others in testing currently. I believe HG:L hit the nose on the head with the new style of Mmo development, and it may take a little to catch on, but once people understand that new content takes programmers and programmers cost money, along with bandwidth for servers costing a butt load of cash the elite membership won't look so odd to people.
And let's face it, it beats f2p with a cash shop hands-down.