If I like a game and want to continue to play that game, I would pay for new content.
You are paying for the new content, regardless of whether the cost is included in the regular subscripion, a one of purchase cost of a new release or an online "shop" that gives access to additional content. If the price of the new content is included in the regular subscription price, you may be paying for a future expansion that is released after you have moved to another game.
Patches to fix bugs and gameplay issues is not new content. I would also expect new content to be much more than just enhancements such as mouse over tooltips or addtional bank slots. Also, if I purchase a game that is advertised as having certain features, I do not expect to pay for those features again if the features are actually in a later expansion.
I played Everquest for over 3 years, and at the time the expansions were highly anticipated. I enjoyed most of the expansions. It was also my first Mmorg.
I also enjoyed WoW, but had no desire to try the expansions. Why? For me WoW had a lot in common with other Mmorgs I have played. Paying for an expansion to do more of the same was not as desirable as exploring new worlds in a completely different game. Games like Horizons, Dark Age of Camelot, Eve Online, Sword of the New World, and City of Heroes have created worlds that are significanlty different in some respects and similar in others.
Nice article, expansions just cost a tad much to keep up specially if players are similar to me and run 2 or more subs due to immensly enjoying more then 1 game.
Playing: Not much actively. Games played: to many to list, been playing MMO's since 2001 --------------------------
Good job again Dan. I totally agree with you. I immediately thought of the "expansion" of DAOC when Mythic finally added Horses for players to own -- something they promised for a llooonnggg time. That expansion came out with really very little -- or should I say -- came out with what should have already been there and it was a paid expansion. After that , they came out with yet another expansion, expanding on the last expansion with stuff that should have already been there.
Paying the going top price subscription for a game should render expansions free. I would agree however that if the expansion is open for any level, introduces some pretty cool new items for every level, can be accessed by every level and gives you something that you can actually use, then I would indeed buy the new expansion ...but it better be good, better be worth what you are already getting from me plus the price of a brand new game. Otherwise, you have created a chink in my loyalty armor.
I currently subscribe to 4 separate games (dropped the 5th one recently). The differences in how fixing stuff and adding what should have been there type expansions and actual worthwhile expansions can be seen in each game -- one reason my 5th subscription was dropped after 4 years recently.
Comments
If I like a game and want to continue to play that game, I would pay for new content.
You are paying for the new content, regardless of whether the cost is included in the regular subscripion, a one of purchase cost of a new release or an online "shop" that gives access to additional content. If the price of the new content is included in the regular subscription price, you may be paying for a future expansion that is released after you have moved to another game.
Patches to fix bugs and gameplay issues is not new content. I would also expect new content to be much more than just enhancements such as mouse over tooltips or addtional bank slots. Also, if I purchase a game that is advertised as having certain features, I do not expect to pay for those features again if the features are actually in a later expansion.
I played Everquest for over 3 years, and at the time the expansions were highly anticipated. I enjoyed most of the expansions. It was also my first Mmorg.
I also enjoyed WoW, but had no desire to try the expansions. Why? For me WoW had a lot in common with other Mmorgs I have played. Paying for an expansion to do more of the same was not as desirable as exploring new worlds in a completely different game. Games like Horizons, Dark Age of Camelot, Eve Online, Sword of the New World, and City of Heroes have created worlds that are significanlty different in some respects and similar in others.
Nice article, expansions just cost a tad much to keep up specially if players are similar to me and run 2 or more subs due to immensly enjoying more then 1 game.
Playing: Not much actively.
Games played: to many to list, been playing MMO's since 2001
--------------------------
Good job again Dan. I totally agree with you. I immediately thought of the "expansion" of DAOC when Mythic finally added Horses for players to own -- something they promised for a llooonnggg time. That expansion came out with really very little -- or should I say -- came out with what should have already been there and it was a paid expansion. After that , they came out with yet another expansion, expanding on the last expansion with stuff that should have already been there.
Paying the going top price subscription for a game should render expansions free. I would agree however that if the expansion is open for any level, introduces some pretty cool new items for every level, can be accessed by every level and gives you something that you can actually use, then I would indeed buy the new expansion ...but it better be good, better be worth what you are already getting from me plus the price of a brand new game. Otherwise, you have created a chink in my loyalty armor.
I currently subscribe to 4 separate games (dropped the 5th one recently). The differences in how fixing stuff and adding what should have been there type expansions and actual worthwhile expansions can be seen in each game -- one reason my 5th subscription was dropped after 4 years recently.