Monthly fees to play a game these days are ridiculous, and people are <insert mental ability insult here> to pay them. Companies charge these fees only because people let them get away with it.
Guild Wars is free to play monthly. Yeah, a lot of it is instanced, but how different is that from most other pay-per-month MMOs these days? Somehow they have managed to produce an MMO without the monthly fee. So what are they skimping on? Support perhaps? I came back to GW last week, found that I needed to name a character on my account to log back in (new security thing). I couldn't remember the last name of my guy, so I had to send a message to CS. Took me like 2 hours on a Tuesday AM to get a reply and get going again - way better than almost any experience I had in EQ or WoW over the past few years.
And don't get me started on cost of living increases. What is the cost per bit of Internet bandwidth now compared to 10 years ago? What is the cost of computer hardware today (especially when you consider comparable CPU and memory from those days)? How many support and technical issues are now solved by automated knowledge bases and scripts versus actual humans? How many people are paying these monthly fees versus a few years back? Fixed costs today are dramatically less than they were a few years back, and income is far greater. It's very obvious. Yet monthly fees have continued to inch up. Pure profit for greedy corporations, IMO.
Keep paying those fees if you feel it's worth it to you, but as for me, I'll stick with F2P, or maybe the micro transaction games which at least don't penalize me if I decide to take a few months off from a particular game.
Didn't see anyone mention it but runescape was 5 bucks a month last I checked.
You can complain about the graphics but the content is tight, they have lots to do and random event mini-games to entertain you while you are doing other things because they happen randomly. Also accessible anywhere you have the net being a browser game unlike the larger mmos coded in C so you can access it on a different computer than your home computer.
It should be more than 15 by now. Fast food prices have risen and minimum wage went up in the last few years so eh, be happy it hasn't.
But supply and demand wavers to the tune of the masses. Yeah there is inflation, overhead, R&D but... lets take the fast food example. What is the cost for a cheeseburger? What is the cost for a value meal? Is it the same no matter where you go? But there is a dollar menu now, right? Think that's because people weren't keen on paying so much for inflated food prices? In a demographic that is totally dependent on consumers choosing their product over a competitors that is offering similar service and quality of goods, they realize that VALUE is one of the driving forces in how a consumer chooses.
If ALL fast food items cost a flat rate $15, whether it be a soft drink, sammich, or combo meal I'm sorry... the majority of people are going to be damned picky and try to get the best value for their price.
The problem nowadays is that there are so many goddamned McMMO's out there trying to imitate or mimic the success of a few mainstream companies and yet asking the same goddamned price for the same fucking hamburger just with a different gimmick. I'm not talking something cool, like a McRib, or a Luther burger ( "A full pound burger patty covered in cheese. Grilled onions, five strips of bacon, all sandwiched between two Krispy Kreme donuts.") but them changing the color of the ketchup, or putting the pickels above the bun in the shape of a smiley face isn't making a better fucking sammich.
I think the point is, if you're something like McDonalds, Arby's, or Burger King you can charge whatever and even then most compete price wise with specials and deals to syphon business from one another... but all these new start-up franchises with the same rehashed food and expensive pricing it's old hat. After the gimmick, the novelty is gone, no one gives a shit anymore and goes back to what has value.
TL;DR version: A $15 flat rate does not = value. In the end it will bite newcommer MMO's in the ass, so they should scale it or make it competitive.
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
Originally posted by Baruno Monthly fees to play a game these days are ridiculous, and people are <insert mental ability insult here> to pay them. Companies charge these fees only because people let them get away with it.[snip]
I don't get where you think the value of the dollar isn't a fraction of what it was 7ish years ago when we saw 15 dollars being the monthly fee norm. The real cost of a monthly subscription has really gone down.
Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.
Monthly fees to play a game these days are ridiculous, and people are to pay them. Companies charge these fees only because people let them get away with it.
[snip]
...the value of the dollar...
The dollar still has value!?!?!?!?
Now, seriously, I'm not sure where the price actually came from, but I know that it kind of informally settled at around $15/month. I'm sure there was one game that set the precedent, but maybe MMOs just gradually agreed at that price as the norm. Sure, some MMOs have different pricing plans, but $15/month is a safe, steady option for 99% of MMO gamers. It's not a ridiculous price and it'll still get you far more entertainment per dollar than any other option. Though I admit, I usually stay subbed to only one MMO at a time unless an MMO has some way to circumvent the monthly fee (which is why I'm subbed to LotRO and EVE).
Very few are worth this price yet stubbonly continue to charge it when if they charged maybe5 dollars or 7.50 a month they would get a lot more players and maybe double the income on a game . I can forsee a time when there will be pricing wars in the mmo genre and a lot more freeium model games .
I would describe what we are experiancing as the golden age of mmos . There will be a next generation that will make what we play now pale in comparrison .
Inflation probably.. The MMO's costs are higher so they have to charge more per month, like any of our other monthly services.
Don't overlook the cost of bandwidth and infrastructure. A properly setup network to run the server, and sufficient internet connectivity to hold thousands of players worth of traffic with optimum routing.. that costs quite a lot of $, plus maintenance staff, support staff, dev staff, office space rental fees, etc, etc
They don't just throw up a server on some random internet feed anymore, like they could do in the initial days of mmorpg's, with niche player bases, effectively graphical muds.
Imagine if the monthly sub for an MMO was $2, that would mean i could stay subbed to 7 games at the current cost of one, implying that the MMO companies share my $15, and since i only sub one game at the time now they would not really lose out in the long run, as i would no longer bother cancelling my sub when i tire of one game (unless i am 100% sure i will not come back).
...
Well, what if a MMO would just cost 2$ per month and one could subscribe to half a dozen at the same time? One option is missing: to buy some time to play them all. ,)
You could as well ask why the box prices are as they are. Companies will charge as much as they will get off with. And there is not much room to increase subscription fees, as it's very easy to compare subscription fees between games. That's maybe one reason for the micro transaction thing. It makes it harder for customers to compare the true prices.
They cost $15 a month so that people who dont have that kind of money can complain about it.
Let's face it. If you cant afford $15 a month you probably should not be playing MMOs. You should be looking for a better job!
Currently playing: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, Entropia Universe and The Chronicles of Spellborn
Not playing a pay to play game eh? So you speaking from experience?
Nice try. No, Im not playing a Pay to Play game because there isnt one thats worth my money! Those of us who have jobs that pay decently know that we dont gotta impress some moron on the internet with a subscription just to make a point.
15 dollars a month is another thing to pay that adds up. However, its pretty easy to cut from other areas if you don't want to screw up your budget. If you can't then paying for a game should be low on your list of priorities.
Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.
I would advise anyone who feels that subscription fees are too high to consider a quick comparison of what other recreational activities they could get for the same expenditure.
It won't be a big list.
Average gaming is ~90 hours/month. Some people will hit ~200 hours/month.
What other hobby offers better value for money than MMOs?
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
They cost $15 a month so that people who dont have that kind of money can complain about it.
*edited non-supported opinion*
Currently playing: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, Entropia Universe and The Chronicles of Spellborn
Not playing a pay to play game eh? So you speaking from experience?
Nice try. No, Im not playing a Pay to Play game because there isnt one thats worth my money! *edited anger issue*
Have a nice day.
Just thought I'd bold part of your point... kinda... you know, goes along with what the post's point was about too. Why pay premium price for shit games? I'm happy you see things the way we do!
And you have a great day yourself, sir!
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
Comments
Monthly fees to play a game these days are ridiculous, and people are <insert mental ability insult here> to pay them. Companies charge these fees only because people let them get away with it.
Guild Wars is free to play monthly. Yeah, a lot of it is instanced, but how different is that from most other pay-per-month MMOs these days? Somehow they have managed to produce an MMO without the monthly fee. So what are they skimping on? Support perhaps? I came back to GW last week, found that I needed to name a character on my account to log back in (new security thing). I couldn't remember the last name of my guy, so I had to send a message to CS. Took me like 2 hours on a Tuesday AM to get a reply and get going again - way better than almost any experience I had in EQ or WoW over the past few years.
And don't get me started on cost of living increases. What is the cost per bit of Internet bandwidth now compared to 10 years ago? What is the cost of computer hardware today (especially when you consider comparable CPU and memory from those days)? How many support and technical issues are now solved by automated knowledge bases and scripts versus actual humans? How many people are paying these monthly fees versus a few years back? Fixed costs today are dramatically less than they were a few years back, and income is far greater. It's very obvious. Yet monthly fees have continued to inch up. Pure profit for greedy corporations, IMO.
Keep paying those fees if you feel it's worth it to you, but as for me, I'll stick with F2P, or maybe the micro transaction games which at least don't penalize me if I decide to take a few months off from a particular game.
But supply and demand wavers to the tune of the masses. Yeah there is inflation, overhead, R&D but... lets take the fast food example. What is the cost for a cheeseburger? What is the cost for a value meal? Is it the same no matter where you go? But there is a dollar menu now, right? Think that's because people weren't keen on paying so much for inflated food prices? In a demographic that is totally dependent on consumers choosing their product over a competitors that is offering similar service and quality of goods, they realize that VALUE is one of the driving forces in how a consumer chooses.
If ALL fast food items cost a flat rate $15, whether it be a soft drink, sammich, or combo meal I'm sorry... the majority of people are going to be damned picky and try to get the best value for their price.
The problem nowadays is that there are so many goddamned McMMO's out there trying to imitate or mimic the success of a few mainstream companies and yet asking the same goddamned price for the same fucking hamburger just with a different gimmick. I'm not talking something cool, like a McRib, or a Luther burger ( "A full pound burger patty covered in cheese. Grilled onions, five strips of bacon, all sandwiched between two Krispy Kreme donuts.") but them changing the color of the ketchup, or putting the pickels above the bun in the shape of a smiley face isn't making a better fucking sammich.
I think the point is, if you're something like McDonalds, Arby's, or Burger King you can charge whatever and even then most compete price wise with specials and deals to syphon business from one another... but all these new start-up franchises with the same rehashed food and expensive pricing it's old hat. After the gimmick, the novelty is gone, no one gives a shit anymore and goes back to what has value.
TL;DR version: A $15 flat rate does not = value. In the end it will bite newcommer MMO's in the ass, so they should scale it or make it competitive.
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
I don't get where you think the value of the dollar isn't a fraction of what it was 7ish years ago when we saw 15 dollars being the monthly fee norm. The real cost of a monthly subscription has really gone down.
Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.
Hey, look at it this way; healthcare is gonna be free, so you'll have some extra pocket-change.
They cost $15 a month so that people who dont have that kind of money can complain about it.
Let's face it. If you cant afford $15 a month you probably should not be playing MMOs. You should be looking for a better job!
Laudanum - Romance. Revenge. Revolution.
Crappy, petty people breed and raise crappy, petty kids.
The dollar still has value!?!?!?!?
Now, seriously, I'm not sure where the price actually came from, but I know that it kind of informally settled at around $15/month. I'm sure there was one game that set the precedent, but maybe MMOs just gradually agreed at that price as the norm. Sure, some MMOs have different pricing plans, but $15/month is a safe, steady option for 99% of MMO gamers. It's not a ridiculous price and it'll still get you far more entertainment per dollar than any other option. Though I admit, I usually stay subbed to only one MMO at a time unless an MMO has some way to circumvent the monthly fee (which is why I'm subbed to LotRO and EVE).
Umm, no.
Back to the topic there is a 15 dollar fee, because people are willing to pay it.
some games actually cost a bit more than that... its all a question of whether you think the game provides value for money.
Not if you want decent healthcare.
Well if you spend all your time indoors playing MMO's you are a lot less likely to get injured so in a way you won't need real good health insurance.
Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.
Very few are worth this price yet stubbonly continue to charge it when if they charged maybe5 dollars or 7.50 a month they would get a lot more players and maybe double the income on a game . I can forsee a time when there will be pricing wars in the mmo genre and a lot more freeium model games .
I would describe what we are experiancing as the golden age of mmos . There will be a next generation that will make what we play now pale in comparrison .
Inflation probably.. The MMO's costs are higher so they have to charge more per month, like any of our other monthly services.
Don't overlook the cost of bandwidth and infrastructure. A properly setup network to run the server, and sufficient internet connectivity to hold thousands of players worth of traffic with optimum routing.. that costs quite a lot of $, plus maintenance staff, support staff, dev staff, office space rental fees, etc, etc
They don't just throw up a server on some random internet feed anymore, like they could do in the initial days of mmorpg's, with niche player bases, effectively graphical muds.
Currently playing: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, Entropia Universe and The Chronicles of Spellborn
Not playing a pay to play game eh? So you speaking from experience?
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
Well, what if a MMO would just cost 2$ per month and one could subscribe to half a dozen at the same time? One option is missing: to buy some time to play them all. ,)
You could as well ask why the box prices are as they are. Companies will charge as much as they will get off with. And there is not much room to increase subscription fees, as it's very easy to compare subscription fees between games. That's maybe one reason for the micro transaction thing. It makes it harder for customers to compare the true prices.
Nice try. No, Im not playing a Pay to Play game because there isnt one thats worth my money! Those of us who have jobs that pay decently know that we dont gotta impress some moron on the internet with a subscription just to make a point.
Have a nice day.
Laudanum - Romance. Revenge. Revolution.
Crappy, petty people breed and raise crappy, petty kids.
15 dollars a month is another thing to pay that adds up. However, its pretty easy to cut from other areas if you don't want to screw up your budget. If you can't then paying for a game should be low on your list of priorities.
Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.
I would advise anyone who feels that subscription fees are too high to consider a quick comparison of what other recreational activities they could get for the same expenditure.
It won't be a big list.
Average gaming is ~90 hours/month. Some people will hit ~200 hours/month.
What other hobby offers better value for money than MMOs?
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
Just thought I'd bold part of your point... kinda... you know, goes along with what the post's point was about too. Why pay premium price for shit games? I'm happy you see things the way we do!
And you have a great day yourself, sir!
"There is only one thing of which I am certain, and that's nothing is certain."
My average hours per month is like half that. Maybe 1/3 that. Can I get a discount??
As to your last part, what hobby requires you to pay again every month for the exact same content?
Pretty much everything... youve either got
a) monthly or annual membership fees to any sort of clubs, groups, etc and even if your hobby is working out, youve got gym memberships
b) having to repeatedly purchase products & supplies to complete whatever your hobby is
Both of those things are well over $15 a month in many cases