Originally posted by Claies What, the time honored standard $15/Month doesn't make the poll?
Reality is that $15 a month "standard" had 4½ years for me to deliver something interesting, but it hasn't and thus this is the result. It's why this poll/topic was brought in first place. Perhaps, some (most companies) been stuck too long on the $15 a month limit, when clearly there is audience out there who is willing to pay more for something significantly better than what exist out there.
At the end that's another thing that has puzzled me. No one has made a red line, something no one should pass. It's like $15 a month is the limit for a monthly fee they can charge and I don't recall anyone daring to charge more through the last decade, but they instead would rather dare to destroy their quality product with cash shops, P2W models, than increase the sub fee.
I think MMOs need to attract players. Lots of them. We'll pay.
The problem isn't the price.
i.e. Path of Exile does well because it is a very very good game. People pay. Even if there is no price.
An MMO can charge 0$/month or 20$ it doesn't matter, their bottom line is going to reflect how good the game is, not how much they chose to charge for it.
Your alternatives, 30k/decade is a lot, though. I think my wife would object.
I think this is the problem right here. Companies are trying to get their MMO's to attract LOTS of players when they need to stick with one design. Having multiple niche games would fair better than one to rule them all. WoW was the right game at the right time (for the record, I only played a few months, wasn't my cup of tea), It will probably be a while before that phenomena happens again. It will require something new, then that something new improved for the masses.
OP you are the perfect audience for greedy companies. Do you really think that paying more for a game will suddenly make it a perfect game? or the game of your dreams? Wake up. Companies have been charging more and more and we keep getting worst games (both mmos and non mmos). Development cost sky rocketed while development quality went literally backwards.
Stop being that guy and demand quality for the price you pay. We pay more than enough.
In case you didn't read the topic I clearly stated that I would gladly pay significantly more for a significantly better product than what's available now on the market. I'm the perfect audience for greedy companies? Didn't you read somewhere in between the lines that I have not spent $ on a new product for the last 4½ years? Greedy companies are the last that will succeed taking $ from me.
I do not spend $ on new products I don't see myself playing long term, especially if they aren't pushing the genre forward with their concept/design (imo, of course). If you are happy with what's available on the market today you are welcome to continue playing it and pay minimal or none.
I rather pay for one really amazing MMORPG significantly more and enjoy it for years than see myself waiting or playing bad/mediocre F2P products to fill my free time for years. Since it's been almost 5 years and as you said it yourself because cost is going up and quality going backward, I and other players here would gladly pay extra for the right product.
and that is why you are the perfect audience for those companies. You believe that paying more will automatically mean the game will be significantly better when they keep proving that idea wrong with almost every new release.
Yes i know you have said you havent paid a dime in a few years, yet you make a poll with some specific prices that you seem to be willing to pay monthly. No game is worth those amounts monthly. Add that price to an well developed expansion and then we talk about content worth paying extra.
Some companies (like EA and Ubi) dare charge more and milk players because they get away with it selling to people with the "im willing to pay more" mentality yet they dont get content worth of that money. Ive been boycotting those two companies for a while now for the same reason. If they want my money they better give me a full working product with enough quality for the money they are charging because there are others out there offering better quality and better content for the same price and sometimes even less.
Raising prices wont change quality, that has been proven over and over in the last few years. When they see they are making more and more money while providing the same crap content, they wont have to bother moving a finger, they already make the money they want. It only fuels greed.
EDIT: not trying to prove you wrong or anything, you have your views and i have mine.
I think you are referring to how a developer uses the money rather than what the OP is talking about. In theory more money = more developers and better tech via R&D/proprietary systems. In this regard more money could = a better game, one that has more content, etc.
It's a lot easier to say how much a developer needs to do ____ than to actually know. There are too many variables specific to the particular project. As consumers we should all pay what we like for what we are interested in and not made to feel bad about it.
If it was an MMO that was fun, engaging, and could keep me interested on a nightly basis long term, I would pay 50.00 a month. For someone who spends an hour plus per night it would still be cheaper entertainment than anything else I can think of.
So you think the $15/month isn't enough to make a quality game, and you think giving more per month will help? I hate to break it to you, but that extra monthly allotment? The guy up stairs is going to pocket that and run to the bank laughing, meanwhile you are stuck with the same standard of games we have now.
If you really think 15/month isn't enough to support a game do the math on your own. Even with 30k subs... that's almost half a million per month alone. I know they have overhead, paychecks, bandwith etc, but half a mil per month is enough to easily pay for bandwith for 30k players + support a decently small dev team to continue to produce content.
The problem is the guys up stairs in these multi-million (or billion in the case of NC) dollar companies taking huge bites out of games profits to pay their yearly bonuses. If you think Smed isn't guilty of this, I have a bridge and swamp to sell you.
These prices are insane but I would at the most spend $50 but there would have to be so much content I could play for YEARS withouht getting bored or doing the same thing. Which I highly doubt is possible, no developer has ever made that much content and never will.
Originally posted by monochrome19 These prices are insane but I would at the most spend $50 but there would have to be so much content I could play for YEARS withouht getting bored or doing the same thing. Which I highly doubt is possible, no developer has ever made that much content and never will.
It is not possible. It is simply unrealistic to expect a single game will entertain for years. And there is no reason to. There are plenty of games to play.
Now i do know some will be 'stuck' in a single game for whatever reasons. However, I doubt the majority of gamers will do that. And certainly i won't.
Based on poll so far it seems like $40-45 is the perfect monthly fee any company should charge if they intend to start developing/investing on your dream MMORPG.
I'm glad to see that a lot of MMORPG players out there who would gladly pay more for a top quality MMORPG. I would not think/hesitate twice to pay more based on what's available now. I've been seeing my $ been useless and taking dust for far too long now. So, if any company is interested to make this MMORPG, there is clearly a potential market for it.
Based on poll so far it seems like $40-45 is the perfect monthly fee any company should charge if they intend to start developing/investing on your dream MMORPG.
I'm glad to see that a lot of MMORPG players out there who would gladly pay more for a top quality MMORPG. I would not think/hesitate twice to pay more based on what's available now. I've been seeing my $ been useless and taking dust for far too long now. So, if any company is interested to make this MMORPG, there is clearly a potential market for it.
lol .. really? The most popular option is the lowest one. The only reason is that LOWER amount or f2p is not an option.
Plus, there are a total of 70 votes .. i wouldn't say 70 represent "a lot of mmorpg players".
Based on poll so far it seems like $40-45 is the perfect monthly fee any company should charge if they intend to start developing/investing on your dream MMORPG.
I'm glad to see that a lot of MMORPG players out there who would gladly pay more for a top quality MMORPG. I would not think/hesitate twice to pay more based on what's available now. I've been seeing my $ been useless and taking dust for far too long now. So, if any company is interested to make this MMORPG, there is clearly a potential market for it.
lol .. really? The most popular option is the lowest one. The only reason is that LOWER amount or f2p is not an option.
Plus, there are a total of 70 votes .. i wouldn't say 70 represent "a lot of mmorpg players".
Lower amount or F2P? If you want prices to stay as they are or even play your dream MMO as F2P then you shouldn't even be in this thread, far less to vote on it. Since you and rest who wanted a $15 or less vote option are perfectly fine with the MMO's as they are. You and some other posters here already got their "dream" MMORPG out there. I on the other hand believe I can get significantly better product like rest of the voters here and we're willing to pay significantly more to finally see it to fruition.
And no, the poll right now clearly shows 50% will pay $30, 40% will pay $50 and 10% will pay $100 or $250 and above. So, the middle is $45 at the moment for a monthly fee.
Comments
none of the above. $15 bucks is about right.
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I think this is the problem right here. Companies are trying to get their MMO's to attract LOTS of players when they need to stick with one design. Having multiple niche games would fair better than one to rule them all. WoW was the right game at the right time (for the record, I only played a few months, wasn't my cup of tea), It will probably be a while before that phenomena happens again. It will require something new, then that something new improved for the masses.
It's time for companies to find their niche.
I think you are referring to how a developer uses the money rather than what the OP is talking about. In theory more money = more developers and better tech via R&D/proprietary systems. In this regard more money could = a better game, one that has more content, etc.
It's a lot easier to say how much a developer needs to do ____ than to actually know. There are too many variables specific to the particular project. As consumers we should all pay what we like for what we are interested in and not made to feel bad about it.
So you think the $15/month isn't enough to make a quality game, and you think giving more per month will help? I hate to break it to you, but that extra monthly allotment? The guy up stairs is going to pocket that and run to the bank laughing, meanwhile you are stuck with the same standard of games we have now.
If you really think 15/month isn't enough to support a game do the math on your own. Even with 30k subs... that's almost half a million per month alone. I know they have overhead, paychecks, bandwith etc, but half a mil per month is enough to easily pay for bandwith for 30k players + support a decently small dev team to continue to produce content.
The problem is the guys up stairs in these multi-million (or billion in the case of NC) dollar companies taking huge bites out of games profits to pay their yearly bonuses. If you think Smed isn't guilty of this, I have a bridge and swamp to sell you.
where is the f2p choice?
I don't play only a single game, no matter how great it is. There are so many fun games that need no sub that i will never pay sub for a game again.
Eh?
The options on that poll = FAIL!
$15/Month is and has always been my max.
It is not possible. It is simply unrealistic to expect a single game will entertain for years. And there is no reason to. There are plenty of games to play.
Now i do know some will be 'stuck' in a single game for whatever reasons. However, I doubt the majority of gamers will do that. And certainly i won't.
I haven't a clue what my dream MMO would be.
I think it would be a game that allowed me to actually touch, taste and smell the content.
They're just games and I'm more than happy with whats on offer. I'm subbed to ESO/SWTOR/LOTRO.
Based on poll so far it seems like $40-45 is the perfect monthly fee any company should charge if they intend to start developing/investing on your dream MMORPG.
I'm glad to see that a lot of MMORPG players out there who would gladly pay more for a top quality MMORPG. I would not think/hesitate twice to pay more based on what's available now. I've been seeing my $ been useless and taking dust for far too long now. So, if any company is interested to make this MMORPG, there is clearly a potential market for it.
lol .. really? The most popular option is the lowest one. The only reason is that LOWER amount or f2p is not an option.
Plus, there are a total of 70 votes .. i wouldn't say 70 represent "a lot of mmorpg players".
Lower amount or F2P? If you want prices to stay as they are or even play your dream MMO as F2P then you shouldn't even be in this thread, far less to vote on it. Since you and rest who wanted a $15 or less vote option are perfectly fine with the MMO's as they are. You and some other posters here already got their "dream" MMORPG out there. I on the other hand believe I can get significantly better product like rest of the voters here and we're willing to pay significantly more to finally see it to fruition.
And no, the poll right now clearly shows 50% will pay $30, 40% will pay $50 and 10% will pay $100 or $250 and above. So, the middle is $45 at the moment for a monthly fee.