Are you a mini-whale? Sub to a game that you don't play currently

olepi

I was thinking about the cash shops and all the other monetization going on; I rarely buy things from cash shops, and certainly wouldn't put up any real money for a ship in an alpha game. I am not a whale.

But, I do sub to games, and will stay subbed even though I am not playing that game now. I tend to rotate through games, now my loop is SWTOR, LOTRO, ESO, Ryzom, FF14, and New World. I'm subbed to the first five games, and stay subbed for months even though I'm not actively playing them. This is how I show support for a game. I also collect the bonus points from the games each month, so when I go back, I have a lot.

So I figured I was a "mini-whale".  How many other people do this? Or am I odd?

edit: Can't figure out how to get the poll working.

Dibdabs

There isn't a game currently around that I consider worth a sub, so to me the question is moot.

maskedweasel

I consider myself a mini whale.. or dolphin.. or manatee, when it comes to some cash shop games. I've spent several hundred on games with cash shops. 

I don't sub to games I don't play,  but I do sub to game services I don't use.  Playstation now... I don't know why I even still have it..

AlBQuirky

Maybe a minnow? A couple of months ago I reactivated my subs for both WoW and EQ. In WoW my main dropped from level 89 to 30 something. I never logged in again, so Blizzard got $15 for one month. EQ I did spend a little time in, but less than 1 day (24 hours) total. Did not keep the sub active.

That's how I did it all along from the start. If I went on vacation, I stopped the sub. If I knew I'd busy for while, I stopped the sub. I simply started up the subs again when I knew I'd have the time play again

ConstantineMerus

People usually call me a giant asshole before, so a mini whale would be a nice change.

I think at one point I reached 11, and for a very brief time 17 active subs on EVE, but it was mostly due to that I needed to keep our high ranking quitters' accounts active.

And yes, EVE was one of the places that the mentioned nickname was pretty popular. 

cheyane

When I stop playing I drop the sub. My husband has the bad habit of keeping up a sub and not playing. I think we had a sub for SWTOR for 2 accounts for 2 years and not played for that period until I stealth cancelled it.

Mendel

I'd just call you a player, @Olepi.  Someone who plays a game, and pays for the quality as you see it.

A friend of mine subbed to a lot of games and carried the subs for years after he finished playing.  Of course, he was more forgetful than an advocate.

Kyleran

EVE is pretty much the only game I would let my subs run after I left since they would keep training in my absence until my return.

However when I left 5 years ago I knew there was little chance of a return so turned all six off for good after a 10 year continuous run. (For 3 of them)

I only play one game at a time so normally shut down any subs in my previous one as it's unlikely I'll return, or if I do, not for quite some time.

laserit

olepi said:

I was thinking about the cash shops and all the other monetization going on; I rarely buy things from cash shops, and certainly wouldn't put up any real money for a ship in an alpha game. I am not a whale.

But, I do sub to games, and will stay subbed even though I am not playing that game now. I tend to rotate through games, now my loop is SWTOR, LOTRO, ESO, Ryzom, FF14, and New World. I'm subbed to the first five games, and stay subbed for months even though I'm not actively playing them. This is how I show support for a game. I also collect the bonus points from the games each month, so when I go back, I have a lot.

So I figured I was a "mini-whale".  How many other people do this? Or am I odd?

edit: Can't figure out how to get the poll working.

I'm awful with recurring subscriptions, guilty as charged

Usually can't beat the value, unless one doesn't use it of course.

I have a hard time even looking at a cash shop. I want to play, I hate shopping period

Sovrath

I don't really think of it as being a mini-whale so much as I am leaving my options open for ease of play.

So if I want to play something that requires a sub, let's say Sony's version of game pass or whatever it is, then I pay the $10 per month, and when I want to jump in I just launch it and enjoy.

If I know I won't return for a long while then I cancel. Otherwise, I let it ride as I usually jump back in. I like the convenience.

olepi

Sovrath said:

I don't really think of it as being a mini-whale so much as I am leaving my options open for ease of play.

So if I want to play something that requires a sub, let's say Sony's version of game pass or whatever it is, then I pay the $10 per month, and when I want to jump in I just launch it and enjoy.

If I know I won't return for a long while then I cancel. Otherwise, I let it ride as I usually jump back in. I like the convenience.

The other perk for doing this is that you get the monthly bonus points. So like in ESO, you get x points per month. Stay subbed for a year, and you start accumulating quite a few of these points. When you come back, you have a lot of them.

I also tend to buy in bulk, so a year at a time, to save a little money. Although I have to admit, the money really means nothing at this point in my life.

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Akulas

Xbox gamepass 3 months $1 then forget I was subbed and charge me the regular $15.95/month and limit the games to Microsoft only platforms. Sneaky turds.

AlBQuirky

Demogorgon said:

Can we stop talking about fucking monetization legitimizing it.
If all people can do is whiteknighting and talking about money, maybe this site should call itself shill.com.

What about monetization are you "against?"

Do you believe that developers/publishers should make money for their works? Or not?

Sovrath

Demogorgon said:

Can we stop talking about fucking monetization legitimizing it.
If all people can do is whiteknighting and talking about money, maybe this site should call itself shill.com.

I don't think you're clear on what monetization means. It's just how the game developers make money. It can be anything from a sub to having advertisements in-game, selling virtual items, or any other way the developers decide to charge for their product.

olepi

Sovrath said:

Demogorgon said:

Can we stop talking about fucking monetization legitimizing it.
If all people can do is whiteknighting and talking about money, maybe this site should call itself shill.com.

I don't think you're clear on what monetization means. It's just how the game developers make money. It can be anything from a sub to having advertisements in-game, selling virtual items, or any other way the developers decide to charge for their product.

This thread isn't even about monetization. It's about a human behavior: do you stay subbed to games even if you aren't playing them.

Sovrath

olepi said:

Sovrath said:

Demogorgon said:

Can we stop talking about fucking monetization legitimizing it.
If all people can do is whiteknighting and talking about money, maybe this site should call itself shill.com.

I don't think you're clear on what monetization means. It's just how the game developers make money. It can be anything from a sub to having advertisements in-game, selling virtual items, or any other way the developers decide to charge for their product.

This thread isn't even about monetization. It's about a human behavior: do you stay subbed to games even if you aren't playing them.

yes that's true. Just responding to him.

And I answered above.

Rungar

I do not and never have. I'm very picky when it comes to games and even more picky regarding subscriptions. 

when I played eso (last mmo i played) I would subscribe for 3 months per year and get expansions at 33-50% off.   

I figured I should throw down every now and then but i didn't feel they were doing the right things to warrant a full subscription. They still aren't and of course i'm long gone. lol. 

no whaling here. Quarter of a sardine maybe. 

dancop

Guilty as charged I think I keep subscriptions for SWTOR, LOTRO, FFXIV and ESO now. For 2 accounts each, as I usually play with my wife. 

Thanks for reminding me to cancel at least FFXIV ...

ConstantineMerus

dancop said:

Guilty as charged I think I keep subscriptions for SWTOR, LOTRO, FFXIV and ESO now. For 2 accounts each, as I usually play with my wife. 

Thanks for reminding me to cancel at least FFXIV ...

Really? With the new expansion and all? 

Iselin

I only stay subbed to games I don't play accidentally or just letting the current sub period run out after I lose interest so I guess you can call me an accidental mini-whale.

I'm pretty conscious these days though of cancelling my sub right after subbing to stop the inadvertent renewals when I'm not paying attention.

I've actually gone on rants here before about how all sub services should let you opt out of auto-renewals at the time you sub. Some do but it's extremely rare because they're counting on you forgetting to cancel when you quit for some of that juicy extra revenue.

bcbully

cute

Ungood

There is no way in hell I would pay a sub if I am not actively playing and enjoying a game.

I have come to become an advocate for Cash Shop games, as I tend to spend $20 a pay check, roughly 40 a month on a game as I am playing it.

The second I am unhappy with the game, I walk. I don't have time to play a game I am not enjoying. 

klash2def

Being totally honest. I have been subscribed to SWTOR since launch. I never play it. I played at launch for sure and check back in during big expansions but I mostly play ESO and Destiny.

 I won't ever cut off SWTOR because I loved the old bioware which I cut my rpg teeth on. I know that bioware is long gone but the people that created SWTOR are in fact from that old Bioware so I guess it's nostalgia idk but yeah I guess I am a mini whale.  

Prob going to check back in this Dec for the big update

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AlBQuirky

Iselin said:

I'm pretty conscious these days though of cancelling my sub right after subbing to stop the inadvertent renewals when I'm not paying attention.

Right! I'm with you, there

I immediately cancelled both my WoW and EQ (Daybreak Pass) sub with my last go. I've been doing it this way for the past few years. though not always.