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Global Agenda: Goes Subscription Free
MikeB
Community ManagerAdministrator RarePosts: 6,555
Those of you dreading the second phase of the Sandstorm patch for fear of having to shell out subscription fees to participate in the game's more MMO-like offerings needn't dread the day any longer. Hi-Rez Studios has announced today that Global Agenda will be dropping the subscription model entirely, instead, it sounds like the developers will be going with a quasi-Guild Wars like model, offering optional paid expansions going forward.
The remainder of Sandstorm will still be offered free of charge to all players. If you've been on the fence due to the eventual subscription fees, now would be a great time to pick up the game as Steam is offering Global Agenda for 33% off from now through July 5.
View the official announcement here.
Comments
Good for them
I was just thinking about getting this, but then reconsidered because of the sub. Woot!
YESSSSS!
Not gonna lie, at first I had some vitriol for this game because it really didn't fit in as an MMO. It was basically team deathmatch with a subscription. The developers haven proven to be amazing though and really listen to the community. They've added more MMO-like content, and I have a feeling this move is related to the flash poll they sent out to everyone (only a week or so ago!) regarding the direction of the game and the pricing.
The game itself is well built and good fun, I actually just finished patching up since sandstorm went in (at least part of it) and am looking forward to playing that myself in a few. Just want to say kudos to the developers for listening to the community and adapting rather than forging pigheadedly forward like so many others would. Here's hoping the new model works out!
Bans a perma, but so are sigs in necro posts.
EAT ME MMORPG.com!
So a Guild Wars model, not bad not bad.
Another game that gave up on subscription based model. What's next?
Its about time they listened to reason. Really though I give them a lot of credit for swallowing their pride and listening to their community. I'll give this game another shot. This move has won me back.
Thats great! and its with 33% off at steam! its 26,76 dollars at steam or 16,70 UK pounds
A must buy now!
http://forum.globalagendagame.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=21115
Why did you decide to make this change?
After receiving feedback from many existing and potential players, we believe that we will have the most thriving community by offering a non-subscription purchase model.
If I purchased the game, will I be charged for anything I’m currently playing?
No, there are no additional charges for the current content, including the Agency-vs-Agency gameplay and all currently available PvE modes. In the future, players may elect to purchase new expansions with additional content.
How much will expansion cost in the future?
We expect new expansions will be priced competitively when compared to expansions of other non-subscription games.
How often are expansions going to be released?
Expansions are expected to be released once or twice per year.
When is the next expansion expected to be released?
We currently anticipate that the next expansion will be released about 6 months from now (end 2010). The content within the Sandstorm expansion this Summer will be included in the initial game purchase price.
What will expansions include?
Expansions will include new content, usually centered around a new world region, with new maps, new weapons/devices, new PvE encounters, new achievements, new social areas, new open zones and new crafting.
What happens if an expansion raises the level cap?
All players will be able to continue to level their characters to the maximum level cap regardless of purchasing an expansion.
Is there a cost for patches between expansions?
There is no cost for updates between expansions.
Can I skip expansions or do I have to buy each of them in order?
You can skip expansions, although you will not be able to gain access to the content that the particular expansion provided until it’s purchased.
Will my game still work if I don't buy expansions?
Yes, you will still be able to play with other players and have access to all the content in the original purchase.
Are free trials going to change with this plan?
There are no changes to free trial at this time.
What happens to pre-subscribers?
Pre-subscribers will not be charged any subscription fees, but will keep all the extra bonuses received for the pre-subscription. Pre-subscribers can leave their payment information for future purchases. (Note: The daily token awards for pre-subscribers will end on June 25).
Is this plan for all countries/regions?
This new pricing plan is the same for all regions.
Are there other games using this kind of purchase model?
Guild Wars would be considered to have a very similar purchase model.
Are all of the current planned features for 1.3 (Sandstorm expansion) included in the current purchase?
All existing 1.3 features that are currently in the game are included. The first Open Zone will also be included (once released later this summer), in addition to Defense missions and Tournaments. 64-player War Zones are planned for a future expansion.
Is there going to be a cost to playing Agency-vs-Agency (AvA)?
No, all current AvA game-play is included in the single-purchase price. Once an expansion is available, it may be required to continue playing AvA to ensure that everyone is playing on the same maps.
What is the future of AvA in this model?
AvA will continue to be one of the game play modes available to all players.
Is there going to be an additional cost for playing the current high level Solo or Team Special-Ops missions?
No, all current content at all difficulty levels is included as part of the one-time game purchase.
If I don't have an expansion, does that mean I can't play with my friends?
You can still play with your friends on any content that each of you have purchased.
Will players with expansions be more powerful than I am?
Expansions will offer some new weapons/devices to give the player additional play styles for more variety. These will be designed to be different and not strictly ‘better’. However due to balancing, some may end up being a bit weaker or stronger.
Correction, another game not worthy of a subscription had it's developers come to their senses.
Game's worhty of subs will still have subs, games not worthy will either adopt this sort of model or die.
Global Agenda is less of an "mmo" than Guild Wars, but the same payment model as Guild Wars is fine for it. You buy Counterstirke and play online for free. You buy Battlefield and play online for e free. And that is the genre Global Agenda belongs in ( and should have been aimed at from the beginning instead of trying to claim mmo status ).
And in a month or so, it will be available in bargain bins for $5-$10. That's when i'll buy it.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
i'm really happy they're doing this. this is why i prefer a indie publisher, they aren't greedy. they know that the game would be much better if it were sub free and they aren't just drooling over the $15s they're getting from the subs.
Why so butthurt
0.o no sub;s i like b2p games. Yup might actually get this game after all :-)
Cool, finally another "MMO" going the Guild Wars route.
This business model does make more sense for the type of game GA is....I'm no considering trying it when i wasn't before.
The good part about GA going sub free is the fact they never actually made anyone pay for sub even. They never believe what that currently had justified a sub and now they realise it just doesn't seem to fit the game.
Now i have a real chance to really enjoy AVA, glad they listened in the end.
Global Agenda...No Elves..
Free now minus box price eh?? hmmm.....
"If I'd asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have said a faster horse." - Henry Ford
That pricing model is more appropriate for the type of game GA is..
*looks at APB*
rofl, indeed
Noone is butthurt here. Unless of course the one calling people butthurt is just projecting their own dilemma.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
This is great news. I purchased the game at release. I loved the foundation, but craved something extra. I didn't get into it too much because I couldn't imagine paying a sub for it down the road.
This is great for this game. If you can afford the 25 or so that it costs on steam atm, then do yourself and get it.
I hate shooters, but this kind of shooter is just too much fun.
I told them since day one they should go free as there is nothing worth subbing for ..... i really glad they made this decission
Excellent news! If any of you haven't got to try it out, I recommend you dl the demo on Steam. It's unlimited time, just caps out at level 15. The game is a mix of TF2 and Too Human (if you've ever heard of that game). Hopefully they can add a server so all the newcomers it brings in can start fresh without having to worry about geared out people.
Good news for the game. I wonder when the shop will come in (I expect it to be very similar to GW in some respects), and how often paid expansions will be.
Now the game is worth playing. No way was I going to pay monthly for this game. Developers need to learn that not everything needs to be a subscription in order to be successful. Some games aren't that good to have a monthly fee.
Excellent news and just makes me prefer B2P all the more so over F2P.