Lifetime Subscription

Yeah, why the heck not. Offer it - if people want to hand over that kind of cash for a Life Time subscription, do it and let those folks indulge. There is no legitimate reason to poo-poo the idea. :D

...There you have it folks... Investment advice from Loony Bob

Haven't most games that offered a lifetime sub gone f2p now? Could this be because the devs have been making no money after the lifetime subs and been forced into making everyone pay at least 2x more to play the game.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

Actually, they don't really lose money. Not every lifetime subber actually ends up using as much game time as the subscription is worth in dollars if paid monthly. It is very effective for MMORPGs early in development to get a little extra cash to push further development, even if it means they lose a little bit in the long run.

You would think that the people who buy lifetime subscriptions would almost be certain to be the ones most likely to gain from it, but it's really not a sure thing. I wonder how many of STO's lifetime subbers got their money's worth?

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I am an STO lifetimer and I would say I got my moneys worth, seeing how I still play it today.

I don't think FFXIV will offer a lifetime sub here is why: (quote from Rift Global director)

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Jim Butler, who is the global brand director at Trion Games, says that his company has no plans to ever offer a lifetime subscription for their Rift MMO to the player base.

He told A List Daily that, “I was against the idea when we did it at Turbine, and it won’t happen on my watch here at Trion.”

The developer explained that, “Lifetime memberships are a great deal for consumers that plan to spend the next few years playing the game, and a financial disaster for subscription-only companies that have to continue paying for new feature development, salaries, server costs, marketing, etc.”

Because the developers then lack the funds to further support the game, the consumer is actually hurt in the long term by an option that initially seems to be very appealing.

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http://news.softpedia.com/news/No-Li...O-302713.shtml

It might bring in money up front but SE will actually lose out as well as the players in the end.

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Originally Posted by Delsus

Haven't most games that offered a lifetime sub gone f2p now?

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If you read YP's response about why he is keeping the sub program, is because F2P gets the SW house fast cash up front, which then helps the SW house to pay back the investors. If you think about it, this is what life time sub will do as well.

YP also have indicated that since ARR is totally funded in house w/o any financial backing from investors, coming up with quick cash is not an issue they need to worry about.

jc

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Originally Posted by Delsus

Haven't most games that offered a lifetime sub gone f2p now? Could this be because the devs have been making no money after the lifetime subs and been forced into making everyone pay at least 2x more to play the game.

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lol No. 123

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

I don't think FFXIV will offer a lifetime sub here is why: (quote from Rift Global director)


http://news.softpedia.com/news/No-Li...O-302713.shtml

It might bring in money up front but SE will actually lose out as well as the players in the end.

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That guy is crazy to call it a "financial disaster" because not that many people will buy the lifetime subs. Not all that many people are willing to drop a few hundred dollars on a game they haven't really played yet just to save money down the road- which is the risk in buying one, and what the developers are trying to bank on. Lets say that 1% of the players buy a lifetime subscription. If every single one of them plays out the full value of it, that's still a less than 1% loss in income. That's hardly a "financial disaster."

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Originally Posted by syntaxlies

all i know is there are a crap load of people on the secret world forums who are pissed

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I bought a lifetime sub for TSW and regret nothing. The game going hybrid allowed me to entice more ppl to come play so I am now getting my money's worth.

I can't currently afford a lifetime sub for XIV but if o could I would buy it asap.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

That guy is crazy to call it a "financial disaster" because not that many people will buy the lifetime subs. Not all that many people are willing to drop a few hundred dollars on a game they haven't really played yet just to save money down the road- which is the risk in buying one, and what the developers are trying to bank on. Lets say that 1% of the players buy a lifetime subscription. If every single one of them plays out the full value of it, that's still a less than 1% loss in income. That's hardly a "financial disaster."

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I think the bottom line is, they will make way more money in monthly subscriptions from a long time subber than from a 1-time lifetime subber. Its risky for both the player and the company, and is simply not worth it for either.