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If there is a BIG patch mid june, that will probably bring the game back to enjoyable levels. I already see more people running around my server. They said once the game is back to enjoyable levels that they will continue with monthly subscriptions.
Does anyone know when they will end the free trial thing and continue with monthly subscriptions?
Well they've said they will let us know 1 month in advance before they start charging. I wouldn't count on 1.18 starting the charges simply because it's not the entire battle update. Maybe 1.19, I'm personally predicting it will coincide with PS3 launch as they share a common condition.
IMO it will start being charged and PS3 version will be released in september or march.
So expect your wallet to start bleeding in 4 months...which is good IMO...if i had the option of already be paying for more retainers, i would've be paying gladly for 6~8 more.
I would expect at least version 1.20+ for this to be considered.
1.18 = june
1.19 = july
1.20 = august
1.21 = september
So yep, i agree with Ash! =P
Yeah, I definitely don't think they're going to start charging us AT LEAST until they get the foundation on solid ground. Being that they are just STARTING the renovation to the battle system in the mid-June patch it may still be a long time before we see a fee. Even then, I think they are going to need a HUGE content patch before they can justify charging us. I know we are getting a lot in June, but the people with multiple 50s are going to burn through that content like hotcakes and we won't pay for a game that we have nothing to do in.
I think it will take more then 1 big patch for them to fix the game, I expect 1.18 to be good and add content and fix things but alone that will not be enough.
But them charging before at least another 4-5 big updates would be a bad thing. People cannot come back to the game and hate it again or square is screwed. There are alot of people waiting on square to say ok we fixed it to give it another go.
Honestly square cannot just make this game good, they have to make it great or they will not recover from the launch. If I where them I would not charge anyone until ps3 release. And release ps3 with the first expansion and give the pc players a free download of it. Then charge. All the changes and a whole expansion of goodies should be more then enough content to qualify for a completed game.
I don't think they necessarily need to give PC players a free copy of the expansion as they've let us play all this time for free, losing a lot more money than they would from just giving out a free expansion. Honestly if the game is worth it at that time, and I believe it will be, I will be 100% okay with paying for the expansion.
Otherwise that is the most logical plan of attack for SE, the know the game must be fantastic come PS3 launch as that is the second chance for the game. If it flops there it's all over.
I'd expect a PS3 version before we are charged a monthly fee.
Christmas would make a good release timeframe for PS3/Expansion content, so I think November/December makes a lot of sense. Assuming they finish the fixes in September that gives a few months of real player testing before they go live with a relaunch event. The game has to be stable, it has to recapture the interest of the people who left, and it has to hold that interest more than a month or two. The content has to work and be well ballanced. If I were SE I would want to be sure of those things before undertaking a media blitz to relaunch the game. That will undoubtedly be an expensive undertaking by itself, and if it fails their reputation will be damaged. This is all total speculation on my part though. I think they also have to beat Blizzards new MMO out the gate, but I have no idea how close that is.
I don't think they owe us a free download, but I would sort of like an ingame item for sticking it out. Nothing fancy just the FF equivalent of a t-shirt that says 'I stayed the course through a year of fixes, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt :D'
I am sure the game will become great, and I think all of the players who stayed the course deserve some recognition for that from future generations of Eorzeans.
They shouldn't do anything that would drive the current player base away, so that probably means no fee till the game is 100% in their minds and ours. I am sure they know that players who didnt stay this past year won't give them a third chance if the relaunch isn't a success. Thats a big chunk of the XI player base too, and they can't aford to lose that. Personally I am happy enough with the progress I wouldn't object to a fee, but I have only been crafting, and I can't comment on the progress they have made on the battle system. I did watch my LS kill Cactaur Jack recently, and they seemed to have a lot of fun doing it.