Compromise: Just Charge $5 For Now. Once 2.0 is Out, Then Charge $12

[Agoven]

It costs money to keep players too.

Everything revolves around MONEY. Can't avoid it so deal with it or find something else to sink MONEY into.

[Physic]

an interesting price plan i think the could roll with.

12.99 a month
limited time sale for the current ffxiv fans, available only in the first month of p2p, or aybe xmas special, 6 months for 40.50 cents
comes out to 6.75 a month, however it commits a guaranteed 6 months of play. In this case people will become used to the 12.99 price tag, but know that they took advantage of a one time deal that may never come again. Also its a minimum comitment over the 6 month period, which a person just coming back for each patch they would only det 25.98 for.

The disadvantage is people who only have small amounts of money available in their budgets at one time wont be able to use it. And they lose some revenue from the people who will pay anyway.

But i think that no one who claims that it shouldnt be cheaper for a time can disagree with a 6.75$ price tag, even if they leave after for 2.0, they will only be gone for 2 months or so till the triaql begins, and if the game is even better or heating up to the ending plotline many will stay.

They should definitely not word it as them charging less because the game isnt ready, they should market it as a reward for the hardworking fans, and a limited time once in a lifetime deal.

i think this solution is probably the best in terms of marketing and trying to appeal to the current fan base who is willing to pay, without setting up an idea that it will always be that price, and also having to remarket a new price when people get used to a much lower one for essentially the same service. It also requires an upfront investment, and is basicall a limited time sale, people love those.

[Physic]

It costs money to keep players too.

hence why they have to charge? very few people are going to want to play this game for a year if they put no new content in it. If they treat 2.0 as an expansion that is the first time they are going to charge, then their best plan is to put all new content in it, rather than give new content out now, before they can profit from it.

which would you prefer
a) free game with no new content for a year
b) pay to play game with increasing content and improvements

for me the answer is b, i am more likely to stay around if they offer me something good for money, than if they offer me nothing for free.

[Alerith]

Well, I'm afraid I have to retract this statement. My husband put his foot down tonight. He said we're not paying any sub fees for this game before 2.0. He is simply too dissatisfied.

Please, SE, reconsider your stance on reinstating sub fees so soon!

I think this is the most important thing we should all take away from this thread: Getting married impacts your free will and ability to play games of your choice.

[PikachuLink]

-ding- PikachuLink and stoned are officially out of the match. Let the fight continue...

what are you talking about?

[Wynn]

what are you talking about?

[Image deleted by Moderator]

[Alerith]

[PikachuLink]

As did you

[AmyRae]

It wasn't a matter of rich or poor as in monetary...if you are trying to point out something I said.

It's just the quality of players is at the higher price point.

Why do you think they overprice things even though they aren't necessarily worth it? XYZ car might not be worth $$$$ but they price it there because the perceived value is to that target audience. It's a simple principle of supply and demand. You need to find your sweet spot and the right customer. You don't lowball it just to sell it to the masses...SE owes nobody this...you've ALL had a full year to play the game for free. If it wasn't worth your time and money WHY HAVE YOU CONTINUED TO PLAY IT?

"Quality of player?" Are you for real?

I'm pretty sure a subscription-based game lives or dies on the quantity of customers. The developers can't live off of your stubborn pride. They need money...

If you want FFXIV to stick around and not get taken off-line forever, you need a large, supportive community who are having fun and feel it's worth the price to play the game for the long term. People stuck around because it cost nothing. There was no reason to uninstall it.

But now that it will cost something, you'll start to see that people will evaluate if it's worth what's being asked for. Is it worth $156 or so until 2.0 comes out? Or maybe they would stick around if it cost less than that.

The game needs a supportive community to survive, but they have to be met halfway, here, or it's all over.

[Betelgeuzah]

"Quality of player?" Are you for real?

For the corporation, that means player that has a higher payment threshold than other players. Player of higher "quality" is willing to pay a higher sub fee for the same product, while a player of lower quality will not.