Lifetime Subscription

[Wynn]

@Airget There are, STO for example.

I think you might have confused what Airget was trying to say.

Just to clarify for people who don't know, STO offered a lifetime sub and is now F2P. Every game that has offered it has done the same. LotRO, STO, Champions Online, DCUO... The list goes on and on.

The most recent game to do this was The Secret World. Lifetime sub option was for like 200 bucks, and then within a couple months of release went f2p. Lifetime subs are scams. If an MMO company offers one, watch out, they are trying to give it to you up the tailpipe.

[Biggs]

Not a bad idea actually but I am pleased with the deal I have been given as a legacy member.

[Abriael]

I think you might have confused what Airget was trying to say.

Just to clarify for people who don't know, STO offered a lifetime sub and is now F2P. Every game that has offered it has done the same. LotRO, STO, Champions Online, DCUO... The list goes on and on.

None of those games went free to play. They all went hybrid. And on hybrid games subscriptions still hold a value.

The most recent game to do this was The Secret World. Lifetime sub option was for like 200 bucks, and then within a couple months of release went f2p. Lifetime subs are scams. If an MMO company offers one, watch out, they are trying to give it to you up the tailpipe.

You may want to do some fact checking before going around spreading gross generalizations. The Secret World went hybrid (which is not the same as free to play) seven months after its release.

[moriandrio]

TSW went b2p btw, and STO is f2p. But they had to give an option to give back the livetime subs after launch anyways.

[Abriael]

TSW went b2p btw

No. It's hybrid. As it offers a complimentary subscription.

and STO is f2p.

Again no, hybrid. You can subscribe if you so wish. No game that was previously P2P went F2P.

[syntaxlies]

No. It's hybrid. As it offers a complimentary subscription.



Again no, hybrid. You can subscribe if you so wish. No game that was previously P2P went F2P.

they are free to play(with restrictions) but you can still play for free.

[Wynn]

None of those games went free to play. They all went hybrid. And on hybrid games subscriptions still hold a value.

You may want to do some fact checking before going around spreading gross generalizations. The Secret World went hybrid (which is not the same as free to play) seven months after its release.

If you can download an MMO client and play it without paying for the privilege, it is free to play. Fact. Which is why they all call themselves free to play. It doesn't matter what other options they offer since ALL f2p MMOs offer alternate pay options whether that be optional sub, cash shop, or mix. They have to make money off the game somehow.

The bottom line is any game good enough to have longevity on the subscription model does not offer lifetime. The only games that do are the ones that can't make it and every last MMO that has offered this option has gone f2p sooner or later. Prove me wrong.


Gross generalization my ass.

[Abriael]

they are free to play(with restrictions) but you can still play for free.

That doesn't matter.

Free to play games are games in which you have no restrictions (like Forsaken World for instance), and you pay by purchasing items or services in the cash shop.

Hybrid games are games in which free play is (often rather radically) restricted and you HAVE to either subscribe or to pay from the cash shop (often more than what a sub would entail) in order to enjoy the full content.

[Abriael]

If you can download an MMO client and play it without paying for the privilege, it is free to play. Fact. Which is why they all call themselves free to play. It doesn't matter what other options they offer since ALL f2p MMOs offer alternate pay options whether that be optional sub, cash shop, or mix. They have to make money off the game somehow.

The bottom line is any game good enough to have longevity on the subscription model does not offer lifetime. The only games that do are the ones that can't make it and every last MMO that has offered this option has gone f2p sooner or later. Prove me wrong.


Gross generalization my ass.

I didn't know your ass was a gross generalization. Nor I cared to know, mind you.

The difference matters. Free to Play, Hybrid and Pay to Play are widely accepted industry terms. Your personal definition is inconsequential.

There's an enormous difference in how Free to Play and Hybrid games handle the access and monetization of their content.

It's a fact that Hybrid games retain a subscription, that has a value, thus a lifetime subscription retains a value, whether you like it or not. Your definition of "scam" is incorrect, and indeed a gross generalization.

Scratch that. IT's not even a generalization. It's just plainly false, as none of the previously Pay to Play titles went actually free to play.

[syntaxlies]

I didn't know your ass was a gross generalization. Nor I cared, mind you.

It matters. Free to Play, Hybrid and Pay to Play are widely accepted industry terms. Your personal definition is inconsequential.

There's an enormous difference in how Free to Play and Hybrid games handle the access and monetization of their content.

It's a fact that Hybrid games retain a subscription, that has a value, thus a lifetime subscription retains a value, whether you like it or not. Your definition of "scam" is incorrect, and indeed a gross generalization.

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