Lifetime Subscription

[Wynn]

Lifetime subs mean one thing. The game is not good enough to warrant a subscription and will be going free to play within the year. Know this fact: Every single MMO that has ever offered a lifetime subscription option has later gone free to play. Is this what you want? Think about it.

P.S. ~ Abriael, you are starting to become very Rokien-esque

[HiirNoivl]

Elexia... always the pessimist... er realist. 8) If you click around, most people are feeling a bit more optimistic. What Abriel's suggestion actually says is that "Hey, there, let's assume the game is going to succeed for multiple years."

That's what is so annoying.. But when you think about it, it already has lasted in a crap state for 2... so, I think the assumption is pretty safe. Call me crazy.

I've stuck with one MMO for 8 years... so I'm not afraid of committing.

[Wynn]

Elexia... always the pessimist... er realist. 8) If you click around, most people are feeling a bit more optimistic. What Abriel's suggestion actually says is that "Hey, there, let's assume the game is going to succeed for multiple years."

That's what is so annoying..

Games that are good enough to survive several years or longer don't offer lifetime subscription packages. They don't have to.

[Airget]

One thing to consider is, are there any mmos on the market at the moment with a lifetime sub that haven gone f2p? I'm pretty sure the answer is no, honestly lifetime subs seem like nothing more than a means to rake in as much money as possible before they inevitably go f2p with a cash shop. The developers think well if we can get this base money on top of people subbing it'll give us a nice boost of revenue, then when we decide to go f2p we'll just offer some game credits so they can buy items from out shop while still offering them benefits for lifetime sub.

Lifetime subs honestly don't work because it's less of a lifetime sub and more of a nail in the coffin as it pretty much dates the downfall of the game in a sense. Then of course i"m certain that lifetime itself isn't even true and there is a lot of legal talk in the contract that people never read such as "at any time the developers have the right to revoke your lifetime subscription" or "Lifetime does not mean lifetime and at the inevitable shutdown of the game your lifetime subscription will be revoked." Maybe if I can find any contracts that involve "lifetime subs" I'll come back and edit it but honestly people might see lifetime sub as a good idea but if you read everything behind it I"m sure it's only a means to earn quick cash over people willing enough to think they'll have access to the game for a lifetime.

[moriandrio]

@Airget There are, STO for example.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[Biggs]

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