Lifetime Subscription

[Reika]

XI would have been worth it for me since i played it for years I spent well over 300 bucks on FFXI

would have been is one thing, but no one knows if a brand new mmo is going to be worth 300 extra bucks up front.

[HiirNoivl]

would have been is one thing, but no one knows if a brand new mmo is going to be worth 300 extra bucks up front.

That's true, but it's also true that FFXIV is the game least likely to go free 2 play after a while, so this is as sure of a bet that if you think you'll be here for more than a year, it's best to pay the longest sub and think about playing more in the long run.

I, personally, know that if I was going to quit, I would have had plenty of opportunities. I didn't take them. So it makes since to me that, given that ARR is a better game than 1.0, I won't be quitting in the near future.

[Nuinn]

From my own experience, as soon as I paid a lifetime sub for LotRO, back in the day, I immediately started caring less about the game .___. Then I started falling behind in my Kinship and then. . . . bleh, it went f2p(ish) and FFXIV was drawing near. I guess the monthly fee keeps me more focused >.>;;;

[Alhanelem]

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

Star Trek Online went F2p and it offered lifetime subs before launch.

I'm pretty sure the lifetime subbers get some extra perks like a regular supply of points for the ingame store and not having to purchase/unlock new content or whatever.

[ZakarnRosewood]

Personally I would never go for this option. Yearly, maybe, but not "Lifetime". That said, I'm not against the idea of providing the option for those who would be interested. However, I think it would be a mistake to offer it right out of the gate with this game, especially after its 2010 launch. Give it a year or so, maybe wait for the first official expansion, then start to provide that option if there is a large enough following. Just my thoughts on the matter.

[Alhanelem]

Usually lifetime subs are only offered before the game is released, at least from the games I've seen. Right out of the gate is the best time to do it. Once the game has been established, it's a harder bet for the developers because people have made up their minds about whether or not the game is good.

[xXHalloweenTrixXx]

They would be losing money with lifetime subscriptions. The question I'd like to ask though is which mmorpgs have lifetime memberships today?

[Alhanelem]

They would be losing money with lifetime subscriptions. The question I'd like to ask though is which mmorpgs have lifetime memberships today?

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?

[Takeshi_Eiketsu]

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?

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

[Kyra]

Lol this reminds me of the star trek online lifetime subs people bought, then they wanted a refund a few weeks after release lol.

I would like a lifetime sub for this though as I definatly will be playing this game for the rest of my life.