Quote from the boards regarding the unity missions:
Rekhan pointed this thread out to me, and I wanted to jump in. I love raiding myself, so this was a concern for me as well.
Let me share some of the things we've got out there for you:
The Boss Battles trailer shows off a few big boss fights.
Also, check out the video page specifically, the lairs trailer.
All those encounters in the Big Boss Battles trailer, except for Dr. Destroyer, are open world raid level bosses. We used a group of 5 in the videos, but I'd be incredibly impressed if you could get 5 level appropriate characters alone to take down one of those targets. There are also a few more world encounters that aren't shown in the video...
The Lairs are pretty awesome, and they're all pretty rough. They are geared for 5 man teams though. Some lairs can be soloed, and others well, they are anything but easy. You'll see your first lair at the end of the Desert and Canada Crisis zones, and then I believe there are lairs available every few levels after that.
The Andrith Ruins is probably the most difficult lair in the entire game. In fact, I honestly have never seen a more difficult boss fight in an MMO than Vikorin the Blind. I got to test this lair out early on, and I remember the designer standing behind me laughing gleefully at how often we died during that fight...
I hope that helps to put your minds at ease a little. The game may not require grouping to advance, but to experience the best content, and to take down the toughest villains, you're going to need a few friends.
Awesome. That sounds good. Also as far as hoarding unity points until they lower cost. If items cost 200+ I don't foree me being able to purchase any of it to begin with.
Has anyone else been able to log in today? Every time I've tried so far, I get as far as the login screen and as soon as I enter my login/password the application drops me to the desktop. I checked the windows task manager to see if there was even a process running after that, and there was nothing. It seems like the application just......stops.
Operative21 on
0
Just_Bri_ThanksSeething with ragefrom a handbasket.Registered User, ClubPAregular
Quote from the boards regarding the unity missions:
Rekhan pointed this thread out to me, and I wanted to jump in. I love raiding myself, so this was a concern for me as well.
Let me share some of the things we've got out there for you:
The Boss Battles trailer shows off a few big boss fights.
Also, check out the video page specifically, the lairs trailer.
All those encounters in the Big Boss Battles trailer, except for Dr. Destroyer, are open world raid level bosses. We used a group of 5 in the videos, but I'd be incredibly impressed if you could get 5 level appropriate characters alone to take down one of those targets. There are also a few more world encounters that aren't shown in the video...
The Lairs are pretty awesome, and they're all pretty rough. They are geared for 5 man teams though. Some lairs can be soloed, and others well, they are anything but easy. You'll see your first lair at the end of the Desert and Canada Crisis zones, and then I believe there are lairs available every few levels after that.
The Andrith Ruins is probably the most difficult lair in the entire game. In fact, I honestly have never seen a more difficult boss fight in an MMO than Vikorin the Blind. I got to test this lair out early on, and I remember the designer standing behind me laughing gleefully at how often we died during that fight...
I hope that helps to put your minds at ease a little. The game may not require grouping to advance, but to experience the best content, and to take down the toughest villains, you're going to need a few friends.
Lairs are not Unity missions. I played a legitimately-leveled 40 in CB, and Unity missions consisted entirely of 10 minute instances followed by a bigger 20 minute instance when you beat the smaller ones.
So I just got a response from gamestop customer service about headstart codes. Their response was that headstart codes would be sent out in the next few days.
Sonelan on
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
0
SarksusATTACK AND DETHRONE GODRegistered Userregular
edited August 2009
I'm crashing to desktop every time I run the game and try to load Millennium City.
So I just got a response from gamestop customer service about headstart codes. Their response was that headstart codes would be sent out in the next few days.
What, seriously? So the codes we have right now won't work? Jeez, they better not lose my e-mail address or soemthing.
Quote from the boards regarding the unity missions:
Rekhan pointed this thread out to me, and I wanted to jump in. I love raiding myself, so this was a concern for me as well.
Let me share some of the things we've got out there for you:
The Boss Battles trailer shows off a few big boss fights.
Also, check out the video page specifically, the lairs trailer.
All those encounters in the Big Boss Battles trailer, except for Dr. Destroyer, are open world raid level bosses. We used a group of 5 in the videos, but I'd be incredibly impressed if you could get 5 level appropriate characters alone to take down one of those targets. There are also a few more world encounters that aren't shown in the video...
The Lairs are pretty awesome, and they're all pretty rough. They are geared for 5 man teams though. Some lairs can be soloed, and others well, they are anything but easy. You'll see your first lair at the end of the Desert and Canada Crisis zones, and then I believe there are lairs available every few levels after that.
The Andrith Ruins is probably the most difficult lair in the entire game. In fact, I honestly have never seen a more difficult boss fight in an MMO than Vikorin the Blind. I got to test this lair out early on, and I remember the designer standing behind me laughing gleefully at how often we died during that fight...
I hope that helps to put your minds at ease a little. The game may not require grouping to advance, but to experience the best content, and to take down the toughest villains, you're going to need a few friends.
Lairs are not Unity missions. I played a legitimately-leveled 40 in CB, and Unity missions consisted entirely of 10 minute instances followed by a bigger 20 minute instance when you beat the smaller ones.
My mistake. I think it should be clearer I guess that yes there are ways to get WoW like loot.
Lairs = for the WoW Raider(unlike WoW, only require 5 players thank goodness!)
Unity = for the more casual player?
That sorta sounds like what they are going for which I like -- though sounds like prices might need some adjusting.
wolfgangpg on
0
ElldrenIs a woman dammitceterum censeoRegistered Userregular
So I just got a response from gamestop customer service about headstart codes. Their response was that headstart codes would be sent out in the next few days.
What, seriously? So the codes we have right now won't work? Jeez, they better not lose my e-mail address or soemthing.
o_O
they don't even have my email address. How do I get my code?
Elldren on
fuck gendered marketing
0
SarksusATTACK AND DETHRONE GODRegistered Userregular
So I just got a response from gamestop customer service about headstart codes. Their response was that headstart codes would be sent out in the next few days.
What, seriously? So the codes we have right now won't work? Jeez, they better not lose my e-mail address or soemthing.
o_O
they don't even have my email address. How do I get my code?
Are you sure? They should have asked for it when you pre-ordered.
You might have to go to the store! Be sure to wear a hazmat suit.
So I just got a response from gamestop customer service about headstart codes. Their response was that headstart codes would be sent out in the next few days.
What, seriously? So the codes we have right now won't work? Jeez, they better not lose my e-mail address or soemthing.
o_O
they don't even have my email address. How do I get my code?
If you go into your account it should show "Preorder - Gamestop" under account management and from what I gather that will enable your headstart.
wolfgangpg on
0
SarksusATTACK AND DETHRONE GODRegistered Userregular
edited August 2009
Ohhhh, so Cryptic handles it themselves. That makes much more sense.
Sarksus on
0
ElldrenIs a woman dammitceterum censeoRegistered Userregular
Ohhhh, so Cryptic handles it themselves. That makes much more sense.
Yes. Much.
Incidentally I have to go there anyhow to return an AC adapter, but still.
I reserved at Gamestop and my brother at Bestbuy (I imagine it will work the same for all other retailers), but if you go to Account management mine shows Preorder - Gamestop and my brothers shows Preorder - Bestbuy. There have also been posts on the official boards (I can't access at work) that say that will be good enough to get in the Headstart, but you will need a retail key by 9/1 or 9/2.
if this game tanks lifetime subscribers are going to be fuuucked
Not if the game last 13.3 months or longer.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month and play for 2 hours for three of those months don't try to sell me that they count as 14.95 each unless this is identical to your play schedule when paying monthly. Buying a lifetime subscription from a game that's coming out too early because they are short on money isn't a sound financial decision and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. I said the same thing when people bought one from Hellgate and I had a huge mancrush for that game a year before release. The people who purchased the lifetime sub there used the same arguments. The only company that offered one that wasn't a horrible financial choice was LOTRO, and even then the reason they offer it is because the game sucks and 99% of people will quit before getting their lifetime sub's financial value out.
MMO's aren't supposed to sell lifetime deals, they're supposed to sell a monthly charge and offer enough content and patches to keep me playing and keep me paying. That's the way MUDs did it, that's the way Everquest did it, that's the way WoW did it, and that's the way long term successful MMO's will do it. The second you pay everything upfront you give up all leverage AND all incentive for them to continue working on your behalf. They only reason they continue to host the server and provide updates is to attract new sales and new subscriptions. Let's be realistic, people do not work out of the goodness of their heart. I go to work for a paycheck as do 99.999999% of people. I bet you my boss could figure out my lifetime salary and cut me a deal for a smaller portion of it and give it to me all at once, but he won't because he's not an idiot. Somehow I don't see myself working late and coming in when people call in sick out of the goodness of my heart for the rest of my life.
I emailed them asking about it the other day because I didn't remember getting one and then afterward people told me about the pre-order thing with cryptic. I just found it interesting gamestop said they are sending out headstart codes soon.
Has there been any word yet on whether there will be a preorder through Steam or not? I have 55 bucks left for this month, but get paid again on the 1st. And now its a toss up between waiting and seeing if Steam offers a preorder deal before the 1st, or going and buying Metroid Prime Trilogy and playing it right now and just buying CO when I get paid on the 1st.
if this game tanks lifetime subscribers are going to be fuuucked
Not if the game last 13.3 months or longer.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month and play for 2 hours for three of those months don't try to sell me that they count as 14.95 each unless this is identical to your play schedule when paying monthly. Buying a lifetime subscription from a game that's coming out too early because they are short on money isn't a sound financial decision and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. I said the same thing when people bought one from Hellgate and I had a huge mancrush for that game a year before release. The people who purchased the lifetime sub there used the same arguments. The only company that offered one that wasn't a horrible financial choice was LOTRO, and even then the reason they offer it is because the game sucks and 99% of people will quit before getting their lifetime sub's financial value out.
MMO's aren't supposed to sell lifetime deals, they're supposed to sell a monthly charge and offer enough content and patches to keep me playing and keep me paying. That's the way MUDs did it, that's the way Everquest did it, that's the way WoW did it, and that's the way long term successful MMO's will do it. The second you pay everything upfront you give up all leverage AND all incentive for them to continue working on your behalf. They only reason they continue to host the server and provide updates is to attract new sales and new subscriptions. Let's be realistic, people do not work out of the goodness of their heart. I go to work for a paycheck as do 99.999999% of people. I bet you my boss could figure out my lifetime salary and cut me a deal for a smaller portion of it and give it to me all at once, but he won't because he's not an idiot. Somehow I don't see myself working late and coming in when people call in sick out of the goodness of my heart for the rest of my life.
uh yeah, even if I don't play an MMO I still pay monthly until I finally cancel the acocunt a year or so later. that's realistic to me. I've paid 6 months for COX and I'm sure I only put 10 hours into it. and yet I still paid 6 months. so yes, if the game lasts longer than 13 months I won't be screwed.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month and play for 2 hours for three of those months don't try to sell me that they count as 14.95 each unless this is identical to your play schedule when paying monthly. Buying a lifetime subscription from a game that's coming out too early because they are short on money isn't a sound financial decision and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. I said the same thing when people bought one from Hellgate and I had a huge mancrush for that game a year before release. The people who purchased the lifetime sub there used the same arguments. The only company that offered one that wasn't a horrible financial choice was LOTRO, and even then the reason they offer it is because the game sucks and 99% of people will quit before getting their lifetime sub's financial value out.
MMO's aren't supposed to sell lifetime deals, they're supposed to sell a monthly charge and offer enough content and patches to keep me playing and keep me paying. That's the way MUDs did it, that's the way Everquest did it, that's the way WoW did it, and that's the way long term successful MMO's will do it. The second you pay everything upfront you give up all leverage AND all incentive for them to continue working on your behalf. They only reason they continue to host the server and provide updates is to attract new sales and new subscriptions. Let's be realistic, people do not work out of the goodness of their heart. I go to work for a paycheck as do 99.999999% of people. I bet you my boss could figure out my lifetime salary and cut me a deal for a smaller portion of it and give it to me all at once, but he won't because he's not an idiot. Somehow I don't see myself working late and coming in when people call in sick out of the goodness of my heart for the rest of my life.
Oh hey, microtransactions called and left a message for you, something about financial incentives and alternate revenue sources or something.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month <snip>
Actually, they are correct. Irregardless of how much you play, if you paid month by month and played for 13 months, you would be paying that amount. There isn't a variable amount that you pay based on how much you play. They bought it based on their own belief that they would be playing atleast once a month for 13 months. So for them, its a deal.
As for the MMO vs. Lifetime sub argument, I think it's been done to death in a couple previous threads about CO by now. Can we please move on to in game info? If you don't like it, thats fine, don't buy it. I personally am not purchasing it, I can't spend that kind of money upfront on a game, but I accept that someone else can and wants it. Let's all move on together.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month and play for 2 hours for three of those months don't try to sell me that they count as 14.95 each unless this is identical to your play schedule when paying monthly. Buying a lifetime subscription from a game that's coming out too early because they are short on money isn't a sound financial decision and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. I said the same thing when people bought one from Hellgate and I had a huge mancrush for that game a year before release. The people who purchased the lifetime sub there used the same arguments. The only company that offered one that wasn't a horrible financial choice was LOTRO, and even then the reason they offer it is because the game sucks and 99% of people will quit before getting their lifetime sub's financial value out.
MMO's aren't supposed to sell lifetime deals, they're supposed to sell a monthly charge and offer enough content and patches to keep me playing and keep me paying. That's the way MUDs did it, that's the way Everquest did it, that's the way WoW did it, and that's the way long term successful MMO's will do it. The second you pay everything upfront you give up all leverage AND all incentive for them to continue working on your behalf. They only reason they continue to host the server and provide updates is to attract new sales and new subscriptions. Let's be realistic, people do not work out of the goodness of their heart. I go to work for a paycheck as do 99.999999% of people. I bet you my boss could figure out my lifetime salary and cut me a deal for a smaller portion of it and give it to me all at once, but he won't because he's not an idiot. Somehow I don't see myself working late and coming in when people call in sick out of the goodness of my heart for the rest of my life.
Oh hey, microtransactions called and left a message for you, something about financial incentives and alternate revenue sources or something.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month <snip>
Actually, they are correct. Irregardless of how much you play, if you paid month by month and played for 13 months, you would be paying that amount. There isn't a variable amount that you pay based on how much you play. They bought it based on their own belief that they would be playing atleast once a month for 13 months. So for them, its a deal.
As for the MMO vs. Lifetime sub argument, I think it's been done to death in a couple previous threads about CO by now. Can we please move on to in game info? If you don't like it, thats fine, don't buy it. I personally am not purchasing it, I can't spend that kind of money upfront on a game, but I accept that someone else can and wants it. Let's all move on together.
Oh hey, microtransactions called and left a message for you, something about financial incentives and alternate revenue sources or something.
You want to talk about Maple Story?
No, I want to talk about Champions Online, since Cryptic has made absolutely no secret about including microtransactions. Hence, you know, Cryptic Bucks and whatnot.
if this game tanks lifetime subscribers are going to be fuuucked
Not if the game last 13.3 months or longer.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month and play for 2 hours for three of those months don't try to sell me that they count as 14.95 each unless this is identical to your play schedule when paying monthly. Buying a lifetime subscription from a game that's coming out too early because they are short on money isn't a sound financial decision and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. I said the same thing when people bought one from Hellgate and I had a huge mancrush for that game a year before release. The people who purchased the lifetime sub there used the same arguments. The only company that offered one that wasn't a horrible financial choice was LOTRO, and even then the reason they offer it is because the game sucks and 99% of people will quit before getting their lifetime sub's financial value out.
MMO's aren't supposed to sell lifetime deals, they're supposed to sell a monthly charge and offer enough content and patches to keep me playing and keep me paying. That's the way MUDs did it, that's the way Everquest did it, that's the way WoW did it, and that's the way long term successful MMO's will do it. The second you pay everything upfront you give up all leverage AND all incentive for them to continue working on your behalf. They only reason they continue to host the server and provide updates is to attract new sales and new subscriptions. Let's be realistic, people do not work out of the goodness of their heart. I go to work for a paycheck as do 99.999999% of people. I bet you my boss could figure out my lifetime salary and cut me a deal for a smaller portion of it and give it to me all at once, but he won't because he's not an idiot. Somehow I don't see myself working late and coming in when people call in sick out of the goodness of my heart for the rest of my life.
Good thing you are not MY financial advisor.
I have a lifetime account with LOTRO and I doubt I have even broken even, but have never regretted for one second.
I am likely getting one for this game as well.
I pretty much agree with almost everything you said above too.
The only reason the model is what it is, is because someone one day said, while making Ultima Online, "Hey lets do this and charge ~$10.00 a month and see what happens."
Before that, all commercial online games were part of some sort of online service and had an hourly charge and or surcharge.
There is nothing magical about the monthly price structure, like you seem to think. There was not some kind of deep thought on it.
UO did it, EQ copied it and became a smash hit and a gold mine and everyone else just followed suit.
If you think the future of MMOGs is a flat monthly fee with no other charges, you are likely very wrong.
if this game tanks lifetime subscribers are going to be fuuucked
Not if the game last 13.3 months or longer.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month and play for 2 hours for three of those months don't try to sell me that they count as 14.95 each unless this is identical to your play schedule when paying monthly. Buying a lifetime subscription from a game that's coming out too early because they are short on money isn't a sound financial decision and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. I said the same thing when people bought one from Hellgate and I had a huge mancrush for that game a year before release. The people who purchased the lifetime sub there used the same arguments. The only company that offered one that wasn't a horrible financial choice was LOTRO, and even then the reason they offer it is because the game sucks and 99% of people will quit before getting their lifetime sub's financial value out.
MMO's aren't supposed to sell lifetime deals, they're supposed to sell a monthly charge and offer enough content and patches to keep me playing and keep me paying. That's the way MUDs did it, that's the way Everquest did it, that's the way WoW did it, and that's the way long term successful MMO's will do it. The second you pay everything upfront you give up all leverage AND all incentive for them to continue working on your behalf. They only reason they continue to host the server and provide updates is to attract new sales and new subscriptions. Let's be realistic, people do not work out of the goodness of their heart. I go to work for a paycheck as do 99.999999% of people. I bet you my boss could figure out my lifetime salary and cut me a deal for a smaller portion of it and give it to me all at once, but he won't because he's not an idiot. Somehow I don't see myself working late and coming in when people call in sick out of the goodness of my heart for the rest of my life.
Good thing you are not MY financial advisor.
I have a lifetime account with LOTRO and I doubt I have even broken even, but have never regretted for one second.
I am likely getting one for this game as well.
I pretty much agree with almost everything you said above too.
The only reason the model is what it is, is because someone one day said, while making Ultima Online, "Hey lets do this and charge ~$10.00 a month and see what happens."
Before that, all commercial online games were part of some sort of online service and had an hourly charge and or surcharge.
There is nothing magical about the monthly price structure, like you seem to think. There was not some kind of deep thought on it.
UO did it, EQ copied it and became a smash hit and a gold mine and everyone else just followed suit.
If you think the future of MMOGs is a flat monthly fee with no other charges, you are likely very wrong.
There were MMO's that charged a monthly before UO as well (M59 and Simutronics MUDS off the top of my head) The reason they charge a monthly fee is because they are selling a service, not a product. I also said LOTRO was NOT a horrible choice because they didn't offer a lifetime sub because they were stapped for cash.
Oh hey, microtransactions called and left a message for you, something about financial incentives and alternate revenue sources or something.
You want to talk about Maple Story?
No, I want to talk about Champions Online, since Cryptic has made absolutely no secret about including microtransactions. Hence, you know, Cryptic Bucks and whatnot.
I don't know that money is kind of cryptic and secretive right now.
Hey i know it's not really a big deal since you get to chose one at like 5 anyway but since i have the GS preorder i apparently have access to lv 1 flight... does that mean once i start retail i have lv1 flight because i jsut realized i've never used it in beta
Oh hey, microtransactions called and left a message for you, something about financial incentives and alternate revenue sources or something.
You want to talk about Maple Story?
No, I want to talk about Champions Online, since Cryptic has made absolutely no secret about including microtransactions. Hence, you know, Cryptic Bucks and whatnot.
I don't know that money is kind of cryptic and secretive right now.
Hey i know it's not really a big deal since you get to chose one at like 5 anyway but since i have the GS preorder i apparently have access to lv 1 flight... does that mean once i start retail i have lv1 flight because i jsut realized i've never used it in beta
You get a flight item, not actual flight (a little slower is my understanding). This is kinda cool though because at level 40 you can have 3 travel powers.
I don't have a problem with most microtransaction stuff as long as it's either purely cosmetic, available ingame normally, or selling excesss of something for niche users (Extra 8 char slots). If they sell things like full respecs and new powersets that is total BS. If they want to sell angel wings and new hairstyles I'm not going to nerdrage about it, even though it obviously comes at the expense of regular content whether people want to admit it or not.
So when you defeat a Mega-Destroid is there supposed to be a big ol' message that says 'YOU WON THE GAME, YOU GET THIS AT LAUNCH!'
'Cuz I haven't gotten anything like that.
Nope, but as long as you've done something offensive to one, spit on one, thrown tomatoes, something, your account is logged and you'll get the bonus come live.
Cabezone on
0
SarksusATTACK AND DETHRONE GODRegistered Userregular
edited August 2009
I'd like to know that it worked, though. I helped defeat three or four Mega-Destroids and nothing happens save for getting a little resource. I'm not even getting XP from these things.
I wish people would stop bringing up Hellgate as a failed lifetime example, it's wasn't a MMORPG. The people paying the monthly fees were just as retarded as the people paying the lifetime.
I think the only MMORPG to offer a lifetime sub has been LOTRO. You could have payed a lifetime fee for pretty much any of the major MMORPGs that have come out and gotten your money's worth every single fucking time. Has there been a single one to even die before 13 months is up? Hell, Pirates is still going, and even Matrix didn't fold till just last month or so.
I'd like to know that it worked, though. I helped defeat three or four Mega-Destroids and nothing happens save for getting a little resource. I'm not even getting XP from these things.
No they check the logs for who has been in MC and doing damage to destroids, there are 2-3 posts from devs on the champion online boards that say this.
Quote I have been spamming in chat when people ask this question every other second.
"There won't be anything notifying you in-game about it, but if you're in Millennium City, helping out, rest assured we've got you marked."
Posts
Awesome. That sounds good. Also as far as hoarding unity points until they lower cost. If items cost 200+ I don't foree me being able to purchase any of it to begin with.
Not if the game last 13.3 months or longer.
chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
I was gonna name him St. Ohm but for some reason Ohm is restricted. St. Joules just doesn't sound as good.
Lairs are not Unity missions. I played a legitimately-leveled 40 in CB, and Unity missions consisted entirely of 10 minute instances followed by a bigger 20 minute instance when you beat the smaller ones.
What, seriously? So the codes we have right now won't work? Jeez, they better not lose my e-mail address or soemthing.
My mistake. I think it should be clearer I guess that yes there are ways to get WoW like loot.
Lairs = for the WoW Raider(unlike WoW, only require 5 players thank goodness!)
Unity = for the more casual player?
That sorta sounds like what they are going for which I like -- though sounds like prices might need some adjusting.
o_O
they don't even have my email address. How do I get my code?
Are you sure? They should have asked for it when you pre-ordered.
You might have to go to the store! Be sure to wear a hazmat suit.
If you go into your account it should show "Preorder - Gamestop" under account management and from what I gather that will enable your headstart.
Yes. Much.
Incidentally I have to go there anyhow to return an AC adapter, but still.
I reserved at Gamestop and my brother at Bestbuy (I imagine it will work the same for all other retailers), but if you go to Account management mine shows Preorder - Gamestop and my brothers shows Preorder - Bestbuy. There have also been posts on the official boards (I can't access at work) that say that will be good enough to get in the Headstart, but you will need a retail key by 9/1 or 9/2.
This is not true unless you play an equal amount every month from the start for those 13 months. If you log in once a month and play for 2 hours for three of those months don't try to sell me that they count as 14.95 each unless this is identical to your play schedule when paying monthly. Buying a lifetime subscription from a game that's coming out too early because they are short on money isn't a sound financial decision and anyone who says otherwise is delusional. I said the same thing when people bought one from Hellgate and I had a huge mancrush for that game a year before release. The people who purchased the lifetime sub there used the same arguments. The only company that offered one that wasn't a horrible financial choice was LOTRO, and even then the reason they offer it is because the game sucks and 99% of people will quit before getting their lifetime sub's financial value out.
MMO's aren't supposed to sell lifetime deals, they're supposed to sell a monthly charge and offer enough content and patches to keep me playing and keep me paying. That's the way MUDs did it, that's the way Everquest did it, that's the way WoW did it, and that's the way long term successful MMO's will do it. The second you pay everything upfront you give up all leverage AND all incentive for them to continue working on your behalf. They only reason they continue to host the server and provide updates is to attract new sales and new subscriptions. Let's be realistic, people do not work out of the goodness of their heart. I go to work for a paycheck as do 99.999999% of people. I bet you my boss could figure out my lifetime salary and cut me a deal for a smaller portion of it and give it to me all at once, but he won't because he's not an idiot. Somehow I don't see myself working late and coming in when people call in sick out of the goodness of my heart for the rest of my life.
why did I come back into this thread.
I was UNsold.
and now I feel like I have to scramble to get the $200 deal (even if I can't buy the box yet, ha!)
fuck..
you guyyyyyssssssss.
What do I have to sell....
Oh hey, microtransactions called and left a message for you, something about financial incentives and alternate revenue sources or something.
Actually, they are correct. Irregardless of how much you play, if you paid month by month and played for 13 months, you would be paying that amount. There isn't a variable amount that you pay based on how much you play. They bought it based on their own belief that they would be playing atleast once a month for 13 months. So for them, its a deal.
As for the MMO vs. Lifetime sub argument, I think it's been done to death in a couple previous threads about CO by now. Can we please move on to in game info? If you don't like it, thats fine, don't buy it. I personally am not purchasing it, I can't spend that kind of money upfront on a game, but I accept that someone else can and wants it. Let's all move on together.
You want to talk about Maple Story?
I am buying and I am paying a monthly sub.
No, I want to talk about Champions Online, since Cryptic has made absolutely no secret about including microtransactions. Hence, you know, Cryptic Bucks and whatnot.
Good thing you are not MY financial advisor.
I have a lifetime account with LOTRO and I doubt I have even broken even, but have never regretted for one second.
I am likely getting one for this game as well.
I pretty much agree with almost everything you said above too.
The only reason the model is what it is, is because someone one day said, while making Ultima Online, "Hey lets do this and charge ~$10.00 a month and see what happens."
Before that, all commercial online games were part of some sort of online service and had an hourly charge and or surcharge.
There is nothing magical about the monthly price structure, like you seem to think. There was not some kind of deep thought on it.
UO did it, EQ copied it and became a smash hit and a gold mine and everyone else just followed suit.
If you think the future of MMOGs is a flat monthly fee with no other charges, you are likely very wrong.
There were MMO's that charged a monthly before UO as well (M59 and Simutronics MUDS off the top of my head) The reason they charge a monthly fee is because they are selling a service, not a product. I also said LOTRO was NOT a horrible choice because they didn't offer a lifetime sub because they were stapped for cash.
I don't know that money is kind of cryptic and secretive right now.
Hey i know it's not really a big deal since you get to chose one at like 5 anyway but since i have the GS preorder i apparently have access to lv 1 flight... does that mean once i start retail i have lv1 flight because i jsut realized i've never used it in beta
You get a flight item, not actual flight (a little slower is my understanding). This is kinda cool though because at level 40 you can have 3 travel powers.
i haven't seen any preorder items in beta
'Cuz I haven't gotten anything like that.
I'd love to know this as well.
Nope, but as long as you've done something offensive to one, spit on one, thrown tomatoes, something, your account is logged and you'll get the bonus come live.
I wish people would stop bringing up Hellgate as a failed lifetime example, it's wasn't a MMORPG. The people paying the monthly fees were just as retarded as the people paying the lifetime.
I think the only MMORPG to offer a lifetime sub has been LOTRO. You could have payed a lifetime fee for pretty much any of the major MMORPGs that have come out and gotten your money's worth every single fucking time. Has there been a single one to even die before 13 months is up? Hell, Pirates is still going, and even Matrix didn't fold till just last month or so.
Devs said you have to just trust them.
or hey, be super lenient and give it to anyone logged on today.
No preorder but it will be available the 1st with special in-game items (I don't know what).
Hope that helps.
Quote I have been spamming in chat when people ask this question every other second.
"There won't be anything notifying you in-game about it, but if you're in Millennium City, helping out, rest assured we've got you marked."