I just read an IGN article about Free-to-play vs. Sub based MMO's
http://m.ign.com/articles/2014/07/18/should-the-elder-scrolls-online-go-free-to-play
Different ideas are in this but it's come to suggest there is a balance. A lot of game companies are using an all or nothing concepts. People aren't all round or square. There are triangles, rectangles, etc.
Can the company not lower the access requirements to create a greater revenue stream? The game approach was set so that millions of PC specs would fit but oddly the pricing seems not to follow the same approach.
The PC gamer is use to a $14.99 sub but as the market place changes $14.99 no longer seems normal. It's perceived as expensive. Personally I throw away $15 on lunch at least 3 times a week but this isn't about me. It's about bringing millions of customers to a product on a long term basis.
Monthly, weekly, daily options should exist. A console game would sale for $59.99 and people will think nothing to buy an add-on for $14.99 or a season pass for $60-$80. Asking a customer to pay $60+$180 tends to fall out of competition.
Yeah. Yeah I know...get a job, stop throwing away money and even, this is not even expensive. Let's say you're right. But does that suggest there isn't a better system to retain customers, attract new customers all while supporting the expenses.
Now PC games are following a buy once with online play model.
There are some good and decent MMORPGs out there today.
$14.99 is the typical amount sub based games choose.
$9.99 is a little less but not enough to be game changing.
$4.99-$7.99 still provides an the predictability of income and active players but what about other options.
-It's suggested that this game will never go free-to-play
-it argued that the sub model won't last.
It's 2014 and the $14.99 is still a business plan for these games.
-How many would care less if their annual sub was $60 ($4.99 sub over 12 months)
-How many would choose monthly vs weekly? (If the price stays $14.99, often -people will pay $5 for a week vs a months worth of access)
-Is the resistance for the subscription model or is it the price point?
-$7.99 sub cuts Zenimax in half BUT does it allow more customers to participate?
Just putting this out there. People like this game and ppl have issues with this game.
Conclusion...
The forums are blowing up because this game has opportunity as it's different than other MMORPGs but the pricing models are exactly like all those MMORPGs that succeeded and later die.
Even cable TV and cell phones offer options.