Describe your prefered payment method in detail, if ZOS changed their subscription model

EJRose83 · January 2015

Hypothetically, if ZOS changed payment models and I had to pick my ideal (non-sub) payment method, I would go with B2P, with additional DLC provided at a relatively low cost. Such as:

$10 for the new solo PVE area, Wrothgar
$15 for the new adventure zone, Murkmire
$10 for the new Spellcrafting system
$20 for the PVP Imperial City expansion
$10 for the new Thieves Guild storyline
$10 for the new Dark Brotherhood storyline
$5 for a new veteran dungeon

With additional options to purchase low cost vanity items, such as mounts or outfits for $1-5 a piece.

As a caveat though, I have to stress that I'm completely against lottery boxes of any sort, as well as performance enhancing perks, such as xp boosts and what not. The emphasis of the in-game store should be placed instead on quality DLC, much like you find in the Call of Duty or Assassin's Creed series, where you only find meaty map packs, co-op campaigns and vanity items.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely prefer the current payment method, but the fact is it will change eventually. It may be years from now or just a few months, but eventually ZOS will change their payment method for the game. In light of this, I find the discussion to be relevant.

KBKB · January 2015

I would not pay $5 for one new vet dungeon or $10 for dark brotherhood/thieves lines which should have been out at release -_- I'm going to save everyone some time here and say /thread

Ahdora · January 2015

While this *could* be an interesting conversation about the perks and downfalls of various non-sub payment models, it's likely going to turn into some kind of flamefest, or you'll get masses saying "I ONLY LIKE SUBS," as if that's relevant to your topic.

So, I'll try to actually participate in the conversation. IF the game dropped their current subscription model, I'd prefer to see it go B2P with regular paid 'DLC' type updates. I don't like microtransactions personally, but have no problem with a cash shop with appearance items (not game performance-changing, as you said) and the like.

But for the main meat of the game, I've no interest in paying $5 for a dungeon, etc, as you mentioned. I'd rather pay another $20 or something like that every few months for a fresh infusion of content, than be nickeled and dimed over every little thing.

Gyudan · January 2015

Pay to hide helmet.
Pay to have a horse.
Pay to fast travel.
Pay to enter a dungeon.
Pay to resurrect.
Pay to repair armor.

Sounds like fun ...

WhiskyBob · January 2015

The only payment method I can see fit is subscription. Always and forever!
Sub goes I go. Thats how it has been for me with many games.

suycyco · January 2015

I'll leave the game if the subscription is abandonned, DLC is a pain for the life of a little guild, you have to manage the people between those wo have the new DLC and the others, and all the people who buy the game just to test and quit after...
And also i like the idea I paid the game and I can have access to everything by my own way if I play well enough, not if my CB is full enough.

I don't even talk about full F2P games wich is the worst possibility for the lovers of a games (unfortunatly it seems it's the most rentable for the companies).

Yasha · January 2015

Ahdora wrote: »

IF the game dropped their current subscription model, I'd prefer to see it go B2P with regular paid 'DLC' type updates. I don't like microtransactions personally, but have no problem with a cash shop with appearance items (not game performance-changing, as you said) and the like.

But for the main meat of the game, I've no interest in paying $5 for a dungeon, etc, as you mentioned. I'd rather pay another $20 or something like that every few months for a fresh infusion of content, than be nickeled and dimed over every little thing.

Same thoughts here, I would prefer b2p with paid expansions. Every few months is probably a bit too fast for quality content, maybe something more like a yearly expansion for $50 or something.

Nikolas · January 2015

WhiskyBob wrote: »

The only payment method I can see fit is subscription. Always and forever!
Sub goes I go. Thats how it has been for me with many games.

I'm with WhiskyBob on that... Hope the current payment method stays for as long as possible, there is no other method for me for an MMO...

nerevarine1138 · January 2015

Payment model isn't changing. Stop feeding the crazies.

Ahdora · January 2015

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Payment model isn't changing. Stop feeding the crazies.

OP didn't imply that they are. That's why he started with "hypothetically."

onlinegamer1 · January 2015

I'd like to pay with the money owed to me for testing their beta product.

DMuehlhausen · January 2015

The only way I would stay if it goes F2P is if it's like Rift. Rift is 100% free with no real catch or B2P in it.

SWTOR isn't paid since you either deal with the fact you don't get unlimited access if you don't sub. If you do sub it's everything.

If it ever becomes something though where you have to pay for different parts of the game, or to get better gear I'll leave.

onlinegamer1 · January 2015

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

The only way I would stay if it goes F2P is if it's like Rift. Rift is 100% free with no real catch or B2P in it.

SWTOR isn't paid since you either deal with the fact you don't get unlimited access if you don't sub. If you do sub it's everything.

If it ever becomes something though where you have to pay for different parts of the game, or to get better gear I'll leave.

DDO (Dungeons & Dragons Online) is, IMHO, the best F2P model there is.

The game is free, but certain races, classes and content are "buy to play".
HOWEVER: you do not buy them with money. You buy them with "Turbine Points" (Turbine is the company who makes DDO). You CAN buy TPs with money if you want to, but you can EARN THEM BY PLAYING THE FREE CONTENT. In other words, the content you have to "buy" can be "bought" with your TIME instead of with money.

nerevarine1138 · January 2015

Ahdora wrote: »

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Payment model isn't changing. Stop feeding the crazies.

OP didn't imply that they are. That's why he started with "hypothetically."

And all that does is stir the pot and validate the conspiracy theorists. The game isn't going free-to-play.

Ahdora · January 2015

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Ahdora wrote: »

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Payment model isn't changing. Stop feeding the crazies.

OP didn't imply that they are. That's why he started with "hypothetically."

And all that does is stir the pot and validate the conspiracy theorists. The game isn't going free-to-play.

Actually, you're the only one who brought that into it. Surprisingly, the majority of the conversation has actually been about other payment model types.

Korah_Eaglecry · January 2015

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Ahdora wrote: »

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Payment model isn't changing. Stop feeding the crazies.

OP didn't imply that they are. That's why he started with "hypothetically."

And all that does is stir the pot and validate the conspiracy theorists. The game isn't going free-to-play.

So in otherwords youre here to break the Forum Rules and derail the thread?

Darlgon · January 2015

Beating+a+dead+horse+all+right+my+usual+statement+if_12609f_4027090.jpg

Iselin · January 2015

Preferred? A new megaserver for them and I could care less what they do there... same sub megaserver for us with everything included.

rophez_ESO · January 2015

Ahdora wrote: »

IF the game dropped their current subscription model, I'd prefer to see it go B2P with regular paid 'DLC' type updates. I don't like microtransactions personally, but have no problem with a cash shop with appearance items (not game performance-changing, as you said) and the like.

But for the main meat of the game, I've no interest in paying $5 for a dungeon, etc, as you mentioned. I'd rather pay another $20 or something like that every few months for a fresh infusion of content, than be nickeled and dimed over every little thing.

I won't type, again, what you've said perfectly.

SantieClaws · January 2015

Magic beans.

Keep it a sub payment then I know where I am, I know how much I am spending and my immersion is not destroyed by me having to reach for my purse every five minutes in game.

ers101284b14_ESO · January 2015

If they change business models then I hope they charge as much as possible for every little thing in the game so they can drain every last penny from people who support such a crappy business model.

Breton male 1 hair style no customization available Free
$20 per race
$10 to change body height
$10 to change body weight
$5 to change ears
$5 to change eyes
$5 per hair style to unlock
Daggerfall Covenant free
Unlock the other alliances $30 a piece
$20 per motif book. Motifs no longer allowed in game
$1 per lockpick
$1 for each wayshrine use
Starting Island free $50 to unlock each zone afterwards
Crafting materials can still be gotten in game but to use crafting stations you have to pay $2 each time or just buy armor from the cash shop for $10 a set

You get the idea. Then I can come back and ask people how they enjoy their F2P experience since it wasn't worth $15 a month.

Aett_Thorn · January 2015

My preferred new payment model:

1) Subscription price goes up to $16

2) The extra dollar from every subscription goes straight into my bank account so that I can play the game all day and not work.

Sallington · January 2015

Outside of a subscription, I would never pay $ for anything. Cheap money-grubbing tactics like that make me leave games.

EJRose83 · January 2015

Sallington wrote: »

Outside of a subscription, I would never pay $ for anything. Cheap money-grubbing tactics like that make me leave games.

So you never purchase DLC for games like Call of Duty or anything? I mean, if you buy the game outright in it's current state, then any additional content that becomes available in the future could be considered optional DLC. What's so bad about that?

Nestor · January 2015

EJRose83 wrote: »

What's so bad about that?

Because these DLCs almost always contain something that gives an advantage to a player, even if it's just more levels, so that they are no longer optional to anyone who wants to stay competitive.

Probably won't matter to those who PvE, but not to those who PvP or run Trials.

Robocles · January 2015

EJRose83 wrote: »

Hypothetically, if ZOS changed payment models and I had to pick my ideal (non-sub) payment method, I would go with B2P, with additional DLC provided at a relatively low cost. Such as:

$10 for the new solo PVE area, Wrothgar
$15 for the new adventure zone, Murkmire
$10 for the new Spellcrafting system
$20 for the PVP Imperial City expansion
$10 for the new Thieves Guild storyline
$10 for the new Dark Brotherhood storyline
$5 for a new veteran dungeon

With additional options to purchase low cost vanity items, such as mounts or outfits for $1-5 a piece.

As a caveat though, I have to stress that I'm completely against lottery boxes of any sort, as well as performance enhancing perks, such as xp boosts and what not. The emphasis of the in-game store should be placed instead on quality DLC, much like you find in the Call of Duty or Assassin's Creed series, where you only find meaty map packs, co-op campaigns and vanity items.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely prefer the current payment method, but the fact is it will change eventually. It may be years from now or just a few months, but eventually ZOS will change their payment method for the game. In light of this, I find the discussion to be relevant.

Screw that. An MMO with a DLC style content system... time to move on.

Gix · January 2015

I was a big fan of the original GuildWar's model: $60 every 6 months for a completely new standalone campaign.

- new story.
- more character slots.
- more spells.
- 2 new classes.
- new PvP maps.
- new features.

Arena.Net made a total of 3 campaigns with an extra expansion until they decided to build GuildWars 2 and completely change the business model and the way the game played.

Layenem · January 2015

My favorite is what SOE uses on EQ1 and 2.

Basically you have access to the core game itself, minus max level content (in ESO's case it would be vet levels/champion system). You can have access to the quests for your faction and all activity related within. You do not have any access to skill morphs and the highest value gear you can wear is blue. You cannot become a werewolf, vampire, or join the mage or fighter guilds. You cannot communicate in zone chat and cannot initiate a /whisper (though you can respond). You can join a guild but you cannot create one. You can join a group but you cannot start one.

You could pay a one time fee of $5 for access to all of the free content plus you now have end game access (vet levels, dungeons, other alliance zones, etc... NOTHING SCALES TO YOUR LEVEL), can create groups and guilds, can morph abilities in you class and weapon trees, become a werewolf, vampire, as well as join mage and fighter guilds, and wear purple armor.

Then you'd have a monthly sub for the remaining access. Dungeons scale to your level, you can run trials, can morph all skill lines, have access to all skill lines, wear highest value of armor, along with all access from other two tiers, and are marked as such on the forums with higher input values than non sub members.

I forgot to mention that sub members would have primary access to all new game data (updates) as they come out and all other members would have delayed access (provided they were capable of playing the content to begin with).

Roughly.

I like this type of system because it lets people try out a majority of the game and allows developers to pull money from those who play the end game content to support the creation of more end game content.

AaronMB · January 2015

I'd pay for the option to vote on closing threads.

Psychobunni · January 2015

I'd want the whole game and all future expansions free or having pre-ordered and sub'ed non-stop until they theoretically decide to ruin it.

I'm not trying to flame, truly....but if all these other games that people claim did it successfully were that successful with it and continuing to keep the game fresh and exciting....then all those people would still be playing those games instead of ESO.

Layenem · January 2015

Psychobunni wrote: »

I'd want the whole game and all future expansions free or having pre-ordered and sub'ed non-stop until they theoretically decide to ruin it.

I'm not trying to flame, truly....but if all these other games that people claim did it successfully were that successful with it and continuing to keep the game fresh and exciting....then all those people would still be playing those games instead of ESO.

Having a successful business model has nothing to do with having a successful game. EQ1, for instance, its just too old. It needs a complete overhaul (Pantheon anyone?) and that's not even made by SOE.

Don't mix successful business model up with successful games. Some of the older games are actually alive BECAUSE they have a successful business model that brought in new traffic that have picked up subs because they enjoy the game as a whole. Even if it is old as dirt.