Tag: Subscription

Allods Online’s Subscription Server Is Here


allods_online_pathtovictory_docklands2

Allods Online is one of the few games to break tradition and transition from a free to play game to an optional subscription. As we reported month’s ago, the free to play title originally launched a separate subscription server in its native Russian host to test the waters. Apparently the service was successful, because gPotato has replicated technology over here in the states. Launching alongside the Everlasting Battle update, the optional subscription server does not allow characters to be transferred from other servers, nor does it include a cash shop of any sort.

For the paltry sum of $15 per month, players will be able to enjoy a server with zero microtransactions. This means no runes, no elixers, no cursed items, no incense, etc. Items including mounts, bags, and pets are available for acquisition from stores and quests, and not only has mob difficulty been toned down to deal with the absence of runes, but player leveling speed has increased 30%. Players who prefer the game’s free to play cash shop portion will find their gameplay unaffected by this new server.

(Source: Allods Online)

Allods Online's Subscription Server Is Here


allods_online_pathtovictory_docklands2

Allods Online is one of the few games to break tradition and transition from a free to play game to an optional subscription. As we reported month’s ago, the free to play title originally launched a separate subscription server in its native Russian host to test the waters. Apparently the service was successful, because gPotato has replicated technology over here in the states. Launching alongside the Everlasting Battle update, the optional subscription server does not allow characters to be transferred from other servers, nor does it include a cash shop of any sort.

For the paltry sum of $15 per month, players will be able to enjoy a server with zero microtransactions. This means no runes, no elixers, no cursed items, no incense, etc. Items including mounts, bags, and pets are available for acquisition from stores and quests, and not only has mob difficulty been toned down to deal with the absence of runes, but player leveling speed has increased 30%. Players who prefer the game’s free to play cash shop portion will find their gameplay unaffected by this new server.

(Source: Allods Online)

Details On Allods Online Subscription Server


allods_online_pathtovictory_docklands2

While there is no date currently set for Allods Online’s subscription server, gPotato has come out with a list of new details regarding what will and will not be available to players. As we already know, the cash shop will not be available in subscription Allods at all: This means that items like runes, elixers, strongbox bonuses, and cursed items will be completely removed from the game. Players will enjoy a 30% boost in leveling speed, twice as many stat points per level, and the ability to customize their characters with gold. Bags, mounts, and pets are now rewards from quests and can be purchased with gold, and megaphones will be distributed in small amounts on a weekly basis.

With the removal of Runes, you will be happy to know that mob difficulty on the subscription server will be adjusted. The announcement, including the list of which cash shop items are leaving entirely, can be found at the link below.

(Source: Allods Online)

I'm Quoting You On This, Zenimax


skyrim-troll

Zenimax has come out and revealed the big news behind The Elder Scrolls Online: The game will be subscription based. And just like many developers before them, Zenimax has opened up to this model in the only way that developers know how, by discussing how inferior or incompatible free to play is. So on the off chance that Zenimax does make Elder Scrolls free to play, I thought I would put their opinion on the model right front and center.

F2P, B2P, etc. are valid, proven business models – but subscription is the one that fits ESO the best, given our commitment to freedom of gameplay, quality and long-term content delivery. Plus, players will appreciate not having to worry about being “monetized” in the middle of playing the game, which is definitely a problem that is cropping up more and more in online gaming these days.

One down payment and a flat monthly fee gets you 100% of the content? Sounds great, I will have three. I’m holding you to this, Zenimax. If you make The Elder Scrolls Online free to play, you will have to live forever knowing that your actions caused mild disappointment in an editorial writer you have never met.

(Source: PC Gamer)

I’m Quoting You On This, Zenimax


skyrim-troll

Zenimax has come out and revealed the big news behind The Elder Scrolls Online: The game will be subscription based. And just like many developers before them, Zenimax has opened up to this model in the only way that developers know how, by discussing how inferior or incompatible free to play is. So on the off chance that Zenimax does make Elder Scrolls free to play, I thought I would put their opinion on the model right front and center.

F2P, B2P, etc. are valid, proven business models – but subscription is the one that fits ESO the best, given our commitment to freedom of gameplay, quality and long-term content delivery. Plus, players will appreciate not having to worry about being “monetized” in the middle of playing the game, which is definitely a problem that is cropping up more and more in online gaming these days.

One down payment and a flat monthly fee gets you 100% of the content? Sounds great, I will have three. I’m holding you to this, Zenimax. If you make The Elder Scrolls Online free to play, you will have to live forever knowing that your actions caused mild disappointment in an editorial writer you have never met.

(Source: PC Gamer)

Allods Online Subscription Server Heading West


allods_online_pathtovictory_docklands2

Those of you who follow Allods Online still will know that the MMO released a subscription server in the game’s native Russian service. For the cost of a standard MMO subscription, players were able to access the entirety of the game with zero influence from the cash shop. With no cash shop presence, the items previously sold for real money have either been removed completely or added in as drops by monsters or rewards from quests. One other caveat is that while players are able to transfer their subscription server characters over to the free to play servers, they cannot be transferred in the other direction.

Well it appears that the experiment was a rousing success, as gPotato has announced that the same server type will be hitting the west once the next expansion is released. In a Letter from the Producer, Piopico notes that the first priority on the table is the release of the next expansion for Allods Online. Following that release, the team will look at adding in a subscription server. The addition will require a lot of back end work, ensuring that both server types can be accessed from the same client and that the infrastructure will be able to handle the new billing system.

Would you pay $15 a month for an opportunity to play Allods Online with no cash shop?

(Source: Allods Online)

World of Warcraft Dropping More Weight: Another Million Subscribers Lost


World of Warcraft is a paradox in and of itself: While the subscription numbers continue to drop, Blizzard has been very quick to point out that the game just continues to become more profitable. The problem, according to Blizzard, is that players are becoming bored with grinding content in between expansion packs. To stem the flow of gamers, Blizzard has offered everything under the sun minus the kitchen sink to bring back their ex-customers. So far, Blizzard has offered full upgrades to Cataclysm, free level 80 characters, a copy of Diablo III for subscribing for a full year, and more. To take care of what they see as the source of the leak, Blizzard has committed to less downtime between expansions and more content.

The latest numbers from Activision show World of Warcraft standing at 9.1 million subscribers, a ten percent drop from last quarter. Warcraft’s new expansion, Mists of Pandaria, launches later this year and hopes to stop, if not reverse, the exodus of players.

Despite this bad news, World of Warcraft remains the top subscription MMO by a wide margin.

(Source: Gamasutra)

Darkfall Client Becomes Free, Subscription Reduced


As we’ve already announced: Aventurine plans on removing the initial cost of Darkfall’s client. Rather, players will simply have to subscribe once their trial is over (or any point in the middle) in order to start enjoying the world. Additionally, Aventurine will be dropping the subscription price from its current point of $15 a month to an undisclosed amount.

All of this goes live on June 29th. Starting June 27th, existing players will be given two free days to return, during which time skill gains will be increased. The promotion runs until the launch of Darkfall 2.0, at which time the game may or may not wipe and may or may not go free to play. Probably not.

(Source: Darkfall Epic Blog)

RuneScape Raising Prices: Grandfathering In Current Subscribers


RuneScape is one of the cheapest subscription MMOs currently on the market. Due to increased costs of production and maintenance, in 2008 Jagex increased the price of RuneScape’s membership from $5 USD to $5.95 USD. Just today, the developer announced another price hike, and it is a rather notable increase (based on the previous price). Monthly subscriptions will be increasing from $5.95 to $7.95 monthly starting February 1st.

In appreciation of our existing members, there will be no change whatsoever to anyone who is a member before the 1st February. The price you pay now will be locked in for as long as you stay a loyal member and we will even allow a seven day grace period should you forget to renew.

Jagex notes this increase in price as due to increased investment into RuneScape over 2011 and planned in 2012. This could be related to the facelift talked about by Kotaku for this year.

Final Fantasy XIV Billing Starts January 6th


We all knew this time would come eventually, when Square Enix would shake off the training wheels and Final Fantasy XIV would transition back to its intended subscription system. Last month, Square announced that billing would start around the time the much anticipated 2.0 update released, around November or December of this year. Today, in an article on Gamasutra, Square is ready to announce a final date: January 6th. According to Gamasutra, the 2.0 update, billed as a remade version of the game, is set to launch sometime in late 2012.

Until version 2.0 is released, players who opt to continue playing will enjoy reduced subscription rates, starting at $6.99 per month with the cost decreasing for 90 and 180 day subscriptions. The Playstation 3 version is expected in early 2013.