47 replies to this topic

[focuspark]

***** n stuff, on 03 December 2012 - 09:30 AM, said:

I think you're being very optimistic about the people claiming they will buy premium if it's tied to time played. Looking at any other f2p game you'll see a huge amount of people claim they will start paying if the devs change something or another, often relating to the payment system. But the truth is that never happens. The players find something else to complain about and the devs and publisher end up with a lot of time wasted on a zero profit increase, or even a decrease in profit.
It's called moving the goalposts.

I for one would like to use Premium time but there's no way (with 2 kids, a wife, a 50+ hr/week job, and everything) have any idea when I'll be able to play. Even if I purchase just today, stuff comes up and I have to work today. Purchasing by the calendar day is prohibitive for me.

However, we need to look at the maths. PGI probably thinks Premium gamers play something like an average of 90 hours in a game month where as casual players will play something like an average of 10 hours in a game month. If they sold game time only, casual gamers would only very rarely need to invest in MC for Premium where as hard core gamers would be shelling out US$20/month. Since I doubt PGI knows who their target audience really is (in my experience game companies are really poor at understanding their audience and knowing who they actually are) they'll need to shoot from the hip and do something like 50 hours which expire in 3 months for $10.

[Meatball095]

***** n stuff, on 03 December 2012 - 09:30 AM, said:

I think you're being very optimistic about the people claiming they will buy premium if it's tied to time played. Looking at any other f2p game you'll see a huge amount of people claim they will start paying if the devs change something or another, often relating to the payment system. But the truth is that never happens. The players find something else to complain about and the devs and publisher end up with a lot of time wasted on a zero profit increase, or even a decrease in profit.
It's called moving the goalposts.

I think you're being very pessimistic about the people claiming they will buy premium if it's tied to time played.

I might be optimistic, but I am basing my optimism on what I have heard from other people, both word of mouth and on this forum (and some others). However, my optimism doesn't discredit my prior posts.

I also understand that you are basing your pessimism on what you have heard from people in other games. On a similar note, that also doesn't discredit your feelings on the issue.

I know for a fact that I would be buying premium time more often. The casual gamer would too.

[Meatball095]

After waiting two days, bump for visibility. I want more data in the form of votes (and comments!). Thanks.

[Meatball095]

once daily bump

[Catalinasgrace]

If your "time" clock counted down for real time played that is 720 hours total if you pay for 30 days. If you play for 3 hours a night you would have 240 days worth of time if I have my calculations right... Yeah I don't seem them doing this in any form at all... Now if they did something extra on the side for those that can only play 10 hours a week such as buying a block of 30 hours playing time for $10-$15 I could see that. However I would NOT expect it to be cheaper than the pricing model is now for play time or anywhere near it.

Here is a thread that I started on the pricing model if you care to take a look...

http://mwomercs.com/...93#entry1551393

[Meatball095]

Catalinasgrace, on 07 December 2012 - 07:18 AM, said:

If your "time" clock counted down for real time played that is 720 hours total if you pay for 30 days. If you play for 3 hours a night you would have 240 days worth of time if I have my calculations right... Yeah I don't seem them doing this in any form at all... Now if they did something extra on the side for those that can only play 10 hours a week such as buying a block of 30 hours playing time for $10-$15 I could see that. However I would NOT expect it to be cheaper than the pricing model is now for play time or anywhere near it.

Here is a thread that I started on the pricing model if you care to take a look...

http://mwomercs.com/...93#entry1551393

I don't expect that they would sell premium time tied to played time in days. I would expect them to sell it in terms of hours, at a price that works out to be about the same as the current system on a price-per-hour-played basis.

The price for a literal day of premium time would increase, but the price-per-hour-played would stay the same.

[Goreshade]

I approve this form.
I would spend money if it we're worth it.

[Elizander]

***** n stuff, on 03 December 2012 - 09:30 AM, said:

I think you're being very optimistic about the people claiming they will buy premium if it's tied to time played. Looking at any other f2p game you'll see a huge amount of people claim they will start paying if the devs change something or another, often relating to the payment system. But the truth is that never happens. The players find something else to complain about and the devs and publisher end up with a lot of time wasted on a zero profit increase, or even a decrease in profit.
It's called moving the goalposts.

In this case, I'd be happy enough if they let me pay a flat $10 to get 1 month premium instead of jumping through the $99.95 package hoops. I don't see any need to change the system.

[Meatball095]

my reserves of bumps are running low...

[Meatball095]

69 Votes! (at the time of this post) Alright!

*Super delayed bump*

[Artifex 28]

Premium time is the "monthly subscription fee" to MWO, just like in any subscription based game. MWO is currently a "niche game" and the premium time is certainly their main source of income. It could be bit cheaper though!

I've played near 600 matches without premium. Well okay. I got the 1 day Penny Arcade free premium there, but still - you get the point.

Edited by Artifex 28, 13 December 2012 - 08:09 PM.

[Meatball095]

Five days later, MEATBALL STRIKES AGAIN!!!

[blinkin]

***** n stuff, on 03 December 2012 - 09:30 AM, said:

I think you're being very optimistic about the people claiming they will buy premium if it's tied to time played. Looking at any other f2p game you'll see a huge amount of people claim they will start paying if the devs change something or another, often relating to the payment system. But the truth is that never happens. The players find something else to complain about and the devs and publisher end up with a lot of time wasted on a zero profit increase, or even a decrease in profit.
It's called moving the goalposts.

it can't hurt to have both options. there will never be any guarantee that any change will make them money, but they can increase their odds of making money by making their paid options more attractive.

i agree that they should have a higher price version of premium time that is tied to play time or number of matches. bring in more casual gamers to the herd. currently i feel like i have to play while my premium time is active so that it isn't wasted, and that makes the game less fun for me.

signed

[Jonas]

I have plenty of time to play my issue is that I have limited net time in fact 6 gigs a month so I rather have it as play time instead of real time.

[Valten]

Mazgazine1, on 26 November 2012 - 04:20 PM, said:

This would boost playtime significantly AND it would be a gaming first, to go with an in-game time system instead of a "monthly subscription".

It should obviously cost most, but not much more.

I would like to know how much I've already played too, so I can gauge how much I should buy.

Again, this would be an awesome idea.

No, this would not be a "gaming first". Guild Wars 2 already has this in the form of timed XP boosers you can buy, each one being 1 hour of "premium" time and you choose when to use one. You can even stack them if you are feeling especcially froggy.

[Meatball095]

Another bump... Three days since the last one.

[Atriedes]

I'm personally rather partial to purchasing PLAY time, not real time, as my current (and, i'll assume many other peoples) life is rather messy and, while some days I can splurge all day in game, most times i'll only get a couple hours if i'm lucky.

[Riddler9884]

Hmm... I just realized they already are implementing something to the effect of battle boost, you can't buy it yet though.

Its called Cadet bonus. The mechanic is there they just need to make an implementation of it you can purchase.

[SoHxPaladin]

signed.

i like the stackable hour premium "play" time option. people want the flexibility to play when they can enjoy it *casual gamers* and those stackables would provide that.

thanks for the post sir.

[Vechs]

An alternative to this is a specific number of matches instead of hourly rates.

Example, you could buy Premium time for 100 matches, 200 matches, etc.