These might have been covered in another topic but i've not seen them yet?

If the game is free it would be great but then we could expect not to see alot of support.

Free to play means we would get the game for free be able to play for free but then be able to advance quicker by paying money. I've played a couple of these games and although it sounds all very well and good, all you seem to end up with is rich people dominating the game whilst you grind all day ever day and never really get any where. With the dev implementing more things that apear only to be a cash grab.

A fare subscription is what i would hope for, this would me the game should be well supported with regular content and a level playing field for each and every player.

Whats everyones thoughts?

I don't think I will buy the game if it isn't free to play... I live with my dad, and he would never allow me to pay for a description over the internet. Maybe if you could pay in physical form, like you can pay for XBL subscription in a store, but otherwise no.

Subscription all the way.

The very essence of the sort of devoted, social and organized realms they are aiming to create and maintain, are so obviously best served by this model.

It harks back to who played early EQ, DAoC and LOTRO.

f2p, like it or not, severely and permanently taints every aspect of game maturation and expansion.

They put in whole mechanics just as a means to an end to support buying certain things, without a consistent revenue stream to already count on.

They work backwards from a starting supposition that they need to entice you to somehow pay on average $X per person per month, then engineer crap into the game that otherwise in a subscription model would never even happen.

Nothing is free. If it's the kind of game with longevity written all over it, then put your money where your mouth is and show that you as the makers of the game recognize this and honor it by having a normal subscription.

There's a whole area here related to player psychology and the game's business model and overall tone as well. It isn't necessarily tied to a player's physical age, job status or income, but ask yourself: do you want a world full of responsible, unselfish, helpful, in-character capable types; or a world with a large share of jerks who hide behind thier cowardly anonymity, tell stupid immature jokes that aren't funny, and say anything in a desperate bid for attention. The business model, esp. in this day and age, defintely affects this choice.

I want to play in a virtual world where the game is so fun and involving that no one has the time or inclination to be a jerk. Everyone is too busy playing the game, and not trying to ruin the experience for others.

Oh, and I hope they outright ban the jerks I describe. Outright. Especially on anything approaching a RP server. All it takes is a couple willful jerks who's mission is to ruin the delicate immersion of a world like that with no repercussions. These are supposed to be virtual worlds that you become your avatar for, not a lame excuse to take your sorry RL attitude and splatter it all over the game.

I'm torn between a subscription and a buy-to-play model. Obviously a subscription would probably mean better upkeep and - in the case of RP servers, hopefully better moderation.

Either way, I'd like to have to pay to play it in some way.