This has been discussed a lot, but the short answer is: We don't know yet.
They are saying they will announce the payment model later on.
I do think you'll find though that its not as cut and dry as you think. There are a lot of players (especially on MMO forums) who PREFER monthly subscriptions. I was pretty ardently against them for a while, and although I would still prefer a Buy To Play model, the Pay to Play crowd has at least convinced me that subscription fees aren't the end of the world and bring some benefits with them.
My preferred model would be that you pay $60 for the game when you buy it. The game includes a cash shop for vanity and cosmetic items only (no Buy to Win.) And that players pay extra (like $30) for all sizable expansions.
Excuse me but the b2p model is doing a lot better then premium subs these days, just look at all the games that dropped their subs lately such as aion and rift, they are finding it more profitable from cash shops then they do with subs. Pretty much every game that had a sub dropped it over the last few years except for the biggest one of all wow, but that looks like its soon to change too cause look how much blizzard is pushing their cash shops too, hell the next patch is going to put the blizzard store in game now. Its only a matter of time before the premium sub goes the way of the dodo and if zenimax charges it for this game it would be suicide.
If zenimax gets the right payment model from the start they can make a lot more profit then any of these other games that almost failed from their subs, it seems like nothing can compare to wow these days in terms of payment model, if eso trys the same thing then I don't see it lasting beyond a year.
The money is used to bring out new content during the game, police the Gamer's various activities and Server related fee's.
If it isn't P2P i will be on the PC version... and to simulate that experience, go play MW2 Team Deathmatch on PSN with no mod's.
Can we at least TRY to keep it to one of these per week? Being new isn't an excuse to not use the search function.
Could we do one a month?
Or better yet, not have another one till they release the actual payment model.
Oh [censored] here we go.
Nah, hold my rings, Lep. I'm going in on this one.
You couldn't be further from the mark. Thalinn's pretty much spot on, the B2P model is only profitable for a game that puts less money and work into the game. If your game is making profit of off box prices alone, then its a cheap game that is lacking quality, content and depth. Plain and simple. The box price should cover your investment alone, and nothing else. GW2 is liked by some people with less time to spend on an MMO, but MMOs are about longevity.
Subscriptions ensure a longlasting game with quality content, IF you have a good game. if not, then you go default and have to take what you can get, aka F2P. Games aren't going to that model by choice, they just have no other option once their game has reached "fail" status. Good games with subscriptions last for a decade or more, and this is awesome.
Indeed but I'm certainly not expecting miracles here lol.
In Chawana's post I was hoping for at least 2 weeks before we got another one of these. It didn't last more than 3 days. It's a sad day when people can't look up threads.
More of an alert isn't it? Now you know the low calibre of mainstreamer's are entering. You should of known when a PSN Gamer got here, it wasn't Kansas ( Azeroth, Cyrodill, pellet town ) anymore.
Edit: Especially when he made a Dark Brotherhood poll.
When the actual payment model is announced, I expect about 50 per day.
This will turn the front page into 90% locked threads on duplicate topics.
Was referring to myself, windows on linux on PS3 brother.
Edit: Come at me Bill