Loyalty Tiered Monthly Subscription : Othor Games

» Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:29 pm

For MMORPGs I generally like monthly subscription models. I suggest one teak to this model. Make it tiered based on customer loyalty.

Months Cost/month

1-3 $15

4-6 $13

7-12 $12

13-18 $11

19-24 $10

24+ $9

Include a 5% discount for 3 month lump subscription and 10% for six month to a year. If you invite a friend who subscribes for at least 3 months you move to the next tier. If you purchase an expansion you move to the next tier. If you are at the lowest rate then you get a month free for the above. If you stop subscribing and come back you would start and the previous tier.

This promotes two key pillars for a positive online experiences; core player base and growth.

My personal experience:

Thanks to my brother-in-law, my wife and I got into WOW and played for 6 years. For good or bad we got friends addicted to the game as well. Though we were loyal subscribers and fans after six years Blizzard really didn't return the love. $15 dollars/month and a $40 expansion every two years became a turn off.

Now I subscribe about 3-4 months a year, $60/year, and wait for the expansion's price to drop. If Blizzard had a tiered model I would always keep my subscription. Why not at $8/month. At the same time Blizzard would be getting $96/year.

» Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:41 pm

Because the games are either good or bad. Judging games by "good enough to F2P" or "good enough to pay 10EUR/month" seems quite hilarious

For me its either worth paying, and then its not really an issue as any games monthly cost is still cheaper then one night in a pub. Or it doesnt worth playing, and then I dont even bother touching it, because it would only frustrate me and that defeats whole purpose - having fun

» Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:20 pm

Because Blizzard is greedy. They don't need the money. They have more than enough to support WoW... forever... they're just amassing their riches to waste on their other games.

» Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:01 pm

it's not a terrible idea. but why cant we just let them charge us 15$ a month and move on from this topic?

» Fri Aug 30, 2013 3:51 pm

That is a good point el hefe but i feel if we dont speak up we may see a bad choice made. We have to back the devs choice so they dont second guess themselves. I mean its a big topic on you tube right now ign, adam sessler and several other channels are talking about it as well.

» Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:40 pm

Rewarding loyalty is a good thing to do and they will have discounts so I won't really ask for anything till I see what exactly it is they have to offer on that part.

Maybe a loyalty tiered monthly could work but then I wouldn't like to see players moving to a next tier just because they know a few other MMO players they can invite

Puts the players that aren't used to playing mmo's and the players who normally only play single games and don't know much people who like mmo's a bit at a disadvantage.

But I do believe a more social way of dealing with subscriptions will increase their income and secure that player base and growth more and for a longer period too perhaps.

I see rewarding Loyalty as a nice gesture from Zenimax,while getting worth the gametime you pay for(just what you pay for in general) as a requirement

The subscription sytem needs an update to assure everyone gets worth their gametime;occasional and hardcoe players alike.

Instead of the harsh and restricting system that says "you either pay or stop playing all together"

To a system that says "support us and we will assure your gametime because we want you to play without worries whatever type of player you are, whilst enjoying our premium service"

I made another suggestion a while back on this:http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1471580-suggestionday-log-gentleflexible-subsystem/

To explain it short,it is a sub system that monitors how many days you log on for the monthly fee you pay.If you do not log on a day you build a rest time

Once the rest time reaches the value of a month worth subscription they assure you with an extra month..for hardcoes nothing changes they pay fee every month if they play every day.

you can rest easy that you will get your gametime as occasional player with a free month.

(which perhaps doesn't make it totally ok if you can't play alot in that free month either but at least its a consolation and some kind of assured gametime)

Its all about satifying all kinds of players here.

With the current sub model as an occasional player you feel unhappy if you want to play few days(but can't if you decided to stop the subsrciption)

And you'll feel disatisfied too to pay a month worth of gametime for the time you can actually play.

You pay for a game to be entertained and you deserve to be.No matter what kind of player you are,no uncomfortable strings attached.

» Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:01 pm

And again it is a matter of opinion. Unless they publish the costs including the salaries of the people who work on the game, there is no way to know they "have more than enough to support WoW forever". Not to mention "waste" on their other games; if it allows them to make their other games the way they want, and players want those games, then it isn't really a waste. It is personal opinion, and rather subjective, actually.

It would be good if there was a payment system that allowed for people who want to play, but who can't play every single day. I can understand some people could have issues with that. THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION; if I like the game, and enjoy it, I don't mind the payment/sub. It is the same thing TO ME as paying my cable bill, internet bill, or even paying for Prime on Amazon. If I don't watch tv for a few nights, or log onto the net, or don't buy something for a month on Amazon I'm still paying for the service. It is available if I want it. Its worth it to me. Other people may not.