Suggestion:Day log gentleflexible subsystem : Othor Games

» Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:07 am

I'm really glad the game has chosen to go with the subscription system.

But I believe past subscription systems were not perfect and they haven't catered enough to casual players.

If you notice for instance that you won't be able to play alot you have 2 choices with current subsystems:

-Halt your subscription for a month

-Pay the Subscription but feel bad that you can't play that often to get money's worth..very dissatisfying

yet you still want to play once in a while so there is no other option than paying the sub,yet having the feeling you are at a disadvantage

I can understand why some of the TES fans are not pleased with the current model,because many are casual players.

And an mmo should cater to as many target groups as possible.

Keep the subscription of $15 but at the same time make it more gentle towards players;

Taking away the pressure that they have to play hardcoe in order to get money's worth.

So there would be a $15 dollar subscription to pay each month.

A log would still count O.50 cent the first time you log on a day to keep track of the value" you actually played for a month $15 is still cap.

you can still log on as many times that day and won't be charged;see it as an entrance fee a day that allows you to enter/exit as many times as you want ..

So this daylog counts 0.50 cent a day(when taking current price into account)

At the end of the month the day log will see how much you miss to reach $15 and reward you that missing days as a rest you can recuperate once you reach a rest of a months value:$15

Only when you reach the $15 rest you can claim either a free month or give a free month to a friend you invite.

If at the end of the month the rest isn't $15 you have to pay the flat fee of $15 however

I believe the subscription system is a decent option,yet it could be improved to become a more social,more forgiving system

where casual players don't feel uncomfortable if they can't play often,or feel forced to play.

It offers the freedom the current subscription lacks;you either halt the sub and cant play at all or pay a sub and hope you can play to get money's worth with current subsystems

Players can actually play once in a while without feeling bad about paying a subscription with this system.

The ability to award recup gametime to friends would then make it a more social system that helps building an enjoyable community.

On top of that more players are inclined to go with the subcription I believe.

Everyone happy.And chances are much higher your subscription model will survive longer because you offer your player base "more space to breath"

» Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:19 am

I agree.

» Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:17 pm

They'll never do this, they'll never go with a per-day subscription reimbursemant system. It would be too hard and lose them too much money.

-for the same reason magazine/newspaper subscriptions don't do this. it's micromanaging and micromanaging costs more $ in the end. BUT, what if they had a weekly sub option? It might be marked up because of convenience (smaller lots of time = higher price per lot, larger lots of time = lower price per lot, I.E. those 3- and 6- month packages most MMO's offer lately), but would leave some doors open for people who only have 1 week out of the month to play.

1 week = 7 days, $0.50 per day = 3.50 raw, mark up to $4.99 a week

» Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:07 pm

If you do not reach a rest of $15 you still must pay the fee of $15 for the next month so this system still is very much in their favor.

This log could also count 0.25 cent rest for the days you haven't logged on,in favor of the company

But most fair to both players and company would be 0.50cent obviously.Because that would more or less be the cost of one day if we take the known cost into account.

Its not really a refund.I think its more like being attentive towards the casuals that are always ignored with the current subscription models.

A good,loyal commitment often requires a legally binding exchange of promises.If it all is grab money as much as possible there will be almost no commitment.

So I see it more as an agreement than a refund"..

Players pay subs with hope their beloved Elder Scrolls online becomes the best game possible

Zenimax instead offers to all target playgroups,inclusive casuals,comfortable playtime without worries about the money;

Your money never just vanishes,you always get something for it,although the rest system is already in their favor

Infact I believe casuals are more likely to continue their sub instead of halting it with this proposal,

knowing they"ll only be able to play 2 evenings in the week or so.

With the social aspect of inviting friends->potential new subscribers.

In the long run this will get them even more money perhaps.

The week to play for $4.99 could perhaps be an option for the casuals too

But wouldn't the weekly payments be alot more confrontating "in your face" than a log that does all the work and calculates possible rest time at the end of the month?

» Mon Aug 26, 2013 11:54 am

I thought WoW in some Asian areas was hourly or daily rates instead of monthly subs? Also, you can buy a single copy of a newspaper, not like you have to sub. Also, I only get the Sunday edition of my local paper, so they do have options.

Now, I don't see them going to system like the OP described because it would cost them way too much money. The OP is making the same mistake that the B2P people make. Ignoring the fact that this would apply to everyone.

So even someone like myself that will try to play everyday, some days I wouldn't have time to play at all, or would say meh, I only have half an hour to play, might as well save the money. So they lose money from the regular subbers, and I doubt seriously if they would make it up in people who otherwise wouldn't play. Not to mention the additional expense in tracking it as you pointed out.