Special One Time Lifetime Subscription Option at Release?

[inigma]

StarTrek Online offered a one time gold release lifetime subscription for only the first few weeks of its opening, which was a once-in-the-game release opening deal I am sure generated a ton of revenue for them up front. A friend of mine paid the $200 I think it was to get it, and has never had to pay for STO content ever since.

Would the Planetside 2 marketing team consider the same for the PS2 release for us hard core vets to pony up some serious dough in a special one-time (pre release or even post release for a few weeks) buy-and-forget lifetime subscription scheme?

EDIT:
I want to put forth the following model for SOE to consider for PS2:

I think it would rock if PS2 were to incorporate F2P and S2P models. Leave the player to decide the best option for themselves.

I paid my fair share of sub fees for PS1, but there were times I didn't have that kind of cash or time to throw in for another month, so when PS1 Reserves came out I latched onto it. Sure it limited me, but as least I could squad with my friends until at a later date I could do full sub.

Now, if PS2 is totally F2P, as in all items and options are acquirable by effort (or by money if one desires the easy way), then perhaps with a subscription offer someone could get access to all items and options in the game, but only for the duration of the subscription. This would allow them to try out stuff to determine if they want to either work hard to get it later after their sub ends, or to buy it upfront after their sub ends.

Then finally, provide the option to buy all things, for all time, for a one time purchase (lifetime). Tier it up with the option for a single character, or all characters.

PS2 Pricing Options:

Earn All Items by Experience (avg 500 hours of gameplay)
Buy All Items piece by piece: $200
Daily Sub to get all Items: $1
Weekly Sub to get all Items: $5
Monthly Sub to get all Items: $15
Lifetime Sub 1 Character: $100
Upgrade Lifetime Sub 1 Character to Unlimited Characters: $40
Lifetime Sub Unlimited Characters: $130


Now THAT is a pricing model or something similar that I'd look forward to.

[Crator]

With the game probably going to be F2P, I seriously doubt it...

[inigma]

With the game probably going to be F2P, I seriously doubt it...

Ah but would they consider a one-time special release day only deal? I'd be willing to pay up to $200 for the privilege.

edit: here is the announcement and price point:

http://www.ablegamers.com/mmo-news/star-trek-online-lifetime-subscription-playable-borg-and-pre-order-bonus-list.html

It was $240 up front to have unlimited free access for the rest of the game's life. It was only offered for the first two weeks prior to release.

[ArmedZealot]

Ah but would they consider a one-time special release day only deal? I'd be willing to pay up to $200 for the privilege.

edit: here is the announcement and price point:

http://www.ablegamers.com/mmo-news/star-trek-online-lifetime-subscription-playable-borg-and-pre-order-bonus-list.html

It was $240 up front to have unlimited free access for the rest of the game's life. It was only offered for the first two weeks prior to release.

I don't believe doing this is good or fair from a business perspective. It's rare that I've gotten to play an MMO from launch. I've usually had to wait a year or for the first trial or so. Why shouldn't I have the option to buy the package? They should either always have the option to buy it or not at all.

Besides that the game it F2P. What benefits would a "lifetime subscription" give if there is no subscription?

[inigma]

Besides that the game it F2P. What benefits would a "lifetime subscription" give if there is no subscription?

All the extras then and forever that aren't free. For the lifetime of the game.

[ArmedZealot]

We don't know what those extra's are. You could be buying goggles for the Terran REXO suit when you mainly play Vanu. Or buying a side grade for the prowler when you don't even have the skills for it.

[Crator]

The argument is moot I think. Since the model is F2P... Giving a lifetime option just seems contradictory.... I've also not heard many companies that give lifetime memberships. I suppose if they only offered the option before pre-release I may be valid.

[Tikuto]

I'd not buy it.

[Shogun]

i would not buy it. soe showed that they are not afraid to shut down great mmo games, so a lifetime sub may be a bad deal.

by the way, the lifetime sub for star trek online was a bad deal because now the game is free to play and it´s not very old. 2 years?

[Quovatis]

WWIIOL still offers lifetime subscriptions. It's a whopping $1000, but over the 10 year lifetime of the game, it actually worked out better for the hardcore players. If you paid the $1000, they would put a statue in game with the engraving and location of your choice. Clever players wrote it off as an advertising expense for their company. haha

But yeah, doesn't make sense for a FtP game like PS2.

[PoisonTaco]

Throwing down $200 or more on one game is asking for a lot. Most I've ever spent on a game was $100 for the Starcraft II collectors edition. Considering I spent $30 on the original Starcraft which kept me entertained for 10 years I thought it was a fair deal.

I mean for $200 I could almost pay for the tuition on one of my college courses. I could get a textbook. Hell for $200 I could go and get a 3DS, an Xbox 360 or any other piece of hardware. I know that you end up paying a lot in the long run for a subscription based MMO, but I still think $200 is way too much to ask from people. Especially before they've even played it. What if you paid the $200 and the game only keeps you occupied for two or three months?

If your game is fun then people will pay money. Look at League of Legends. It's free to play and you can earn everything related to gameplay just by playing. People have so much fun playing the game, they don't mind putting money down here or there to get cool skins for their favorite characters. Free to play is the way to go, and people will pay good money if they enjoy playing.

[SgtMAD]

in the first three years of PS I spent $500 in sub fees and if there is a sub this time around to open up the cash shop then I will probably pay that.

the one time deal would be good if it isn't a ridiculous amount

[Raymac]

The argument is moot I think. Since the model is F2P... Giving a lifetime option just seems contradictory.... I've also not heard many companies that give lifetime memberships. I suppose if they only offered the option before pre-release I may be valid.

The point is not moot. DCUO online is f2p but has different pay options including subscriptions. I know it's different because it didn't begin as f2p, but it means the arguement can still stand and be discussed. You can have games that are f2p and still have subscriptions for those that choose to pay that way.

It's all specualtion still since it seems SOE still hasn't decided, but specualtion is what we do best.

[Redshift]

Lifetime memberships are for games who plan to fail before making that much money normally

[acosmo]

any news on PS2 CON?

[Crator]

The point is not moot. DCUO online is f2p but has different pay options including subscriptions. I know it's different because it didn't begin as f2p, but it means the arguement can still stand and be discussed. You can have games that are f2p and still have subscriptions for those that choose to pay that way.

It's all specualtion still since it seems SOE still hasn't decided, but specualtion is what we do best.

I should've been more descriptive. The reason I think the argument is moot is because of the use of the F2P payment model. It just doesn't make much financial sense to do it imo.

[inigma]

I should've been more descriptive. The reason I think the argument is moot is because of the use of the F2P payment model. It just doesn't make much financial sense to do it imo.

I think it would rock if PS2 were to incorporate F2P and S2P models. Leave the player to decide the best option for themselves.

I paid my fair share of sub fees for PS1, but there were times I didn't have that kind of cash or time to throw in for another month, so when PS1 Reserves came out I latched onto it. Sure it limited me, but as least I could squad with my friends until at a later date I could do full sub.

Now, if PS2 is totally F2P, as in all items and options are acquirable by effort (or by money if one desires the easy way), then perhaps with a subscription offer someone could get access to all items and options in the game, but only for the duration of the subscription. This would allow them to try out stuff to determine if they want to either work hard to get it later after their sub ends, or to buy it upfront after their sub ends.

Then finally, provide the option to buy all things, for all time, for a one time purchase (lifetime). Tier it up with the option for a single character, or all characters.

[inigma]

I updated the original post with a pricing model. What do you guys think? Could we get SOE to consider something similar?

[GTGD]

I think that pricing model would be awesome, and I would immediately throw down $140 for the unlimited character lifetime sub, so long as they don't make it so that I have to spend another penny.

[Crator]

I would most likely pay for what you are talking about. I just don't see how SOE would really profit from it, over time... We are still talking about this being an option @ pre-release only? That would limit the number of people who could have this option so I supposed it wouldn't hurt SOE that much...