SOE & Money (PS Costs)

[Strygun]

SOE (http://station.sony.com/) just released the price figures for Planetside and some other games. It is official that Planetside will cost $12.99 a month, as opposed to EverQuest's $12.95/month. This comes from a news statement (http://www.station.sony.com/allaccess/) from SOE today.

Also, something of note is SOE's new billing option, called "All Access." This will allow players to pay $21.99 a month to play all of SOE's premium games, such as Planetside (http://www.planetside.com/) and EverQuest (http://www.everquest.com/). You can also buy an All Access pass to the Station Pass games, such as Infantry Online (http://infantry.station.sony.com/en/) and Tanarus (http://tanarus.station.sony.com/).
Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online gaming, introduced plans for SOE All Access�, an all-in-one subscription service that will allow gamers access to all of SOE�s premium entertainment content - from EverQuest� to PlanetSide� to EverQuest� II - for one low price of $21.99 a month. The SOE All Access subscription offer will begin on May 19, 2003, just in time for the launch of PlanetSide, SOE�s latest premium online game.

�We have grown our business to the point where our fans have several different types of gaming options available to them and we want players to be able to experience everything we have to offer,� said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. �The SOE All Access subscription provides an easy, cost-effective way for an SOE fan to play all of our games. Once again, Sony Online is setting a precedent that will affect the online gaming entertainment industry on a global scale.�
Note to the European Planetside/EverQuest players:
The SOE All Access subscription offer is only good for recurring SOE subscribers playing SOE published games. The SOE All Access offer will not be available for non-SOE published titles, such as LucasArts' Star Wars Galaxies�: An Empire Divided� or versions of EverQuest or PlanetSide published by SOE partners outside of North America. In addition, the SOE All Access subscription cannot be used in connection with SOE�s wireless and handheld games or Game Card subscriptions.

[Unregistered]

Too bad the game isn't worth that much a month.

Looks like I won't be playing after all.

[Hamma]

That's just if you want all the subscriptions

edit: nm

[Kaltagesta]

does it actually say how much a month for Uk?

[Hamma]

How exactly is anyone surprised its 12.95 :confused:

Its pretty much the norm.

[Navaron]

I think people were hoping for 5.95 or so. 13 bucks is just a little much. It'll be interesting to see what will happen now, because I can't see alot of people shelling out this kinda cash. I know the arguments, but I still don't see it happening.

[Prowler]

Ya, I love PS great game, But $13 a month :(

[Navaron]

I'm sorry, but with Doom3, Halflife 2, Deus X 2, like 500 new WW2 games all right around the corner - this is going to be very rough.

[Miir]

That's a real dissappointment, there is not enough content to warrant a cost of $12.99/month.

:(

[Prowler]

I agree with the god like movie maker! ^

[Big Bro]

Yes, people might have been hoping for ~$6/month, but they were being unrealistic. They've always said "nothing official, but $10-$15 is expected". This is pretty much the high end of the middle range.

$12.99 a lot of money? Sure is. Is this bad news? Not really. Pretty much as expected. Will I play PS? Of course. If they are going to charge me premium prices, then I will expect premium service.

I expect that SOE/Verant and the PS team is under a lot of pressure. If they would have come out and said $6/month, I would have expected that there would be routine downtime, that gameplay might need some additional post-release tweaking, etc, etc. For $12.99, I expect it to run 99.9% of the time flawlessly. They are under a lot of pressure to maintain everyone's interest.

I'm not upset in the least. This just drives my expectations of post-release PlanetSide higher than it was a few days ago is all. I have full faith that the PS team can earn that money and continue making the best game ever.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by Hamma
How exactly is anyone surprised its 12.95 :confused:

Its pretty much the norm.

I'm not surprised, just dissapointed.

12.95 is the norm for games that have considerably more content then PlanetSide does. I hate to say it after being such a huge supporter of the game for so long, but it simplely is not worth that much. There is nothing revolutionary about this game, with the exception of possible the maps themselves.

I can name 10 diffrent games, that not only offer the exact style of game play as PlanetSide does, but also offer you other "game modes" as well.

Take SoF2 for instance. You get Death Match, Team Death Match, CTF, Infiltration, and whatever the one with the bomb is called. All that for a one time investment.

So if I can buy a game that offers me the same gameing experience for a one time investment why on earth would I want to pay $12.99 a month for it?

Games like EQ, and SWG can better justify the costs because you have things like Money, Housing, Items, and Quests that are all saved serverside. What exactly in PlanetSide am I getting that I can't get with another game?

The only justification for this high a cost is a guarenteed cheat free enviornment, and frankly since this is the first FPS that's offered that to players I would have liked to see them offer it at a much lower cost.

[Navaron]

I knew that was how much it was going to be.

I agree, but-

I have a tough time buying something that I know nothing about (all the amazing premium content we're supposed to see released). As a stadalone game, it is a blast, but not 150 bucks a year blast. Now, if I had a clue what was coming post release - I might be more willing, but I'm skeptical when the guy telling me I'll love it is also the guy who's ass is on the line. I'm not saying they *won't* deliver, but I've got no way of knowing. They should give us a preview of what is to come. From the E3 leaks on here and about - I haven't heard anything intense enough for me to drop the game price and a subscription for. If it wasn't for my clan, I'd be thinking twice (not real hard - but thinking).

Anyway, I've already prebought, and I'll be there on the first day like most of you. I'm just *very* nervous. Don't give me that trust the devs bs either. I'm just sayin...

[Saethan]

It's pretty simple...

To make as much of a profit at $6 a month, they'd need *well over* twice the subscribers as they'd get at $13 a month. If they only had 2x the amount at $6 than at $13, those at $6 would be costing a heck of a lot more bandwidth than the number they'd have paying $13.

Is charging $13 enstead of $6 really going to cause them to lose over *half* their player base? I doubt it.

[Unregistered]

I'm just saying were proably all better off to wait at least 3 months after release to buy this game. By then you'll have full reports of any of the new content, and they will have had time to fix all the remaining balence issues.

The game I have been playing in Beta is not worth this much money.

[Navaron]

Yeah it will. I spend money like it's going out of style, and I'm hesitant. Hell, 70% of psu is under 20 - which means they don't have the bling everyone else does. Most likely no Credit cards- and then they have to have a high speed connection. I can't talk most people into the game because it's so expensive, but 6 bucks I could swing no problem, hell 9.95 I could do.

[Navaron]

Originally posted by Unregistered
I'm just saying were proably all better off to wait at least 3 months after release to buy this game. By then you'll have full reports of any of the new content, and they will have had time to fix all the remaining balence issues.

The game I have been playing in Beta is not worth this much money.

Seems like we'd be better off waiting 3 months THEN buying the game and using our free month.

[Unregistered]

Um......Nav, that's what I said.

Wait 3 months, then buy the game. Hell if enough people refuse to pay that price at release they'll have to lower it.

[LeonStrike]

Jeez, $12.99 is nothing. I ge about $40 a month from change from lunch. I don't really care if it costs $12.99, its just pocket change. And if it's just pocket change, I think this game would be an exellent investment. If the game's fun and it costs about as much money as you leave in tips for waiters a week, BUY AND PAY FOR IT!!!!! Also, higher prices get ride of some of the idiots. If people want to piss people off in a game, they aren't going to pay $13 to do it.

And Navaron, I wouldn't be saying that people under 20 are gonna have crappy computers and no money, I'm 17 with T1 and a couple thousand saved for a rainy day :p I can swing 20 bucks no problem, but thats just me:D

[Saethan]

With any MMOG the longer you wait to buy it the more content will be available when you buy it. The only question is how long can you wait. :D

[Saethan]

How many <18's would actually have that much trouble convincing parents out of an extra $13 a month? ;-)

[Nitsch]

Actually the median age for gamers is 21 to 28 (depending on which study you read http://www.arcadezen.com/mt/archives/000016.html ) so $12 bucks a month is nothing, hell i spent that on lunch yesterday.

These gaming companies will just let the kiddies bitch and moan, they don't care they are usually high maintenance players. They probably would like # of kids to be low because children have more disposable time and will be online longer than older folks (most likely cause more CS problems than older people).

SOE gets as much money from the person who plays 5 hours a month as they do the teenager who is on summer vacation who plays 50 hours a week.

I wouldn't mind if the price were higher, if it kept more of the wankers out.

[WildCard101]

If they cant get enuff players due to the cost per month, they will prolly lower it. But we'll have to wait and see... I will prolly get it for the free month at least.

[Hellsfire123]

Originally posted by Unregistered
I'm not surprised, just dissapointed.

12.95 is the norm for games that have considerably more content then PlanetSide does. I hate to say it after being such a huge supporter of the game for so long, but it simplely is not worth that much. There is nothing revolutionary about this game, with the exception of possible the maps themselves.

I can name 10 diffrent games, that not only offer the exact style of game play as PlanetSide does, but also offer you other "game modes" as well.

Take SoF2 for instance. You get Death Match, Team Death Match, CTF, Infiltration, and whatever the one with the bomb is called. All that for a one time investment.

So if I can buy a game that offers me the same gameing experience for a one time investment why on earth would I want to pay $12.99 a month for it?

You just cant compare Team Deathmatch Sof2 to planetside. Face it, there are no games you can compare PS to. Its unique. Its tactical, its an FPS, its MMO, and its shit loads of fun. And i clicked on that link in your sig, so now i hate you.

If people want to piss people off in a game, they aren't going to pay $13 to do it.

Not true, i have a "friend" (he talks to me, but hes an idiot) thats been banned from the PVP EQ servers 6 times for doing stupid things like corpse camping. There will always be the rich kids with nothing better to do then ruin your day. All we can hope for is the devs keep track of IPs as well, and can ban those to.

Ive love this game. I would have paid for beta and been happy about it. 13 bucks may not be pocket change, but its exactly what i expected, and i would be worried if it was any less.

[SuperGlue]

I am a bit dissapointed in the price.....but it was what I expected.
And until I see a better MMOFPS I will most likely be playing PS.

kinda strange PS has a bit of a monoply at the moment :huh: except for WWIIonline........anyone know if this game has gotten ALOT better since its release?

[FearTheAtlas]

Well, $12.99 is pretty good, 4 cents higher then EQ..whoohoo. But anyway, I'm not gonna wait for 3 months, I'm going to get the game (pre-ordered..hopefully get it release day) and play my free month like no tomorrow. :) I can almost smell the release date now

[ReneG8]

So for us, not being in teh native language... you know these... europeans over there ;)

Is the other quote actually saying that EU and US version arent compatible? or is it just saying that i cant bill at soe, instead at ubi soft? can someone clarify on this, and make a short summary of it, im too bad at english to understand it.

thx in advance

[Miir]

Personally I think the computer hardware industry should be the ones paying the half of the 13 dollars. I mean come on the game industry drives revue in the hardware industry. Us hardcore gamers will go out and buy the top of the line hardware to play these games spending $1000's on hardware yearly only to have the game industry turn around and charge you more to play games that shouldn't cost more. Seems like something needs to give.

I don't think it's an issue that people can't afford it...PS is a great game and I love it..... I was just hoping that since this is the pioneer of MMOFPS games it would set a standard by lowering the online costs to play.

Miir wants some consumer lov'in :D

Miir= sad consumer :(

[Hamma]

12$ is nothing, people are rediculous. hahaha

Whatever, there will be plenty of people playing. This "content" everyone speaks of? I dont know what that is. I could care less about houses and shit, I am in the game to have fun. People want to be led around by the hand in these type of games. They want missions, and set objectives.

Not everyone wants that. Those who do are better off playing something else. PS offers freedom no other game has.

If you arent going to pay I am sorry to see you go. But you are only missing what this game is going to become. There is allot more to it gameplay and strategy wise than we have ever touched in beta.

[FearTheAtlas]

Originally posted by Hamma
12$ is nothing, people are rediculous. hahaha

Whatever, there will be plenty of people playing. This "content" everyone speaks of? I dont know what that is. I could care less about houses and shit, I am in the game to have fun. People want to be led around by the hand in these type of games. They want missions, and set objectives.

Not everyone wants that. Those who do are better off playing something else. PS offers freedom no other game has.

If you arent going to pay I am sorry to see you go. But you are only missing what this game is going to become. There is allot more to it gameplay and strategy wise than we have ever touched in beta.

Here here! :clap:

[Endodroid]

Originally posted by Hamma

There is allot more to it gameplay and strategy wise than we have ever touched in beta.

Like what? After you've captured the same base for the 20th time the game starts to loose its luster.

[Hamma]

If you think of it as just Cap base, you will get bored. Large scale ops, continent caps, sanctuary strikes, think of it as for your empire, not for yourself.

[HS Warwolf]

I must say that I was a little dissapointed now when they confirmed it. The following is just an opinion. When I learn about a new game, I wouldn't go out and buy it right a way. I think it's just a little stupid. This is just an OPINION though. I like to wait until at least a few reveiws are out not to say you need to wait 3 months. If it gets continual great scores then I'll probalby buy it. Hell, people could be saying that it's the game of the century, then I could go out and buy it, and find out it sucks after I read the reviews after I've bought the game. 12.99 isn't that much. Unless you're not even making 20$ a month wether it be from your allowance or your job. I'm 14 and If i really wanted the game, I could wip out 50$ to go buy it in 3-5 weeks. That would give me enough time to let the reviews get out and find out if I really wanted to sacrafice my money on this game or just go buy something like Battlefield 1942. (Just an example) If someone really wanted to play the game, just do some extra chores around the house like cleaning the bathroom or dusting the house(Again just examples) unless you already have a job. I think that maybe once they get the game up and running, they might lower the price maybe 50 cents or so a month. They might get a hell of a lot more customers if they lowerd the price just1.50$. I'm sorry to ask this but I need to ask is if they're going to be selling game cards wherever PS is sold. Just curious because I don't have a CC nor do I want one. That's all.

[RUEN]

As for the game card, they do have one, and im sure most stores will have it in stock, if not, ask them to get it for you. right now it costs 39.99 for a 3 month subscription, i don't know if they have 1 month subs or 1 year subs. prolly not though. SOEs all about the monies :)

[d0rian]

there are so many kids who are going to want to recreate the glory of PS on thier own.

this concept is too good to just have one company capitalize on it.
you will see it done again by another company. They are not going to let sony own this market for free.

[Navaron]

Originally posted by Hamma
Whatever, there will be plenty of people playing. This "content" everyone speaks of? I dont know what that is.

then...

If you arent going to pay I am sorry to see you go. But you are only missing what this game is going to become. There is allot more to it gameplay and strategy wise than we have ever touched in beta.

I'm just playing devils advocate but - how do you know? What makes you so certain? SELL THIS GAME HAMMA - - - -

[tmartinez72]

"Content" means NOTHING if it isn't fun. I could careless for "content" if it puts me to sleep (i.e. Eversnore.er..quest).

Still, I had hoped for PS to be $20/month, but I guess I'll settle for the "All Access". I know they were thinking about it, but had yet to make an official announcement.

I know SWG is one of their premium games. That'll be included, but if it's anything like EQ, I'd be sorely dissappointed. (Though that's what I'm hearing, I will hold me reservations until I actually play it).

[Hamma]

Im not going to sell this game to people who have already made up their minds.

[Chryse]

$12.99/month = $0.43/day

People complain about this but are willing to spend twice that amount on a small bag of Fritos out of a vending machine, or almost three times that amount for a 20oz. bottle of soda. If you want to talk about throwing money away, there it is... cash for empty calories. It's already been broken down in other threads-- compared to other forms of entertainment (i.e. movies, concerts, etc.) the per day cost of playing PlanetSide is a steal. I think there are some kids, yes, KIDS, that need a dose of context here. Back in the early days of online gaming (Air Warrior or Battletech on GEnie, anyone?) companies were charging anywhere from $2.99 to $9.99 per hour to play.

If you cannot afford to pay $12.99 per month to play a game that can be, with the right mindset, intensely fun, maybe you need to find a new hobby. Who ever said gaming was cheap?

[Nitsch]

I remember getting my bill from Genie after playing their per-hour "MUD", when I was a college student... I still remember the sickning feeling in my stomach trying to figure out how to pay that bill.

I found free MUD's shortly after.