Payment schemes

[DviddLeff]

Putting this thread up for us to discuss payment ideas for the game, which is an extremely important aspect as it represents a hurdle that must be jumped before people can become players.

Most MMOs and PS1 included have the subscription option where you pay monthly... generally requiring a credit card to help pay for server upkeep and (hopefully) development of the game and moderators. FPS gamers are not used to this at all, aside from free games FPS's are a one payment deal.

Since PS was released we have seen other options develop; Guild Wars proved that a subscription free MMO could work, although you did pay for expansions as they were released.

We have also seen cash shops develop, and not only in MMOs but also in FPS games such as TF2. These shops have met with huge criticism when they have allowed players to purchase advantages and rightly so.

PS had a free trial program, "Reserves", which allowed people to play for free up to BR6 and another later trial that allowed people to play for 14 days. These initially worked fantastically to increase populations, but the 14 day trial was then abused by hackers forcing it to be shut down. This could have been averted by requiring a credit card for registration, or putting it through Steam for example.

Now for PS2 it is vital that we get as many players in the game as possible, and as such I suggest using a variety of different schemes:

• Free Trial: Maximum BR6*, CR0*, Cannot lead squads
• Box purchased only: Maximum BR10*, CR3*
• Subscription: Maximum BR 20*, CR5*.
• Once a player has been subscribed for three years, they get to carry on without paying further subscriptions.
• Alternatively players could spend the equivalent of a years subscription to become a lifetime member, with the same opportunities of a subscribed player, but no recurring cost.

*BR/CR Values equivalent to PS1 ranks.

This scheme allows players to try the game, buy it like a standard FPS or MMO and get various (versatility) advantages by paying more, while still retaining the even playing field that the game needs.

Thoughts?