DC Universe Changes Pricing Structure (Possible Insight to PS2 Pricing)

Crazyduckling · 2011-09-19, 06:36 PM

Starting in October, Sony said it will offer three tiers of the game, a free version with limited features, a premium tier for those who spend a total of $5 or more on virtual items for the game, and a "legendary" tier with access to all the features in the game for $15 a month.

I know there is already a thread somewhere related to this, but I thought that this was an article that could possibly give us insight as to how SOE might go about charging for PS2.

If they don't sell power, I can't imagine what I would want as a subbed player over a micro-transaction player. What sort of features would they lock out of a free version of PS2 that other players have access to while making it fair? Aesthetic customization is the main thing, but is that really enough to warrant a subscription?

No criticism here, just some thoughts.

BorisBlade · 2011-09-19, 07:11 PM

One thing to remember, they created DCUO with a sub in mind so it fits well with that model. PS2 is designed knowing ahead of time there will be a cash shop and that it will be the main focus. It wont be the same at all. It may have tiers, or whatever. But mostly you will just buy xp increasers, level cap increasers, training speed increasers, cosmetic items (skins etc), and the area that can cause trouble, "sidegrades". These can be upgrades in some situations so its tricky and they can just use political-jargon to give us bs reasons why its ok and everyone will go along with it. Not sayin its bad, but just need to be careful in that department.

They cant sell things like new conts or new areas tho, those have to be totally free or you split up the player base which doesnt work in a game like this.

The best option that ive seen in a game like this, for me personally, (in addtion to the standard F2P + cash shop model) is a $15 per month sub, that gave you full access to things and X number of dollars a month (in this case Station Cash) to buy things in the cash shop.

NapalmEnima · 2011-09-19, 07:13 PM

Things subscribing customers might get:

Preferred access to the test server[s]
Preferred access to locked continents (two paying customers, one freeloader, two paying customers, one...)
Faster offline training rate
A longer offline training list (I hear it's going to be 24 hours. Give the paying customers 48)
Increased rate at which resources are earned
Increased rate at which XP is earned.
Exclusive Content (appearance customization stuff).
First access to all new gear. "This week, only subscribers with the right certs have access to X, next week anyone with the right certs can have X". Where X might be some new scope or sidearm or bikini top or whatever.
X station cash per month to spend on Stuff in the cash shop. If they make this amount the same as the cost of a subscription, I suspect they'd pick up a LOT of subscribers.
+X% to all station cash purchases above what they get via the subscription in the first place.

With all that tacked on, players would fall into two categories: Folks who spend Zero Dollars on PS2, and subscribers (who may spend considerably more above and beyond the X/month price). I doubt there would be much in-between.

Sirisian · 2011-09-19, 07:18 PM

"Subscription", "Premium", and "Free" basically. Not sure how it would work in regards to Planetside 2. I mean they're selling essentially upgrades in the PS2 cash shop so it's hard to balance that with a Subscription system. Ideally you want the Subscription system to be 100%. Then premium to be like 50% then Free to be 0% so ideally the cash shop should sell things that let you purchase parts of what the subscription people have access to. These could be things like 100% resources earned instead of the normal 25% and such. Removing weapon and vehicle upgrades and replacing the cash shop with experience, training, and resource bonuses would allow such a system.

FIREk · 2011-09-19, 07:23 PM

I wonder if it's "spend $5 in total" or "spend $5 per month". The former doesn't seem to make much sense. Unless, of course, the typical non-subsctiption player is expected to play for a month, drop a few bucks, then leave, after which another one would take his place and, with luck, buy some stuff too.

John Smedley, president of the Sony division that developed DC Universe Online, had hoped that the game's target audience of young, male players would be willing to pay for the game, which cost Sony about $50 million and took more than five years to make.

Incidentally, I think it was stated in an interview that PS2 has cost $50M to date.

So, how could DCUO's new model translate into a potential subscription model for PS2, since SOE isn't afraid of using a phrase like "limited features"? Let's assume that a character in PS2 can have up to BR20.
1) 100% free characters are "Reserves" and can go up to BR10; no restrictions on trained skills, but obviously can't get the high-tier skills, whatever they are; maybe (to prevent trolling for free) they can't train Leadership/Command skills as well, or even (extreme nazi version) can't drive certain vehicles, or even any vehicles at all,
2) players that buy $5 or more worth of stuff will be able to go up to BR20,
3) the Glorious Subscription Master Race can go up to BR20 and enjoy a skill training boost, maybe even a resource gaining boost.

Alternatively, all players can go up to BR20, but
1) free players dont get anything extra, maybe get some Leadership/Command restrictions,
2) $5+/mo players get partial or full bonus skill training speed (+50-100%),
3) the Glorious Subscription Master Race gets full bonus skill training speed (+100%) plus bonus resource gains.

Bags · 2011-09-19, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Crazyduckling

If they don't sell power, I can't imagine what I would want as a subbed player over a micro-transaction player. What sort of features would they lock out of a free version of PS2 that other players have access to while making it fair? Aesthetic customization is the main thing, but is that really enough to warrant a subscription?

Back when League of Legends first came out of Beta and RIOT seemed like a good company I bought $15 of RIOT Points a month to support them. I ended up using the points to buy skins, but I primarily spent the money to support them making a game I enjoyed. The skins were just an added bonus. I'd be willing to do the same for PS2.

Dunno how many people like me exist, however.

Draep · 2011-09-19, 07:34 PM

Nobody has brought up pop locks yet. In instances of pop locks, I imagine a paying player will get priority in the queue over a free player.

Raymac · 2011-09-19, 07:41 PM

Let's not get too bogged down in the details here since they are a total unknown.

I think the OP makes a great observation that this basic idea may be the direction they are leaning toward for PS2. Frankly, this is payment structure I hope for since I prefer to keep it simple and pay a monthly subscription, but I still want a F2P option to bring in more players.

FIREk · 2011-09-19, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Bags

Dunno how many people like me exist, however.

Me like game. Me appreciate work. Me give monies.

NapalmEnima · 2011-09-19, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Draep

Nobody has brought up pop locks yet. In instances of pop locks, I imagine a paying player will get priority in the queue over a free player.

Reading fail. Check my previous post.

SavageB · 2011-09-19, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Bags

Back when League of Legends first came out of Beta and RIOT seemed like a good company I bought $15 of RIOT Points a month to support them. I ended up using the points to buy skins, but I primarily spent the money to support them making a game I enjoyed. The skins were just an added bonus. I'd be willing to do the same for PS2.

Dunno how many people like me exist, however.

<---

Draep · 2011-09-19, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by NapalmEnima

Reading fail. Check my previous post.

Nice edit on your post you lying ******

morf · 2011-09-19, 09:23 PM

No offline leveling for free accounts seems a likely candidate to me. Or maybe you can only queue up one skill and when that's finished you have to log back in. Possibly faster training speed, or ability to train 2 skills simeultaneously.

Exp bonuses

Resource bonuses

Shorter max/vehicle/orbital strike timer

Shorter respawn timer

Also the dev team has stated that a lot of customization is "side-grades" (I.e. sacrifice damage for accuracy) what if these side grades are available either exclusively in the shop? Alternitavely they could require a grind or a bunch of resources, or skip the grind and buy from the shop.

But when does it get out of hand? They moved from armor to shields. What if they sell a 20 percent increased shield regen?

NapalmEnima · 2011-09-19, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Draep

Nice edit on your post you lying ******

Oh enlightened one, whose perfection is untainted by gayness. I, your humble servant beg your forgiveness. In my neverending quest to garner undeserved favor, I have grievously sinned against your glory.

That or I only edited my post to add the bullet points. Ya know... Whichever. Its hard to keep track of all the lying and scheming I do.

Draep · 2011-09-19, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by NapalmEnima

Oh enlightened one, whose perfection is untainted by gayness. I, your humble servant beg your forgiveness. In my neverending quest to garner undeserved favor, I have grievously sinned against your glory.

That or I only edited my post to add the bullet points. Ya know... Whichever. Its hard to keep track of all the lying and scheming I do.

I just think you tried to pull a fast one and got caught for it. Maybe it would better to be humble and man up.