Yellowbeard
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Posts
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Joined
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I would like to see Hero Corps fleshed out more within the context of the morality system, a la some of the praetorian arcs. It would be cool to join Hero Corps and decide to play (for example) as a super being just doing it for the money vs. routing out corruption from the inside. This story thread could run through parts of the low/mid/high levels with TFs at important points in the story. Tip missions could start us off on the, "Just what is up with Hero Corps these days?" story!
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Quote:I support this option. Let others spend their time, I'd prefer to spend my money. Doesn't time=money?Originally Posted by MrCaptainMan
But easymode for me, please!
And NCSoft? I'll happily pay for that, too!
Eco -
I really enjoyed the midnight arc and would love to see more midnighter content in game.
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Quote:This is my understanding of the ratio of lifetime subs to monthly subs as well. How do we go about getting an answer on lifetime subscriptions being a part of our new freedom to choose?Originally Posted by VanCorp
I play in games with Lifetime Subs. Heck, I am lucky enough in my finances that I can afford them for both me and the wife (if I felt I would play said game long enough to warrant the investment-of-good-faith in the company).
However, there is really no need for restrictions based upon length of sub and so forth. I have developer friends at both Cryptic and Turbine (amongst a few other companies, thanks to those people also having businesses in the PnP RPG industry where I work as a publisher), and the ratio of Lifetime Subs purchased is far lower than the monthly subs.
The sheer reality of it is that not a ton of MMO players have the cash flow to just shell out $200- $300 on a lifetime subscription in one swoop. A cash flow that is made into much more of a cash trickle thanks to the economic landscape we are living in. -
Quote:The meaning of the new model is, at least to me, made clear through the official information being given out all this week. "Hybrid" is their way of saying F2P. Posi's letter goes out of the way to comfort the existing player base by saying that, before finalizing COHF, close attention was paid and lessons learned from what Paragon Studios determined to be errors made by other F2P change overs. My logic is thus:Originally Posted by Arcanaville
The term "hybrid model" is a term barely out of diapers, and it encompasses games with a subscription base and microtransactions coexisting. You can't make deductions simply from the use of the term. You seem to be suggesting that because the devs *call* the system a hybrid system, that *means* it focuses on the microtransactions as the primary source of revenue. What justifies that leap in logic?
Hybrid:F2P:micro transaction:lifetime sub option:my desire for said option: possible?
I really did not mention doom, gloom, sub numbers, armchair economic analysis, or any negative game argument.
I'm excited about COHF and, since the decision has been made to go with some new fundamentals for one of my favorite games, are we going to be offered the chance to purchase a lifetime sub? -
Quote:While this was true in the past, I'm not so sure anymore. The vibe I got from this month's producers and posi's letter is one of "reward our existing players while expanding the new customer base."Originally Posted by Arcanaville
I believe City of Heroes' core business model is still based around the long-term subscriber.
I described the shift to a hybrid model as a paradigm shift for a reason. While I will be pleased if new players sign up for a subscription, the hybrid model is designed to make money through micro transactions. Not long-term subscribers. With this change in focus, a lifetime subscription becomes a option. The actions of other companies and other variables do not directly impact Paragon Studio's ability to offer a lifetime sub. I believe they have crunched the numbers and they know if it is going to work. Hence my original question, what are the chances for locking in permanent VIP status?
I will be pleased with COHF with or without a lifetime sub. I would really like the option though in order to free up currently budgeted subscription money to spend on the Paragon Market beyond the monthly bonus points. -
Quote:I believe, in the absence of hard data, that the small portion of the COHF community that would take advantage of a lifetime subscription plan would not reach the point of negitive returns for the company. Nor is it reasonable to assume that, even with the purchase of a lifetime subscription, that no more money will be spent by players in the Paragon Pagoda (or whatever we wind up calling the item shop). Since Paragon Studios has decided to switch the game to a hybrid model, then it follows that the issue of a lifetime subscription is within the realm of possibility, economic or otherwise.Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Well, yes and no. It depends on the return of those lifetime subscriptions.
Interesting comparison. We have Jack, quoted often as saying that the average MMO player plays for about a year and then moves on. And we have post-CoH Cryptic trying to develop multiple MMOs and selling lifetime subscriptions. The philosophy is obvious: the average player won't be around forever, so there's a break even point on lifetime subs, and if you charge a little more than that you can make more money, and also accelerate your cash forward. Also, if players are going to leave anyway, then you make more MMOs for cross-sell opportunities. They might leave one game, but you can try to sell them on the next game.
Then we have Paragon Studios, constantly harping on City of Heroes player retention rate. Suggesting that we have a better than average player account lifespan. And we don't sell lifetime subscriptions. That also makes sense: if you think your players stick around longer, and some will stick around literally forever, lifetime subscriptions are a losing proposition: the players most likely to want them are the ones that will most likely cost you money by buying them.
Selling lifetime subscriptions basically says this: we think the average player will play us for a year, maybe eighteen months, and then leave. Some of the players we sell lifetime subs to will stick around much longer than that, but the ones that don't will make up for the ones that do. It can also say that if most of our revenue is going to come from microtransactions anyway, whether we keep or lose the subscription revenue for players that stick around for years isn't as big of a deal either way.
City of Heroes isn't that kind of game, and it doesn't seem to be the perspective of the devs that the goal is to frontload revenue on the players. They hope to be making long term revenue streams from their players. If they want the long term player, and they are aiming for the long term player, and they hope to convert as many players as possible into long term players, then lifetime subscriptions don't make sense. The sub is worth more than that.
Counter-intuitively, the single lifetime subscription is a stronger indicator that the game might be thinking of nickel and dimeing you in the future. Because its a devaluing of the potential subscription revenue.
Speaking of the character of a game company that offers lifetime subscriptions, I have not found that my enjoyment of a game or the quaility of the game company has been affected by the presence (or absence) of a lifetime subscription, item shop, etc. I think there are bad examples from both sides of the fence. I have been very impressed with the decision making process and costumer focus here at City of Heroes and I believe that they are capable of designing a lifetime subscription that would continue the tradition of great entertainment AND profitablility. -
Quote:As I it currently stands, there would be no meaningful gameplay difference between a lifetime sub and the standard sub plan with Freedom. The devs are of course free to adorn lifetime subscribers with more benefits. I would be happy giving the game a lump sum payment for permenant VIP status and then using my budgeted monthly COHF money on in game items beyond the monthly PP bonus.Originally Posted by je_saist
Let me pose a question to you Yellowbeard:
Looking at this page: http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/fre...es.html#tabs-4
And considering that we already know controllers / MM's are unlocked for "premium players" under the Paragon Rewards program...
Could you tell me the difference between a life-time subscription and the premium subscription?
I hope that answers your question je_sais. -
I like the sound of paragon for the new server name.
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Given the huge paradigm shift that Freedom represents, it is not out of the question to ask if lifetime subscriptions are on the table. I would be surprised if there were not a segment of the community interested in this.
I plan on using the store frequently and spending money beyond my subscription paragon point bonus. The same would apply with a lifetime sub. So, beyond an armchair business analysis, who would like it if we had the freedom to choose a lifetime sub? -
It's time to allow those of us who are interested to lock in permanent VIP status for COHF. What are the chances?
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Quote:I fully expect to find a badge called "the next level" in GR. Make it happen. Take me to the next..err...you know.Originally Posted by War Witch
I vow to never say "the next level" again. (Not really, because now that I've said I'll never say it, I'll be tripping over it incessantly.)
I'm switching it up to "raising the bar." Other options are "upping our game", "bringin' it old school", and "kick **** and take names".
After that, my catch-phrase is up for grabs.
Discuss.