05-06-2005, 04:13 PM
I don't object too much to the regular monthly fee, or the $40-$55 price tag for start up. It's when they both come together I have a problem. And the absolute worst thing is when there is an expansion pack sold on top of these fees for $15-$40.
I can understand charging a small fee for an initial download or to cover the cost of distribution of cd/dvd roms and a manual but for some reason I feel much over $25-$35 for a monthly fee game is a bit silly.
With a monthly fee charged to play a game I would want:
Regular patches
New content every so often
Sysops/moderators that are actually seen in game
tech support where real people are available at convenient hours
Servers that recieve regular maintenance and have minimal downtime
High quality internet connection for the company servers
No/minimal waiting periods to log in
Official websites and forums online would be nice too
Aggressive anti cheat policy, cheat detection, and banning!!!!!
I know the hardware, development, maintenance, and continued support of MMOs is not cheap. The latest issue of Maximum PC says it is rumored that some of the latest MMOs cost $40 million to develop.
As more MMOs come out and each manufacturer's slice of the pie becomes smaller, competition will force companies to provide better customer service, enticing content, continued support, and all for a reasonable price.
I can understand charging a small fee for an initial download or to cover the cost of distribution of cd/dvd roms and a manual but for some reason I feel much over $25-$35 for a monthly fee game is a bit silly.
With a monthly fee charged to play a game I would want:
Regular patches
New content every so often
Sysops/moderators that are actually seen in game
tech support where real people are available at convenient hours
Servers that recieve regular maintenance and have minimal downtime
High quality internet connection for the company servers
No/minimal waiting periods to log in
Official websites and forums online would be nice too
Aggressive anti cheat policy, cheat detection, and banning!!!!!
I know the hardware, development, maintenance, and continued support of MMOs is not cheap. The latest issue of Maximum PC says it is rumored that some of the latest MMOs cost $40 million to develop.
As more MMOs come out and each manufacturer's slice of the pie becomes smaller, competition will force companies to provide better customer service, enticing content, continued support, and all for a reasonable price.
The Bill of No Rights
The United States has become a place where entertainers and professional athletes are mistaken for people of importance. Robert A. Heinlein
The United States has become a place where entertainers and professional athletes are mistaken for people of importance. Robert A. Heinlein