Originally posted by Samuraisword

Games that offer in-game advantages for preordering are not worth playing. They are allowing players to essentially buy advantages and this is unfair. Gaming purists who play MMOGs on the basis of sportsmanly competition, the way MMOGs were originally designed to be, don't want anything to do with this type of bastardization. Everything should be earned in-game thru expended effort only. A low character rollover and a few minor trinkets is too much of an advantage.

Originally posted by Samuraisword

Games that offer in-game advantages for preordering are not worth playing. They are allowing players to essentially buy advantages and this is unfair. Gaming purists who play MMOGs on the basis of sportsmanly competition, the way MMOGs were originally designed to be, don't want anything to do with this type of bastardization. Everything should be earned in-game thru expended effort only. A low character rollover and a few minor trinkets is too much of an advantage.

I also agree that being locked into a 2 year contract for a measly $5 discount per month is not worth it. I highly recommend you beta this product first to understand why.

Since this is not really a pvp game I don't really see that there is any real competition. It's more a story based game so in essence it seems to correspond to reading a book and then having someone be a few chapters a head of you.

Sure there is monster play but that is not a focus of the game.

I actually think it's a good idea. Since this is a story based game, you lose a little replayability since who wants to do all the quests "all over again" after they've done them several times in Beta?

I think it's all a non issue. Sure, I think the "lifetime" option is a bit of overkill but the 9.99 is good for people who have played it, like the game and know they are going to be playing it for a little bit.

Turbine had me hooked on this game a looooooong time ago.
These pre-order incentives have caused my desire to play this game go through the roof!

April can't come fast enough.

The pre-order specials for Europe are going to be determined by Codemasters and Turbine together.  It's likely they will come up with something similar.

Also, everyone should note that the pre-order page states that the $9.99 a month deal is only for as long as you maintain an active account, without terminating it.  As soon as you cancel the account, whether permanently or temporarily, you will have to re-sub at the regular $14.99 price.  So if you're planning on playing it for a while, it's a pretty good idea.  Now, if you're absolutely sure you'll be playing it for the next 1.5 years+ and you can afford to drop some money up front, the $200 is the best deal.  Of course, you'll still have to buy expansions, but your subscription will always be covered...

Got mine pre-ordered!

Not sure I care for the idea of letting people roll over in beta..but as was stated by another..its not really a competetive pvp game, so no one is really gaining an advantage by it.... so no  big deal in the end I guess...

It is a really good deal at 9.99.... or 199.00 even.... and if this gimmick helps improve their launch and gain some traction, more power to them....

There is plenty of friendly competition in a PVE game. There is competition for best items, fastest leveling, most advanced crafter, etc. all of which are aided by preorder in-game advantages. It's a bad precedent to sell in-game advantages of any degree and game companies that don't understand this are just being greedy. I can't support a game that starts off on this basis. It doesn't bode well for future game policies.

Originally posted by Samuraisword

Games that offer in-game advantages for preordering are not worth playing. They are allowing players to essentially buy advantages and this is unfair. Gaming purists who play MMOGs on the basis of sportsmanly competition, the way MMOGs were originally designed to be, don't want anything to do with this type of bastardization. Everything should be earned in-game thru expended effort only. A low character rollover and a few minor trinkets is too much of an advantage.

Hogwash.  Games were designed to make money, pure and simple.  With the current state that games launch in these days those who pre-order deserve a bonus to put up with the pain.  This is obvisously designed to raise capital and reward those who are willing to preorder.  Don't forget that Turbine has expansions planned including Rohan which will include mounts.  They are essentially embracing both the subscription based and expansion based economic models.  Everygame that has ever come out including PnP games have included extra material or expansions that you have to pay for and these expansions have included better loot.  That's the nature of the beast, profit, for without profit there is no game.

I say it's about time pre-orders got something worth while.

I personally want to know more about the european pre-order, like where to pre order it from etc.

Still, im definantly going for the 200$ ( 99£) sub, no doubt!

I wish that D&D Online would have had the lifetime offer available some months ago, and $9.99 pricing. DDO is the type of game that is great to play on and off over a 2 or 3 year period while simultaneously playing another MMO that offers more traditional gameplay. The $199 pricing model would make it more affordable to do.

I think this plan with LoTR online is a smart one. They should eventually offer this plan to non-founders too. I hope they charge everyone $9.99 per month without something like a 2 year commitment.

I think offering $9.99 pricing only for pre-orders will cause more of a community backlash than the pre-order character bonuses will. Think about all the gamers out there that will not know about the pre-order pricing but plan on buying the game within the first month or two. Worse, imagine being the type of shopper that might buy this the first week the game is out, because you happened to see it on the shelves, only to find out that if you had bought it a week or two ago you could be saving $5 per month.

Originally posted by Samuraisword

There is plenty of friendly competition in a PVE game. There is competition for best items, fastest leveling, most advanced crafter, etc. all of which are aided by preorder in-game advantages. It's a bad precedent to sell in-game advantages of any degree and game companies that don't understand this are just being greedy. I can't support a game that starts off on this basis. It doesn't bode well for future game policies.

Originally posted by Rexfelis

I wish that D&D Online would have had the lifetime offer available some months ago, and $9.99 pricing. DDO is the type of game that is great to play on and off over a 2 or 3 year period while simultaneously playing another MMO that offers more traditional gameplay. The $199 pricing model would make it more affordable to do.

I think this plan with LoTR online is a smart one. They should eventually offer this plan to non-founders too. I hope they charge everyone $9.99 per month without something like a 2 year commitment.

I think offering $9.99 pricing only for pre-orders will cause more of a community backlash than the pre-order character bonuses will. Think about all the gamers out there that will not know about the pre-order pricing but plan on buying the game within the first month or two. Worse, imagine being the type of shopper that might buy this the first week the game is out, because you happened to see it on the shelves, only to find out that if you had bought it a week or two ago you could be saving $5 per month.

When it comes to an mmo, you usually dont just random pick the game off the shelf. I don't know about you or everyone else, but I always make sure to check the grade that the mmo has got, and what the monthly fee is.

So no I don't think what you mentioned about people randomly going into a store to buy the game after the 5$ per month discount, will be that big of a deal, if any.

Secondly, there is going to be a lot of advertising about this founding program, so i doubt that anyone will be missing out. Ofcourse there probaly will be some disputes about it in the future, where pre order members and exsisting members argue back and forth about the whole 200$ and 10 $ per month odeal. But think of it this way, we are taking a risk pre ordering and paying 200$ for a sub to a game that we dont even know if we will like or play for a longer period of time.

I myself am buying the 200$ package, and encouraging my mmo friends to do so aswell.

Well, hopefully you'll have at least a month to figure out if you want to commit $200 a month.  However, if you do commit and its not your thing, you could always sell it ~cough~ give it away I mean.  I'm sure there are more details that haven't been revealed yet.  I remember another game doing something similar but it turned out the reduced rate only lasted for a few months.

I certainly wouldn't mind paying $200 for a lifetime subscription so long as the game is enjoyable.  I played DAoC probably close to 3-4 years in total if you count all the months.  Everquest probably a total of 2 years. 

Originally posted by xrebel 

 Is there a link that shows what these items are compared to other items?

* Character Roll-Over: Moves the character that you created during the Open Beta into the live service —along with the stats, levels, items, and experience that character earned prior to launch!
* Bonus Items: Two special in-game items that are only available to those who pre-order:

-- Enchanted Cloak of Regeneration

-- Ring of Agility

I can't see LOTRO handing out lvl 50 super awesome gear to a bunch of lvl 1's who preordered... perhaps these special items are 1-20 lvl valuable... and then you get upgrades anyway... in which case... what's 2 pieces of gear really matter that much in a game where gear isnt *that* big of a deal?

Gear matters in LOTRO like most MMOGs, and a roll over and items are very significant in the beginning.

Originally posted by thepatriot

Hogwash.  Games were designed to make money, pure and simple.  With the current state that games launch in these days those who pre-order deserve a bonus to put up with the pain.  This is obvisously designed to raise capital and reward those who are willing to preorder.  Don't forget that Turbine has expansions planned including Rohan which will include mounts.  They are essentially embracing both the subscription based and expansion based economic models.  Everygame that has ever come out including PnP games have included extra material or expansions that you have to pay for and these expansions have included better loot.  That's the nature of the beast, profit, for without profit there is no game.

I say it's about time pre-orders got something worth while.

Well let's walk down this slippery slope a bit farther shall we.

Since preorder in-game advantages are ok with you, how about premium service in-game advantages? Games are designed to make money pure and simple right? For example: premium service subscribers could get a bonus to all their stats and double experience for each kill and have access to better loot drop tables for paying an extra $20 a month per subscription. They will of course be playing alongside non premium subscribers on all servers. Is that also ok?

At what point is the virtual world immersion and fair level playing field corrupted? We each have our own limits but I prefer not to venture down that slippery slope, not even one step.

Originally posted by rwyan

I certainly wouldn't mind paying $200 for a lifetime subscription so long as the game is enjoyable.  I played DAoC probably close to 3-4 years in total if you count all the months.  Everquest probably a total of 2 years.