It looks like all the recent brou-ha-ha over the sudden discontinuation of the lifetime and six month subscription offer has made an impression on the powers-that-be over at Cryptic Studios. With that said, both options are making a return with no limited quota as to how many are being offered this time. The only limitation is, like before, the offer will end on August 31st, 2009 at 11:59PM Pacific time.

I have to say this whole ordeal has been pretty unusual, but never say Cryptic doesn't listen! Either that, or you guys were just really loud!

The official announcement is available here.

Don't care about the announcement? Just want to get your grubby hands on a lifetime or six month subscription? Get your wallet ready and go here!

If you were one of the many people upset by the recent announcement, does this change make up for it? Or does it still leave a bad taste in your mouth? Also, for those of you who had intended on participating in one of these offers but couldn't due to the recent announcement, will you go ahead now that the offer has returned?

Let us know in the comments!

And now people can start complaining that Cryptic brought back the Lifetime Subscription and that all this was just a ploy to get more money... lol

Oh well in before someone finds something else to complain about CO! :-P

Really gotta worry about the precedent being set here, cuss, scream, threaten boycotts, lawsuits, throw thing and generally act like a 2 year old and lo,and behold you get your way.

I was really looking forward to the game and have 3 lifetimes bought over a week ago,  but now I have to question if I want to be part of this game. Now everytime the kiddies want anything they will just scream rant and rave until they get their way.

The only positive I see in this whole mess is that school just started back.

Originally posted by Sorrow

Really gotta worry about the precedent being set here, cuss, scream, threaten boycotts, lawsuits, throw thing and generally act like a 2 year old and lo,and behold you get your way.

 

I was really looking forward to the game and have 3 lifetimes bought over a week ago,  but now I have to question if I want to be part of this game. Now everytime the kiddies want anything they will just scream rant and rave until they get their way.

 

The only positive I see in this whole mess is that school just started back.

All I have to say to that is: Damned if you do, damned if you don't! Good night folks!

TBH I said when they pulled the lifetime subs that it was all a marketing ploy.

People LOVE to have stuff they aren't meant to or stuff other people can't have. its why they pay for limited editions for example. The lifetime subs were getting slammed as being a rip off as people haven't played the game yet. The moment however they were taken away suddenly everyone feels they wanted it. bring it back and you get a lot of people buying one that wouldn't without Cryptic pulling them in the first place.

I think this was a really good move by Cryptic to drum up interest.

Originally posted by kazamx

TBH I said when they pulled the lifetime subs that it was all a marketing ploy.

People LOVE to have stuff they aren't meant to or stuff other people can't have. its why they pay for limited editions for example. The lifetime subs were getting slammed as being a rip off as people haven't played the game yet. The moment however they were taken away suddenly everyone feels they wanted it. bring it back and you get a lot of people buying one that wouldn't without Cryptic pulling them in the first place.

 

I think this was a really good move by Cryptic to drum up interest.

Ya know this isn't as far out there as I might have thought if I hadn't re-read it three times. 

It would be kinda interesting so see pre and post lifetime sales figures.

Originally posted by Sorrow

Really gotta worry about the precedent being set here, cuss, scream, threaten boycotts, lawsuits, throw thing and generally act like a 2 year old and lo,and behold you get your way.

 

I was really looking forward to the game and have 3 lifetimes bought over a week ago,  but now I have to question if I want to be part of this game. Now everytime the kiddies want anything they will just scream rant and rave until they get their way.

 

The only positive I see in this whole mess is that school just started back.

Sadly, complaints will always be loudest. 

Who buys lifetimes subscriptions to a game that isn't even out yet, is run by two of the most notorious con artists in the industry, may not even survive long enough to make the lifetime subs worth it (see: Hellgate London), and KNOWS they will be spending even more of their money on microtransactions?

For those of you on the fence about buying the lifetime sub, let me help you out:

Wait... Wait until the game is out and the offer is over because I guarantee you that after a few months and the studio is hurting for more money, they will make that offer available again once more. THEN, you being the smart, savvy shopper can better decide whether or not to buy it because the game has already been out for some time and if it is still standing, you won't be out $300 or however much it costs.

Originally posted by MikeB

It looks like all the recent brou-ha-ha over the sudden discontinuation of the lifetime and six month subscription offer has made an impression on the powers-that-be over at Cryptic Studios. With that said, both options are making a return with no limited quota as to how many are being offered this time. The only limitation is, like before, the offer will end on August 31st, 2009 at 11:59PM Pacific time.

I have to say this whole ordeal has been pretty unusual, but never say Cryptic doesn't listen! Either that, or you guys were just really loud!

The official announcement is available here.

Don't care about the announcement? Just want to get your grubby hands on a lifetime or six month subscription? Get your wallet ready and go here!

If you were one of the many people upset by the recent announcement, does this change make up for it? Or does it still leave a bad taste in your mouth? Also, for those of you who had intended on participating in one of these offers but couldn't due to the recent announcement, will you go ahead now that the offer has returned?

Let us know in the comments!

Sounds like a jedi mind trick to me.  Watch out.

Originally posted by MikeB

Originally posted by Sorrow

Really gotta worry about the precedent being set here, cuss, scream, threaten boycotts, lawsuits, throw thing and generally act like a 2 year old and lo,and behold you get your way.

 

I was really looking forward to the game and have 3 lifetimes bought over a week ago,  but now I have to question if I want to be part of this game. Now everytime the kiddies want anything they will just scream rant and rave until they get their way.

 

The only positive I see in this whole mess is that school just started back.

All I have to say to that is: Damned if you do, damned if you don't! Good night folks!

When faced with the damned if you do/damned if you don't scenario, you always choose damned if you don't.  That way you are not damned.

 actually i'm still angry, mainly cause they tried to reton reality as part of their sub yank

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x202/NekoLLX/before1.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x202/NekoLLX/after1.jpg
 

Does that sound like a company you want to invest $200 for a lifetime sub on?

Hehe maybe Atari needs to grab some more money now when they are being sued for $30 millions...

Why would anyone invest $200 in a shady company like this who just keep on screwing their players aswel as other companies?

Originally posted by Papadam

Hehe maybe Atari needs to grab some more money now when they are being sued for $30 millions...

Why would anyone invest $200 in a shady company like this who just keep on screwing their players aswel as other companies?

my thoughts enzunctly

Originally posted by Stellus

Who buys lifetimes subscriptions to a game that isn't even out yet, is run by two of the most notorious con artists in the industry, may not even survive long enough to make the lifetime subs worth it (see: Hellgate London), and KNOWS they will be spending even more of their money on microtransactions?

For those of you on the fence about buying the lifetime sub, let me help you out:

Wait... Wait until the game is out and the offer is over because I guarantee you that after a few months and the studio is hurting for more money, they will make that offer available again once more. THEN, you being the smart, savvy shopper can better decide whether or not to buy it because the game has already been out for some time and if it is still standing, you won't be out $300 or however much it costs.

Might to try to spin that a little harder, there is only one company between the two that is shady and it's not Cryptic. Cryptic has done nothing that could be associated with being a con outside of hiring Bill as "design director" for CO. He has no control on marking and he is not the CEO of Cryptic. So again try harder...

It would have been more honest to say don't trust Atari as we have proof as to why with the whole LoTRO (which by they way is another title that had a lifetime offer before the game was released) issue, but as for Cryptic all we have is CoX which was a successful MMO. Tossing the name Hellgate (a game that has nothing to do with Cryptic minus one employee they hired) is a rather weak attempt at spin doctoring. Oh and it's $200 not $300 so it will pay for itself in little over a year.

Originally posted by kazamx

TBH I said when they pulled the lifetime subs that it was all a marketing ploy.

People LOVE to have stuff they aren't meant to or stuff other people can't have. its why they pay for limited editions for example. The lifetime subs were getting slammed as being a rip off as people haven't played the game yet. The moment however they were taken away suddenly everyone feels they wanted it. bring it back and you get a lot of people buying one that wouldn't without Cryptic pulling them in the first place.

 

I think this was a really good move by Cryptic to drum up interest.

Seeing it's back including the STO Open Beta access. Questions why they pulled it away 2 days ago in the first place.

Pretty obvious they didn't sell many Lifetime subs at all, and then pulling it away and so giving the world the impression that it was sold out and going too fast and then bring it back 2 days later, is indeed a marketing ploy in a hope to rake in more lifetime subs.

And appearently it works. The sheeps are flocking to the site and hit the order button lol.

And like someone said, I wouldn't be suprised as Atari is going to need all the money they can rake in from this, due to the lawsuit by Turbine.

Good luck.

Originally posted by nekollx

Originally posted by Papadam

Hehe maybe Atari needs to grab some more money now when they are being sued for $30 millions...

Why would anyone invest $200 in a shady company like this who just keep on screwing their players aswel as other companies?

my thoughts enzunctly

The sad thing is they are still a slightly better choice then Cryptic's former owner NCSoft, wonder who will be the next owner SOE? :-p

Originally posted by Unshra

Originally posted by Stellus

Who buys lifetimes subscriptions to a game that isn't even out yet, is run by two of the most notorious con artists in the industry, may not even survive long enough to make the lifetime subs worth it (see: Hellgate London), and KNOWS they will be spending even more of their money on microtransactions?

For those of you on the fence about buying the lifetime sub, let me help you out:

Wait... Wait until the game is out and the offer is over because I guarantee you that after a few months and the studio is hurting for more money, they will make that offer available again once more. THEN, you being the smart, savvy shopper can better decide whether or not to buy it because the game has already been out for some time and if it is still standing, you won't be out $300 or however much it costs.

 

Might to try to spin that a little harder, there is only one company between the two that is shady and it's not Cryptic. Cryptic has done nothing that could be associated with being a con outside of hiring Bill as "design director" for CO. He has no control on marking and he is not the CEO of Cryptic. So again try harder...

It would have been more honest to say don't trust Atari as we have proof as to why with the whole LoTRO (which by they way is another title that had a lifetime offer before the game was released) issue, but as for Cryptic all we have is CoX which was a successful MMO. Tossing the name Hellgate (a game that has nothing to do with Cryptic minus one employee they hired) is a rather weak attempt at spin doctoring. Oh and it's $200 not $300 so it will pay for itself in little over a year.

Eh are you aware that Atari bought Cryptic so they are a part of Atari? Its sad to see another good company like Cryptic being screwed by Atari, cant understand how they could sell to them. (even EA would be better)

And LotrOs lifetime deal wasnt offered before launch, anyone who got the game at launch could at anytime change their sub to Lifetime, so you could play the game for months before you made the decision.

Originally posted by nekollx

 actually i'm still angry, mainly cause they tried to reton reality as part of their sub yank

 

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x202/NekoLLX/before1.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x202/NekoLLX/after1.jpg
 

Does that sound like a company you want to invest $200 for a lifetime sub on?

I like how you tried to switch the images to make them seem sketchy. Clearly if you look at the dates of the post you can see the dates.

Your "after" pic clearly dates 8-03-2009 UNTIL 8-23-2009 while the "before" pic dates it as UNTIL 9-01-2009.

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Unshra

Originally posted by Stellus

Who buys lifetimes subscriptions to a game that isn't even out yet, is run by two of the most notorious con artists in the industry, may not even survive long enough to make the lifetime subs worth it (see: Hellgate London), and KNOWS they will be spending even more of their money on microtransactions?

For those of you on the fence about buying the lifetime sub, let me help you out:

Wait... Wait until the game is out and the offer is over because I guarantee you that after a few months and the studio is hurting for more money, they will make that offer available again once more. THEN, you being the smart, savvy shopper can better decide whether or not to buy it because the game has already been out for some time and if it is still standing, you won't be out $300 or however much it costs.

 

Might to try to spin that a little harder, there is only one company between the two that is shady and it's not Cryptic. Cryptic has done nothing that could be associated with being a con outside of hiring Bill as "design director" for CO. He has no control on marking and he is not the CEO of Cryptic. So again try harder...

It would have been more honest to say don't trust Atari as we have proof as to why with the whole LoTRO (which by they way is another title that had a lifetime offer before the game was released) issue, but as for Cryptic all we have is CoX which was a successful MMO. Tossing the name Hellgate (a game that has nothing to do with Cryptic minus one employee they hired) is a rather weak attempt at spin doctoring. Oh and it's $200 not $300 so it will pay for itself in little over a year.

 

Eh are you aware that Atari bought Cryptic so they are a part of Atari? Its sad to see another good company like Cryptic being screwed by Atari, cant understand how they could sell to them. (even EA would be better)

And LotrOs lifetime deal wasnt offered before launch, anyone who got the game at launch could at anytime change their sub to Lifetime, so you could play the game for months before you made the decision.

Yes I am aware, just like they were owned my NCSoft, if things go south I am sure we will see them break away as they did with NCSoft.

As for LoTRO you had to have pre-ordered the game first and you initially had a limited time to sign up after the game went live but they extended it. So you didn't have to pay as much up front with LoTRO but you still have to make a purchase before the game was released in order to get the lifetime offer, so much like CO it was a gamble though your loss would have been less with LoTRO. That's my point...

Originally posted by Unshra

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Unshra

Originally posted by Stellus

Who buys lifetimes subscriptions to a game that isn't even out yet, is run by two of the most notorious con artists in the industry, may not even survive long enough to make the lifetime subs worth it (see: Hellgate London), and KNOWS they will be spending even more of their money on microtransactions?

For those of you on the fence about buying the lifetime sub, let me help you out:

Wait... Wait until the game is out and the offer is over because I guarantee you that after a few months and the studio is hurting for more money, they will make that offer available again once more. THEN, you being the smart, savvy shopper can better decide whether or not to buy it because the game has already been out for some time and if it is still standing, you won't be out $300 or however much it costs.

 

Might to try to spin that a little harder, there is only one company between the two that is shady and it's not Cryptic. Cryptic has done nothing that could be associated with being a con outside of hiring Bill as "design director" for CO. He has no control on marking and he is not the CEO of Cryptic. So again try harder...

It would have been more honest to say don't trust Atari as we have proof as to why with the whole LoTRO (which by they way is another title that had a lifetime offer before the game was released) issue, but as for Cryptic all we have is CoX which was a successful MMO. Tossing the name Hellgate (a game that has nothing to do with Cryptic minus one employee they hired) is a rather weak attempt at spin doctoring. Oh and it's $200 not $300 so it will pay for itself in little over a year.

 

Eh are you aware that Atari bought Cryptic so they are a part of Atari? Its sad to see another good company like Cryptic being screwed by Atari, cant understand how they could sell to them. (even EA would be better)

And LotrOs lifetime deal wasnt offered before launch, anyone who got the game at launch could at anytime change their sub to Lifetime, so you could play the game for months before you made the decision.

Yes I am aware, just like they were owned my NCSoft, if things go south I am sure we will see them break away as they did with NCSoft.

As for LoTRO you had to have pre-ordered the game first and you initially had a limited time to sign up after the game went live but they extended it. So you didn't have to pay as much up front with LoTRO but you still have to make a purchase before the game was released in order to get the lifetime offer, so much like CO it was a gamble though your loss would have been less with LoTRO. That's my point...

Yea $5 instead of $200... I got to play LotrO 45 days after launch before I  decide to get Lifetime... see the difference?
 

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Unshra

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Unshra

Originally posted by Stellus

Who buys lifetimes subscriptions to a game that isn't even out yet, is run by two of the most notorious con artists in the industry, may not even survive long enough to make the lifetime subs worth it (see: Hellgate London), and KNOWS they will be spending even more of their money on microtransactions?

For those of you on the fence about buying the lifetime sub, let me help you out:

Wait... Wait until the game is out and the offer is over because I guarantee you that after a few months and the studio is hurting for more money, they will make that offer available again once more. THEN, you being the smart, savvy shopper can better decide whether or not to buy it because the game has already been out for some time and if it is still standing, you won't be out $300 or however much it costs.

 

Might to try to spin that a little harder, there is only one company between the two that is shady and it's not Cryptic. Cryptic has done nothing that could be associated with being a con outside of hiring Bill as "design director" for CO. He has no control on marking and he is not the CEO of Cryptic. So again try harder...

It would have been more honest to say don't trust Atari as we have proof as to why with the whole LoTRO (which by they way is another title that had a lifetime offer before the game was released) issue, but as for Cryptic all we have is CoX which was a successful MMO. Tossing the name Hellgate (a game that has nothing to do with Cryptic minus one employee they hired) is a rather weak attempt at spin doctoring. Oh and it's $200 not $300 so it will pay for itself in little over a year.

 

Eh are you aware that Atari bought Cryptic so they are a part of Atari? Its sad to see another good company like Cryptic being screwed by Atari, cant understand how they could sell to them. (even EA would be better)

And LotrOs lifetime deal wasnt offered before launch, anyone who got the game at launch could at anytime change their sub to Lifetime, so you could play the game for months before you made the decision.

Yes I am aware, just like they were owned my NCSoft, if things go south I am sure we will see them break away as they did with NCSoft.

As for LoTRO you had to have pre-ordered the game first and you initially had a limited time to sign up after the game went live but they extended it. So you didn't have to pay as much up front with LoTRO but you still have to make a purchase before the game was released in order to get the lifetime offer, so much like CO it was a gamble though your loss would have been less with LoTRO. That's my point...

Yea $5 instead of $200... I got to play LotrO 45 days after launch before I  decide to get Lifetime... see the difference?
 

Are you just trying to find things to argue about seriously? I never disputed the pricing but I am giving an example of another MMO who was slammed for offering lifetime membership and was successful. And in all honesty they were in a worst state PR wise after AC2 then Cryptic though both made the common mistake called Atari. ><

Anyways I have better things to do then play semantics with you. ;-)

As cynical and jaded as I am, I think the reason they brought it back was the outcry from the playerbase over it's cancellation.

I think they truly had no idea that people would react the way they did and their visions of making more money on monthly subs versus the special offers was replaced by fear and terror that all those people posting the "I just cancelled my preorder ... " would actually do it.

*puts his pointy foil hat back on* No, no no. It was all a scam to get more people to jump on the bandwagon and buy a lifetime sub!

Bodeus predicts the future-

this weekend cryptic will reveal a new Champions Online mechanic .. AGING

Thats right Super heroes will age 5 yrs for every month played. Youll be able to see your super heroes mature in stature and power until they finally grow to old to continue the fight at which time they will pass away. :(

A few days later cryptic will clarify the "lifetime subscription plan" to reveal that what they really meant was your characters "lifetime" not  yours or the games. So after your heroes "lifetime" expires a new lifetime subscription fee will be owed. However you may extend your heroes lifetime by buying convenient "rejuvenation potions" from the cryptic store for the low low price of 14.95 a month!

Since the overwhelming theory seemed to be that they had 'sold out' of the deals because of the STO beta access, how are they doing this? Expanding their tester cap in the STO beta by whatever amount they have to? Kind of scary.

But I'm still in.

Awesome, Now people can stfu already, clearly stated UNLIMITED AMMOUNTS in a LIMITED AMMOUNT OF TIME.