NA: forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

EU: forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

New Subscription Offers!

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We’re happy to announce increased reduction on the longer subscription plans.

As of now the 3 month subscription offers a 20% discount,

6 month subscription yields a 30% discount and

12 month offers a 45% discount vs the regular one month plan.

This is more than twice the discount than before.

In addition, it is now possible to purchase additional gametime and immediately get the veteran points. Veteran points is a system where players are rewarded for each month they have subscribed, and can be used towards a variety of items. Veteran points will launch with the coming patch which is due very soon, and will work backwards in time towards all gametime you have purchased.

Please log in to your account page to see the upgraded pricing and offers

Excellent news!

Avery can you tell your friends over at Funcom that if they want to attract players this long term subscribtion will be perceived again like a clumsy attempt of marketing?

What's the problem in cutting the subscription rate of the monthly subscription.

You are not going to get more people like this, what you will achieve is to make players feel more suspicious towards the product, meaning that you only cut the long term subscription so people will be tempted to subscibe for 3-12 months and even if the game is still rubbish they will have to pay the rest of the contract.

If Funcom is sure about the quality of the game, they should cut the monthly subscription rate to start with.
Funcom needs talented marketing people, the old team is still lurking around the offices after sinking the game, get rid of them............

For NA this works out as follows:

12 Month Recurring : Normal price USD $179.88 
                                       Now just USD $98.93  
                                       A 45% discount!

98.93 divided by 12 months =  8.24 p/m

6 Month Recurring: Normal price USD $89.94 
                                    Now just USD $62.96  
                                    A 30% discount!
 

3 Month Recurring: Normal price USD $44.97 
                                   Now just USD $35.98  
                                   A 20% discount!
 

1 Month Recurring :  USD $14.99
 

Originally posted by AmazingAvery 

1 Month Recurring :  USD $14.99
 

Where is the discount here?

Originally posted by ste2000

Avery can you tell your friends over at Funcom that if they want to attract players this long term subscribtion will be perceived again like a clumsy attempt of marketing?

What's the problem in cutting the subscription rate of the monthly subscription.

You are not going to get more people like this, what you will achieve is to make players feel more suspicious towards the product, meaning that you only cut the long term subscription so people will be tempted to subscibe for 3-12 months and even if the game is still rubbish they will have to pay the rest of the contract.

If Funcom is sure about the quality of the game, they should cut the monthly subscription rate to start with.
Funcom needs talented marketing people, the old team is still lurking around the offices, get rid of them............

Lord of the Rings has been quite successful with lifetime offers and the 9.99 rate has it not? And how long after launch did we get price cuts?

This is a two fold process. Rewards current subscribers and also gives incentives for new subcribers.

Simply put the incentive is to subscribe longer to get more of a discount - not hard to grasp.

Doing something to secure revenues > doing nothing.

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by AmazingAvery 

1 Month Recurring :  USD $14.99
 

 

Where is the discount here?

Umm...what's the title of the thread? It's obvious 3 months and up subs get discount.

Originally posted by Sevenwind

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by AmazingAvery 

1 Month Recurring :  USD $14.99
 

 

Where is the discount here?

 

Umm...what's the title of the thread? It's obvious 3 months and up subs get discount.

Uhhmmmmm ..................read post number 2 (read every post before replying)

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by Sevenwind

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by AmazingAvery 

1 Month Recurring :  USD $14.99
 

 

Where is the discount here?

 

Umm...what's the title of the thread? It's obvious 3 months and up subs get discount.

Uhhmmmmm ..................read post number 2 (read every post before replying)

I did, don't ask obvious answers then.

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Lord of the Rings has been quite successful with lifetime offers and the 9.99 rate has it not? And how long after launch did we get price cuts?

This is a two fold process. Rewards current subscribers and also gives incentives for new subcribers.

Simply put the incentive is to subscribe longer to get more of a discount - not hard to grasp.

Avery, AoC is not LOTRO and Funcom is not Turbine.

If I want to try AoC I want to be able to unsubscribe after 1 month if I don't like it............that's a positive marketing for AoC.
By tempting me to subscribe for longer to a game which I might not like, it will make me even more angry towards Funcom, if I will be disappointed again with the game.

AoC and Funcom needs still to prove themselves, that's what Funcom don't get.
LOTRO and Turbine never upset their customers so they can do whatever they want.

But I don't want to ruin any further the party, after all a discount is still a discount.
I just wanted to give my advice by saying this is not the best way to attract diffident customers.....that's all (and fire the marketing people, they are destroying Funcom)

Originally posted by ste2000

Avery can you tell your friends over at Funcom that if they want to attract players this lo Funcom needs talented marketing people, the old team is still lurking around the offices after sinking the game, get rid of them...........

ng term subscribtion will be perceived again like a clumsy attempt of marketing?

What's the problem in cutting the subscription rate of the monthly subscription.

You are not going to get more people like this, what you will achieve is to make players feel more suspicious towards the product, meaning that you only cut the long term subscription so people will be tempted to subscibe for 3-12 months and even if the game is still rubbish they will have to pay the rest of the contract.

If Funcom is sure about the quality of the game, they should cut the monthly subscription rate to start with.

Unless you're educated in proper marketing your statement is worthless.

AOC has improved alot since it's release, and even though there are still flaws, the game is a better product than it was a year ago.

Now, low subscription fees tend to attract both the F2P players and those who have played the trial a chance to experience the game and all of its content and still have some money left in the pocket. It will also benefit the current players as they will now have to pay even less to play a game they like. This is a common and smart move. And yes, I've been educated in marketing and sales techniques.

Originally posted by Sevenwind

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by Sevenwind

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by AmazingAvery 

1 Month Recurring :  USD $14.99
 

 

Where is the discount here?

 

Umm...what's the title of the thread? It's obvious 3 months and up subs get discount.

Uhhmmmmm ..................read post number 2 (read every post before replying)

 

I did, don't ask obvious answers then.

Go to bed pls..........

Originally posted by Boddah

Originally posted by ste2000

What's the problem in cutting the subscription rate of the monthly subscription.

You are not going to get more people like this, what you will achieve is to make players feel more suspicious towards the product, meaning that you only cut the long term subscription so people will be tempted to subscibe for 3-12 months and even if the game is still rubbish they will have to pay the rest of the contract.

If Funcom is sure about the quality of the game, they should cut the monthly subscription rate to start with.
Funcom needs talented marketing people, the old team is still lurking around the offices after sinking the game, get rid of them............

 

AOC has improved alot since it's release, and even though there are still flaws, the game is a better product than it was a year ago.

 

Don't you understand that is exactly what I am talking about?
Why don't you people read the posts correctly.

If AoC has improved so much the best way is to discount the monthly subscription, so the player will be more tempted to give it a try and discover how wonderful AoC is..........

By not discounting the monthly sub, you are giving the impression you are not sure the game will keep the player interest for more than a month.......get my point?

Erm.. lets see... Buy one year sub and you get a DISCOUNT !  But... are you gonna be playing ?  lol...

Its a DESPARATE messure from Funcom to get some money in fast to pay the bills.  They do not care what will be in 6 months time cause they can't even tell if the company will still be around.  Its that dire for them. 

But most of all - it pretty much shows that the expansion is not coming in the next 12 months.  So the trick is to fool ppl into subing now - before announchments about the actual release date (Late 2010 at first ? ) of the expansion.

Originally posted by ste2000

Originally posted by Boddah

Originally posted by ste2000

What's the problem in cutting the subscription rate of the monthly subscription.

You are not going to get more people like this, what you will achieve is to make players feel more suspicious towards the product, meaning that you only cut the long term subscription so people will be tempted to subscibe for 3-12 months and even if the game is still rubbish they will have to pay the rest of the contract.

If Funcom is sure about the quality of the game, they should cut the monthly subscription rate to start with.
Funcom needs talented marketing people, the old team is still lurking around the offices after sinking the game, get rid of them............

 

AOC has improved alot since it's release, and even though there are still flaws, the game is a better product than it was a year ago.

 

 

Don't you understand that is exactly what I am talking about?
Why don't you people read the posts correctly.

If AoC has improved so much the best way is to discount the monthly subscription, so the player will be more tempted to give it a try and discover how wonderful AoC is..........

By not discounting the monthly sub, you are giving the impression you are not sure the game will keep the player interest for more than a month.......get my point?

I read your post mate, but remember that you get a months free play. Even though you have to subscribe to play theis free month, the money will not be taken from your account until the game time starts. therefore, if you play the free month and the game isn't your piece of cake, you only have to cancel your subscription, and the money will remain yours.This only works for the new players though.

If former players would like to try the game out again,  then you're absolutely right and Funcom should consider to lower the 1-month subscription fee. However, new players have nothing to fear. :)

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Lord of the Rings has been quite successful with lifetime offers and the 9.99 rate has it not? And how long after launch did we get price cuts?

This is a two fold process. Rewards current subscribers and also gives incentives for new subcribers.

Simply put the incentive is to subscribe longer to get more of a discount - not hard to grasp.

LoTRO launched with lifetime subs and those who subbed the first month after launch got the 9.99 offer. Turbine still offers both off and on as promotional gimmicks.

Anyway it is obvious that Aion has hurt LoTRO and AoC, although because of the PvP nature of the game and lower population it seems to have hit AoC the hardest.

Originally posted by Jackdog

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Lord of the Rings has been quite successful with lifetime offers and the 9.99 rate has it not? And how long after launch did we get price cuts?

This is a two fold process. Rewards current subscribers and also gives incentives for new subcribers.

Simply put the incentive is to subscribe longer to get more of a discount - not hard to grasp.

 

LoTRO launched with lifetime subs and those who subbed the first month after launch got the 9.99 offer. Turbine still offers both off and on as promotional gimmicks.

Anyway it is obvious that Aion has hurt LoTRO and AoC, although because of the PvP nature of the game and lower population it seems to have hit AoC the hardest.

WAR has been hit hardest and with the latest changes in that game - we might well see that game closing down soon.  Its that bad.   Im still baffled how a company is able to release a patch with so HORRENDOUS issues that last patch of WAR brought to ppl that are paying sub for the game.

Originally posted by Anerelle

They should merge WAR and AoC servers LOL

With the populations both of those games have nowadays, it would only take 3 servers max to support the population.  May only need one...

As I stated in another place this is a sign that AoC can't compete and has a low quality product aside from graphics.  It seems that Funcom messed up the numbers in an effort to misslead the consumers if th eother poster was rught.

If you are a player realize that the average player in AOC does not stay  12 months or even 6 so if you select those options then you are just wasting money.

Finally, the real reason I suspect Funcom did this?  Bold because this is important.

Funcom is bleeding subscriptions so revenue is down, instead of having more players pay more over time they can make the next quarter's income statement look better by having the fewer players pay less over time but more in the form of a lumpsum payment for more time....and as I stated most players will not be here for the back end of that play period, especially now that not much will be happening untill the expansion.........so pay for 6 months stay for 3.

Why did they do this? Are server populations dropping?

Originally posted by maakaatuu

Why did they do this? Are server populations dropping?

OMFG DUH! LOL. Of course they are, and pretty soon because of server implosions we are going to see another exodus of players, because of the bullshit Craig Morrison has set this game up with for mechanics and fix & feature priorities.

Originally posted by ste2000

Avery can you tell your friends over at Funcom that if they want to attract players this long term subscribtion will be perceived again like a clumsy attempt of marketing?

What's the problem in cutting the subscription rate of the monthly subscription.

You are not going to get more people like this, what you will achieve is to make players feel more suspicious towards the product, meaning that you only cut the long term subscription so people will be tempted to subscibe for 3-12 months and even if the game is still rubbish they will have to pay the rest of the contract.

If Funcom is sure about the quality of the game, they should cut the monthly subscription rate to start with.
Funcom needs talented marketing people, the old team is still lurking around the offices after sinking the game, get rid of them............

Excellent ideas, start with Lord Onion himself. In fact don't just fire him, behead him. Film it, and post it on U-tube, don't worry about unlawful repcussions. They Crucified Jesus and nothing happened, ok well that isn't exactly true but Erlning E. isn't exactly Jesus and we want his head. Do you hear us Funcom? We want his head, his portly porky swine flu causing facehead. On a pike. Yes put it on a pike.

Originally posted by Boddah

Originally posted by ste2000

Avery can you tell your friends over at Funcom that if they want to attract players this lo Funcom needs talented marketing people, the old team is still lurking around the offices after sinking the game, get rid of them...........

ng term subscribtion will be perceived again like a clumsy attempt of marketing?

What's the problem in cutting the subscription rate of the monthly subscription.

You are not going to get more people like this, what you will achieve is to make players feel more suspicious towards the product, meaning that you only cut the long term subscription so people will be tempted to subscibe for 3-12 months and even if the game is still rubbish they will have to pay the rest of the contract.

If Funcom is sure about the quality of the game, they should cut the monthly subscription rate to start with.

 

Unless you're educated in proper marketing your statement is worthless.

AOC has improved alot since it's release, and even though there are still flaws, the game is a better product than it was a year ago.

Now, low subscription fees tend to attract both the F2P players and those who have played the trial a chance to experience the game and all of its content and still have some money left in the pocket. It will also benefit the current players as they will now have to pay even less to play a game they like. This is a common and smart move. And yes, I've been educated in marketing and sales techniques.

What marketing school was it that you were intersted in? Funcom has never had a marketing problem. They have an outright credibility problem and a product that nobody wants to buy even after trying to play for free. Clearly if you put all your eggs in the marketing basket you will have none left for the business basket.

The only benefit will be to current players who choose to buy into a longer term plan and Funcom who is artificially inflating their revenue by doing this by and reducing the slide of subscriptions which they won't admit are occuring clearly. However, the real problem will crop up when people a significant number of existing players simply stop playing or reduce their playtime as this will lead to server implosions. Though Funcom already has the subscription money in the bank most of the remaining players are intelligent enough to not take a 12 month plan from this company after what they have done to their previous customers.

F2P players are not attracted by a lower than standard fee, free and pay are two mutually exclusive markets, if you didn't learn that in marketing you should go back to school and get re-certified.

You argument is also flawed because roughly 90-95% of players who tried the free trials also did not pick up a subcription. So there simply is nobody in that market, i.e. the players who have some money left in their pocket. What would be a smart move would be fore AOC to start firing people and bringing in new blood, new ideas from the community, get rid of marketing, and make a move to bring this game back from the brink by involving the community in marketing and in development.

Age of Conan is too much of a failed product and Funcom is a failing company. The market has already decided their fate for their actions.

Alot of MMO gamers are ready to pay alot (and even more) for a good product.

Very few gamers are ready to pay less for poor quality game. 

Populare MMO game would not be offering these kinda deals.  We all know it - and it pretty much shows what is happening at Funcom. 

The Hyenas are barking but the prey is far from dead so they will have to move ahead barking anywhere else...