I think the whole discussion about the lifetime subscription is a bit premature. Funcom has already confirmed that the lifetime offer will be available well beyond the launch of the game, so you don't have to commit to it prior to launch like you did in past mmorpgs. If you are unsure but still interested in the basic game, you can just buy the basic package (which includes 30 days btw) and perhaps pick a lifetime at a later date.

Source: http://www.darkdemonscrygaia.com/showthread.php?p=694435#post694435

Ugh .. no I would never. Not even on games I really look forward to. Didn't even get the CE in the case of SWTOR despite me looking forward to playing it a lot. Turned out to be a good call as I quit before the first sub term hit.

You never really know how a game will end up untill you you had some solid hands on time. (i.e. made it to endgame and then some).

Why do we even have discuss why lifetime memberships are bad from a player perspective?

1.  You are betting on liking a game for over a year just to save a bit of money.  If you don't like the game, or if it absolute sucks, you lose big.  Even if you end up liking the game, you at least are paying for something you like.

2.  You will feel obligated to like this game because you already sunk so much money into it.  If the game sucks, you will become miserable trying to force yourself to like the game and become one of those dreaded fanbois.

3.  THEY DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE.  Sure, they'd like you around to bolster the numbers, but if they could get rid of you, they would in a second.  Everything that they do will be to get new players, which many times will contradict with the long term health of the game.

4.  When they introduce a cash shop, they  will care about you again.  And it will be sooner rather than later, because that's the only way they will get more money out of you.

5.  You will start posting "I paid for a lifetime sub, I should get everything for free!"

6.  Etc.

Originally posted by PukeBucket

I don't think I'd life time sub to any MMO. Just cuz it's real easy for a plug to be pulled and that "investment" goes nill.

That's my decision. As a person in the creative industry I'm glad suckers are born every minute.

How many AAA MMO's have been shut down so far? all the MMOS i have payed sub for are still up and running. Sorry but you are grasping at straws here. If i remain so fearful all the time i wouldn't buy and play  a single MMO.

Originally posted by bansan

Why do we even have discuss why lifetime memberships are bad from a player perspective?

1.  You are betting on liking a game for over a year just to save a bit of money.  If you don't like the game, or if it absolute sucks, you lose big.  Even if you end up liking the game, you at least are paying for something you like.

People who have followed the game for years now (It has been developed for 10 years) know all the core game mechanics and they know what they are putting themselves into. The only way you wouldn't gain from the lifetime is

A) You don't play the game

B) The game gets shutdown (10 year developed AAA title, not gonna happend)

2.  You will feel obligated to like this game because you already sunk so much money into it.  If the game sucks, you will become miserable trying to force yourself to like the game and become one of those dreaded fanbois.

People who buy the lifetime are not obliged to keep playing. They can play as much as they like, take a break, come back, take a break, come back, without actually having to pay for subs everytime they want to try out a new patch or something likewise. Most of the people who buy lifetime are already fanbois and white knights of the game, I don't see the problem Oo

3.  THEY DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE.  Sure, they'd like you around to bolster the numbers, but if they could get rid of you, they would in a second.  Everything that they do will be to get new players, which many times will contradict with the long term health of the game.

Developers need a solid and loyal playerbase to keep working on the game. AoC for example would've flopped unless people who bought the game stick with it/came back once they got it fixed up a bit. It actually was the players who bought longtime subs that helped FC out of the really rough start with AoC. Also lifetime subscriptions are still active subscriptions and incase of TSW the people buying lifetime are most likely to spend on cosmetic clothing and convienience items. Wouldn't be much business sense in saying to the most loyal fans to scram after their money has been transacted. You are actually contradicting yourself by saying lifetimers become fanbois and the game doesn't need them. Every game needs fanbois.

4.  When they introduce a cash shop, they  will care about you again.  And it will be sooner rather than later, because that's the only way they will get more money out of you.

You give very little credit to developers. First and foremost they want to make a great game. Then they want to please their publishers by making profit out of it. Refer to point 3.

5.  You will start posting "I paid for a lifetime sub, I should get everything for free!"

Beats the 200 lines of fanboi s#it about GW2 from people who haven't even played the game.

6.  Etc

Imho lifetime subs are a great idea and I would like to see more of them. You can instantly show your support to the game and the developers and you get freed from the monthly subscriptions. Sure hitting 250$ on a game hurts as it should, but once it's done it's done. I won't have to play a nickel for this game (except for expansions) even when it goes freemium in the future.

I am not a funcom fan and dislike the way they consistantly nickel and slime their customers so i would never pre-purchase a game or even a lifetime sub from them..

With that said if i were a fan and liked fukcoms games which i generally dont due to constant changes i would not hesitate to buy in because every game they have made is still operational so they if nothing else have that going for them..

Sony once was my least favorite but their lastest efforts have took me from scowling to dubious and closer to apprehensive..

With funcom i am not sure there is anything they can do to change the way i feel about them and their products, i would warn all funcom fans to be prepared for disappointment and frustration as it is the fukcom way to always without fail overhype their game to the point it cannot possibly live up to it, beware doctored pics and vids as well...

Originally posted by dageeza

I am not a funcom fan and dislike the way they consistantly nickel and slime their customers so i would never pre-purchase a game or even a lifetime sub from them..

With that said if i were a fan and liked fukcoms games which i generally dont due to constant changes i would not hesitate to buy in because every game they have made is still operational so they if nothing else have that going for them..

 

Sony once was my least favorite but their lastest efforts have took me from scowling to dubious and closer to apprehensive..

With funcom i am not sure there is anything they can do to change the way i feel about them and their products, i would warn all funcom fans to be prepared for disappointment and frustration as it is the fukcom way to always without fail overhype their game to the point it cannot possibly live up to it, beware doctored pics and vids as well...

IF Funcom would actually place money back into a game called Anarchy Online, from the revenues of TSW, then, I'd might sub as a lifer to TSW, but, Funcom hasn't done anything with AO in years, and, the promised Graphic Engine upgrade, along with a full game engine has been long awaited by the community. They even dangled the new GE in front of the AO community, just to keep players around for years on end, a great many of the bugs haven't been addressed at all, nor, do they even care about the game, other then they are making money from players, even though the promises keep rolling in from Funcom.

Personally, I've passed on AOC, and, more then likely TSW, and, have already dropped AO from my list of games. But, if they sunset AO, and bring out AO II, that has a greatly improved game and graphic engine, something more inline to 2013-2015 standards, I'd resub to AO in less time it take my heart to beat once.

I never get lifetime subs, and its not that I think the games will be bad or anything. Its just, I usually only play mmos for 3 months or so. The longest I've played an mmo was EQ and WoW, EQ 1999-2003, WoW 2004-2006 with off and on returns. I will grant in those cases I would have saved money if there were a lifetime sub, but there are so many games I would have lost money on. Hellgate is a shining example of wasted money if I had gotten a lifetime sub. Another would have been AoC or Vanguard(again if there was an option available). I just don't think plunking down 200 bucks just in case I will play a game for a long long time is worth the risk of me dropping it at the end of the free month. Nothing against this game or any of the others either.

Originally posted by GoldenArrow

5.  You will start posting "I paid for a lifetime sub, I should get everything for free!"

Beats the 200 lines of fanboi s#it about GW2 from people who haven't even played the game.

 

 

as opposed to the TSW fanbois who haven't played the game and think its great? and waste 200 bucks?!?!!? Trust me.. the game SUCKS! but I know you won't.. you will just think im a "GW fanboi" and ignore my information which is from actual game experience. 

Now what I came back to this thread to inform you all of is the bad customer server from Funcom you can hope to experience. I just had 2 wonderful conversations with live chat because I need to verify my account for like the 3rd or 4th time...

ugg ok so the post is being dumb this part is supposed to be AFTER the live chat but it wont let me >.< Anyways I still cannot access any account, I had to EMAIL them to get things fixed. This is just not acceptable for a company.. emails from 1970?!?! really?!?!? and 2 different guys giving 2 different contact emails. Just be warry.

(01:50:25 PM GMT) Tony: Please make sure to add account@funcom.com to your contacts and I can try to resend your email verification again.
(01:51:40 PM GMT) Me: its added

(02:42:29 PM GMT) Greg: Have you checked your spam folder and your oldest emails? We have received reports about emails being listed as coming in from 1970 instead of 2012.

(02:42:29 PM GMT) Greg: Have you checked your spam folder and your oldest emails? We have received reports about emails being listed as coming in from 1970 instead of 2012.
(02:43:25 PM GMT) Me: well there is no NEW mails even if the date is wrong, but yes nothing in spam folder.. even checked my other email address in case that was the issue
(02:44:16 PM GMT) Greg: I see. Please add account@ageofconan.com to your trusted contact list, then disable any antivirus you have running. Once you do so, let me know so that I can send a new verification email to you.
(02:44:40 PM GMT) Me: last time the guy said to add account@funcom.com which I did
(02:44:54 PM GMT) Me: this is so I can access **NDA**
(02:45:32 PM GMT) Me: not age of conan

(02:45:58 PM GMT) Greg: I understand, but the verification emails come from account@ageofconan.com regardless of the game account.

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Originally posted by Ankur

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Originally posted by PukeBucket
I don't think I'd life time sub to any MMO. Just cuz it's real easy for a plug to be pulled and that "investment" goes nill.
That's my decision. As a person in the creative industry I'm glad suckers are born every minute.

---

How many AAA MMO's have been shut down so far? all the MMOS i have payed sub for are still up and running. Sorry but you are grasping at straws here. If i remain so fearful all the time i wouldn't buy and play  a single MMO.

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More than a few, and with the market getting even more crowded more likely than ever.
I'm not fearful of it happening, but I'm not a retard thinking a life time sub to any MMO is a good idea.
But hey, if you're that irresponsible and reckless I'd rather see you waste that cash on a video game rather than the hardcore shit you hit on that pipe before thinking this was even remotely worth defending. Unless you're a sucker and got offended. In that case, HAHAHAHAH what a sucker.

Originally posted by PukeBucket

 

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Originally posted by Ankur

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Originally posted by PukeBucket
I don't think I'd life time sub to any MMO. Just cuz it's real easy for a plug to be pulled and that "investment" goes nill.
That's my decision. As a person in the creative industry I'm glad suckers are born every minute.

---

How many AAA MMO's have been shut down so far? all the MMOS i have payed sub for are still up and running. Sorry but you are grasping at straws here. If i remain so fearful all the time i wouldn't buy and play  a single MMO.

---

 

More than a few, and with the market getting even more crowded more likely than ever.
I'm not fearful of it happening, but I'm not a retard thinking a life time sub to any MMO is a good idea.
But hey, if you're that irresponsible and reckless I'd rather see you waste that cash on a video game rather than the hardcore shit you hit on that pipe before thinking this was even remotely worth defending. Unless you're a sucker and got offended. In that case, HAHAHAHAH what a sucker.

Don't give yourself too much credit here because i wasn't ofended. Just found your post very strange. Care to give examples of these AAA mmos that were shut down? investment is an investment whether it is F2P or B2P. you invest in your character and once servers shut down does it really matter? you will lose your character and progression in both type of MMOS.

Also you seem angry for some reason, but i think a guy who calls himself puke, i should be prepared for anything ;)

I did the life time thingy once. For a game called Hellgate London. I know, i deserve a good kick in the berrys. Well. I wont ever do that again! Dont care what the game is, until i can play it. With a regular sub, then make up my mind. Yesum.

It takes a lot of faith to put that amount of money into a game that has shown very little footage and there are minimal player experience articles out there. All the time they show the game is a press event because they haven't let the public get their hands on it on a wide open beta or test. They have some interesting ideas but unfortunately I have no clue how will they work in an unsupervised enviroment like press events. Sorry, but I don't have that much faith.

Originally posted by maitrader

Sup guys,

 

I have been a long-time fan of Funcom... unlike many people who nitt-pick the crap out of funcom and their games, it truly is the ONLY company to offer something different and revolutionary to the genre with each game... We need more FUNCOMS ... not more Blizzards and Anets... I dont make tons of money, but I wanted to support funcom for trying a brand new spin on the genre through TSW... such balls (regardless of whether it works or not) deserves to be supported.. especially in a genre full of clones trying to be EQ or WoW... This game is being done unlike any game before its time.. for the amount of time they have been working on it (4 - 5 years anyone?), I believe this game will be good at launch, and spectacular in time. WHO ELSE BOUGHT LifeTime?!

Yeah, we need more companies who fall flat on their faces as they rush from the gate because they couldn't be bothered to finish their game before releasing it.  We definitely need more of that.

Spend the money you have squirreled away for a lifetime sub, on lottery tickets.  You have a better chance of recovering your investment.

Originally posted by Kuppa

It takes a lot of faith to put that amount of money into a game that has shown very little footage and there are minimal player experience articles out there. All the time they show the game is a press event because they haven't let the public get their hands on it on a wide open beta or test. They have some interesting ideas but unfortunately I have no clue how will they work in an unsupervised enviroment like press events. Sorry, but I don't have that much faith.

There is a lot of footage if you search for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ0IIX2_chA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVXMwWwgAhE&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZPS1SvmVHI&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YB2Vnyp89A&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW6bptkpXVo&feature=related

There are more but i found all this without even putting any effort into search.

Originally posted by Ankur

Originally posted by Kuppa

It takes a lot of faith to put that amount of money into a game that has shown very little footage and there are minimal player experience articles out there. All the time they show the game is a press event because they haven't let the public get their hands on it on a wide open beta or test. They have some interesting ideas but unfortunately I have no clue how will they work in an unsupervised enviroment like press events. Sorry, but I don't have that much faith.

There is a lot of footage if you search for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ0IIX2_chA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVXMwWwgAhE&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZPS1SvmVHI&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YB2Vnyp89A&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW6bptkpXVo&feature=related

 

There are more but i found all this without even putting any effort into search.

I specifically say in my post that all they show is press events, all staged footage of specific places. There is no footage of anyone playing the game running around doing what they please not looking at a developer playing the game. When a game is this close to release and they have to stage everything so carefully, I don't have much faith to put any money into the game.

Originally posted by PukeBucket

 

 

(mod edit)

If we do not invest in subscription why even bring the 'investment' in first post? all i said was that investment is an investment whether you pay normal sub or pay life time sub or stick to B2P model. i asked example for AAA mmos wiht lifetime sub that were shut down and other than HGL there no other example. Also you give example of three MMOS that had a long and respectable run. Especially Shadowbane and SWG.

You are still angry though..i still don't know why.

I'm really really tempted to drop the money on a preorder+lifetime sub, but I'm not going to. At least not until I have a chance to beta test TSW and see if it lives up to the hype around the net and in my head. Unfortunately for my SWTOR guild if I do end up liking TSW then I am out of SWTOR and my guild will need a new Republic side leader.

If I do like TSW after some playtime then I will surely drop money on a lifetime sub.

So it is confirmed that one can purchase a lifetime sub at some point after preordering?

Originally posted by Ankur

Originally posted by Kuppa

It takes a lot of faith to put that amount of money into a game that has shown very little footage and there are minimal player experience articles out there. All the time they show the game is a press event because they haven't let the public get their hands on it on a wide open beta or test. They have some interesting ideas but unfortunately I have no clue how will they work in an unsupervised enviroment like press events. Sorry, but I don't have that much faith.

There is a lot of footage if you search for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ0IIX2_chA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVXMwWwgAhE&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZPS1SvmVHI&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YB2Vnyp89A&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW6bptkpXVo&feature=related

 

There are more but i found all this without even putting any effort into search.

thats almost all a year old or older... and it shows just how bad the game really is. That area discussed(after leaving Kingsmuth) is so bad.. the quests are ridiculous and boring, combat is terrible.. the only thing that is nice is the whole I forget the name I call them runes butt hats not right. Basically your armor.. pretty unique and the weapons are interesting, like a lighter is the focus for fire magic. However the heart of the game is flawed.. was a great idea gone terribly wrong.