Originally posted by Derros

meh, I never really play games long enough to warrent getting a Lifetime.

The only one I would want one for, dont sell it for exactly that reason. People play it way to long for it to be a good deal for the publisher. The game? EVE. Of course...

No way in hell.

So far every game to offer a lifetime subscription has gone free to play within 18months of release. If you plan on playing those full 18 months then it may be worth it. If you don't plan on playing that time period then no it isn't worth it.

Originally posted by namelessbob

So far every game to offer a lifetime subscription has gone free to play within 18months of release.

Except LOTRO...

Not disagreeing with you, but facts are facts ;)

I can count on one hand (with fingers left over) the number of MMORPG's that I've played longer than 6 months, so no, a lifetime sub would not be a good value for me in most situations.

In fact, that last two titles I've bought subs to (6 and 3 months) respectively I've ended up growing bored in the 2nd month so I think I'll stick with the monthly charge from now on.

Here's my opinion:

Lifetime subscriptions are GENERALLY a good deal.  Regardless whether the game goes F2P or not.  You figure, most games that go F2P end up giving Lifetime subbers free everything plus some cash shop cash.

That being said, it has been a LONG time since I played any MMO for greater than 6 months.  I tried TSW and didn't care for the combat at all.  So in this case it's a no for me.

Am I a lifetime subber to ANY game?  No.  I find them hard to justify.  In the time I'd earn my money back, I'd've already moved on 5-6 games.  I'm not a Raider.  I play for a story and the point at which I have to "work" and "do math" in order to enjoy my game, ruins the enjoyment.  End-games are not for me.  I get it.  Because I know that, I know what to stay away from.

I think Funcom is a company that will and want to think outside the box and try new thing with the genre, and I want to support this by buying the lifetime sub. Another pluss for me, is that this is a Norwegian company and I want to suport the little of  norwegian game industry we got. I also think they have made some good games earlier that have made me have some good  fun for years. I think The Secret World will be a good game and entertain me for a long time. I have been a closed beta tester for a year.

With so many decent games going F2P, I cant see many up and comers making it for too long with the subscription model.

This is obviously just my opinion, I find it difficult to justify spending the money on a subscription when theres games like GW2 coming out. I know that GW2 isnt everyone's kind of play style but it will have a fair size player base.

Nope. The iffy state that MMOs are released in these days doesn't inspire confidence. I won't be buying any lifetime subs to any games until they prove themselves first. AoC had such a lovely release (sarcasm) that I'm hoping TSW far surpasses the glowing standard Funcom set with it. I don't think they will, though. I'm really hoping they prove me wrong, that they not only have a successful release but one that blows everyone's mind to the point that we're all questioning why we doubted them in the first place. 

Originally posted by LachyFTW

Why would you buy a lifetime sub to a game that it's clearly going F2P, anyone with any kind of MMO experience can see this coming a mile away.

And I see a ton of lawsuits coming if it does.

People who buy lifetime subs in 2012 really don't know much about the MMO industry or gaming trends in general.

The notion that you will only play 1 MMO and no other games for many years is completely nonsensical these days.

A proper gamer will consume a MMO's content in a month or two, unsub and take a month or two off to play other games and return once there is more content. Playing just 1 game all the time makes no sense when there are so many quality games of multiple genres out at the same time.

The only people who stick around in 1 MMO after clearing all content with nothing to do are the no-lifers who don't do anything else (they're the ones hanging around stormwind/orgrimmar 2-3 weeks before a new tier, just idling at the bank/AH) and also don't play other games when they've exhausted their "current MMO" - and that's really not a healthy way to game.

Originally posted by Greyhooff

People who buy lifetime subs in 2012 really don't know much about the MMO industry or gaming trends in general.

The notion that you will only play 1 MMO and no other games for many years is completely nonsensical these days.

A proper gamer will consume a MMO's content in a month or two, unsub and take a month or two off to play other games and return once there is more content. Playing just 1 game all the time makes no sense when there are so many quality games of multiple genres out at the same time.

The only people who stick around in 1 MMO after clearing all content with nothing to do are the no-lifers who don't do anything else (they're the ones hanging around stormwind/orgrimmar 2-3 weeks before a new tier, just idling at the bank/AH) and also don't play other games when they've exhausted their "current MMO" - and that's really not a healthy way to game.

I highlighted the parts that make you sound very condescending.

Please don't imply that your way to game is the only way to game, it typically rubs people the wrong way.

Also your whole post falls flat on its face when you consider the fact that subscribing to an MMORPG doesn't mean you can't play other games. I've only met one person that actually ONLY played the MMORPG they subscribed to. And I divorced her.

Originally posted by Blacknd

Originally posted by Greyhooff

People who buy lifetime subs in 2012 really don't know much about the MMO industry or gaming trends in general.

The notion that you will only play 1 MMO and no other games for many years is completely nonsensical these days.

A proper gamer will consume a MMO's content in a month or two, unsub and take a month or two off to play other games and return once there is more content. Playing just 1 game all the time makes no sense when there are so many quality games of multiple genres out at the same time.

The only people who stick around in 1 MMO after clearing all content with nothing to do are the no-lifers who don't do anything else (they're the ones hanging around stormwind/orgrimmar 2-3 weeks before a new tier, just idling at the bank/AH) and also don't play other games when they've exhausted their "current MMO" - and that's really not a healthy way to game.

I highlighted the parts that make you sound very condescending.

Please don't imply that your way to game is the only way to game, it typically rubs people the wrong way.

Also your whole post falls flat on its face when you consider the fact that subscribing to an MMORPG doesn't mean you can't play other games. I've only met one person that actually ONLY played the MMORPG they subscribed to. And I divorced her.

I just tire of seeing the people standing around these days in Orgrimmar doing nothing, wasting their time in a game where nothing is happening (WoW is in "waiting for expansion" phase right now) rather than going out and either doing something else or having fun playing other games.

The whole notion of "I am subbed to WoW so I only play WoW" is really detrimental to the actual fun people have, and it's a psychology that also breeds that fanboy resistance to any other games that WoW players are well known for.

I think if people  would vary their gaming habits and experience multiple games and genres, we would end up with a gaming audience that is more discerning and more fluid, and companies could no longer get away with shoddy incomplete products released early for box sales - and that is a relevant factor here, as it was for SWTOR and other MMOs.

Originally posted by Greyhooff

Originally posted by Blacknd

Originally posted by Greyhooff

People who buy lifetime subs in 2012 really don't know much about the MMO industry or gaming trends in general.

The notion that you will only play 1 MMO and no other games for many years is completely nonsensical these days.

A proper gamer will consume a MMO's content in a month or two, unsub and take a month or two off to play other games and return once there is more content. Playing just 1 game all the time makes no sense when there are so many quality games of multiple genres out at the same time.

The only people who stick around in 1 MMO after clearing all content with nothing to do are the no-lifers who don't do anything else (they're the ones hanging around stormwind/orgrimmar 2-3 weeks before a new tier, just idling at the bank/AH) and also don't play other games when they've exhausted their "current MMO" - and that's really not a healthy way to game.

I highlighted the parts that make you sound very condescending.

Please don't imply that your way to game is the only way to game, it typically rubs people the wrong way.

Also your whole post falls flat on its face when you consider the fact that subscribing to an MMORPG doesn't mean you can't play other games. I've only met one person that actually ONLY played the MMORPG they subscribed to. And I divorced her.

 

I just tire of seeing the people standing around these days in Orgrimmar doing nothing, wasting their time in a game where nothing is happening (WoW is in "waiting for expansion" phase right now) rather than going out and either doing something else or having fun playing other games.

The whole notion of "I am subbed to WoW so I only play WoW" is really detrimental to the actual fun people have, and it's a psychology that also breeds that fanboy resistance to any other games that WoW players are well known for.

I think if people  would vary their gaming habits and experience multiple games and genres, we would end up with a gaming audience that is more discerning and more fluid, and companies could no longer get away with shoddy incomplete products released early for box sales - and that is a relevant factor here, as it was for SWTOR and other MMOs.

I agree with everything you posted. My solution thusfar has been to introduce my fellow gamers to Steam. With the summer sales, it works very nicely. The exposure to indie projects is also nice.

Really though, my ex-wife fit the "I am subbed to WoW so I only play WoW" bill perfectly.

Lots of the people that are buying lifetime subs are people that will only really play one game a year or less and play it casually. I have a guy in my guild that is a lifetime sub of LOTRO and for years that was all he played regularly, a few hours a day at the very most so he's never going to burn through the game like a hardcore gamer and he will always have access to it.

A lot of people seem to think that the people buying lifetimes are 16 year olds with the time to play 12 hours a day, when in reality its more than likely people over 25 with a full time job and a family and they want to invest in one game to stick with for the long haul.

I do agree with people saying that more gamers should vary there game playing habits though, steam sales are great as are the humble bundles. Playing more than one game will also save you from getting burnt out on whatever your current MMO is too, I am more likely to stay subbed to a game for longer if I am also playing other games in between rather than just playing one game hardcore for a month and then ditching it.

Originally posted by SlickShoes

Lots of the people that are buying lifetime subs are people that will only really play one game a year or less and play it casually. I have a guy in my guild that is a lifetime sub of LOTRO and for years that was all he played regularly, a few hours a day at the very most so he's never going to burn through the game like a hardcore gamer and he will always have access to it.

A lot of people seem to think that the people buying lifetimes are 16 year olds with the time to play 12 hours a day, when in reality its more than likely people over 25 with a full time job and a family and they want to invest in one game to stick with for the long haul.

I do agree with people saying that more gamers should vary there game playing habits though, steam sales are great as are the humble bundles. Playing more than one game will also save you from getting burnt out on whatever your current MMO is too, I am more likely to stay subbed to a game for longer if I am also playing other games in between rather than just playing one game hardcore for a month and then ditching it.

You have a good point I also have several Life-Time subs and although I quit playing LOTR, I think TSW was designed to go F2p and Funcom is just sucking up as much money befor hand. We will find out in a few days how good the launch will be.

I was tempted for a moment to buy life time sub. But at the end I pre-ordered regular version for 50$. Simply because I'm not sure if I will be playing TSW more than for few months or even weeks.

Originally posted by Greyhooff

People who buy lifetime subs in 2012 really don't know much about the MMO industry or gaming trends in general.

The notion that you will only play 1 MMO and no other games for many years is completely nonsensical these days.

A proper gamer will consume a MMO's content in a month or two, unsub and take a month or two off to play other games and return once there is more content. Playing just 1 game all the time makes no sense when there are so many quality games of multiple genres out at the same time.

The only people who stick around in 1 MMO after clearing all content with nothing to do are the no-lifers who don't do anything else (they're the ones hanging around stormwind/orgrimmar 2-3 weeks before a new tier, just idling at the bank/AH) and also don't play other games when they've exhausted their "current MMO" - and that's really not a healthy way to game.

Ah, so YOU play MMO's like single player games, and anyone else that doesn't is doing it "wrong" ?

I don't play MMO's to "beat the game", i.e. consume all content and reach level-cap. I play them because I enjoy the levelling and gameplay. My "slow" style of playing usually means that I can play one MMO (that I really enjoy) for a long time, because by the time I'm approaching level-cap, the next expansion is released.

I play games where I can immerse myself, use my imagination and RP a bit on the side. I play for the journey, not the destination.

Originally posted by Blacknd My solution thusfar has been to introduce my fellow gamers to Steam. With the summer sales, it works very nicely. The exposure to indie projects is also nice.

 

Even though I don't plan to play it right now, I just picked up the Deus Ex package off Steam. That was on my wishlist already. Happy to stockpile that for future gaming pleasure :)

EDIT: In answer to the OP;) I finally decided to get the regular pre-order, since I didn't play the beta at all. However, I have to say I was totally against Funcom (-- for reasons I won't bore you with here, and villians EA as distributor), but I changed my mind based on how fun the PvP vids looked to me. Anyway, I figure I will get some fun learning about a new game world. If I love the game and they leave the lifetime sub option up for a couple of months, I will re-consider.

after aoc i cant see how anyone would buy a lifetime sub from this company