1) How does setting of business model work in practice.

Will it be Trion as a publisher for the western release who will decide on the business model?

Is it XL Games as a developer who decides on the business model?

Or is it based on a mutual agreement?

To what extent do the parties involved influence setting of the business model?

If it is Trion, what can we expect regarding business model?

In Asia, it is box + sub + cash shop (correct me if I am wrong).

What are Trion's cash shops like? What is the cash shop currently used in Asia like...does it imply P2W or does it give some kind of advantage to players who spend money there over others?

I personally prefer subscription based business model, so I hope they will go the same way as in Asia.

I would not mind if there was a cash shop unless it provides players with advantage over others.

2) POLL: What business model would YOU prefer for AA's western release (from gamer's perspective)

To make it easier, lets assume that the cash shop does not make the game P2W and is just cosmetic.

If a game is worth playing, then I'll glady pay the sub. I understand that developers/publishers want to maximise profit - and I can't change that, and I can't know what's the most profitable payment model.

I do know that cash shops tend to corrupt design choices, even if it happens very slowly - and sometimes it's so subtle that most players don't notice it or just don't mind.

I prefer a pure and straightforward payment model, and I think for a game like ArcheAge - a traditional subscription model is ideal. It means continued development for as long as it remains popular - and I can't imagine this game not being at least modestly successful.

If it ends up failing or not turning a profit, then I would be more lenient regarding alternate payment options - but to add a cash shop based on nothing but opportunism irks me - and tends to taint the whole thing.

There's something awfully artificial about a cash shop in my game - and it breaks my immersion.

ArcheAge is very much a "virtual world" type of game - and therefore it's vital to preserve immersion as much as you can.

Well, that's my opinion.

I would rather see a box cost + cashshop, done Aion "Truly F2P" style (just with a box cost).  Or I suppose this would be more like GW2 style as well.

I'd prefer no free download, other than a free restricted trial.  There needs to be some sort of cost associated with the game in order to help deter gold farmers, bots, spammers, and the like.  At least a deleted account cost them something, if and when banned.

As for a subscription, I think the game would be more approachable without one.  ArcheAge will be sandboxy and a haven for roleplayers, so I imagine the cashshop is going to do fine on it's own, selling luxory vanity stuff.

It is sad that these days this is even a question.

Would be nice if everyone was educated enough to realize that cash shops are a scam.

id like it free  with no charges

that dosent mean i  dont understand  they need to make money it  just means  thats what i would like to pay for it

the maximum i will pay is  box plus cash shop the moment a sub comes in i dont buy the game

as most people quit the game in the first 3 months   why even have a sub   if you just sell the box have a cash shop   as long as your game is good people will buy it   and  spend money in your cash  shop

plus you will sell more boxes at releases because of the b2p that  the extra sales will give a greater income than the  subs

Originally posted by Cepheiden

It is sad that these days this is even a question.

Would be nice if everyone was educated enough to realize that cash shops are a scam.

cash shops are a scam  but not as big a scam as a subscription

Originally posted by Cepheiden

It is sad that these days this is even a question.

Would be nice if everyone was educated enough to realize that cash shops are a scam.

Well sub+cash can be viewed as a scam (SWTOR being the worst culprit, WoW being less obvious but still in this category, many others also), since if your paying a subscription you should already be included in the loop for all potential cashshop items, included as part of the sub.  No disagreement there with that part.

With B2P, I think it's fair game for a company to host a cashshop, provided the items do NOT allow the skipping of content or P2W type enhancements (PVE or PVP).  Just vanity would be ideal, such that sold items do not belittle the efforts of non-cashshop players.  Also cashshop items should not be trade-able or sellable to exploit / corrupt currency markets.

ArcheAge would be ideal for a cashshop, with housing / castle decorations and a demand for artsy-type costumes.  Not to be replaced by crafted goods, just some extra stuff.  Also without a subscription, a well-done cashshop would keep the game chugging along.  But if there is a cashshop, there should not be a subscription (and vise versa).

Id like box-cash shop with a sub.

I have paid for many a crappy game also. Still gaming is my hobby. If you dont have the cash or are unwilling to pay...get a new hobby.

Guild Wars 2's business model is the way to go if you ask me. Worked for me in GW1 and it works now in GW2.

Honestly I hope they go with box price + cash shop and no subscription options. Whether you enjoy the game or not, look at how successful GW2 has been and maintained it's success and continued growing rapidly to this day...They have to continuously upgrade their servers to let more people in because most of them become "Full" really quickly. I hope the same for ArcheAge, I don't think subscription models, even "F2P" ones are as viable as B2P+Cash Shop is. These companies make bank off cash shops alone.

People are more likely to play a game if they can pay a 1 time fee, and then choose to purchase in-game merchandise if they want to, and not have to worry about if they're missing features because of this gated model, or that gated model. This is something I do feel very strongly about when it comes to MMO's. The subscription model in all it's iterations is dying a very rapid death.

Originally posted by Valentina

Honestly I hope they go with box price + cash shop and no subscription options. Whether you enjoy the game or not, look at how successful GW2 has been and maintained it's success and continued growing rapidly to this day...They have to continuously upgrade their servers to let more people in because most of them become "Full" really quickly.

 Eh, I think your statement is a little off.

Anyways, I want to see box price + sub, no cash shop whatsoever. Need to go back to the days where MMOs offered everything in-game, actually in-game.