Malixu

I'd love to see "light usage" subscription rates. I can't even guarantee I'll log in AT ALL during a month, which makes it $15 up in smoke...

Guilty? No, I feel like an idiot, and then I cancel.

Would kill for a per-hour rate. I've had months I haven't logged in, and still paid for the time, because things were simply busier than expected.

Meanwhile, I'll be over here, hugging Guild Wars' business model.

Good thing servers, bandwidth and support staff are entirely free, or they might have to spend some of that money on maintaining their data centres.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't okay, but can we get rid of this idea that their profit per month is subscribers * subscription fee.

If I spent 3 hours a night in an MMO, that would basically be the entirety of my free time wiped out excluding weekends. By the time I get home, have sorted food, dealt with whatever crisis happens tonight, 3-4 hours before I need to go to bed sounds about right.

I think the argument of attitude is important though. People who approach MMOs almost like a job terrify me. I have a job, why would I want a second one?

Lifetime subscription.

Back in reality however, I'm currently paying by debit card because I get 1% cashback. That's changing, so I'll move on to a credit card for the 40-50 days of extra interest in my savings account, and the extra assurances of credit cards over debit.

YES! I'd love to see a more consequence-orientated PvP game. I remember MUDs like this, but haven't seen an MMO do it; when you kill someone, it's murder. If this is witnessed by anyone (unless, say, you're in a faction war) they'll run to the nearest guard, and if they make it you become wanted.

Even in WoW, things like alliance characters being brutally slaughtered at Nesingwary's Expedition should involve the entire camp running to find assistance. Alliance/Horde fights in Booty Bay, Gadgetzan etc. should involve the guards diving in to break up the fight (being able to "surrender" to guards once they interevene is also key).

It depends...

In standard MMO PvE/PvP, absolutely without question PvE. I got lured onto a WoW PvP server by some friends recently, and so far it's been PAINFULLY frustrating, annoying, and in absolutely no way fun. Thing is, one of four things happen:

1. I meet a Horde of lower level, and don't attack because it would seem harsh to obliterate them.
2. I meet a Horde of around the same level, and we stare nervously at each other; this is incredibly rare. Sometimes we'll fight, but mostly we edge carefully around and go on our ways.
3. I meet a Horde of higher level, and they'll generally wipe the floor with me before I even have time to respond. On occaision, they'll do this quietly from behind while I'm fighting a monster. While I can accept rogues can creep up behind me, I'm getting really annoyed by the concept of a warrior in full plate armour not being audible from 5 miles away.
4. I meet a bored Horde of much higher level, and they obliterate me for kicks. This seems about the most common scenario.

Now, I've tried PvP on WAR, and found it a lot more fun. Everyone's at least loosely the right level; I may lose because I'm lower level or just not that good, but at least both sides stand a chance.

Ultimately, however, most PvPers have more game time per day than I can manage in a week, and in 99% of MMOs that makes me cannon fodder.

HELL YES.

While 12-18 months equivalent may not be a lot if someone stays with the game for years, I think a game publisher will also make a lot of sales of lifetime subs to people who wouldn't normally subscribe regularly. Oh, and it means people can readily drop into MMOs with out an ongoing subscription, which should help build the community.

Absolutely Blizzard did the right thing, and I don't feel sympathy for the kid. Actions have consequences, and clearly that's a lesson he needs to learn.

Levelling content is the major thing in my mind. I abandon a LOT of MMOs in the teen levels, because it's dull. I don't have a lot of free time, and I have a lot of hobbies, so just hacking mindlessly through hordes of mobs for the promise of better content later won't hold my attention. I have better things to be doing, and I'll go do them.

To me, the answer is to make mid-game content more accessible. CoH's exemplar system, where you can "level down" to assist someone, or GW's 20 level system where you 90% of the game is of the right level for you.

Frankly, I'm beginning to think levels, in the standard geometric improvement model, are an abomination. Having ways of showing how much time and effort someone has spent on a character; good. Levels however do nothing but wreck the ability to go back and re-do quests you missed or loved, while isolating players from their friends if you get more than a few levels apart.