Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Counting the accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/the-daily-grind-counting-the-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/the-daily-grind-counting-the-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/the-daily-grind-counting-the-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With the global economy in rough shape, many people are looking towards their MMO accounts as a method of trimming back a little money every month. Even those of us here at Massively have had to cut back, with most of us only carrying a handful of accounts now as opposed to carrying a plethora. There again, we know we're by no means the exception so far as being MMO crazy and carrying multiple accounts. The question for this morning though, is just how many accounts is everyone still paying for, month after month? To that end, we've created the shiny new poll below to see where the Massively readers fall. Lot of accounts open? None? Somewhere in-between? If you have an answer that isn't listed, feel free to chime in!

View Poll

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Counting the accounts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budgetingeconomyfree-to-playmonthly-feesubscriptionsubscriptionstdgthe-daily-grindFri, 03 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ryzom going to monthly subscription]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/ryzom-going-pay-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/ryzom-going-pay-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/ryzom-going-pay-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Ryzom has been up and down, with changes in models, cancellation, and being re-launched. Recently, it's incarnation has been a free-to-play game, but word has come down the wire that to continue running Ryzom, they need to reinstitute some type of fees.The good news for those who loved Ryzom before, or who perhaps are newish to this world, is that the fee structure will be less expensive than previous incarnations. The better news is that they will continue the current free-to-play model until the end of January, in case you were considering checking it out but hadn't yet.

For month-to-month, you will pay $10.95 (7.95 €, £ 7.75); for three months at a time you'll get a discount down to $10.25 per month (7.50 € of £ 6.98 per month); 6 months will cost you $9.49 per month (6.99 € or £ 6.63 per month); and finally a year's subscription will discount furthest breaking down to $8.83 per month (6.50 € or £ 6.15 per month). With as many folks who are opting to give up on extra MMO accounts due to the cost, the price break may well keep Ryzom afloat - or even attract some players who want to try out a visually exciting new world for a bit less than the $15 many MMOs charge these days.

[Thanks, AterNox]

MassivelyRyzom going to monthly subscription originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>change-in-pricingfree-to-playmonthly-feeryzomsaga-of-ryzomsubscriptionTue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Now how much would you pay?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/the-daily-grind-now-how-much-would-you-pay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/the-daily-grind-now-how-much-would-you-pay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/the-daily-grind-now-how-much-would-you-pay/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For many, the cost of a game -- the initial purchase plus the monthly fee -- is simply assessed once, then never considered again. You have to pay something, after all, and you don't really have a choice if you want the content. Obviously, this doesn't take into account free-to-play games, but some people believe that you get what you pay for.

But there is also the consideration of value over time -- was it worth that fifteen dollars for the month if you didn't enjoy the gameplay? If not, then why not? What would be worth that fee? Is it fair to say that sometimes you have to absorb the cost of a game you disliked to find out for yourself that it wasn't worth playing? Are there any games that you're happy to pay for, knowing you're helping ensure the maintenance and further development of the title?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Now how much would you pay? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>moneymonthly-feepaymenttdgthe-daily-grindTue, 29 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: monthly fee or microtransactions?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/the-daily-grind-monthly-fee-or-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/the-daily-grind-monthly-fee-or-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/the-daily-grind-monthly-fee-or-microtransactions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

We have covered this peripherally before, but while that post focused on buying items through microtransactions, we'd like to ask you: what's your preference? A few MMOs have monthly fees that are also set up for discounted bulk purchases -- you pay less per month if you buy, say, 6 months at once -- but then there's the oh-so-enticing free-as-a-bird model, with microtransactions for better gear thrown in.

But it's not just about items or time, is it? Do you feel that paying a monthly fee to your favorite MMO is an investment in your gaming future? Is it enough of a reward for the development team? If you're playing a free-to-play microtransactions game, can you still vote with your dollars if your favorite class gets nerfed? All things being equal, which is better?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: monthly fee or microtransactions? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>free-to-playinvestmentlord-of-the-rings-onlinemaple-storymicrotransactionsmonthly-feenerfedthe-daily-grindtrickster-onlineworld-of-warcraftMon, 24 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What would you pay for?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/the-daily-grind-what-would-you-pay-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/the-daily-grind-what-would-you-pay-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/the-daily-grind-what-would-you-pay-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

At this year's Game Developer's Conference, a lot of hay was made over the concept of microtransactions and the free-to-play model. Attendees seemed split right down the middle, some for, some against. It wouldn't be a stretch to characterize the Massively readership as similarly split. But for those of you who love your free-to-play MMOs, is there anything that would get you to pay a monthly fee?

Many titles have the option to both play free and pay a monthly; Dofus, for example, and Second Life too, to polarize the offerings. Are there any such models that have shot themselves in the foot by making the paid content not appealing enough to energize users to pay? If not, what will it take?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What would you pay for? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dofusfree-to-playfuture-of-mmosgame-developers-conferencegdc08microtransactionsmonthly-feesecond-lifethe-daily-grindFri, 29 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST