Planetside @ ActionVault

If they made the fee like 5 - 10 dollars per month, AND no upfront 40 fee then maybe i would consider it. Since many of us only play for 6-12 months on an average game. If it was exceptional then we would end up playing more and they would get their profit. If not, then they wouldn't even get their base 40 dollars.

Persistance, thats what makes this game worth $10 a month.

Not only are you gaining rank, skills, and implants for your character, but you're also fighting for control of the land. When one side takes a base from the other side the game doesn't simply reset and everyone starts over, like in other FPS games. Basically, your actions in this game matter. If you allow the enemy to take one of your forward bases, you essentially give him a base from which they can launch more attacks further behind the front line.. perhaps even eventually pushing you off the entire continent.

The only other game out right now that offers that same level of gameplay is the -very- poorly executed 'World War II Online'. Obviously the pay-to-play model for these types of games is justified, if a game as bug-ridden and ugly as that could sell so many copies.. -and- still be rather fun despite all the problems.

Then you've got other side effects of a pay-to-play buisness model too..

1) Far less cheating. No, you'll never stop cheats/hacks - but these types of game provide a major deterance to it. In any other FPS if you're caught cheating you might get banned from one server, but still have thousands to continue to play on. In games like these.. if you're banned, you're banned. No single player, no chance to get back online (unless a friend is kind enough to let you use his credit card).. basically your cheating will have aquired you a ~$40 coaster.

2) Less jackasses, in general. Since you can't warez games like these, and you've got the monthly fees - it helps keeps the server population more 'pure'.. Yea, jackasses have money too - but fees tend to keep them to a lower level. Just compair the online player base of EQ with that of DII, and you'll see what I mean.

3) In my experience, you reach a level of companionship in MMO games like no other. In other games people change their names, start playing mods or other gametypes.. and generally you never tend to see the same person twice unless you play on the same server everyday (and even then you'll only have a limited amount of 'regulars'). In MMO games you're constantly running into people you recognise, hell it even brings back 'memories' sometimes.

In the end, this type of game isn't for everybody. If you honestly can't read the previews and understand why it's worth $10 a month, it's probably not for you. But there are -tons- of players out there that have been waiting for a game like this..

Judging from the press on EQ, pay-per-play doesn't eliminate lamers. However, it does lead to all sorts of babysitting by developers who try to walk a tightrope between reducing lameness and still keeping lamers around for their $10/mo. Talk about a love-hate relationship, heh.

But that's not even the biggest reason why this one's probably going to lay a turd. Given the system specs, the immense popularity of CS, the desire of FPS players to mod their games, and the disinterest on the part of MMPORG players in FPS games, I wouldn't expect Planetside to do gangbusters. Bet they end up changing their revenue model rather drastically. :)

Planetside will deserve our ten bucks because its fun, unlike Diablo2. That's why.

--Zilla

Dear Steve,

if I am not wrong you sound like you don't like the idea of Pay Per Play. Let me give you a good reason why paying a monthly fee of $10 is a good thing: Two trends seem to manifest in these days: Cheating is ruining all online gaming and beta games are pushed out the door. With a monthly fee developers are forced to fight cheating (which is easier if you have *paid GMs* around) and improve the game constantly in order to keep their customers paying. The increasing competition in the Pay Per Play market keeps amplifying that because customers can now not just stop p(l)aying but switch to a competitor. This is a win situation for the customers except for the people who can not afford to pay a ten-doller-per-month-service. On the other hand: Who really can't if he/she can afford a PC for gaming at todays standards and pay a monthly fee for their ISP?

Kind regards!

impossible, cheating will never be eliminated. there will ALWAYS be someone to find the bugs. for uo there have been many sites... sadly the beast that is OSI corporate whores has struck them down :/
R.I.P
www.uoprostitute.com
www.askchopper.com (is dying)

i think the ability to play against 1000 other people as opposed to, say, four, makes this worth $10 a month

Im hoping they can keep cheating to a minimum. They'd get my $10 if they can do that.

wigga

wugga