I apologize if you already put this one somewhere, Warmaker, but I didn't see it.

Why Pay For An MMORPG?

By Damien Wyrmsbane 

Why should you pay monthly for an MMORPG? You've already paid the 50 or 60 bucks at the store, so why is it that you've got to subscribe to this game like it's a service? Lots of people ask why they have to pay for the software if they have to pay for playing the game. Shouldn't the software be distributed freely if you have to pay for the pleasure of playing? There isn't a single answer to this, but I'll try to go about it in the most direct way that I can.

You pay for MMORPGs because they cost money to produce. Buying the software up-front is no different than you going to Electronics Boutique and buying the newest Final Fantasy. Production of a game cost money, and lots of it, and you, ladies and germs, have to pay for that production if you wish to partake in the game's wondrous pleasures.

But, Damien, you ask, why in the world do I have to pay a monthly fee if I've already paid for the game's development when I buy the software? Well, in most situations where you buy a video game, you don't pay a monthly fee, correct? Well, you also don't get updates (except random patches, if it's a PC game) and don't get new content added every week, month, etc. You don't get in-game support, and you don't get fixes to bugs whenever they are found. Console gamers have it the hardest, as their games, as a general rule, can't be patched and so they are stuck with what they buy. PC gamers have it easier in this respect, as some companies (Blizzard, for example) offer services where patches, updates, support, and fixes are provided free of charge.

Also, since you are reading this, I can only assume that you have access to the Internet. Duh, Damien. But, anway, unless you are getting your uplink from a school, university, work, or café of some sort, it is safe to assume that you have a monthly Internet bill to pay. Well, so does any company that runs an MMORPG. Except they have a tremendous Internet bill to pay. They also have to pay for the servers which hold and run the game, and these aren't just your run-of-the-mill "Dell Inspiron" PC's. These are top-of-the-line servers running 24-hours a day. They cost more to keep running for a month than most third-world countries see in a year. That's a lotta dough, and without a monthly fee from me, you, and all the other MMORPG addicts out there, there's no way that just selling software could keep the game afloat.

And there's another reason, as well. Are ya seeing a bigger picture than you once were, now? Well, this may be the most important of them all. People. Your monthly payment to Sony, EA, etc. pays their employees. Have you ever called a game-master for help? You pay his salary. Have you ever had a question about the game and in-game support helped you? You paid his salary. Have you ever had to call the company because something was wrong and you couldn't get into the game so someone had to walk you through it at 2:30 in the morning? Well, guess what? You paid his salary.

Monthly fees for an MMORPG are not just there for a corporate fat cat to sit in a velvet chair and eat filet mignon every night. Monthly fees are in place, because without them, we wouldn't be able to play the games we love. And even if the company did keep the game online, you wouldn't have the support or updates that you are so used to, and the game would go under. Fast. So next time that credit card bill comes in, don't mutter to yourself about paying montly for a game. You should relish in the fact that without your 10-15 dollars every month, this game wouldn't be possible. That without your 10-15 dollars every month, you would just be sitting in front of the TV watching In the Heat of the Night reruns, wondering what went wrong with your life. That without your 10-15 dollars, some tech-support worker's family couldn't have food on their table. Well, maybe it's not THAT drastic, but every subscriber makes a difference in the upkeep of an MMORPG, and that is why you have to pay a monthly fee.

 
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NTO/FM/COM Darkhawk/Kaph 3-4/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE/(=A=)(=SA=)(=JCPA=)(=SCPA=)(=FCO=)[LoC][LSM][BRC][MC:1st][CBV*][VC:Ebony][KC:oc]

DLS/CL/SG Darkhawk/Eagle 1-4/mSSD Atrus/VEDJ/VE/[CR]

Does anyone know how aprx how much this game will cost ? Monthly or whatever... ?
 
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TRP/LCP LostSoldier/2SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1REG/VEA/VE

Hmm... well, I'm replacing my current 88' Landcruiser -- With a 98' Civic... The monthly save in gas should be enough to fund my gameplay
 
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TRP/LCP LostSoldier/2SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1REG/VEA/VE

I was too lazy to read it all, but I'm still holding firm to my word: I'm not paying a monthly fee for a damn game, no matter how good it may appear to be.
 
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Cleric "Cosmic" Vor'soth
CoT/COL Cosmic/HCA-3/VEA/VE [OPE][OTH][OPA][EW1][CDS][IH][GS][SoS][CoH][PoC][MSM][IOC]
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Cleric "Cosmic" Vor'soth
SL/KPR Cosmic/Lion 1-1/mSSD Atrus/VEDJ/VE [VP][KC1][OAK]
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problem is for me that you need a credit card to play... and usally my mom flips if I ask her to do somthing like that, even if I offer to give her all of the money required to pay to play it.
 
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SP Japer/Sith/Dark Knight 1-2 Cabal/ Eagle Sect/VEDJ

PC/CPT/Japer/1PLT/1/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE/IOC/LoC/CM
/BS/ES 2nd Class/EoP/VP/BC/CDS/

No they pay people to come round your house and take the cash off you....
 
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SL/SGMTRaziel/4SQD/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/Tadath/VEA/ {EW1} {WoS} {VP} {IG}
Squad Leader - Squad4 Wraiths
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989.

Errr... I thought possibly they might accept checks or something, hadn't really thought about it. I guess I'll look into what your mentioning, Swomz. A game card or whatever --
 
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TRP/LCP LostSoldier/2SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1REG/VEA/VE

I know you can get one for Planetside, I am pretty sure they would be available for Galaxies as well...
 
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former PO2, Venom 3 Flight Lead, Venom XO
former Flight School IA
former Dread Knight
former RAIDER
Reserves Corporal
Go Venom and DK!