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You don't need to be a programmer to know why this isn't a good idea for a MMO that's nearing its 6 year mark.|
Originally Posted by Malin0001
I know im no programmer and i dont know much about the financial aspect of MMO's beyond a few ways in how its done but this would be guaranteed income regardless on if these people stay or go.
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Income is worthless if you're letting it sit in a bank account. Do you know why banks give you interest? As incentive to keep lots of money in their bank. Because if the bank (or rather, banks in general) doesn't have a bunch of money stored up in various people's accounts, then they can't function properly. They can't give out big loans to people (or other banks), who then pay the bank back, with interest. That interest - the interest on loans being paid back - is how the banks (as businesses) make money, among other endeavors depending on the bank.
What are you planning to do with this bank account that is building up "subscription fees" in interest? What are you going to pay the programmers, customer service representatives, and support staff with? What's going to back further development of the game?
When an MMO is first released, someone has been spending a lot of money on the game for several years in order to get the game created in the first place. whoever is playing the role of financial backer to the game is in the red when the game is released. A herd of people flocking in purchasing expensive lifetime subscriptions helps put the financial backer back in the black, while subscriptions keep the game afloat.
Expensive lifetime subscriptions make monetary sense when the game is first released. Starting up a lifetime subscription program 5 years later does not. Anyone with the City Traveler badge (60 months = 5 years) has paid somewhere between $660 and $900 in subscription fees alone, depending on what subscription plan they're on. If they had bought a $250 lifetime subscription in 2004, NCSoft would be out over $400, for that one player.
Consider if CoH started a lifetime subscription program tomorrow. People would buy it, and NCSoft would get a spike in revenue. Which would then drop like a stone. If CoH lasts another 5 years (not improbable; Ultima Online is still active), it would be unlikely that NCSoft would be making a profit off the game, with so many people playing for free.
If CoH shuts down on Friday, a lifetime subscription plan starting tomorrow would be a great idea for NCSoft, financially. Hell, it'd still be a good idea if CoH is going to continue for another whole year before shutting down. But since neither of those events seem likely, a lifetime subscription at this late date in the game's lifespan can only hurt.
http://www.fimfiction.net/story/36641/My-Little-Exalt
I'm not sure if you're aware of the current situation of the economy. Banks haven't paid anything even close to 8.5% interest for about 10 years. The federal reserve currently pays at or less than .25% on funds, and most banks can't afford to pay more than 1% on interest bearing accounts.
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Where do I sign up for this mythical bank account that pays 8.5% interest per month?
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Originally Posted by Malin0001
Say again that i paid the $250 and they put it in a regular bank account. Even saying they get 8.5% interest. That would mean at the end of the month they would get $21.25.
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Quote:
This.|
Originally Posted by Fleeting Whisper
You don't need to be a programmer to know why this isn't a good idea for a MMO that's nearing its 6 year mark.
Income is worthless if you're letting it sit in a bank account. Do you know why banks give you interest? As incentive to keep lots of money in their bank. Because if the bank (or rather, banks in general) doesn't have a bunch of money stored up in various people's accounts, then they can't function properly. They can't give out big loans to people (or other banks), who then pay the bank back, with interest. That interest - the interest on loans being paid back - is how the banks (as businesses) make money, among other endeavors depending on the bank. What are you planning to do with this bank account that is building up "subscription fees" in interest? What are you going to pay the programmers, customer service representatives, and support staff with? What's going to back further development of the game? When an MMO is first released, someone has been spending a lot of money on the game for several years in order to get the game created in the first place. whoever is playing the role of financial backer to the game is in the red when the game is released. A herd of people flocking in purchasing expensive lifetime subscriptions helps put the financial backer back in the black, while subscriptions keep the game afloat. Expensive lifetime subscriptions make monetary sense when the game is first released. Starting up a lifetime subscription program 5 years later does not. Anyone with the City Traveler badge (60 months = 5 years) has paid somewhere between $660 and $900 in subscription fees alone, depending on what subscription plan they're on. If they had bought a $250 lifetime subscription in 2004, NCSoft would be out over $400, for that one player. Consider if CoH started a lifetime subscription program tomorrow. People would buy it, and NCSoft would get a spike in revenue. Which would then drop like a stone. If CoH lasts another 5 years (not improbable; Ultima Online is still active), it would be unlikely that NCSoft would be making a profit off the game, with so many people playing for free. If CoH shuts down on Friday, a lifetime subscription plan starting tomorrow would be a great idea for NCSoft, financially. Hell, it'd still be a good idea if CoH is going to continue for another whole year before shutting down. But since neither of those events seem likely, a lifetime subscription at this late date in the game's lifespan can only hurt. |
/unsigned
Quote:
Seconded!|
Originally Posted by The_Alt_oholic
Where do I sign up for this mythical bank account that pays 8.5% interest per month?
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Jeez... 102% yearly interest? WANT!
Head of TRICK, the all Trick Arrow and Traps SG
Part of the Repeat Offenders
Still waiting for his Official BackAlleyBrawler No-Prize
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Even assuming the Magic Bank of Awesomeness and Profit were real, I wouldn't put my money there because they'd go broke very quickly. Then the government would bail them out, and they'd go back to giving away lots of free money again and the government would print more money. Pretty soon it takes a wheelbarrow of hundred dollar bills to buy a loaf of bread because money isn't worth anything any more.
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Originally Posted by The_Alt_oholic
Where do I sign up for this mythical bank account that pays 8.5% interest per month?
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Would you ever consider doing a Lifetime Access Subscription top City of heroes/Villains?
I know some people may think this a bad idea but think about it for a minute. If they charged $250 per account in a time when they don't need the money (CO reference) this could work for there benefit as well as ours.
Say again that i paid the $250 and they put it in a regular bank account. Even saying they get 8.5% interest. That would mean at the end of the month they would get $21.25. As it stand this is a little more then 1.5 times then im paying now with the yearly plain. This being said if we take this one step furtherer ans say they sell 1000 of these then in one month from just the interest they would get $21250. I know im no programmer and i dont know much about the financial aspect of MMO's beyond a few ways in how its done but this would be guaranteed income regardless on if these people stay or go.
Knowledge is power.
Power corrupts.
Study Hard. Be evil.