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I wish they offered a "Lifetime Subscription" ModelFollow

#1 Sep 18 2013 at 12:48 PM Rating: Decent
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1,208 posts
I played DCUO on the PS3 and the PC players were offered a lifetime sub option through SOE.... but us PS3 players did not because of PSN limitations...

Anyways just reading the threads about people being billed the past couple of days got me to thinking how this should be an option for players of FFXIV too...

Since SE's billing is not through PSN for PS3 players (It's on the Mog Station) we could actually buy a lifetime sub for several hundred dollars.

I think DCUO was like $199 for the lifetime sub for PC players...

I would gladly pay $300 or more for a FFXIV lifetime sub.

What about you guys?
#2REDACTED, Posted: Sep 18 2013 at 12:50 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) I do too, be prepared to be flamed by white knights.
#3 Sep 18 2013 at 12:53 PM Rating: Good
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1,208 posts
ShadowofaDoubt wrote:
I do too, be prepared to be flamed by white knights.


Why?

I didn't say F2P I said Pay BIG money for a lifetime sub. Big difference.
#4 Sep 18 2013 at 12:54 PM Rating: Good
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3,530 posts
Covered in this thread.

TLDR: lifetime subscriptions tell you that the company doesn't think they'd get that much money out of you if you had months to think about your subscription. If they were confident they would, they wouldn't offer such a model.
#5 Sep 18 2013 at 12:58 PM Rating: Default
KaneKitty wrote:
Covered in this thread.

TLDR: lifetime subscriptions tell you that the company doesn't think they'd get that much money out of you if you had months to think about your subscription. If they were confident they would, they wouldn't offer such a model.

Actually games like lotro had lifetime option years before they went f2p.
#6 Sep 18 2013 at 1:02 PM Rating: Excellent
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109 posts
KaneKitty wrote:
Covered in this thread.

TLDR: lifetime subscriptions tell you that the company doesn't think they'd get that much money out of you if you had months to think about your subscription. If they were confident they would, they wouldn't offer such a model.


This. From a business perspective, why would I limit my upside if I think the product is good enough to keep you coming back for years? Offering "lifetime subscriptions" is something you'd offer if you feel there's little chance of longevity as you'd be collecting cash for the short term.
#7 Sep 18 2013 at 1:06 PM Rating: Excellent
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132 posts
Companies are also aware that MMORPG's tend to be social games and that someone completely dedicated to spending over 2+ years in the game will likely convince others to play with them during that time. It also keeps the populations up, which is always better when fishing for additional subs.

LOTRO offered lifetime subs and had no reason to believe the game would fail. It went F2P after several years, but that was only after Warner Bros. bought them out in order to increase it's grip on the LoTR IP. I took advantage of that model and it was well worth it. I played for a good part of 5 years and never had a monthly sub. Even after it went F2P, I got P2P benefits without having to pay.
#8 Sep 18 2013 at 1:26 PM Rating: Default
purethulium wrote:
Companies are also aware that MMORPG's tend to be social games and that someone completely dedicated to spending over 2+ years in the game will likely convince others to play with them during that time. It also keeps the populations up, which is always better when fishing for additional subs.

LOTRO offered lifetime subs and had no reason to believe the game would fail. It went F2P after several years, but that was only after Warner Bros. bought them out in order to increase it's grip on the LoTR IP. I took advantage of that model and it was well worth it. I played for a good part of 5 years and never had a monthly sub. Even after it went F2P, I got P2P benefits without having to pay.

this, there is no reason to fear lifetime subs.
#9 Sep 18 2013 at 1:33 PM Rating: Good
In an ideal situation (that game lasts forever), at some point your base fans are just sitting pretty with their lifetime subs and you don't have anymore revenue stream for developing more content. I think SE has plans that include well over 10+ year for this game. Maybe more. Would anyone be willing to pay a lifetime sub based on 10+ years?

It's all moot because it won't happen.
#10 Sep 18 2013 at 1:34 PM Rating: Good
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109 posts
And another point, because I love business models, when you ask for up front payment then you're offering a discount to the customer. If you're allowing a $300 lifetime sub, that's a HUGE discount @ $15/mo, or even $13/mo, for someone that's likely to play for 2+ years. Discounts are fine, but a large 1 time discount with no hope of future payments wouldn't seem that attractive from the company's standpoint.
#11 Sep 18 2013 at 1:37 PM Rating: Default
GongJr wrote:
And another point, because I love business models, when you ask for up front payment then you're offering a discount to the customer. If you're allowing a $300 lifetime sub, that's a HUGE discount @ $15/mo, or even $13/mo, for someone that's likely to play for 2+ years. Discounts are fine, but a large 1 time discount with no hope of future payments wouldn't seem that attractive from the company's standpoint.

Sure it is, if they sold 1000 lifetime subs at 300 dollars say, theyd have 300k in their pockets right away for development or padding stock dividends. It would take them 2 years to make the same amount normally. While yes they dontget money in the future they will still make money off of expansions and if they ever put a cash shop in (just because its lifetime doesnt mean you dont ever pay again)
#12 Sep 18 2013 at 2:43 PM Rating: Excellent
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1,208 posts
Wint wrote:
Official Response

Bayohne wrote:
We discussed the possibilities of including a lifetime subscription for FFXIV with Yoshida. He has researched other company's business models and knows that a few of them do offer lifetime subscriptions. Currently there aren't any plans to offer this option when the game launches, but there's always a possibility it's something that could be made available in the future.


Sounds to me like this is not a closed issue, they are considering adding this at a later time.


Edited, Sep 18th 2013 4:44pm by Hairspray
#13 Sep 18 2013 at 2:44 PM Rating: Default
Hairspray wrote:
Wint wrote:
Official Response

Bayohne wrote:
We discussed the possibilities of including a lifetime subscription for FFXIV with Yoshida. He has researched other company's business models and knows that a few of them do offer lifetime subscriptions. Currently there aren't any plans to offer this option when the game launches, but there's always a possibility it's something that could be made available in the future.


Sounds to me like this is not a closed issue, they are considering adding this at a later time.


Edited, Sep 18th 2013 4:44pm by Hairspray

hopefully they add it soon, Id buy it.
#14 Sep 18 2013 at 3:11 PM Rating: Good
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132 posts
Also, don't forget that people who buy lifetime subs are more likely to purchase expansions and add-on content.

I'm not a financial expert by any means and I'm not saying that SE should definitely do this, but I certainly wouldn't discount it either.
#15 Sep 18 2013 at 3:18 PM Rating: Default
purethulium wrote:
Also, don't forget that people who buy lifetime subs are more likely to purchase expansions and add-on content.

I'm not a financial expert by any means and I'm not saying that SE should definitely do this, but I certainly wouldn't discount it either.

I think this is true, I own lifetimes for TSW and Lotro, and still drop down cash for things in the store etc.
#16 Sep 18 2013 at 5:23 PM Rating: Excellent
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3,530 posts
GongJr wrote:
From a business perspective, why would I limit my upside if I think the product is good enough to keep you coming back for years? Offering "lifetime subscriptions" is something you'd offer if you feel there's little chance of longevity as you'd be collecting cash for the short term.


There's a reason internet, insurance, electricity, and water companies don't offer lifetime subscriptions. >_>


Edited, Sep 18th 2013 10:16pm by KaneKitty
#17 Sep 18 2013 at 5:34 PM Rating: Default
KaneKitty wrote:
GongJr wrote:
From a business perspective, why would I limit my upside if I think the product is good enough to keep you coming back for years? Offering "lifetime subscriptions" is something you'd offer if you feel there's little chance of longevity as you'd be collecting cash for the short term.


There's a reason internet, insurance, electricity, and water, companies don't offer lifetime subscriptions. >_>

Theres a reason apples are not oranges
#18 Sep 18 2013 at 5:58 PM Rating: Good
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137 posts
Hairspray wrote:
Wint wrote:
Official Response

Bayohne wrote:
We discussed the possibilities of including a lifetime subscription for FFXIV with Yoshida. He has researched other company's business models and knows that a few of them do offer lifetime subscriptions. Currently there aren't any plans to offer this option when the game launches, but there's always a possibility it's something that could be made available in the future.


Sounds to me like this is not a closed issue, they are considering adding this at a later time.


Edited, Sep 18th 2013 4:44pm by Hairspray


Umn. SE are STILL considering things they said they would consider 10 years ago in FFXI - so don't hold your breath waitingSmiley: nod
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