Pay to Play for D3?

[sreda]

From D3Bnet Forums
are they going to charge to play diablo 3 online?

Bashiok replies:
Mike mentioned it in an Activision Blizzard investor meeting [paraphrased] "A player that buys Starcraft 2 at retail will have the ability to play on Battle.net with no additional fee."
I'll point out that this is a very carefully worded statement.

Then a user asks:
So you mean you have to subscribe to the online fee in order to find the high level weapons and use all of battle.nets features right?

Bashiok replies:
No

So it seems D3 isn't pay to play.

[konfeta]

So it's something we pretty much knew since the game was announced.

Watch how this won't stop the obligatory monthly "PAY TO PLAY DIABLO 3?!!?!? BLIZZARD YOU MONEY GRUBBING WHORES" threads.

[Starving_Poet]

This thread comes up every two weeks. USe the search function:
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=697077&highlight=play
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=726093&highlight=play
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=720404&highlight=play
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=679170&highlight=play
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=679764&highlight=play
http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=669824&highlight=play

[sreda]

Cry about it, I put the Blizz quotes in so it could be sealed.

[AFS]

Would somebody please explain the basic philosophy behind playing MMORPG's? You pay for software and have license to use it, but it in order to actually use it you have to pay additional monthly fees?

Pay monthly to play? Seriously? Several million people already do this? That's a huge chunk of your life (time) devoted to ONE game. Wtf..

[Funkopotamus]

Would somebody please explain the basic philosophy behind playing MMORPG's? You pay for software and have license to use it, but it in order to actually use it you have to pay additional monthly fees?

Pay monthly to play? Seriously? Several million people already do this? That's a huge chunk of your life (time) devoted to ONE game. Wtf..

From what I gather, it was the cost of running servers that you payed for monthly. Nowadays I don't think it's as costly but they still charge because they can.

Also, it's just some people's bag. I remember when I played EQ there was always something to do so I never got bored.

[Falcker]

Would somebody please explain the basic philosophy behind playing MMORPG's? You pay for software and have license to use it, but it in order to actually use it you have to pay additional monthly fees?

Pay monthly to play? Seriously? Several million people already do this? That's a huge chunk of your life (time) devoted to ONE game. Wtf..

You're basically paying for... Server maintenance, Content patches (new raids, new instances, new BGs, new zones, new cosmetic features ie haircuts/forms/mounts/armor, new arenas/new arena seasons, new skills), Balance patches and 24/7 Customer support.

Its not a bad deal when you think of the mileage the game gets for only 15$ a month. I'm not suggesting this be done with Diablo (and it wont) but imagine there being literally no cheating, no server problems with any game you create or join, a new dungeon out every month with new gear and a bunch of other new features added all the time. You saying you wouldn't be willing to pay a little bit extra per month for this to happen?

[AFS]

You're basically paying for... Server maintenance, Content patches (new raids, new instances, new BGs, new zones, new cosmetic features ie haircuts/forms/mounts/armor, new arenas/new arena seasons, new skills), Balance patches and 24/7 Customer support.

Its not a bad deal when you think of the mileage the game gets for only 15$ a month. I'm not suggesting this be done with Diablo (and it wont) but imagine there being literally no cheating, no server problems with any game you create or join, a new dungeon out every month with new gear and a bunch of other new features added all the time. You saying you wouldn't be willing to pay a little bit extra per month for this to happen?

It is the responsibility of the developing company to maintain and update their online servers for the optimal gaming experience, if they provide the online gaming component. It is their job to make sure that their customers have the experience that was part of the package; the expectation is not strictly the online aspect of the game, but the content and features of it.

I see now how MMORPG's have their place in gaming.

[Falcker]

It is the responsibility of the developing company to maintain and update their online servers for the optimal gaming experience, if they provide the online gaming component. It is their job to make sure that their customers have the experience that was part of the package; the expectation is not strictly the online aspect of the game, but the content and features of it.

I see now how MMORPG's have their place in gaming.


I'm not sure what you're getting at.

[SlechtWeerBeer]

I'm not sure what you're getting at.

You're not paying for server maintenance in a P2P game.
If a company releases an online game, they are responsible for the servers, regardless of wether the game is P2P or F2P.

[blikst]

Do people honestly feel that WoW would be as successful without the monthly fee? It certainly has merits for certain games. That said, I don't feel that D3 would be such a game that would be worth that. Even if that might explain part of why they removed LAN. If players have the option of playing free LAN or paying for battle.net, many would choose the free option.

[commonhumans]

Just because this game isn't going to be Pay to Play doesn't mean they aren't going to have things they will charge you for. I'm sure there will be some sneaky thing in the future like a Basic Battle.net account that is free and it allows you to play online... and then a there will be 50$ a year fee for a Battle.net Plus account that allows you to do more and get extra things that Basic Battle.net account won't offer... What those things will be I cant say, but I can pretty much guarantee that be happening... and yes, i will have a Battle.net Plus account.

[sbn]

This thread comes up every two weeks.

We need a bleeping sticky at the top that in large bold letters clearly states that there is no pay to play..end of story.

[Mad Mantis]

We need a bleeping sticky at the top that in large bold letters clearly states that there is no pay to play..end of story.

The quickest way to ensure that nobody reads information is to make that information a sticky.