Idea on other payment scheme for casual gamers

[shadowrun]

The $15 monthly fee is ok for hardcore gamers. But what about for casual gamers like me, i only play 1-2 hours on weekdays because of work, and about 4-6 hours on weekends (well this is just me of course). Paying the $15 fee is not just worth it for me but i love to play Aion and i also want to support future development of this game. If NCSoft can come up with another payment scheme that will be beneficial to casual gamers, I can be hooked for a long time on this game.

Here's the idea that came to my mind.
How about a prepaid scheme. Sample would be $15 for 120 hours (5 days straight of game play). If i don't play then no time is wasted. And just like a prepaid it expires. Maybe 2 months expiry would be good. So if i don't use up all the time within 2 months then it expires. With this payment option, it's like playing for $7.5 per month but your hour is limited.

Given in a month:
I play 2 hours/weekdays x 20 days = 40 hours, +
6 hours/weekend x 8 days = 48 hours.
That's 88 hours. I still have 32 hours next month.

Well this is just my idea. I will not be able to vend items overnight though because of limited hours, i can just use the auction.
But I can switch to the $15 unlimited if I want to vend overnight.

[Lady Odessa]

$15 a month is usually standard iirc most mmo's have that charge as a standard cover like wow and such so i dont think they have any real reason to make it cheaper for the casual gamer.

[Endrance]

Hardcore gamers partly depend on casual gamers to pay the upcoming patches and expansions for them.
And if you can really only play a MMORPG once or twice a week for 1-2 hours... personally I wouldn't even bother playing MMORPGs.

Also, F2P games kinda already offer casual gamers an alternative. But as you can see - the less money they get, the ****tier the game will be. And I personally don't find 10-15 bucks a month too much... even for playing just one hour a day. I mean... x1 disco or theme park is already more expensive than a MMORPG for one month and it's just fun for 1 day.
But yea, as I said - Playing a MMORPG that rarely pretty much isn't worth it in the first place.

EDIT: Misread your post. Playing 10 hours a week are worth $15.

[Demyro]

$15 monthly fee isn't ofc,lineage II is too expensive for an old game imo but ncsoft bussines works in this way,there are too many players,mainly asian,that continue playing their games.

Maybe quantity payment of WoW could be the most correct for casual players

[Mark]

Originally Posted by shadowrun

The $15 monthly fee is ok for hardcore gamers. But what about for casual gamers like me, i only play 1-2 hours on weekdays because of work, and about 4-6 hours on weekends (well this is just me of course). Paying the $15 fee is not just worth it for me but i love to play Aion and i also want to support future development of this game. If NCSoft can come up with another payment scheme that will be beneficial to casual gamers, I can be hooked for a long time on this game.

Here's the idea that came to my mind.
How about a prepaid scheme. Sample would be $15 for 120 hours (5 days straight of game play). If i don't play then no time is wasted. And just like a prepaid it expires. Maybe 2 months expiry would be good. So if i don't use up all the time within 2 months then it expires. With this payment option, it's like playing for $7.5 per month but your hour is limited.

Given in a month:
I play 2 hours/weekdays x 20 days = 40 hours, +
6 hours/weekend x 8 days = 48 hours.
That's 88 hours. I still have 32 hours next month.

Well this is just my idea. I will not be able to vend items overnight though because of limited hours, i can just use the auction.
But I can switch to the $15 unlimited if I want to vend overnight.

I like your idea. I don't plan on playing a million hours of Aion each month either.

[LaSirene]

Originally Posted by Mark

I like your idea. I don't plan on playing a million hours of Aion each month either.

The man BLASPHEMES! Joking, I have the money so I don't mind paying monthly. I just pray they don't do the FFXI 'pay for each character slot per month' deal.

[RenegadeAngel]

Originally Posted by LaSirene

The man BLASPHEMES! Joking, I have the money so I don't mind paying monthly. I just pray they don't do the FFXI 'pay for each character slot per month' deal.

That was kind of annoying, but it really wasn't that mad for most people and....did your avatar just blink or have I lost my mind?

[Frein]

Originally Posted by RenegadeAngel

That was kind of annoying, but it really wasn't that mad for most people and....did your avatar just blink or have I lost my mind?

I think it's hitting on you.

[RenegadeAngel]

Originally Posted by Frein

I think it's hitting on you.

I need an adult! I need an adult!

[shadowrun]

Originally Posted by Katrina

$15 a month is usually standard iirc most mmo's have that charge as a standard cover like wow and such so i dont think they have any real reason to make it cheaper for the casual gamer.

The standard monthly payment is still there -- $15. This is option 1, players can still choose it.
Option 2 is another payment option, with pros and cons. Still you shell out $15.
In either options we didn't remove the $15.

This actually offers flexibility to players because they have 2 payment options.

There's an existing prepaid system in other games. IIRC you buy game time for 3 days, 1 week and a month. If you buy the 3 days, it is not worth it if you don't maximize gaming within 3 days.

[Lady Odessa]

Originally Posted by shadowrun

The standard monthly payment is still there -- $15. This is option 1, players can still choose it.
Option 2 is another payment option, with pros and cons. Still you shell out $15.
In either options we didn't remove the $15.

This actually offers flexibility to players because they have 2 payment options.

There's an existing prepaid system in other games. IIRC you buy game time for 3 days, 1 week and a month. If you buy the 3 days, it is not worth it if you don't maximize gaming within 3 days.

To be fair i think your idea's are sound but unfortunatly NCsoft is a business and most companies you will find don't really tend to the casual gamer.

[eVenom]

One game has a scheme where you paid 250 bucks at the start and you didn't have to pay forever after that. I belive it was LOTR Online, right when it came out. I don't know if that would be the best thing for Aion, but for some people it could be the best choice.

I also like your idea since I won't be playing Aion alot during school, so it'd help.

[Lady Odessa]

Yes but i heard you could only do that during the first month of the game im unsure if they kept it going.

[Zanaionic]

if ur not playing during school cancel ur subscription before you start. then when your schooling is over just Renew ur subscription. Problem solved no wasted monies

[Calindor]

$15 a month isnt a big deal =/