Forums » Suggestions
Flat rate
What's wrong with a flat rate purchase of $30?
Probably something to do with the recurring costs of maintaining and developing an online multiplayer game that keeps changing?
Premium subs are a flat rate. Rate normally implies some quantity over time. The only ones that aren't being charged a flat rate are Free and Lite users, because of Crystal.
I think you mean a one-time purchase granting unlimited access, which is colloquially known as "Buy to Play". The problems I see with this model are that you have to continually be selling to and converting new customers, and there isn't much long-term incentive for the devs to maintain and update the game unless this happens (this would be extremely risky for a company like Guild Software). Also, for a MMO, you would almost certainly need to supplement this model with something like a robust cash shop, or paid-for content expansions.
The subscription model I find is more conducive to long-term involvement by both devs and players, and while representing less of a market share, it has its own set of advantages such as not having to charge a box price and not having an intrusive cash shop.
/3c
I think you mean a one-time purchase granting unlimited access, which is colloquially known as "Buy to Play". The problems I see with this model are that you have to continually be selling to and converting new customers, and there isn't much long-term incentive for the devs to maintain and update the game unless this happens (this would be extremely risky for a company like Guild Software). Also, for a MMO, you would almost certainly need to supplement this model with something like a robust cash shop, or paid-for content expansions.
The subscription model I find is more conducive to long-term involvement by both devs and players, and while representing less of a market share, it has its own set of advantages such as not having to charge a box price and not having an intrusive cash shop.
/3c
The PC/subscription model cannot be changed any time soon. Inc has said many times that the PC subscription model is 100% critical to the sustained development of this game. Any change to that would be too big a risk to consider undertaking. Other sources of income (such as mobile/IAP) are new chances to experiment a little, but there will be no change to the PC/standard model any time soon.