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Anarchy Online to be Subscription Free

Posted by Zonk on from the free-leets-for-everyone dept.

According to the offial site, Anarchy Online is removing fees for new users who subscribe to the game between the 15th of December 2004 and the 15th of January 2005. From the release: "We feel very confident in the unique features and heralded qualities of our game, and are now openly inviting everyone playing MMO's to find out what Anarchy Online is all about, completely free of commitment" said Ole Schreiner, Project Director for Anarchy Online. "Not only can we boast of a fantastic game which has been expanding for years, we are also constantly adding exciting new content, progressively making the ultimate sci-fi MMORPG even better." Commentary on the Zen of Design blog.

6 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A more accurate headline..... by fireduck · · Score: 5, Insightful

    the free trial period lasts until Jan 1, 2006, which is a whole year of free gaming. I couldn't figure out how this helps them as there will be newer games in that time that will certainly entice you away before you ever have to pay 1 cent. Then I clicked through the register a new character link (to read the terms), and saw all the various expansions the game has. I guess the idea is to get them in the door, and then dazzle them with all the other shiny doors they can pay for. Not necessarily a bad idea, if you've got worthwhile content for them to pay for.

  2. EVIL by CableModemSniper · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The temptation is ridiculous. A year free trial? Usually I get bored of these games before a year is up. I'd have to reboot, I suppose, anyone know if AO runs under WINE. But a free year... hmmm.

    Well I googled and found this: http://www.csh.rit.edu/~marius/aolinux/. Perhaps I will give it a shot...

    --
    Why not fork?
  3. It's all about the expansion packs. by borkus · · Score: 3, Informative
    After reading the fine print at the bottom of the page closely, I noticed the following -
    The free version does not include access to any of the three expansion packs. Should you wish to upgrade to any of the expansion packs monthly subscription and client fees will be added.
    So if you buy an expansion pack, you end up paying a monthly fee as well. This gives them a way to sell their remaining expansion packs without having to manufacture and distribute copies of the core game. In fact, the core game doesn't seem to be in stock anywhere.
  4. Competition from WoW? by jebiester · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Given the timing of this, I'd be inclined to think this has been done due to competition since the release of World of Warcraft.

    I have played AO a fair bit, right from the start, however, I never felt I could make any progress if I didn't spend more than 3 hours on at a time. All the best gear in the game is constantly camped, and the latest expansion really only benifited high level characters who put imense amount of effort into the game.

    I've now cancelled, and am enjoying WoW much more, with it's much more flexible play style and questing. Some of my friends have done the same. With WoW stealing many if not most of their players, I'm sure AO is doing this to keep their subscription levels up, but I doubt it's going to be enough.

  5. The fine print: by fearanddread · · Score: 3, Informative
    "*The offer is only valid if you sign up a new Anarchy Online account between the 15th of December 2004 and 15th of January 2005. You can play free of charge until 1/1 2006. Should Funcom deem that a too high-increase in server load or other unforeseen events will lessen the experience for existing players the offer will be terminated at our discretion. The free version does not include access to any of the three expansion packs. Should you wish to upgrade to any of the expansion packs monthly subscription and client fees will be added."

    Just the basic game with no expansions. Sounds like you might have to pay more money if you want to use the expansions. Guess they feel they finally have a product that people will want to stay and play if given the chance.

    Very tempting even without the expansions.

  6. My interpretation by petrus4 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    "We feel very confident in the unique features and heralded qualities of our game, and are now openly inviting everyone playing MMO's to find out what Anarchy Online is all about, completely free of commitment"


    In other words:- "Because of the amount of new competition recently, and because we've largely been irrelevant to begin with, we're now so scared of the game dying completely that we're willing to temporarily commit economic near-suicide in order to attempt to jumpstart it again."


    EA did this earlier this year with the "Return to Britannia" program for UO...giving people free two week periods and a free download of the Age of Shadows expansion.


    Given that the amount a month's bandwidth would cost for many of these games, when the company behind a given MMOG offers you free time out of the blue, you can with certainty take it as an indication that the game is in deep trouble, popularity wise. Granted, it would make more economic sense that if they were ever going to give you free time, that they'd do it when they were doing well...but companies...especially software companies...don't work that way. When they're on a roll, they overwhelmingly tend to come down with a terminal case of hubris, and then proceed to attempt to gouge/rape you like never before, on the basis of a belief that they are invulnerable. It's only when most corporations are starving hungry that you can expect decent treatment from them.


    Funcom making this offer can be very safely interpreted as a realisation on the company's part that Anarchy Online is headed for the gurgler. They're trying to save it, and if an MMOG is on life support, that should probably also tell you something about the potential quality of the game.