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SOE to Sell Content Additions to EQII
Gamespot is reporting that Sony Online is going to be adding content to Everquest II in the form of adventure packs, essentially mini-expansions. From the article: "The first part of the adventure pack will come as a free download. All of the game's subscribers will be able to sink their swords into a new zone, fight new enemies, and so on. There will also be some new quests in this area for all players. [...] If players want to continue down this story path, they will have to pay what's been described as a "small fee" to download the rest of the adventure pack's content and continue on." Basically they're going to be following the City of Heroes model, but making players pay for part of it.
That's cool and all, but when are they going to sell a release-quality game to their players? ;)
We don't know how much it costs to build a Civic, but I'm sure it's not even close to $13k.
We don't know how much it costs to build blue jeans, but I know it's not $50.
You can go on like this for every single object around you. Probably only the subway/bus you ride to work on costs more to operate than it receives in ticket sales.
Pay the fee if you think it's worth it, don't pay the fee if you think it's not. It's that simple.
Maybe it's a concession they made since Guild Wars is breathing down their back. It's similar to what Guild Wars is plannign but on a small scale.
- Not really a concession. More like attempt to grab more money. City of Heroes has already a concept that is pretty much similar to this, except that it's free. They call it "Issues". The last issue (Issue 3) gives players new classes, new powersets, new encounters and whatnot.
Similary, MMOG maker do release free content regulary. Hell, even WoW just recently added a brand new dungeon (Maraudon) with new quests. Free. And more are coming. CoH, DAoC and WoW are giving players regulary FREE content outside expansions. You can download the new DAoC client free, the one in the latest expansion.
I have no problem with MMOG makers charging money for expansions, but for minor content? One or two dungeons? 5-10 more quests? No thank you.
Greed pure and simple.
I know SWG as ~200,000 players subscribed. If their cost of upkeep is ~$3MM/month, then I think they should reevaluate their maintenance plan.
Of course, they're in it for profit too, but ~#36MM/year, I would assume, is likely paying for new game development as well. Just a hunch though.
Saying Android is a family of phones is akin to saying Linux is a family of PCs.