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Paying Subscriptions for MMOs with In-Game Ads?
CokoBWare asks: "Next Generation is reporting that NC Soft, makers of the beloved City of Heroes, Guild Wars, and other MMOs have announced that they will be incorporating in-game advertising for their MMO Auto Assault, using an ad service from Massive Inc. NC Soft has made no indication that they intend to change their subscription model in light of this new announcement. I wanted to know how other people would feel paying $50US for a game, plus approximately $15/month in subscription fees, and in addition be served with in-game advertising as well? Is this a good trend for subscription-based MMO games of the future? Should gamers pay for the privilege of having to be subjected to in-game advertising on a monthly basis?"
Guild wars is free to play per month, unlike EQ2, WOW, etc.
Death by snoo-snoo!
Planetside already has that. They're not overly invasive, but they are noticeable in areas that people frequent (it's not like people's tanks have billboards on the side of them, a la nascar).
It's also very very easy to get rid of the ads. Apparently you just enter a line in your lmhosts file that tells the game to redirect all requests to the Massive Inc servers to some black hole. No more ads.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
"Seeing how they *already* have a very popular MMORPG without a monthly fee (Guild Wars), I don't think it is a stretch to think this one won't either."
Seeing as they *already* have multiple MMOs which require a monthly fee (City of Heroes/Villains, Lineage II)and have stated in their Auto Assault faq that the game will have monthly fees, I think it's unlikely that the game will use the Guild Wars model.
What remains to be seen is if they will do the advertising vs paid model like Anarchy Online or if all paid accounts will have advertising.
Sometimes my arms bend back.
Not so fast, cowboy! The FCC ruled no such thing - all they did was release a report saying that consumers would save money if cable stations went to an a la carte model, contradicting a report they released in 2004 (from the National Journal, among other sources I'm sure you could find).
fuck you.