And what's the alternative for Turbine?
You can't force a company to continue to run a service that costs them money. And if you could, who would ever build these kinds of games (or services in any industry for that matter). The risks would be far to high.
Whether you understand or appreciate these services is irrelevant. The fact is, there are plenty of people who do. And if you were to mandate to the developing companies that they have no 'out', they'd stop producing them to the dismay of all gamers. Not just the ones who chose to play an unpopular title.
So no more gas cans in the trunk eh?
"The high pressure tank in that vehicle is charged to 300bar, or 4350psi."
That's going to take one hell of a bicycle pump...
Would you prefer to pay $200 to see if you like a game? Or would you prefer to pay $50 and then one $12 payment to see if you like it? If you don't, you're out $62, about the amount you'd pay for most any new game on the shelves at your local retailer.
If you do like it, and you play the hell out of it like most of the MMORPG crowd who sticks with a game, you're spending far less in the long run. Instead of forking out that same $62 every month or two for a new game, that you'll be bored to death with in three weeks, you spend $12 a month and get near endless entertainment. Before buying Everquest, I would consistently buy one, sometimes two new games a month. I've bought 4 new games in 3 years since buying Everquest. I'm coming out on top in cash.
A company shows some integrity by trying to protect it's customers and you ask "why should they care"? The appropriate response should be "thank you!".
We complain every day about companies that don't respect their customers, and run said companies with apparent abandon, only eyeing the almighty dollar as the goal. That's contagious and habit forming. The next concession to the companies integrity is that much easier and the customer is the one that ultimately pays the price.
It's decisions like this one by Sony that move to gain the respect of their customers. That's the best business move you can make, and will garner more of that dollar goal in the long term from those customers.
Slashdot Mirror
And what's the alternative for Turbine? You can't force a company to continue to run a service that costs them money. And if you could, who would ever build these kinds of games (or services in any industry for that matter). The risks would be far to high. Whether you understand or appreciate these services is irrelevant. The fact is, there are plenty of people who do. And if you were to mandate to the developing companies that they have no 'out', they'd stop producing them to the dismay of all gamers. Not just the ones who chose to play an unpopular title.
So no more gas cans in the trunk eh? "The high pressure tank in that vehicle is charged to 300bar, or 4350psi." That's going to take one hell of a bicycle pump...
"Lighten up Francis."
Would you prefer to pay $200 to see if you like a game? Or would you prefer to pay $50 and then one $12 payment to see if you like it? If you don't, you're out $62, about the amount you'd pay for most any new game on the shelves at your local retailer. If you do like it, and you play the hell out of it like most of the MMORPG crowd who sticks with a game, you're spending far less in the long run. Instead of forking out that same $62 every month or two for a new game, that you'll be bored to death with in three weeks, you spend $12 a month and get near endless entertainment. Before buying Everquest, I would consistently buy one, sometimes two new games a month. I've bought 4 new games in 3 years since buying Everquest. I'm coming out on top in cash.
A company shows some integrity by trying to protect it's customers and you ask "why should they care"? The appropriate response should be "thank you!". We complain every day about companies that don't respect their customers, and run said companies with apparent abandon, only eyeing the almighty dollar as the goal. That's contagious and habit forming. The next concession to the companies integrity is that much easier and the customer is the one that ultimately pays the price. It's decisions like this one by Sony that move to gain the respect of their customers. That's the best business move you can make, and will garner more of that dollar goal in the long term from those customers.