I'll gladly pay to play, just please make it user friendly.

[ArcAngel3]

I'm happy to pay a fee for good entertainment value. Business models that I think are user friendly would be a fee for the game, plus a monthly subscription, plus additional fees for major expansions. That's fine. The only thing I would expect though with this model would be that I know exactly what I'm getting before I pay the subscription fee. I wouldn't want to pay for advertised content, and then have something else implemented. I've seen this in MMO's, and it's just ugly. Also, if major game changes were upcoming, I'd like fair warning so that I can make an informed choice about continuing to subscribe. Again, I've seen MMO companies fail to do this, and it's also ugly. Both of these practices can really kill an MMO community, which then kills the MMO.

I also like the Guild Wars business model. Pay for the game to begin with, and then pay more for new content. There is no subscription fee because the money is earned via the content updates. It's more or less like purchasing a game, and then every sequel that comes out.

Either of the two models above would suit me just fine, if they're implemented in a customer friendly way. WoW seems to use the first model with success, and Guild Wars seems to use the second with success.

What I really wouldn't like is a set up that I feel manipulated by in some way. Like having an item shop, with items that you need in order to be competitive. This is especially problematic if you're already paying a subscription fee, but then can't compete unless you hit the item shop with ever increasing frequency. I think when people catch onto a scheme like this, they'll bail, and the game will fail as a result.

I also think that SOE's version of buying TCG card packs in the hope of acquiring performance enhancing loot for the StarWars MMO is very manipulative and unethical. Paying for performance enhancing loot is bad enough, but paying only for a chance to get it is insane. Once again, if people catch on to how they're being played, they'll bail, and the game will die. They're also being fleeced along the way, which just isn't cool.

I'm pretty much guaranteed to try this game. I love Star Trek, love MMOs, and have had a good experience with Cryptic. The only thing that would keep me from it would be some kind of business model that comes across as not being user friendly.

I'll look forward to seeing what you guys come up with, and thanks for all the hard work. A Star Trek MMO is an amazing idea.

[bigbuddywill]

Take GW off this and don't compare it to an MMO, cause GW isn't an MMO it is an online rpg.
The devlopers them self said it is an online rpg and shouldn't be compared with MMO games.

If you played GW it is not even close to being an MMO.

And the model they use is free online play just like dabilo,

I do have more to say about this.

But I will pay to play this game, it cheaper then going to the movies.

[Itsbeenalongroad]

While I don't like GW's business model, I do agree with you over all. If we are going to pay to play (please I hope we do) then we need to get our money's worth and not be toyed with. I have a strong distaste for item shops as well as you simply can't have your cake and eat it too. I mean that you can't have an item shop that keeps you funded but doesn't somehow imbalance the game by making those items better. If they weren't better no one would pay, if they are better then those not paying don't stand a chance vs those that are. So I still say cut out the hassle and middle man and just stick to a monthly fee.

[SelorKiith]

And for once and for all... GW is just free to play because NCSoft has enough other MMOs that are with monthly subscription or Item shops...
And you can know everything that's going to change you just have to look... every patch got its patch notes, every addon got its "What will change" pages... so just don't expect to sit there and get a popup "Hey here's everything you wanted to know!"

[ArcAngel3]

For the person who said Guild Wars is not an MMO, you may want to be aware that it won MMO game of the year in 2005. So, yes, it is an MMO:

"Guild Wars is a sexy, streamlined new entry into an increasingly crowded genre."
- 1up.com—Best MMO of the Year 2005"

This is still only one of two models that I've seen that are user friendly. As I said, WoW also has a good business model.

The common denominator is that players know what they're getting when they pay their money. Changes in MMOs are not a problem. Changes made without giving players/customers notice is a big problem. People just need to know what they're getting for their cash--no games, no scams.

Also, regarding item shops, I agree with another poster who highlighted the problems with performance enhancing items. You can't have your cake and eat it too. If you have this type of item, they easily become a necessity, and you can end up getting milked repeatedly in an attempt to stay competitive. This may seem sexy to the service provider in the short term, but as I said, players who catch on to the manipulative nature of the model will inevitably bail, and give the game bad word-of-mouth marketting. This is bad for the players, bad for the game, and bad for the service provider's reputation.

At the same time, I don't mind item shops with non-performance enhancing items. In Star Trek, I might fork out some cash for a ceremonial Klingon outfit, or weapon. This must not have superior stats, but it could look supercool. I'd also pay for temporary fun experiences, like a bottle of Romulan ale that makes you walk funny, slur your speech and distort your vision for an hour or so. That would be pretty funny to get hammered in 10 forward with some buddies, and have phaser duels on stun lol. Fun stuff, no performance enhancement, no manipulation to keep spending more and more on items that become a necessity.

Really, if a company does this right, they could get money for the game, money for expansions, money for subscriptions and money for items that are not performance enhancing. They make a nice profit for a good service, and players don't get manipulated or misled. This, to me, is a win-win scenario, and that's what will be the tipping point for me regarding whether or not I play this game.

[Trowa824]

The developers still have more say to what it is then an game review site...
If you played GW, open up there small product catalog booklet it is market as and say it is an online rpg.
The booklet should be in any of the NCsoft game.

Yea it does share similar stuff to an MMO, but it isn't.
I been playing GW since it came out and been playing WoW and other mmo games.

The reason the game is free it is cause when you go out of the cities to fight stuff, the game is running on your computer and in to "your game world of GW", so that your computer is playing the host for the other players in your group and it goes be the leader of the group that will be the host.

The only true sever that they have for the game is for the towns and cities.

BTW, look at this and they say it is an online RPG
http://pc.ign.com/articles/708/708116p1.html

I think STO will probably follow what Blizzard is doing and how they do there payment options.
Like now most MMO's are giving players a chance to use an Prepaid game card and it open the game up to alot more people...If blizz wouldn't have done that I probably wouldn't be playing WoW.

I just hope they do that with CO and STO.

[Urantia]

It will be very user friendly, and welcome ArcAngelX

[Samodelkin]

The amount I am willing to pay will depend on the quality of the game.

If I see a generic MMORPG that is unique just like every other, I will pay as much as I pay all the other such unique MMORPGs; in other words, nothing.

If the game is not worth my time, I will not play it unless somebody pays me to do so. If the game is exactly worth my time, I will only play it for free. If the game is worth my time and then some, then I will be willing to pay the difference between the game's worth and my time's worth.

If additional competitive fees are incurred, I will consider two separate cases before I continue:
1) Is the game without these competitive bonuses worth my time plus subscription?
2) Is the game with competitive bonuses worth my time plus subscription plus additional fees?

If I decide to continue, I will only pay the extra fees if the worth of the game with the extra features exceeds than the worth of the game without the extra features, plus the extra fees.

[ArcAngel3]

The developers still have more say to what it is then an game review site...
If you played GW, open up there small product catalog booklet it is market as and say it is an online rpg.
The booklet should be in any of the NCsoft game.

Yea it does share similar stuff to an MMO, but it isn't.
I been playing GW since it came out and been playing WoW and other mmo games.

The reason the game is free it is cause when you go out of the cities to fight stuff, the game is running on your computer and in to "your game world of GW", so that your computer is playing the host for the other players in your group and it goes be the leader of the group that will be the host.

The only true sever that they have for the game is for the towns and cities.

BTW, look at this and they say it is an online RPG
http://pc.ign.com/articles/708/708116p1.html

I think STO will probably follow what Blizzard is doing and how they do there payment options.
Like now most MMO's are giving players a chance to use an Prepaid game card and it open the game up to alot more people...If blizz wouldn't have done that I probably wouldn't be playing WoW.

I just hope they do that with CO and STO.

Okay, I understand the distinction you're making, thanks for the clarification. Hopefully my basic "user friendly" principles still make sense :).

Also, thanks to the other poster for the welcome to the forums.