All three of your arguments are assuming that the sole reason to not like a monthly fee to a game is the cost. But there's much more to it. Allow me to explain.
1. It's only cheaper if you plan to play that game exclusively. I, myself, like to play several different games within short times of each other, or sometimes during the same period. I'll play this game over here, then feel like playing this other game for a while, then the next day I'll want to play one of my old, simple DOS games for a few hours. I may play a single game exclusively for as long as two weeks if I get really into it, as I have with games like Oblivion and the Battlefield games, but never more and not very often. In order to get the full value out of each monthly timeslot, you have to play that game and that game alone, or nearly so. And even if its not about getting the most value out of it, if you plan on playing other games as well, it defeats the purpose of playing a game with a monthly fee in order to save money, so by that token, the only way to save money is to play that game and only that game. JP_Russell
I think the entire MMO argument, every single one - for and against -is all utterly subjective. I usually, in threads like this, make a point of saying something like no one can tell you if it's worth it to you. And I personally think that is the be-all end-all argument of monthly fees, whether arguing for or against.
Your first point is totally legitimate, but I think you're speaking too much from the perspective of a non-MMO gamer. Many - perhaps even most - MMO players are very dedicated, and play a great deal. A hell of a lot of people do play the MMO exclusively. I, as an example, played EverQuest exclusively in the late-2002 to mid-2004 period. But whether arguing for or against, it's still subjective. If we assume that the player only plays MMOs, the value becomes readily apparent. If you don't play the MMO exclusively, the game may be an abject waste of money. I don't think there is a de facto yes or no answer here. Almost the exact same argument may be applied to either side, and it is equally legitimate whether arguing for or against.
For the record, I played over six thousand hours of EverQuest over three and a half years, at a cost of approximately $755 for the game, half a dozen expansions and the subscription fees. While that seems like a lot - and thinking about it, man, it is a lot! - my gaming bills before I got into MMOs were about $120 per month. MMOs have the potential to be a catastrophic waste of money or a profound saving. It is utterly subjective. It's not about the fee itself, but about the player.
The timeslot itself is a problem. What if I haven't played the game in a little while, and just want to come back and give it a whirl for, say, half a week? I still have to pay for amonth's playtime. I have to either play for longer than I want to so as not to waste money, pay more than it's worth for a few days of gameplay, or just say "Screw it," and decide not to play the game even though I want to. None of those scenarios are good for me.JP_Russell
Again, you're looking at it from the point of view of a non-MMO player. Most MMO players are in it for the long haul, and the games are fundamentally not about five minutes of disposable fun. They are serious time investments - for better or worse - and the players who play them don't tend to quit for a few weeks, or come back for a few weeks. MMO players are, by their very nature, quite an obsessive bunch. They're all or nothing. The above is probably an argument that can be applied to pay-to-play games, but again, I would call it too subjective an issue for there to be a clearly correct answer. To draw from my personal experiences again, I did not cancel my EQ subscription until the end, even though I at times took a few weeks off now and then. Sure, I was paying for nothing, effectively, but what's six bucks? It could add up, sure, but as I say, most MMO players are in it for the long haul. Holidays aren't too common.
2. There are several flaws with the argument that monthly fee games have more playtime-price value. First, who's to say playtime is everything? Between BF2 and 2142, I have hundreds of hours of gameplay put into them. But I still feel like I got more value out of HL2 for instance (no episodes or mods), a game which I've played through I think 4 times, so I've clocked in maybe 45 hours with it total, because I enjoyed the experience more.Second, who's to say single player games can't have loads of playtime? I've played through the campaign of some of my favorites multiple, or even many times. While it may be hard to love a SP game so much you rack up as many hours as some would in MMO's, you can still certainly get more than 10-20 hours out of it. You can come back and play through that game again, then again and again and again, without having to pay any fees.JP_Russell
You're right that playtime isn't everything, but again, I think arguing for or against the quality of the game is a subjective issue. I just take it as a given that the player really likes the game. If the player doesn't get a lot out of the game - any game - the very argument of the monthly fee becomes moot. A player should not be playing a game they do not get a lot out of, never mind paying for it. To use my personal experiences again, my time with EQ was unquestionably the best gaming experience of my life. Which is precisely why I played so much, and why I payed so much. EverQuest - and MMOs in general, also double as very social experiences. I cultivated some very fruitful friendships through EQ, while compared with other games - most notably shooters -I have made no friends, and only the occasional acquaintance. That definitely counts for something in my book.
As for single player - or non-pay-to-play games - having a lot of game time, you're right. I played Diablo 2 for over two thousand hours (almost a third of my EQ playtime) for a total of about $60. I've played online shooters for hundreds and hundreds of hours. I've had single player games which have topped the 100 hour mark (most notably the GTA games). The price/playtime ratio on some games - non-fee games - can utterly trounce an MMO. But again, only when looking at a few individual games (which do not pass muster in the long run, mostly). When looking at my overall gaming habits, taking part and parcel my complete gaming expences and playime, I found consistently that playing an MMO hardcore is considerably cheaper than any other gaming out there. This, of course, is working under the assumption that the player needs a regular stream of new games to maintain entertainment levels, which I think it is fair to say is largely true.
3. You can talk about the value all you want, but in the end it's not mainly about the money, at least not for me. What it's about is that most games, once I buy them, are mine! Utterly and completely mine, and I can do whatever I want with them whenever I want (within the bounds of the law, of course). When I pay for a game, I want to be paying for thegame, not some ID that then allows me to buy a temporary admission ticket to the game. Good God, the very concept sounds ridiculous to me. The fact that I will never own a game with a monthly fee will be enough to ensure that I never take interest in it.JP_Russell
I totally get this argument. I don't agree with it, but I definitely get it. I don't really have much of a counter-argument besides saying that I just feel differently. But I would like to point out that you've never owned (or played?) a game with a monthly fee - I don't want to fall back on the old don't knock it till you've tried it thing, because people with experience know what they do and don't like, and you are clearly an experienced person. But I will say that you may not be the most objective person in the world when arguing against MMOs.
I no longer play MMOs, I don't think I will ever get into another one (regardless of the fees, the playtime requirements are just beyond me now). Generally speaking, I am anti-MMO and usually take a there's much better out there stance in arguments on MMOs. But I loved my time in EQ, even though it has had (or rather, I allowed it to have) some terrible and long lasting effects on my health, both physical and mental. And yet, I find myself thinking I would do it all again, if I could go back.
So to sum up - I think that MMO fees are definitely worth it, provided you like the game enough and have and are willing to spend the kind of time required. There are plenty of legitimate anti-fee arguments, and you've raised most or all of them eloquently, but I just have to fall back on subjectivity. It's definitely worth it if you like it enough to make it worth it. I don't subscribe to the concept of majority rule, but the sheer number of people playing on a pay-to-play basis is proof of... well... of something.
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