Why do mmo's have a monthly cost??

why do games like final fantasy 11 and wow cost money each month, I just bring this up because of the agency coming out on the ps3 and pc, There is no way id pay full price for a game and then to top it off have to pay a montly fee just to play it when I have already purchased it, it doesnt make sense, the makers should be greatful people purchased the title and that should go to covering the severs costs?? not a montly fee to pay for the game 5 times overbigLLL

There is an old saying " A fool and his money can be easily seperated". That's the first thing comes to mind about MMO games and gamers.

Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversdownPlayDemon

these servers are massive....WOW servers have an average of 10,000 players on them each.

[QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serverscobrax75

these servers are massive....WOW servers have an average of 10,000 players on them each.

The fee is easily worth it if you play the game alot..trust me.

[QUOTE="cobrax75"]

[QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversThe_PirateKing

these servers are massive....WOW servers have an average of 10,000 players on them each.

Not to mention the fact that you have to store all the information of each players items, levels and customizations and offer support to each player as well.

[QUOTE="The_PirateKing"][QUOTE="cobrax75"]

[QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversiunderstand

these servers are massive....WOW servers have an average of 10,000 players on them each.

Not to mention the fact that you have to store all the information of each players items, levels and customizations and offer support to each player as well.

[QUOTE="iunderstand"][QUOTE="The_PirateKing"][QUOTE="cobrax75"]

[QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversThe_PirateKing

these servers are massive....WOW servers have an average of 10,000 players on them each.

Not to mention the fact that you have to store all the information of each players items, levels and customizations and offer support to each player as well.

Yeah, I was agreeing with you and the above poster. I was actually trying to think of a way to form my reply so it didn't sound like I misunderstood your sarcasm... :(

[QUOTE="cobrax75"]

[QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversThe_PirateKing

these servers are massive....WOW servers have an average of 10,000 players on them each.

so are you telling me that halo had like 10,000,000 servers? because halo has the records for consecutive games and number concurrent games,

[QUOTE="The_PirateKing"][QUOTE="cobrax75"]

[QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversdownPlayDemon

these servers are massive....WOW servers have an average of 10,000 players on them each.

so are you telling me that halo had like 10,000,000 servers? because halo has the records for consecutive games and number concurrent games,

games...not servers....Each WOW server has over 10,000 players on it...Each halo PvP non-dedicaded server has 16 players on it.

Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversdownPlayDemon

Most console games use P2P and most dedicated servers are set up by users themselves. Not only that they are small and cheap compared to what having MMO server costs. Add to this the army of people who continously add new content and make tweaks, add persons who work on each and every server doing maintance, helping players etc and you've got the answer

Keeping servers up to date and uber high speed to prevent lag costs a fair amount of money, but then again ArenaNet runs Guild Wars for free and its a great MMO, not as wasteful as WoW is and you can quit playing it for a while and just go back and play it again without having to worry aboutwasting money for not playing.DSgamer64

that's because Guild wars uses far less server-stressful method. Notice that only in cities you can meet all the players, you don't have one huge world where thousands of people run around

[QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]

so are you telling me that halo had like 10,000,000 servers? because halo has the records for consecutive games and number concurrent games,

cobrax75

games...not servers....Each WOW server has over 10,000 players on it...Each halo PvP non-dedicaded server has 16 players on it.

[QUOTE="cobrax75"][QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]

so are you telling me that halo had like 10,000,000 servers? because halo has the records for consecutive games and number concurrent games,

The_PirateKing

games...not servers....Each WOW server has over 10,000 players on it...Each halo PvP non-dedicaded server has 16 players on it.

yes, and yes.

Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversdownPlayDemon

You could just get a private server >_>kage_53

Private servers suck. They tend to be unstable and lacking a decent amount of people. Plus they are extremely broken.

Keeping servers up to date and uber high speed to prevent lag costs a fair amount of money, but then again ArenaNet runs Guild Wars for free and its a great MMO, not as wasteful as WoW is and you can quit playing it for a while and just go back and play it again without having to worry aboutwasting money for not playing.DSgamer64

Guild Wars is not a MMO.

MMO's have a monthly fee simply because they can. A company couldn't make a non-online game have a monthly cost, but if they make a game that can only be played online at their site, of couse they're gonna charge you. Everyone knows that every company but nintendo is evil greedy and corrupt. They will take all the money they can get their grubby hands on.Acemaster27

Mind explaining why online games such as Diablo 2, Socom, Warcraft 3, Starcraft, Resistence and others are free? Hell, Blizzard games are played through their Bnet service with no charge.

The fact is that a monthly fee is needed to maintain servers, hire and pay game masters, tech service and new content. It's not about being greedy, it has plenty to do with keeping a MMO from draining money from the developer.

Also, keep in mind that every company is after the same thing. Lets not fool ourselves into thinking otherwise.

Usually the world servers for MMO games are not run by the same company that developed the game because it requires special climate and dedicated staff. For example, the European World of Warcraft servers are run by Telia (giant ISP), the servers are located in France, Germany and each of those clusters have their own climated rooms (which costs a lot) and technical stuff available to them 24/7 (which also costs a lot).

Let's not forget, that such big playerbase uses a lot of bandwidth, so they have to cover this up to. All in all, Vivendi/Blizzard have to pay for the hardware (servers, climated rooms), bandwidth, and technical staff assistance. Which in other words means you "the player" have also to pay a minimum for all this.

Mind explaining why online games such as Diablo 2, Socom, Warcraft 3, Starcraft, Resistence and others are free? Hell, Blizzard games are played through their Bnet service with no charge.

The fact is that a monthly fee is needed to maintain servers, hire and pay game masters, tech service and new content. It's not about being greedy, it has plenty to do with keeping a MMO from draining money from the developer.

Also, keep in mind that every company is after the same thing. Lets not fool ourselves into thinking otherwise.

Redmoonxl2

Actually, no, that is a very large portion of what it is. There is no denying that it does take a lot of support and thus a good chunk of change to continue running these things, but the monthly fees go well beyond maintenance and other related monthly upkeep costs. The reason MMO's are made is because they are well worth it to the developer being far more financially benificial to the developer than standard 1 time buy games.

[QUOTE="Redmoonxl2"]

Mind explaining why online games such as Diablo 2, Socom, Warcraft 3, Starcraft, Resistence and others are free? Hell, Blizzard games are played through their Bnet service with no charge.

The fact is that a monthly fee is needed to maintain servers, hire and pay game masters, tech service and new content. It's not about being greedy, it has plenty to do with keeping a MMO from draining money from the developer.

Also, keep in mind that every company is after the same thing. Lets not fool ourselves into thinking otherwise.

DerekLoffin

Actually, no, that is a very large portion of what it is. There is no denying that it does take a lot of support and thus a good chunk of change to continue running these things, but the monthly fees go well beyond maintenance and other related monthly upkeep costs. The reason MMO's are made is because they are well worth it to the developer being far more financially benificial to the developer than standard 1 time buy games.

[QUOTE="kage_53"]You could just get a private server >_>Redmoonxl2

Private servers suck. They tend to be unstable and lacking a decent amount of people. Plus they are extremely broken.

[QUOTE="Redmoonxl2"]

[QUOTE="kage_53"]You could just get a private server >_>kage_53

Private servers suck. They tend to be unstable and lacking a decent amount of people. Plus they are extremely broken.

No, they're not legal. Most MMO companies tend to hunt them down and shut them down whenever they can, especially if they are cutting into potential money to be made.

There are very few MMOs that allow private servers, especially if they are dead retail wise. I'm sure there's a AC2 private server around somewhere.

Somehow there is a huge reaction on system wars to the legitimate monthly fees on MMORPGs to run servers, maintain data and adding content. Not to mention the system has existed for nearly a decade.

Yet the cost of XBL, an online service which is closely mimiced by PSN and PC online for free, is dismissed as a just expense.

Yea MMO are really lame.

[QUOTE="The_PirateKing"][QUOTE="cobrax75"]

[QUOTE="downPlayDemon"]Because maintaining the servers just cost that much :roll: its just to rip you off, all online games have serversdownPlayDemon

these servers are massive....WOW servers have an average of 10,000 players on them each.

so are you telling me that halo had like 10,000,000 servers? because halo has the records for consecutive games and number concurrent games,

Heres a list of a few servers. WoW probably uses servers more powerful than the most expensive one listed. Each realm/world is hosted by 3 servers, at least and WoW has something like 90 realms i think.

Somehow there is a huge reaction on system wars to the legitimate monthly fees on MMORPGs to run servers, maintain data and adding content. Not to mention the system has existed for nearly a decade.

Yet the cost of XBL, an online service which is closely mimiced by PSN and PC online for free, is dismissed as a just expense.

Danm_999

[QUOTE="Danm_999"]

Somehow there is a huge reaction on system wars to the legitimate monthly fees on MMORPGs to run servers, maintain data and adding content. Not to mention the system has existed for nearly a decade.

Yet the cost of XBL, an online service which is closely mimiced by PSN and PC online for free, is dismissed as a just expense.

pundog

I'd be more receptive to that argument if MMO fees didn't exist on consoles on top of XBL fees. In my view, it shouldn't matter how much something costs, but whether or not it's worth it.

[QUOTE="Danm_999"]

Somehow there is a huge reaction on system wars to the legitimate monthly fees on MMORPGs to run servers, maintain data and adding content. Not to mention the system has existed for nearly a decade.

Yet the cost of XBL, an online service which is closely mimiced by PSN and PC online for free, is dismissed as a just expense.

pundog

The worth of MMO's is very subjective for each person. But paying for XBL still doesnt cover the fee of the MMO. Paying for XBL and FFXI on the 360 will still be $200+ a year.

Heres a list of a few servers. WoW probably uses servers more powerful than the most expensive one listed. Each realm/world is hosted by 3 servers, at least and WoW has something like 90 realms i think.

XaosII

222 realms in North America alone, so 666 servers in NA. Weird number and further proof that WoW is the devil. :o

Somehow there is a huge reaction on system wars to the legitimate monthly fees on MMORPGs to run servers, maintain data and adding content. Not to mention the system has existed for nearly a decade.

Yet the cost of XBL, an online service which is closely mimiced by PSN and PC online for free, is dismissed as a just expense.

Danm_999

I cant really agree with the price or content added prices but Xbox Live does have a lot of features and I accept the price but an MMO is only one game and the price would be more a year than xbox Live.

EDIT: You dont need Xbox Live Gold(fee) to play MMO's. You only need an online connection.

[QUOTE="Danm_999"]

Somehow there is a huge reaction on system wars to the legitimate monthly fees on MMORPGs to run servers, maintain data and adding content. Not to mention the system has existed for nearly a decade.

Yet the cost of XBL, an online service which is closely mimiced by PSN and PC online for free, is dismissed as a just expense.

AgileNate

I cant really agree with the price or content added prices but Xbox Live does have a lot of features and I accept the price but an MMO is only one game and the price would be more a year than xbox Live.

The features XBL brings however are free on other mediums. The MMO fees are not (unless you play games like Guild Wars where things are done very differently which impacts upon the gameplay).

It really doesn't matter that MMO fees are more, because in principle they are a justified cost.

[QUOTE="pundog"][QUOTE="Danm_999"]

Somehow there is a huge reaction on system wars to the legitimate monthly fees on MMORPGs to run servers, maintain data and adding content. Not to mention the system has existed for nearly a decade.

Yet the cost of XBL, an online service which is closely mimiced by PSN and PC online for free, is dismissed as a just expense.

Danm_999

I'd be more receptive to that argument if MMO fees didn't exist on consoles on top of XBL fees. In my view, it shouldn't matter how much something costs, but whether or not it's worth it.

[QUOTE="Danm_999"][QUOTE="pundog"][QUOTE="Danm_999"]

Somehow there is a huge reaction on system wars to the legitimate monthly fees on MMORPGs to run servers, maintain data and adding content. Not to mention the system has existed for nearly a decade.

Yet the cost of XBL, an online service which is closely mimiced by PSN and PC online for free, is dismissed as a just expense.

pundog

I'd be more receptive to that argument if MMO fees didn't exist on consoles on top of XBL fees. In my view, it shouldn't matter how much something costs, but whether or not it's worth it.

It is a very easy choice if you don't like MMORPGs. :P

*Enters generic "Servers Cost Money" line" as previous said multiple times above.*

Xbox Live has stuff the other consoles dont. What other console gives me the ability to watch a movie and chat to someone who is playing Gears of War?. The chatting system works well and lag isnt much of an issue(some games do get lagging voices). Quick access to things like friends list or own gamertag. You can use xbox live just to stay away from long distance calls if you wanted to. Movies and TV shows are also available and soon recording will be.

Like I said before the price would be better lower if not free but Xbox Live is still a good option. I once made a post in the past about how the Playstation Online Network will be free and thought that it would hurt the 360 buts its obvious it didnt and is different than expected.

Xbox Live has stuff the other consoles dont. What other console gives me the ability to watch a movie and chat to someone who is playing Gears of War?. The chatting system works well and lag isnt much of an issue(some games do get lagging voices). Quick access to things like friends list or own gamertag. You can use xbox live just to stay away from long distance calls if you wanted to. Movies and TV shows are also available and soon recording will be.

Like I said before the price would be better lower if not free but Xbox Live is still a good option. I once made a post in the past about how the Playstation Online Network will be free and thought that it would hurt the 360 buts its obvious it didnt and is different than expected.

AgileNate

except that XBL is just ripping you off, those features don't cost MS much, and you can get them all for free on PC. in MMos devs actualy have huge costs to carry. And with 360 MMOs you will still have to pay exacly the same fee as on PCanyway