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That's how a lot of games work (and have done for decades). You buy the game once, then get access to online multiplayer servers. Subscription models encourag

That's how a lot of games work (and have done for decades). You buy the game once, then get access to online multiplayer servers. Subscription models encourage constant needless changes to the product.

cinntaile 4y ago
That was before the infrastructure to properly support monthly or seasonly subscriptions or passes existed. What are some other business models? Microtransactions, usually a lootbox like system so the gamblers pay for the rest of the players (quite profitable) DLCs I can't think of any other common ones.
alanfranz 4y ago
Very few follow that trend, though, and servers sometime get shut down after a while, exactly because they have a price. And expansions, dlcs, seasons, are a way to subsidize such online services. How many games that offer no additional packages keep their online offering working forever?
- ekianjo 4y ago
  > How many games that offer no additional packages keep their online offering working forever? All the games that actually released binaries for hosting your own servers. That used to be the standard back in the day.
  - cinntaile 4y ago
    I don't think that's coming back, but it would be nice if they released the binaries once they stop providing servers for a game.
    - ekianjo 4y ago
      Something called Minecraft seems to disagree with your conclusion.
      - cinntaile 4y ago
        The general trend is clearly towards not providing server binaries. You'll find some exceptions here and there, but that doesn't mean it's coming back.
        ekianjo 4y ago
        > You'll find some exceptions here and there The exception is the most played multiplayer game in the world.
        cinntaile 4y ago
        This is not correct and even if it was it wouldn't affect my point. You used to run your own multiplayer servers, now this is the exception to the rule.
  - alanfranz 4y ago
    Oh, sure. but then they don't keep their online offering; users do. And you need to pay for a VPS instead of a service.
    - ekianjo 4y ago
      You don't need to pay for a service if it's something you run on your own machines, just when you need to play with friends.
ghaff 4y ago
>Subscription models encourage constant needless changes to the product. As does the desire to sell paid upgrades.

cinntaile 4y ago

That was before the infrastructure to properly support monthly or seasonly subscriptions or passes existed. What are some other business models? Microtransactions, usually a lootbox like system so the gamblers pay for the rest of the players (quite profitable) DLCs I can't think of any other common ones.

alanfranz 4y ago

Very few follow that trend, though, and servers sometime get shut down after a while, exactly because they have a price. And expansions, dlcs, seasons, are a way to subsidize such online services. How many games that offer no additional packages keep their online offering working forever?

ekianjo 4y ago
> How many games that offer no additional packages keep their online offering working forever? All the games that actually released binaries for hosting your own servers. That used to be the standard back in the day.
- cinntaile 4y ago
  I don't think that's coming back, but it would be nice if they released the binaries once they stop providing servers for a game.
  - ekianjo 4y ago
    Something called Minecraft seems to disagree with your conclusion.
    - cinntaile 4y ago
      The general trend is clearly towards not providing server binaries. You'll find some exceptions here and there, but that doesn't mean it's coming back.
      - ekianjo 4y ago
        > You'll find some exceptions here and there The exception is the most played multiplayer game in the world.
        cinntaile 4y ago
        This is not correct and even if it was it wouldn't affect my point. You used to run your own multiplayer servers, now this is the exception to the rule.
- alanfranz 4y ago
  Oh, sure. but then they don't keep their online offering; users do. And you need to pay for a VPS instead of a service.
  - ekianjo 4y ago
    You don't need to pay for a service if it's something you run on your own machines, just when you need to play with friends.

ghaff 4y ago

>Subscription models encourage constant needless changes to the product. As does the desire to sell paid upgrades.