Gaming only for the rich!

[Comments]

<strong>Gaming only for the rich!</strong> <img src="/images/General.jpg" alt="General" width="8" height="8">
<font size="1">[ Lee_yoshi - May 1 2005 - 11:52 AM ]</font>

<P><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Cause for concern over the costs of next generation gaming continue to rise as a report for BBC News (Online) speculates that extra features in future titles could come at a price.</FONT></P><P><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The report mainly focuses on the recent release of extra online multiplayer maps for Halo 2 (Xbox Live), as they are available now online for the price of £2.99. Even though they are free in the summer, they will of course most likely be bought by the hardcore Halo fans who want some of the new deathmatch goodness now!</FONT></P><P><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><IMG alt="Hunters License Fee's already apply to PSO!" hspace=2 src="/uploads/news_images/01_05_05_01.gif" align=left border=1>The report goes on to discuss the possibilities of such features on the next generation online games. With all 3 consoles competing hard for the online market, what will be included? Will they hold back features from the full game in order to gain a little extra at an initial price? Just maybe.</FONT></P><P><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">With <EM>Phantasy Star Online</EM>, this may not be so bad, as we're already used to paying the Hunters License fee's, so surely SEGA arent going to charge us anymore for extra features... are they?</FONT></P><P><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">For the full article, </FONT><A href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4497313.stm"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">click here to go to BBC News Online</FONT></A><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">.</FONT></P>

[Mikaelus]

Gaming continues to get more expensive as the technology to make and run games gets more expensive. Also, people need to get payed for their efforts in making games, and they ask for more pay every year. As for making us pay extra for new features, that's not gonna hapen. Ep IV is going to be an added patch to the game, as was Dire Maul, an instance dungeon, the the PvP Honor system were to World of Warcraft. As for the Hunter's liscence, they will not carry that over from the console versions of PSO. They need the money from new Hunter's lisences to pay for the new servers.

That's my 10 meseta on the subject, which means my opinion's worth more then the previous guy's.

[Lee-yoshi]

Lol, well this isnt 15 meseta's worth of opinion, but i have to say you've definately given it much thought rebeldoughnut!

I have to agree with you, and since Blue Burst isnt being released in stores (At least not initially), its gonna be very tough for the game to find new hunters. They're really relying on their own official websites, and fansites such as this really i guess, to be seen by the general online community.

As far as cost goes, i wouldnt expect a Hunters License for Blue Burst to be much more then it already is, otherwise it isnt going to attract new people as you've so rightly said. I wouldnt be surprised if they adjusted the old HL systems to pay for Blue Burst aswell in fact (i.e. PlaySEGA.com).

For new games in general, its most likely that soon there may not even be a need for games shops. With the internet becoming ever faster, you'll soon be able to buy games and download them like its no big deal, and just hand over your credit card details. I would by all means not be shocked if other games would go in the same direction as Halo 2 has, and offer new features at internet costs as downloadable expansions. However, i dont believe all games will go this way, thats for sure.

When they're offering new goodies for a one-off price like £2.99, it'll definately attract attention, but just how much money will be spent if all games offered such services? That'd make for some pretty broke gamers!

[Lee-yoshi]

Hehe, wow, commendations to you there rebeldoughnut, i havent seen posts this long and detailed for a while, i'm not used to all the reading! But however i totally agree with pratically everything you've said.

Its kind of like getting people addicted to the game, but not actually addicted as in theyll die without it. Once they have played it for a while, theyll continue regardless, something, as you've said, games companies, like SEGA, know! They charge the amount they charge for Hunters Licenses' because they know they've got a great game on their hands that people will continuessly play time and time again - as theyll continue to do with the PSO series in the future (With Blue Burst for example).

Thats why Bungie have done it with Halo 2, because they know its going to sell. Games with constantly loads of online players, and especially games with fansites, such as this (PSO), or most likely Halo fansites out there (I actually havent seen any of them come to think of it, but they must be there!), that could be considered legendary, will most likely come in the future at costs, because developers know its still going to sell, and well at that.

I tell ya, it shows you're doing a degree with Games Development aspects in! In fact, thats what i'm going into next year ^_^ Know-how comes in handy obviously!

[Mikaelus]

Look, either way ya look at it, I can pay the fee. So it sucks for all those that can't.

[Judgment]

I dont buy games that have extra costs. I refuse to pay for a game more than once

[Lee-yoshi]

I know I've gone on and on regarding this topic already, hey - this is relevent to the future of PSO! , but can someone please correct me if I'm wrong here... in the Japanese version of Blue Burst a fee is required to play Episode IV - either by download or retail purchase of an additional Episode IV game ID code that has to be registered.

If true it doesn't prove we'll suffer the same fate but I guess it's a good reminder to anyone who doubts the possibility of us having to pay for it not to count their chickens before they're hatched...

EDIT: Or should that be Rappies? *lol*

To play Blue Burst in Japan, you need a Hunters License. The Hunters License will allow you to play Episodes I & II, and the Episode IV expansion at the sametime, however it was installed.

[God-IX]

Haha...this seems to be turned into a Blue Burst thread...

Although I agree with everone that has posted here...
To bad I didn't see this thread for awhile..I wouldv'e posted my opinion...but..

You guys said it already...

I agree, the games for today are getting much more expensive...Video games are the most expensive habit...besides drugs..

I am to poor for this...haha

[Darkassassin_21]

Being poor sucks but games are to expensive now days maybe sometime they will hit something that makes there prices go down but i dont think it will happen

[Lee-yoshi]

Nah, i very much doubt it'll happen. The cost of producing games is going up, not down, as games become more complicated and complex to fit the next generation consoles and technology.

Who knows how much we're going to be paying for all this next gen stuff!