Are you surprised when you don't have to pay for multiplayer games?

[BigJonno]

Outside of MMOs, I've not been a big online gamer for some time. Not sure why, but I slowly lost the taste for deathmatches and CTF. Most PC games that I buy don't have MP components anyway and because subscribing to Xbox Live is such a pain in the arse (they only accept a very narrow range of credit/debit cards in the UK and if I'm ever in a game store with enough money to buy a Live card, I end up buying games instead) I've got used to not playing console games online.

As a result, I keep finding myself surprised when I don't have to pay to play online. Almost every PS3 game I own has an online component that I just don't touch and when reading some stuff about Guild Wars 2 earlier, I was really shocked when I realised it's not going to have a subscription.

I know a lot of you guys are pretty much PC exclusive, or have Live subs that you don't even think about, but am I the only one who is pleasantly surprised to not have to pay extra?

[violent]

Heat.net was when I first really started playing online and that was free. So to kinda answer your question, I'm never surprised when online gaming is free but I am surprised when online gaming becomes an expense.

[Gorvi]

I'd be more surprised to pay to play online, aside from MMOs of course. I rarely play online, so other than having LIVE Gold for my original XBOX (and never using it) I've never really payed for it. The online modes in most games just don't interest me, I just take them for granted and don't even think about possibly having to pay extra if I wanted to mess around with them for a bit.

[Goronmon]

Definitely not surprised when I have to pay for online games. I'd rather a more deep paid online experience (like WoW) then a more shallow, free online experience (like Guild Wars).

[violent]

Definitely not surprised when I have to pay for online games. I'd rather a more deep paid online experience (like WoW) then a more shallow, free online experience (like Guild Wars).

Dude. First 3 words of his post.

[Goronmon]

Dude. First 3 words of his post.It was an example. Plus, it's hard to avoid mentioning MMOs when comes to fee-based online games. You have XBox Live as a general service and then what?

[BigJonno]

I wasn't excluding MMOs from the discussion, I was just saying that I don't play many online MP games other than MMOs.

[Blue]

I won't pay for online gaming (outside of MMOs) so it doesn't really surprise me I guess. While I'm not huge into multiplayer to begin with, I can't see paying for something that other people get for free. That just comes off as peculiar to me.

[Karak]

No. By their very structure by the time I have to pay to play it online any small surprise has been forgotten as I have investigated and read about the game. I can't remember the last time I walked into a store and saw a game I didn't know about

[Spectre-7]

It was an example. Plus, it's hard to avoid mentioning MMOs when comes to fee-based online games. You have XBox Live as a general service and then what?

You also appeared to be answering the opposite of what was asked... Are you surprised when you don't have to pay for multiplayer games?

[roboninja]

I am not surprised; that is the way it should be. MMOs are an exception, but I do believe their subscription models are too high in general.

[violent]

Maybe I'm thinking of a different question but I find the MMO to be a separate beast. The only culprit I can find right now for a simple "pay to play" model is Live.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

I don't play online steadily enough to ever want to have to pay more for something I already paid for. I've played a lot of Uncharted 2 online the last week or so, but I hadn't played anything online for about a month and a half before that.

My multiplayer appetite was built up playing PC games and I never had to pay for that, so I will continue to game like that. So, I'm not surprised, there is a wealth of free online multiplayer out there.

[Kelegacy]

I think online gaming should be free anyway. Like violent, I'm more surprised that they charge you to access a feature that's in your $60 game. It's basically a microtransation, like DLC.

Meanwhile, even though people like to complain about it, the multiplayer modes in PS3 games come free with every copy of the game sold. So a $60 game purchase on the PS3 buys you more game. On XBL, you have to pay a premium to access the same content.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

Meanwhile, even though people like to complain about it, the multiplayer modes in PS3 games come free with every copy of the game sold. So a $60 game purchase on the PS3 buys you more game. On XBL, you have to pay a premium to access the same content.

There is some irony there with Xbox Live users complaining about DLC that are unlock codes for stuff on disc.

[crazyD]

I don't pay to play online. I once bought a month of WoW and a year of Xbox Live, and felt burned in both situations. I'm never really shocked to see that something is pay to play or not, but I just won't play it if it requires a fee.

[violent]

I will admit that Live is functional and extremely well done. Fact is, it still does not justify a fee. For one of the greatest consoles ever, it's sad that it can still so blatantly screw it's userbase. The greatest offenders in my opinion are those who believe they are getting what they pay for. Those that know it's bullshit but still pay for the ability to use it on the platform, I can respect.

[OldJadedGamer]

I think online gaming should be free anyway. Like violent, I'm more surprised that they charge you to access a feature that's in your $60 game. It's basically a microtransation, like DLC.

Meanwhile, even though people like to complain about it, the multiplayer modes in PS3 games come free with every copy of the game sold. So a $60 game purchase on the PS3 buys you more game. On XBL, you have to pay a premium to access the same content.

The one good thing about paying is being held accountable for your account to a certain point. Like right now I'm playing BC2 and loving it but I've reached a higher rank. With the 360 version I'm stuck with that rank and keep having to play people of my skill level or close to it in matchmaking. With the PS3 version, I would just create a new account and be reset to rank 1 and play all kinds of noobs then when I reached a higher rank again... boom, create a new account and keep doing it.

But to people paying for live already you are paying to access all games. So if I pay $30 a year and play 30 online games then I'm paying $1 per game. Also, I won't be able to play with the same number of people on another console so there is some degrading in the experience in that aspect. If the free online was that much better than sales of online focused games would be way closer in sales but it doesn't tend to be that way. The games that are closer in sales on the two systems tend to be single player games so people see the value in paying for the premium.

Most people pay because that's where their friends are. Weather you like it or not. I paid for Phantasy Star Online cause all my friends were playing it. I pay for XBL cause all my friends are playing it. If they weren't playing it there, I wouldn't pay for it.

To me, I don't look at it as paying for online. I look at it as paying to play with my friends. Like a cover charge at a bar. Do you want to pay the cover? No.. but is it better than drinking alone? Yes.

[violent]

To me, I don't look at it as paying for online. I look at it as paying to play with my friends. Like a cover charge at a bar. Do you want to pay the cover? No.. but is it better than drinking alone? Yes.

Look at it however the hell you want. You're still paying to play online.

[Vigil80]

Xbox Live burned down violent's childhood home.

[violent]

Xbox Live burned down violent's childhood home.

I had it coming. I raped the 360 in the first month I met it.

[Kelegacy]

I had it coming. I raped the 360 in the first month I met it.

Rape is a crime of violence, not sex. So...it fits you perfectly.

[Narradisall]

I was bought up on PC gaming for most my online so I'm used to it being free.

Live is the only thing I pay for. I consider for the price and the pure function of it that it's worth it. I never have online problems with Live, and its costs me a pittence.

Yes, it would be nice if it were free, and yes, Microsoft are slowly getting eaten away at by their free competitors catching up with them in terms of services provided, but 3 years into this Gen, I think it's worked out well for people all round.

[Goronmon]

You also appeared to be answering the opposite of what was asked... Are you surprised when you don't have to pay for multiplayer games?Fine...

NO

Happy?

[Spectre-7]

Fine...

NO

Happy?

Not really. I'm holding out for world peace.

[J Arcane]

Not in the slightest. Free online multiplayer is still the dominant paradigm even factoring in MMOs these days, so it doesn't surprise me in the least, it's just the way things have always been done, and the way things will continue to be done by the vast majority of games.

All Microsoft has done by charging for Live is give everyone else another bullet point feature to point out whenever multiplayer comes up.

And MMOs don't bother me with the monthly fee IF I'm getting that much content for my money. WoW, LOTRO, and EVE, my trinity of favorite MMOs, all provide tons of free content and updates and support for that $15, which I figure makes it worth it.

[TheKeck]

Yeah, count me in the not surprised camp. I never pay for online play, (not even MMO's because I don't play them... because you have to pay to play them. See where this is going? :p)

[crazyD]

Yeah, count me in the not surprised camp. I never pay for online play, (not even MMO's because I don't play them... because you have to pay to play them. See where this is going? :p)

I don't play MMOs because they are boring as hell, but the pay to play definitely doesn't help.

[AversionFX]

Heat.net was when I first really started playing online and that was free. So to kinda answer your question, I'm never surprised when online gaming is free but I am surprised when online gaming becomes an expense.

Oooh,man. Heat.net. Those were the days.

I have a pretty similar stance to violent. I don't remember online PC gaming ever having a price tag until MMOs came around, so it never really surprises me. I can't really imagine someone trying to charge for online play for anything that isn't an MMO. Like, who would honestly pay money to play Call of Duty online?

[crazyD]

Like, who would honestly pay money to play Call of Duty online?

People who game on the 360.

[Spectre-7]

I'm also in the not surprised camp... being a long-time PC gamer, I've been conditioned to expect multiplayer to be free, and honestly, there needs to be some value added on the developer's part if they're going to charge for it. If they're not running the servers, I don't really see what I'm paying them for.

Oooh,man. Heat.net. Those were the days.

I still have a Heat.net t-shirt around here somewhere. I loved their logo, with crosshairs superimposed over a peace sign.

I don't play MMOs because they are boring as hell, but the pay to play definitely doesn't help.

That's my stance, as well. Every few years, I try an MMO while it's in beta or during a trial week, and I just can't figure out how people get any entertainment out of them. I suppose I'm not much of a fan of CRPGs in general, for that matter.

[AversionFX]

People who game on the 360.

I didn't say anything about the 360. ;) Who would play CoD if it required a subscription?

[Adam Blue]

I personally would be surprised, and am currently surprised, that people would pay to play a game online. I think Live is a such a great service, so I expect people to have it anyway for the price, but it even bothers me that it is the only way to play online. But again, the cost is quite small especially considering how easy it is to great free months or just a cheap year.

[Scull]

The only time I'd be surprised by free online play is if it were through Xbox Live. Everywhere else I expect it (except for MMOs of course) and would be surprised if I were going to be charged for it. Like when GFWL was announced and they wanted you to pay a fee for it. I laughed. No way would that ever work on a platform like the PC.

[crazyD]

I didn't say anything about the 360. ;) Who would play CoD if it required a subscription?

People who game on the 360.

[OldJadedGamer]

All Microsoft has done by charging for Live is give everyone else another bullet point feature to point out whenever multiplayer comes up.

Bullet points change change on a whim though. Wasn't backwards compatibility and Linux support once bullet points for the PS3? Can you honestly say that you really believe that Sony will *always* offer online gaming for free. I have a feeling that the PS4 will have a different bullet point on the box if not sooner with the PS3. We have yet to see their premium charge service.

[J Arcane]

Bullet points change change on a whim though. Wasn't backwards compatibility and Linux support once bullet points for the PS3? Can you honestly say that you really believe that Sony will *always* offer online gaming for free. I have a feeling that the PS4 will have a different bullet point on the box if not sooner with the PS3. We have yet to see their premium charge service.
There's a word for this post. Well, an acronym really. I really hate using it, because it hits my ears like the braying of a mule, but I'm going to any way, because nothing else fits.

FUD.

[Exodus]

It doesn't surprise me and it pisses me off when I have to for regular online gaming outside of mmos. I'm a long time online player, I remember Heat, I remember Kali, I remember when all i knew of gamespy was that it was a game browser and how game browsers were popping up left and right like icq/aim/yahoo.

I think it's stupid to make people pay for it. I respect that X-Box does provide a decent service that provides information and goodies but their really should be an option to not have to pay to play online and not give a shit about the goodies and information.

This is why I bought a PS3 and why i didn't bother with a 360 unless I could get it for cheap.

[TheKeck]

It doesn't surprise me it pisses me off.
It pisses you off when you don't have to pay for multiplayer? :confused:

[CappinCanuck]

I'll never pay for MP games outside of MMOs.

[Exodus]

It pisses you off when you don't have to pay for multiplayer? :confused:

It pisses me off when I have to I should say. -_- editing!