• 🏆 Texturing Contest #33 is OPEN! Contestants must re-texture a SD unit model found in-game (Warcraft 3 Classic), recreating the unit into a peaceful NPC version. 🔗Click here to enter!
  • It's time for the first HD Modeling Contest of 2024. Join the theme discussion for Hive's HD Modeling Contest #6! Click here to post your idea!

SC2 Pay to play

Status
Not open for further replies.
Level 7
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
326
Now I'm aware that this is a touchy subject so I feel the need to say that I'm not trolling and would appreciate if you all tried to be civil in this thread.

I am aware how Blizzard stated, "We will not charge a monthly fee for Starcraft 2 ever" but for anyone in the beta who has seen the latest patch may agree with me when I say I'm starting to doubt that. For anyone who hasn't seen there is a play time remaining message under the player profile in battle.net which blizzard stated has nothing to do with the beta and is a patch glich, however the fact that they have a profile play timer seems suspiciously like MMO pay-per-month online usage. Normally I wouldn't suspect Blizzard of this but ever since WoW and their acquisition by Activision I don't trust them as a company any more, so my question is what is your opinion?
 
Level 10
Joined
Aug 25, 2004
Messages
473
The problem with that is that it will divide the user database by 3. Would be a shame.
In this case, i dont think they ment it this way. Blizzard is an awesome company, where quality meets the expectation. I trust them to do the right thing. They gave me no reason to doubt anything they did so far
 
Level 27
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
11,324
It's not pay to play blizzard specially said it. The playtime is just something they are testing for the Russian server that will have such thing. No other will have a WoW subscription..

Nazies! This actually mean I can't get a Russian version altrough those are much cheapper... are you sure the function like this will exist? If yes, I' sure nobody will buy it, Russians hate monthly sbsciptions and prbably gonna write a petition or something.
 
Level 22
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Messages
3,971
It has been posted I think on Russian forums that it will be subscription just for Rus so that those that cant afford the game to pay low price for subscription. It will have a function to be able to upgrade your subscription to full game so that you can play vs rest EU instead of Rus server with subscriptions.

http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=24261056580&sid=5016&pageNo=9

blizz.gif
Да, вы все правильно поняли. При апгрейде учетной записи до Европейской вам больше не нужно будет платить абонентскую плату.
 
Level 27
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
11,324
Oh, so that's what! Russian games are allways much cheaper that in other parts of Europe, so Blliard actually agreed to make it cheaper, but Russians won't be able to play multiplayer without subscibtions or upgrades to European version!
Well, seems I should better buy the overpriced European one then...
 
Level 7
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
326
I saw the rent to own thread yesterday on the battle.net and originally was thinking that was the reason for the game time extension, however after thinking about it I'm still stumped by the "play as guest" button on the main screen that's disabled for beta. I can't think of any situation that would need a play as guest feature except for a pay-to-play trial account.
 
Level 7
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
326
Is that what its for? They should really change the button label then. Also how would you access campaign if its linked to your profile and you're using a guest account?
 
Level 11
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Messages
963
The point is that usually this stuff would be stored online, so effectively if you wanted to play singleplayer offline you wouldn't be able to access any of this stuff.

I imagine its mostly for playing against AI and stuff, because you wouldn't be able to continue the campaign you were playing on your online profile.
 
Level 4
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
89
I highly doubt that they would go against there word when they said they would not have a monthly payment.

It could be absolutely anything, for example maybe there is a demo period for paid maps?(Just on the top of my mind).
 

Dr Super Good

Spell Reviewer
Level 63
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
27,180
It makes no sense for a pay to play RTS. Doing that would kill 99% of their market.

In WoW, you have a social time walking with people, meeting people and all your actions are run on your servers. In SC2 their servers purly are redirect and syncronization hosts with no actual gameplay calculations being run. There is no justification for a pay to play in SC2 thus it would kill them.

However they will probably add premium accounts instead, for extreem fans of the game with unique icons, more features and enhanced space for mods and stuff.

What would also be nice is if they could get the community involved in hosting large file content. Eg a redirect to a fan site server where a large 100 MB mod or map could be downloaded so that they need not spend the resources hosting it. Each site could have their own selection option (with blizzard warning saying they do not run the server).
 

Dr Super Good

Spell Reviewer
Level 63
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
27,180
It is free the multiplayer for people who buy the full game.

However they will probably add bonuses to people who decide to pay monthly, which may include custom turniments, more and larger map slots and a whole number of things.

In the end, playing your SC2 DotA or what ever custom map, you will have the same advantages on a free account as someone who is paying for a premimum account.
 
Level 20
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
2,999
I doubt they'll do it - but don't put it past them, allowing premium maps is bad enough - We don't want to start paying for mods, so why should we for custom maps! Bah.

However I'm sure even Blizzard/Activision won't go back on there word this late in the game. Dr Super Good's right, they'd not shift anywhere near the same amount of copies as they would, should it remain free-to-play.


-> Perhaps it's something to do with WoW account integration/linking?
 
Level 8
Joined
Jun 28, 2008
Messages
356
"This kind of thing gives some motive to pirates to do bad things."

Pirates will do 'bad things' even if the game is free. Ironically said. Anyways, russians and paying for games? Quite impossible :D Come on, they are teh most l33t3st hax0rz evar! :]
 
Level 27
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
11,324
"This kind of thing gives some motive to pirates to do bad things."

Pirates will do 'bad things' even if the game is free. Ironically said. Anyways, russians and paying for games? Quite impossible :D Come on, they are teh most l33t3st hax0rz evar! :]

Да комрад. They are definetly gonna do that, so making Russians pay more is quite mazochistic.
Wait, what if all the WoW player or something are gonna get some kind of limited-time Starcraft 2 version? Maybe that's for what is timer?
 
Level 40
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
10,532
I love all the sensationalism in this thread. P2P is for people who can't afford the full game, Play as Guest is for playing Single Player if you don't have internet access (it's labeled that because that way you won't get achievements etc seeing as you are not online).

Blizzard is not trying to eat your babies. Get over it.

Also, Premium Maps are a good idea in my opinion.
 
Level 3
Joined
Nov 23, 2008
Messages
66
About the "play as guest" option, it might be there for net cafes, so you can play without actually owning an account.
60 euros are already more than enought for a pc game (wtf! is it blu ray or sth?).

I fear though Diablo 3 will be their new WoW with pay to play and the stuff.
 
Level 7
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
326
Honestly at this point I don't think anyone can say yes or no to Blizzard charging a monthly fee and you in fact can never say unless either you are high up in Activision or you are around when they cut SC2's servers to make room for some new Blizzard game.

Personally my worst case scenario is:
1. Activision allows free B.net for around a year
2. Due to lack of LAN people are all forced to use Battle.net
3. Activision springs an online fee citing server maintenance costs as reasoning
4. Legacy of the Void and Heart of the Swarm both are revealed to increase B.net functions such as max published map slots to entice buyers.

Now of course this is worst case scenario SC2 but based on how SC2 is already being screwed up game wise (ie. announcing two "expansions" before a game is released) I wouldn't put it past Activision.

(If however the moderators wish me to stop this topic I will abandon it.)
 
Level 11
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Messages
963
In reality, your average pirate doesn't really care how much a game costs because he isn't going to be paying for it anyways. Generally, price is merely an excuse they use to try and justify their actions.

EDIT: Also, you can stop making blind guesses as to how SC2 is going to become P2P. There is nothing that actually suggests they would do so, and a lot of reasons why it would never happen.
 
Level 7
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
326
In reality, your average pirate doesn't really care how much a game costs because he isn't going to be paying for it anyways. Generally, price is merely an excuse they use to try and justify their actions.

Which is exactly why Blizzard's no LAN/B.net validation crap is complete bullshit because game developers are smart enough to account for losses due to "true" pirates (ones who pirate simple because they don't want to pay).

EDIT: Also, you can stop making blind guesses as to how SC2 is going to become P2P. There is nothing that actually suggests they would do so, and a lot of reasons why it would never happen.

This is a discussion, you know, where you discuss things.
 
Level 7
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
326
Diablo III and SC2 will not be pay per month. They will be free to use after purchase.

However, they will probably add premium accounts, with more character slots and stuff to help cover server costs.

Can I get a source on this or are you just pulling this out of your ass. Also in the interest of discussion why do you think Blizzard would need to have anything to cover servers when they've never charged for any of their RTS games before?
 
Level 11
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Messages
963
KaboomMaster said:
3. Activision springs an online fee citing server maintenance costs as reasoning
KaboomMaster said:
Can I get a source on this or are you just pulling this out of your ass. Also in the interest of discussion why do you think Blizzard would need to have anything to cover servers when they've never charged for any of their RTS games before?
KaboomMaster said:
so I feel the need to say that I'm not trolling
I lol'd.
 
Level 11
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Messages
963
There isn't definitive proof, however, there is strong evidence supporting it.
1UP: Speaking of the WOW experience, other action-RPG games have attempted a subscription model of sorts, can you talk at all about that for Diablo III?

RP: Well, ultimately, we’ll decide on the final business model of the game in the future, but I don’t think you’re going to see a subscription model in the realm of WOW. It’s a boxed product game, it will be more similar to say, the Diablo II or the StarCraft II model.
Starcraft 2 -- it would be an idiotic business decision, and considering what Blizzard has said regarding it I highly doubt it. In the end, if it does end up being P2P then I can play a different game.
 
Now I'm aware that this is a touchy subject so I feel the need to say that I'm not trolling and would appreciate if you all tried to be civil in this thread.

I am aware how Blizzard stated, "We will not charge a monthly fee for Starcraft 2 ever" but for anyone in the beta who has seen the latest patch may agree with me when I say I'm starting to doubt that. For anyone who hasn't seen there is a play time remaining message under the player profile in battle.net which blizzard stated has nothing to do with the beta and is a patch glich, however the fact that they have a profile play timer seems suspiciously like MMO pay-per-month online usage. Normally I wouldn't suspect Blizzard of this but ever since WoW and their acquisition by Activision I don't trust them as a company any more, so my question is what is your opinion?


NO - THIS MESSAGE IS TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THE BETA CLOSES ON JUNE 26TH, AS THE GAME COMES OUT ON JUNE 27TH.

I FEEL I MUST USE CAPS BECAUSE HALF THE POPULACE OF THE BETA HAS A KNOWN DISEASE RELATIVELY CALLED DOWNS SYNDROME.

The release date isn't hidden anywhere, and they didn't put it in JASS.
Use your brain, please. And stop wasting thread-space, for people who ACTUALLY HAVE IMPORTANT THINGS TO ASK / TALK ABOUT.

Thanks.
 
Level 7
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
326
NO - THIS MESSAGE IS TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THE BETA CLOSES ON JUNE 26TH, AS THE GAME COMES OUT ON JUNE 27TH.

I FEEL I MUST USE CAPS BECAUSE HALF THE POPULACE OF THE BETA HAS A KNOWN DISEASE RELATIVELY CALLED DOWNS SYNDROME.

The release date isn't hidden anywhere, and they didn't put it in JASS.
Use your brain, please. And stop wasting thread-space, for people who ACTUALLY HAVE IMPORTANT THINGS TO ASK / TALK ABOUT.

Thanks.

Obviously you didn't read the patch 13 notes which said the expiration timer is a glitch due to the patch.

http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=25026323304&sid=5010

Check bullet point number three under battle.net
 
Last edited:
Level 5
Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Messages
132
They ae just testing the pay to play function that is available in south america, africa, russia and a few other places because they have a cheaper version that is available (but not compolsury) in those countries that means people who might not be able to afford the full game can still play and enjoy the game for less

Dont worry there will be no compolsury pay to play

will try to find the blizzard thread later when my eyes are not so sleepy

EDIT woops didn't notice the other pages so ignore this if it has already been said
 
Level 7
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
326
Yeah, and that's when the beta closes..
Caaauuussseee I'm prettttyyy suuurreee Future Shop said the 27th.
Whom to believe. Hmmm? You or FS?

Oh really because I found this nice little Blizzard dev post saying it ends on the 31st of May before being reopened for a few weeks before the release on July 27th. (Trust me I am fully aware of the irony of me quoting Blizzard in this thread.)

Oh my apologies Rispetto, I believe I interrupted you talking about how you being uninformed has lead you to believe that half the Beta population has down syndrome.
 
Level 16
Joined
Jul 4, 2008
Messages
1,106
Im pretty sure that they are going to use that very same battle.net in the very future, but the timer may have been a glitch in Starcraft II.

Most likely it was to time the beta end, but then it was changed and it got glitched.

In future games, if they use this same battle.net because it is good. The timer is most likely ONLY for mmo's, it is just based in there (This is the new B.Net, yes).

Diablo III is not an MMO remember that (Either is SC2). It prolly won't have monthly cost.
Blizzard already has a "Gold Mine" and it's called "WoW".

Making another "Gold Mine" would be just a waste.

~tired typod
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top