HOI Subscriptions...any takers?

[Nitro]

I hope this isn't the future of gaming. That might be optimistic. I just can't see renting a game, though it might be good for people that lose interest and move on quickly.

[Andy]

The only reason companies move to subscription service is for more money.
And, as HOI games have some of the largest DLC follow ons than any i've seen. They're already trying to rake in a fair chunk from each game.
I won't be buying into this BS. And, anyone that does will be showing paradox and other game developers/publishers this is a viable business model. This isn't an all online MMORP that requires vast numbers of servers to run.

Idiots have been buying teslas and then paying a subscription to use the heated seats that are already built into the car.
Other car companies have seen that, seen that stupid people still buy into this business model and are now looking to do the same themselves.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alistaircharlton/2020/07/02/bmw-wants-to-charge-you-a-subscription-for-your-heated-seats/

You'll only have yourselves to blame.
NFTs have been given the chop by popular player demand from games. (largely)
I do hope a subscription models for a strategy game gets the same treatment. [/rant]

[coffeemm8]

I don't see what the problem is. It's useful for newbies who want the DLC but can't buy it all at once

[Nitro]

Interesting read about BMW. That would be a no thanks for me for that option.

[Nitro]

Originally posted by unnamedsoldier:

I don't see what the problem is. It's useful for newbies who want the DLC but can't buy it all at once

Which might not be bad if you could keep it. Since you must own the base game and the first DLC came out in 2016, it would only have cost whatever the base was plus and extra approx. $350+ ($26 for 6 months) had the subscription been available the entire time. It might be good now that the game is most likely winding down in anticipation of the HOI V money grab. Maybe that one will start off with a subscription. People are free to spend their money the way they see fit, but the practice could impact us all in the future.

[Rialm]

If you play once in a while, let say every time a new expansion is released or you are a newcomer It's not a bad business. But for most of Paradox's fan, it becomes costly because we play a lot. That's why in general, some people prefer for the first couple of month try new games with Game pass or other subscriptions.

Do I like subscription? It's about money, how much do you think you are going to spend over a year. I personally prefer to have the game, because sometimes I just want to play 2 hours in just one month and enjoy the game.

But it's the same about DRM free or having the physical copy, I even don't like the idea to have internet just to verify my games.

My advice, make a balance if it's worth it or not.

edit: an interesting subscription model it's the ESO's subscription. Yes, the bag is almost 80% necessary for end game. But let's say that you just want to enjoy the game. Every month if you are paying the subscription you get the resources to buy the dlcs or expansion, and you can stop that way latter you can enjoy without paying for it.

[Andy]

Originally posted by Nitro:

but the practice could impact us all in the future.

It is indeed, a slippery slope. Now, it's DLC for the expansions on a ageing game.
If there mare many takers. Future games might be fully subscriptions service. All online connection will be required to authenticate ( a mostly single player game)
Over the lifetime of future games players will be stumping up significantly more money.
If this isn't stamped out immediately and aggressively. This will be the business model for paradox going forward.

The choices people make now, will define future financial strategy for paradox.

[Bored Peon]

Originally posted by Andy:

If this isn't stamped out immediately and aggressively. This will be the business model for paradox going forward.

Electronic Arts with Star Wars The Old Republic and Bethesda with Elder Scrolls Online have been doing this for over a decade. Pretty sure there is other companies that have done it as well.

Originally posted by Andy:

Over the lifetime of future games players will be stumping up significantly more money.

You should take another math class. The LDC costs X amount and the subscription is X amount,obviously if you plan on playing quite a bit then someone with actual math skills and common sense will buy the DLC rather than subscribe for it.

The subscription is aimed for people who would buy the base game, play a month or two with a subscription and move on. Rather than spending $150 for the game with all DLCs they get to pay $20-30 instead.

Originally posted by Andy:

The choices people make now, will define future financial strategy for paradox.

ROFLMAO. If you say so.

[Viceroy Günther von Lichler]

Players that sub will eventually decide that they would save money by just buying all the DLC and Paradox will have successfully double dipped their wallets.

Thats how insidious it is right now, but who knows what they will add to the system later.
Early access to expansions for subs?
Beta access for subs?
Etc, capitalism is a ♥♥♥♥♥.

[Bored Peon]

Originally posted by Shion:

Originally posted by Bored Peon:

The subscription is aimed for people who would buy the base game, play a month or two with a subscription and move on. Rather than spending $150 for the game with all DLCs they get to pay $20-30 instead.

2 Weeks ago( Chinese New Year) you could buy all DLC for 42$ + 20$ for No Step Back, so not 150$.

I was not including sales because the casual aint always going to wait for a sale, the high play time does not wait for a sale and pays full price.

The point was you could get a taste of the game before buying it all or spend a smaller amount to scratch the itch for a month and come back months later and save money. Not much different than people who subscribe to a stream service for a month, binge watch unsubscribe and swap streaming services the next month rather than paying each every month.

Originally posted by Boob Goblin:

Players that sub will eventually decide that they would save money by just buying all the DLC and Paradox will have successfully double dipped their wallets.

Well that is the consumer's fault. Not much different than people who make weekly or monthly payments to the "rental places" for appliances and such who end up paying way more in the long run than they if they bought it outright. That sort of racket been going on for decades.

In other words it aint a bad thing unless the consumer lets it be a bad thing.

[Viceroy Günther von Lichler]

Don't even have to look at your profile to tell you are american lol.

[Andy]

Originally posted by Bored Peon:

Originally posted by Andy:

If this isn't stamped out immediately and aggressively. This will be the business model for paradox going forward.

Electronic Arts with Star Wars The Old Republic and Bethesda with Elder Scrolls Online have been doing this for over a decade. Pretty sure there is other companies that have done it as well.

AS i pointed out in my first post. MMORP games are a different breed. THey need servers constantly running on top of usual development costs. But, even then, the subscription model has proved unpopular and most of the games industry has been slowly moving away from it.
The last thing we need is encouragement to bring it back

You should take another math class. The LDC costs X amount and the subscription is X amount,obviously if you plan on playing quite a bit then someone with actual math skills and common sense will buy the DLC rather than subscribe for it.

If subscription model becomes normal. You won't get that option.

The subscription is aimed for people who would buy the base game, play a month or two with a subscription and move on. Rather than spending $150 for the game with all DLCs they get to pay $20-30 instead.

You've not understood my post. This isn't about this game now. I've talked about it being a slippery slope. If people buy into and normalise the subscription model for a largely single player strategy game. Then future games will all become subscription models. There won't be an either or.
I hope to be proved wrong. But, i highly doubt that unless take up of this subscription model is poor.

ROFLMAO. If you say so.

Yes, i do. You may laugh. But it's exactly that casual attitude that has led people to buying cars with built in heated seats they can't use unless they pay a subscription.
Tesla proved the concept and other manufacturers are positioning themselves to follow suit or have done already.

[Bored Peon]

Originally posted by Andy:

Originally posted by Bored Peon:

Electronic Arts with Star Wars The Old Republic and Bethesda with Elder Scrolls Online have been doing this for over a decade. Pretty sure there is other companies that have done it as well.

AS i pointed out in my first post. MMORP games are a different breed. THey need servers constantly running on top of usual development costs. But, even then, the subscription model has proved unpopular and most of the games industry has been slowly moving away from it.

Both games a free to play with an optional subscription.
Having a subscription gives you access to the current expansions, or you can buy the current expansion and keep playing without a subscription.

Exactly what Paradox is trying to duplicate.

[|H|H| Fr3ddi3]

No, i'm not going to take this offer up, but i'm not going to talk ♥♥♥♥ and say that I find this offensive.

I can see the appeal for paying a subscription for one month just to try all the ♥♥♥♥ I don't have, playing it to death and then i'll either.

Never touch it again

or

Picking up the things I did like in a sale later on.

I literally do the same thing with my netflix account, i'm not going to keep re-buying month after month, only a fool is going to do that.

[Magni]

Originally posted by Nitro:

now that the game is most likely winding down in anticipation of the HOI V money grab

...and how exactly did you figure that one out? Last I checked, there's been exactly zero talk about support for HoI IV winding down, nor any word about a suppsoed successor. And if we look at the average time between sequels for Paradox titles, HoI IV has still at least 2-3 years to go before the fifth part is on the horizon.

[koimeiji]

I genuinely don't see the problem.

If you don't want to buy the subscription, literally nothing changes. And I mean "literally" in the real sense of the word, because the DLC (past and future) will still be for sale at their normal and bundle prices.

It has absolutely no effect on people who don't want it. If anything, it helps the consumer figure out what (if any) DLC they want, since they can pay a significantly less sum to try them out.