Opinions on Changes in Free Trial

[mugendo]

Originally Posted by ummax

In a way but please remember i have stated that in the last year i have paid for 2 full year subscriptions (both from small companies) only to get burned by sudden policy changes affecting how free trials and free accounts work. In each case it resulted in the game then becoming a mess and an angry community and less new subscribers. So yes when i see a sudden about face and I have only been playing a game for a small amount of time it worries me. It says to me that they are having trouble with money and subscriptions and trying to manipulate their game to fix it. In each case that i have seen something removed and not added it has had a very very negative effect. I doubt this will be any different because decisions made in previous cases have been similar to some degree (something is subtracted not added).

Its very easy to add things like the starter island stuff and what not its VERRRRRRRRY hard to remove it if you change your mind however. When companies flip flop it makes me nervous and I'm not an idiot I see the history of decision making like this and its results so why would such a decision be any different.

In any event I'm not really upset its just a game but its very frustrating to people who have only just shown up on the scene to encounter this. Its even more frustrating to encounter it 3 times in a row like I have. Its driving me nuts. I find a game I like i setttle in and whamo doors start slamming behind me.


p.s. I think this forum only has about 25 posters so yeah 2 out of 25 is probably a good reflection since most of the other guys posting out of the 25 have been around for 6+ months which these days on MMO's seems to be "a long time"

I have been playing for over six months now...I started when the island gave me a 10 day trial, very limited ingame guidance (all was from fellow players and the GM's) and segregated from the other races . During this 10 days I had decided to subscribe.....and stayed on the start island for another MONTH as a paying player. I welcome new players and assist where I can, but when I hear them complain that they have to actually pay to play....I can't take them seriously.....oh, and I have just the one character I play..his highest level is 44

And I quoted you because I guess you were in SWG and got stung with the NGE.....voicing your concerns here is encouraged, Nevrax do listen to player feedback

Originally Posted by iwojimmy

we have found the culprit..

Ummax, Slayer of Free Trials....

[ummax]

Originally Posted by iwojimmy

we have found the culprit..

Ummax, Slayer of Free Trials....

Yes that's me if I say I am gonna play something dont go there cause that means its gonna change hehe its wierd. I should get some kinda of "points" or something so I can trade them into a faction guy and get a new mouse or coffee mug or something

[rothimar]

Originally Posted by chessack

Buying an unconventional game from an unknown company is a MUCH bigger risk than buying, say, Neverwinter Nights 2 (Known IP) from a known company (Obsidian). As a result, NWN 2 = low risk to most people, and Ryzom = high risk. Thus Ryzom needs a trial. That's really not a question... the main question is, how much of one, and is 21 levels enough (answer: no).C

Risk? You don't have to buy the game. The game is free to download. The trial is free, and you can achieve 21 levels in 4 different branches of skill. You get a good feel for the basic mechanics, and if you decide you want to see if it truly *is* the game for you after 21 levels in 4 branches of skill... oh, and you can have 4 alts too... then $15 USD is hardly an extreme expense to try a game unrestricted for 30 days. Most games out there require a $50 - $60 USD purchase to get the client before you pay to play.

While I would love to see the population explode, I would hate to see it filling with people who are going to have seriously hard core issues with a level cap, which in my humble opinion, ins't all that severe.

[chessack]

Originally Posted by rothimar

You get a good feel for the basic mechanics, and if you decide you want to see if it truly *is* the game for you after 21 levels in 4 branches of skill... oh, and you can have 4 alts too... then $15 USD is hardly an extreme expense to try a game unrestricted for 30 days.

Our fundamental disagreement here is just that 21 levels is or is not enough to give people an adequate trial. Clearly, you think it is. Clearly, I think it isn't.

We'll just have to agree to disagree about that, I guess.

C

[rothimar]

21 levels might not be enough to determine 100% for some, but if after 21 levels in 4 branches (84 levels) with 5 characters (420 levels) someone is still interested, then $15 USD is not a big investment to see life beyond 21.

But... regardless of what you or I think... Nevrax is running the show, and have the most interest in pushing trial to subscription conversions. The simple fact of the matter is that people have been taking advantage of the free trial for too long, and it's time that the paid subscriber's money starts going towards more paid content/support, marketing, etc etc.

But... if you don't want to discuss this with me, that's fine. I don't want to give you the impression that I am flaming you... if I had, I am sorry.

Originally Posted by chessack

Our fundamental disagreement here is just that 21 levels is or is not enough to give people an adequate trial. Clearly, you think it is. Clearly, I think it isn't.

We'll just have to agree to disagree about that, I guess.

C