Maybe Valve wised up... what ever happened to subscriptions?

[alehm]

Anyone remember Gabe talking about subcriptions?

Where the casual gamer could subscribe to Steam for lets say $10 a month and could play Half Life 2 and once his subscription ran out he would no longer be able to play the game.

Personally, I think the idea makes sense... for someone not a hard core HL2 fan they could pay $10 to play the game for one month.. chances are they will beat it in a week or so then never play it again. But I don't think it makes sense for game launches.. as it generates Valve more money from the impulsive consumer base who must have the game now and buy it at the $50-$60 price.

So.. has subscriptions gone away entirely?

[Vegeta897]

No.. I dont think so..

When the game comes out we will have more information.

[frusion]

I dont recall seeing any subscription fees

[Death.Trap]

*sigh*

People are STILL confused about this. Holy God.

This was the deal, you could buy hl2 for a one time payment, go home play it on your computer.

OR

You could pay 10 dollars a month, and as soon s a valve released a new game it would be dled to your computer. You wouldn't have to purchase the game. WIth the subscription plan all new releases are automatically yours. Probably cost more in the long run, but hey..its convinient.

[Vegeta897]

I dont recall seeing any subscription fees
That's not what he is asking.

We KNOW that subsciption fee's exist.
Read the whole post, and think carefully about what he is trying to ask.

More info, I do recall an fairly recent E-Mail about subscriptions. I am 95% sure they will be available as a payment option.

[BladeTurbo]

Anyone remember Gabe talking about subcriptions?

Where the casual gamer could subscribe to Steam for lets say $10 a month and could play Half Life 2 and once his subscription ran out he would no longer be able to play the game.

Personally, I think the idea makes sense... for someone not a hard core HL2 fan they could pay $10 to play the game for one month.. chances are they will beat it in a week or so then never play it again. But I don't think it makes sense for game launches.. as it generates Valve more money from the impulsive consumer base who must have the game now and buy it at the $50-$60 price.

So.. has subscriptions gone away entirely?
that idea sucks. what if i get bored and want to play the game 6 months down the road. then i have to re-subscribe.

[FISKER_Q]

*sigh*

People are STILL confused about this. Holy God.

This was the deal, you could buy hl2 for a one time payment, go home play it on your computer.

OR

You could pay 10 dollars a month, and as soon s a valve released a new game it would be dled to your computer. You wouldn't have to purchase the game. WIth the subscription plan all new releases are automatically yours. Probably cost more in the long run, but hey..its convinient.

That's the problem, it's not for the casual gamer. It was intended to be a subscription for fans.

It haven't been written off yet, but it won't be happening unless Valve can supply exclusive material each month. That's what the purpose of the subscription is.

1. You get all games.
2. You will get new content, exclusive to you, each month

And probably also more. However they haven't found any way to that yet, so that's why it's halted right now.

[Vegeta897]

that idea sucks. what if i get bored and want to play the game 6 months down the road. then i have to re-subscribe.
And.. How long could that take?

Better than not having to play it at all...

How DOES your mind work?

Oh, perhaps you are confused that this is the ONLY payment option?
No, that's not the case.

[shortsite]

who wonts to play a game for $120 !

[She]

if i BUY the game.. i want to play it whereever and whenever i want to..

If i download the game for FREE, then i can pay $10 every month till
i get to the point where my $10 equals the games price value.

[Vegeta897]

if i BUY the game.. i want to play it whereever and whenever i want to..

If i download the game for FREE, then i can pay $10 every month till
i get to the point where my $10 equals the games price value.
Umm... Thankyou for telling us what we already know, She.

Shortsite: WTF are you talking about?

[poseyjmac]

That's the problem, it's not for the casual gamer. It was intended to be a subscription for fans.



not necessarily. it would be a good way for a casual gamer to try out the valve stuff before he makes a decision on what he wants to really buy.

[shortsite]

A one off fee is better !

Its a game not a magazine !

[shortsite]

Thats why we have demos of games!
Just a thought

[FISKER_Q]

not necessarily. it would be a good way for a casual gamer to try out the valve stuff before he makes a decision on what he wants to really buy.
Sure, doesn't change the purpose though. It's for long-time subscribers.

[shortsite]

What I am talking about is that if I were to purchase a game say as a subscription I would but only pay the full price !
I were to play the game for 6 months then wouldnt I pay $60 ?

$120= a year

[Vegeta897]

What I am talking about is that if I were to purchase a game say as a subscription I would but only pay the full price !
I were to play the game for 6 months then wouldnt I pay $60 ?

$120= a year
Who says you HAVE to play for a year?

What If I wanted to just check the game out and play for a little bit? Like, say a month?

I would only have to pay $10!
That's alot better than $50!

[BladeTurbo]

And.. How long could that take?

Better than not having to play it at all...

How DOES your mind work?

Oh, perhaps you are confused that this is the ONLY payment option?
No, that's not the case.
no, i was aware of the other payment option, but i was commenting on the subscription portion (which i'm sorry to say i nerver heard of)

[shortsite]

I hope they wont do it, they may put people off gettin the game!

But on the other hand if all you pay is $10 and you complete the game inside one month! Then its unfair for the people that have bought the copy for say for arguements sake $60 from the retailers
Just a thought

[Parasite]

that idea sucks. what if i get bored and want to play the game 6 months down the road. then i have to re-subscribe.

Yeah and youve paid a total of $20 for access to all steam games for 2 months. Now if you want to own the game for all time to play whenever you want, you can pay the $50 for silver if you want, but if you only wanted to play HL2 through once, and could do it in a month...you pay only $10.

The idea doesnt suck, its just not very appealing to most people. Either way, theyve dropped it, and I doubt they will be offering it again anytime soon. Consumers arent exactly crying out for this type of thing, so I dont think it will really be very lucrative for them to offer it at all. In fact I think it will only complicate thier whole online distrobution plan because consumers are new to this whole method of doing things. Alot of people are confused about different HL2 packages. No reason to add to the hysteria.

[Vegeta897]

You act like they are FORCING you to do Subscription style!

IT'S THERE FOR PEOPLE TO WHICH IT IS A BETTER OPTION.

How exactly does that "suck"?