price-structure
Latest
The Daily Grind: Would you play a game on the Guild Wars model?
Of all the myriad price structures and business models out there, Guild Wars has managed to largely hold on to one that's relatively unique. It's clearly not under the subscription-based umbrella, as there's no monthly cost to play. Yet at the same time, it doesn't really fall under the traditional free-to-play model -- the game didn't launch with any sort of item shop, and the current microtransaction shop is more akin to the supplementary shops seen in many subscription games like City of Heroes. ArenaNet has always been clear about their intended price structure and the intent for the game to support itself with full-priced expansions rather than a monthly fee. While there might be some debate about how sustainable the model is, it's certainly enticing for some players. So today's questions for you: would you play a game that balanced itself on the Guild Wars pricing scheme? If so, what game would be worth a $50 expansion every six months without a monthly cost? Or do you prefer the more prevalent pricing models found elsewhere?
A look at Time Warner's broadband pricing structure
OK, we need to get serious for a few paragraphs about new bandwidth rates being tested by Time Warner Cable, something that could seriously affect gamers' wallets. Gamers with Jobs has posted an excellent analysis of Time Warner Cable's new metered pricing structure, currently being tested in Greensboro, NC; Austin and San Antonio, TX; and Rochester, NY.The price structure: 5GB: $29.99/month 10GB: $39.99/month 20GB: $49.99/month 40GB: $54.90/month 100GB: No information yet Source: Democrat & Chronicle In the piece, Lara Crigger breaks down her internet consumption to surprising results. She lives with her husband (also a gamer), they have no kids, and their consumption doesn't seem out of place for a young couple -- their Xbox Netflix usage apparently hides some serious bandwidth usage. In the end, she estimates they'd pay out roughly $67 a month under the new rates, instead of the $40 she currently offers the cable company. We strongly recommend reading her piece, because this is an issue that could be coming to a neighborhood near you. [Image]
