Topics: Subscription based MMO’s

Zach Goodier

As a fan of the Elder Scrolls series, I have been mulling over the new direction of the franchise since the announcement of ESO, and while I definitely think this game has a lot of potential, it also made me wonder why I have failed to jump on board with subscription-based games before now, such as WOW.  While I don’t deny the quality of these games, it has generally been a genre that I’ve avoided.  While I have dabbled in free-to-play MMO’s, they generally fall into a dynamic of “free to play, but pay to win” type of games.  So, here’s a look at why I’ve found subscription-based games difficult to get into.

Paying potentially over a hundred of dollars to play a game.

Alright, first off, let’s break this down a bit.  First, you buy a game, let’s say for $40, but the initial price doesn’t matter.  Sure, it seems like a deal compared to the $60 standard for most games, and they generally come with coupons or codes for at least 1 month of game time, but then it jumps to $15/mo. (the accepted standard now).  Ok, still not too bad, but if you want to reach the level cap, you either have to play non-stop for a couple weeks, or dabble in the game for months, paying $15 for each month just to keep your account active so you can hop on. For some, they can easily get their money’s worth out of these games, and that’s great.  But for gamers who are less than obsessive, this can be a difficulty. 

As new content is released in the months following release, you have to keep paying the subscription fee just to be able to enjoy it.  And sure, most MMO’s end up going free after a while, they can still rack up a hefty bill in the meantime, and you will end up likely spending over $100 before you end up having the game go free, which is a lot higher than the $60 game you thought you were so smart to avoid.

You still often have a lot of items that require money.

Let’s face it, all MMO’s will likely have items you need to pay to have.  However, I will admit that most subscription MMO’s avoid hoarding all the great items for either single-payments or the notorious “VIP” packages and what-not.  In subscription-based games, they usually limit it to cosmetic items, like outfits and appearance packs, but they still make sure the stylish stuff is held back for a nominal fee. 

Want that pet Direwolf (or whatever) pet you've had you eye on, well shell out the dough, amigo.

Closing Thoughts.

I don’t want you to read this and think I detest subscription-based games online.  In fact, I think they’re a great idea, in theory.  If the rate was $10/mo, I might even think about some of them.  However, as a gamer who finds himself without an abundance of time to enjoy his games, I find subscription fees too steep for a person who only has bulk game time on weekends here and there.  This article is mainly an explanation of the weaker points of subscription-based games.  As more and more of my favorite franchises (Elder Scrolls, Knights of the Old Republic) have turned towards MMO’s for the future of their games, I find myself feeling alienated from many of my favorite franchises. However, Elder Scrolls Online might be the game to convert me.  Depending on the pricing of their subscriptions, as well as the reviews on how the game turned out, I might give it a shot.  

I hope ESO is the game to convert me, but subscription fees are a hefty hurdle to overcome in justifying the purchase.

Topics: Good Reasons NOT to Buy Next Gen...Yet

Sean Dibble

So you're a gamer and well that LAST gen system is SO last year, what to do? Obviously the answer is to go out and buy the newest and best the two powerhouses have to offer (sorry Nintendo but you are no longer a powerhouse for most gamers.) If that is your logic as a gamer, I feel bad for you son, I have 99 problems but the next gen ain't one. So, me personally, I think that you should hold off, and I will even be so nice as to tell you why. So without further ado, here is my list.

1.        The Price- Yes all consoles are expensive, especially when they first come out but $500 for the Xbox One and $400 for the PS4 and neither of them come with a game for that price? Really? And yes, I can hear my ears ringing as I am typing this all of you are saying "It is worth the price" or "Its new of course it will be that expensive." But why gamers why does it need to be so expensive when they first come out and for that price I want a game I can play with them, but no because we spend the money the companies know they don't need to include games because they know we just end up saying "what is another $60 bucks....and don't forget you need another controller so there is another $50. So just starting out with Xbox One and 2 controllers and a game you are looking at close to $610 and for the same package for the PS4 $510

2.        Launch Games- Games at launch, well, THEY SUCK. They are usually ports from the previous generation or they are brand new games that have a lot of issues. They may look beautiful, but well, let's be honest, Ryse and Knack are not games you will be playing a year from now. Yes, Ryse for the Xbox and Killzone: Shadowfall are graphically stunning and visually will blow your mind. Ryse is just a quick time game that will get old quick and Killzone, sad to say from a killzone fan, but the story falls short. Also launch games are limited you buy the console and get what 4 or 5 games to choose from and two of them happen to be games from EA...I really suggest wait at least a few months

3.        Pay to play-Ok ok, so really you are not paying to play the game after you buy it....but well are you not? Let me explain myself here. You already pay the internet company right what 40 to 100+ to use the internet pending on what type you have and where you live. Now you go out and buy that brand new console and have to pay  5 bucks a month to play multiplayer......wait, what? So I already pay for the internet why do I need to pay to play games online?

4.        Backwards Compatibility- OH WAIT....They are not, so that library of games you have spent money on over the years can't be played on that new system of yours. So what do you do buy them again when it comes out digitally for the new system (if you have gotten rid of that pesky old gen system) or do you keep your old system and PRAY it doesn't break? And most of you are like me have to trade things in to help lower the price, but if you're like me you hold on to a few games (Mass Effect Trilogy, Fallout and Skyrim) so now you can't play those games but well they just look so darn pretty on your bookshelf collecting dust.

Now, I'm not saying that if you buy a new system you are a idiot, it's just smarter to wait a few months let the price drop, new and better games for the improved software and for your old games that you love to come on them and be cheap (eventually they will developers love your money.) Now there is nothing you can do about the monthly membership fee but granted it is not that much I just like to bitch. But now you're asking yourself well he makes a good point (somewhat) but what are some of my options? Well I have a few for you.

1.        Keep the old system. believe me they will make games for the 360/PS3 for a few more years. They are not going to abandon their old systems just like that. They need to phase them out so they can get people like me who are holdouts to slowly find games they want to play on them and buy into the new systems.

2.        Get a gaming PC. yes it can be an expensive step but I promise you most of the games that go to consoles go to PCs as well. Want to know something else...it is a secret so keep it between me and you ITS BACKWARD COMPATIBLE....I'm playing games from the '90s and enjoying it. Also you can keep upgrading your gaming rig so in the long run its better than a console (my opinion not the sites opinion) 

Topics: Fan-Service in Anime

Zach Goodier

Anyone who keeps up with my reviews might realize that more than a couple have been noted for what I generally call “excessive fan-service.”  However, I think that this is a topic that should be delved into in more detail, as I shall endeavor to do here. 

This more or less summarizes the issue of excessive fan-service in general.

In general, for those who are new to the anime genre, or those that just want a definition to work with, “fan-service” is a term used by many to describe any attempt to use sex-appeal to gain and keep an audience, and more than a few popular shows make very extensive use of fan-service to give their show appeal.  Now, in a broad sense, almost every anime contains some form of this, whether it be an episode on the beach with swimsuits, or even the typical uniforms that all students wear in the series, some fan-service is not only present, but expected in some way.  However, when I use the term in a negative context, it usually indicates that a show leans too heavily on sex-appeal, diverting attention from the story or characters, and sometimes to distract the audience from some terrible writing.

This isn't an actual clip from Rosario + Vampire, but it does illustrate what the show more or less focuses on.  While it might be tough for a guy to turn away while the show is on, I can say without shame that I had trouble remembering this show a couple weeks after watching it.

Future Diary does fan-service in exactly the right way; they use it to add appeal to the female characters, like Yuno and Minene, without dragging the whole shown down by turning it into a harem or the like.  Other shows, such as Rosario+Vampire make a much more extensive use of fan-service (just note that the camera is almost always below skirt-level around the female characters), and while the show itself has a fair deal of humor, and even the makings of an interesting story, you get so bogged down with panty shots and seduction, that most of the praiseworthy aspects of the show have already faded into obscurity. 

Let's be honest, Yuno is hot, and the show makes no attempt to hide that.  However, it's what she brings to the story that makes both her and the entire show unforgettable.

Overall, fan-service isn’t an evil just because it exists, it's like a spice that can both make and break any series.  I love sexy/dangerous female leads, such as Revy in Black Lagoon, and Yuno in Future Diary; however, these characters are already original, and well-written with a compelling back-story and something to bring into the show before any use of fan-service is brought into the mix, and that’s what makes these characters memorable.  In the other cases, the characters often fade into an obscure mass of low-cut blouses and high-cut skirts.  That doesn’t necessarily make them bad characters, just not usually as memorable.  As long as fan-service is treated more like spice, something to add a touch of here and there, it doesn't overwhelm the rest of the work, and ruin everything else that a series has to offer.