Pay to Play

[Stormy]

Alot of my friends seem to think that HL2 is going to be Pay to Play. I remeber some people where talking about it and there was a roumer going around abit it but i was wonding if anyone ever got to the bottom of it.
I seem to remeber talk of some kind of monthly subscription to Steam, not needed if you buy the HL2 multiplayer or speciel edition, which alows you to play and download any HL/HL2 mod or game. So bascily im wonding whats going on.

 

[Shuzer]

Steam will allow a monthly subscription that gives you access to every one of VALVe's products, yes.

 

[Axyon]

Alot of my friends seem to think that HL2 is going to be Pay to Play. I remeber some people where talking about it and there was a roumer going around abit it but i was wonding if anyone ever got to the bottom of it.
I seem to remeber talk of some kind of monthly subscription to Steam, not needed if you buy the HL2 multiplayer or speciel edition, which alows you to play and download any HL/HL2 mod or game. So bascily im wonding whats going on.

The 'Pay to play' element is indeed Steam-only, you pay something like £5.99 a month, and any extra mod or expansion that Valve releases will be yours to download. It's supposedly more beneficial in the long run, as they release more and more content.

 

[ACLeroK212]

Alot of my friends seem to think that HL2 is going to be Pay to Play. I remeber some people where talking about it and there was a roumer going around abit it but i was wonding if anyone ever got to the bottom of it.
I seem to remeber talk of some kind of monthly subscription to Steam, not needed if you buy the HL2 multiplayer or speciel edition, which alows you to play and download any HL/HL2 mod or game. So bascily im wonding whats going on.

no it's not pay to play

the monthly subscription is refering to an idea valve has at offering downloads of all their games and content for a monthly fee. so you would be able to download HL, CS:CZ, HL2, and any new products and exclusive content valve would come out with in the future after paying a base monthly fee. this does not mean pay to play though, more like pay to download.

 

[Stormy]

That is what i thoght, but alot of my friends seem to think you will have to pay to play online, even if you buy the SE/Multiplayer products.

 

[ACLeroK212]

yeah, your friends are full of BS :E

 

[Crusader]

That's a pretty cool idea because you could try out all of Valve's selection for a month, and then buy the one you like.

 

[ACLeroK212]

That's a pretty cool idea because you could try out all of Valve's selection for a month, and then buy the one you like.

You won't have to. You get to download em all to keep. All the subscription would do is give you access to the downloads.

 

[sHm0zY]

If they had pay to play i quit

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

If they had pay to play i quit

You know, I watch your posts, and all you do is probably read the topic and comment, how about you read THE WHOLE THREAD next time. And we know you would quit because you'd have no way to pay for it. Sorry $9.99 for every VALVe game is pretty cheap if you ask me.

 

[Lobster]

ive had a few people come to me saying there afraid of Pay to Play to, it was a terrible misunderstanding that got way to much media coverage and confused everyone.

 

[sHm0zY]

You know, I watch your posts, and all you do is probably read the topic and comment, how about you read THE WHOLE THREAD next time. And we know you would quit because you'd have no way to pay for it. Sorry $9.99 for every VALVe game is pretty cheap if you ask me.

INCORRECT I only read the topic and the first post and then i reply thank you very much! :imu:

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

INCORRECT I only read the topic and the first post and then i reply thank you very much! :imu:

Oh sorry forgive me....you need to read the entire thread.

 

[slicktick]

You won't have to. You get to download em all to keep. All the subscription would do is give you access to the downloads.

The way you make it sound is that I could subscribe for a month download everything and then keep it all. In my understanding for as long as you are subscribed you have access to all of the games but once your subscription ends, you no longer have access. But maybe I am just the one confused. :rolling:

 

[ACLeroK212]

The way you make it sound is that I could subscribe for a month download everything and then keep it all. In my understanding for as long as you are subscribed you have access to all of the games but once your subscription ends, you no longer have access. But maybe I am just the one confused. :rolling:

that's the way that valve's described it so far. it's still in the works and i'm sure if they do implement it, they'll probably experiment with different options, but right now, that's the way it is.

 

[Liam]

Do you still have yo buy HL2 if you subscribe?

 

[Shuzer]

Do you still have yo buy HL2 if you subscribe?

No. The monthly subscription fee grants you access to every VALVe product while you're subscribed.

 

[Someone]

The way you make it sound is that I could subscribe for a month download everything and then keep it all. In my understanding for as long as you are subscribed you have access to all of the games but once your subscription ends, you no longer have access. But maybe I am just the one confused. :rolling:

Yeah I was thinking that while reading this thread: sign up for a month and download everything, and cancel right after that. So you get all those games, including HL2, for a total of $10 (or whatever the monthly charge is).

That wouldn't make much sense and there would be no way Valve would screw themselves that much.

 

[Liam]

I think there's probably a "minimum subscription length" at first or something, to stop people doing that.

Anyway, I think subscription is what I'll be doing.

 

[Shuzer]

No. The files you get on Steam for the monthly subscription fee would be in the form of .GCF files. Missing crucial files that only Steam can authenticate/access.

They would be useless without Steam.

 

[Liam]

No. The files you get on Steam for the monthly subscription fee would be in the form of .GCF files. Missing crucial files that only Steam can authenticate/access.

They would be useless without Steam.

Yeah but you could still subcribe for one month and get all the content, and then un-subscribe and go back to the normal steam.

 

[Shuzer]

My guess is, you'll get a "master cdkey" that works with all games, and only works when you're subscribed to Steam. If you cancel the subscription, the key is banned/deactivated

 

[SubKamran]

EDIT: Uh, nevermind

 

[PriNcE oF SpAcE]

Argh, I hate subscriptions

Maybe if I can pay for the whole year...because I don't have a steady income.

Problem is, I already have all of Valve's games so far. So I'd be paying $120 for what? Mods? Mods are free!

Maybe if it was $10 quarterly, I'd be fine with it.

you DON't have to subscribe...jesus people read the thread!

 

[SubKamran]

you DON't have to subscribe...jesus people read the thread!

But to play online I'd have to.

EDIT: Ohhhh, I see. So it's optional. I can still do the "pay for the game and keep it". :|

I'm happy again.

 

[ACLeroK212]

Argh, I hate subscriptions

Maybe if I can pay for the whole year...because I don't have a steady income.

You don't have to worry because the subscription is only an alternate method of buying the games. Otherwise they're still doing everything else normally. It's just an option people have if they prefer to have online access to all valves games and content rather than buying games individually over steam or stores. Entirely optional though as it's only an alternate distribution method. This "pay to play" stuff is inaccurate and confusing people.

 

[Liam]

My guess is, you'll get a "master cdkey" that works with all games, and only works when you're subscribed to Steam. If you cancel the subscription, the key is banned/deactivated

That doesn't sound very likely...

Are you saying that if I get HL2 (and other content) via the subscription then I can only use them while subscribed?

What if I decide to un-subscribe after a year? I can no-longer play it, even though I paid more for the game than people who just brought it retail.

 

[Shuzer]

That doesn't sound very likely...

Are you saying that if I get HL2 (and other content) via the subscription then I can only use them while subscribed?

What if I decide to un-subscribe after a year? I can no-longer play it, even though I paid more for the game than people who just brought it retail.

This is exactly what I'm saying. It'd be the same way MMORPGs work. You don't get to keep them after you unsubscribe.

 

[ACLeroK212]

I might add, that should valve do this they said they would be regularly developing plenty of bonus and extra downloadable content for games in order to make it worth paying for a monthly subscription, which isn't altogether a bad thing, now is it

 

[Subatomic]

After 3 years or so, when the flow of mods/extras slows down, I bet they will cancel the subscription thing, and let everyone who was signed up keep the games so they do not have to keep paying.

 

[Liam]

This is exactly what I'm saying. It'd be the same way MMORPGs work. You don't get to keep them after you unsubscribe.

Yeah but you don't get one-off paymeant MMORPGs.

It would be like £30 for a certain MMORPG for as long as you like, or £10 a month for as long as you pay.

See the un-fairness there?

 

[Shuzer]

Wait. I have no idea what you just said.

All MMORPGs (with the exception of a very VERY select few, IE. GuildWars) have a monthly subscription fee. Once you pay this fee, you're granted access to the servers, and the game. Once you stop paying, or cancel your subscription, your key is deactivated and you can not connect to servers without paying again.

The only difference here is, you have to pay for the physical CDs as well as the subscription fee.

 

[Liam]

Wait. I have no idea what you just said.

All MMORPGs (with the exception of a very VERY select few, IE. GuildWars) have a monthly subscription fee. Once you pay this fee, you're granted access to the servers, and the game. Once you stop paying, or cancel your subscription, your key is deactivated and you can not connect to servers without paying again.

The only difference here is, you have to pay for the physical CDs as well as the subscription fee.

Ok lets stop talking about MMORPGs because it's getting off topic.

Here an example of what I'm talking about (All prices are made up for the example):

Steam subscription costs lets say £10 a month. I choose this option a pay for 6 months, meaning I have spent £60 and had 6 months of play.

Someone else decides not to subscribe, and instead buys HL2 retail in a shop for £30. This person plays the game for as long as they like.

I paid twice as much, yet I was the one with the limitation. See the unfair-ness now?

 

[sHm0zY]

Oh sorry forgive me....you need to read the entire thread.

I forgive you. Just don't let it happen again please.

 

[Shuzer]

I doubt VALVe will offer a long-term payment program. It'll probably be strictly monthly.

Besides, while that person gets HL2 and CS:S for 30 quid, you get HL2, CS:S, HL:S, DOD:S, TFC:S, TF2 (assuming it comes out within 6 months of HL2), CS, HL, Op4, Gunman, BlueShift, CZ, Ricochet and DOD for 60 quid. Plus, any future expansions (like the Alyx side missions VALVe hinted at).

 

[ACLeroK212]

I doubt VALVe will offer a long-term payment program. It'll probably be strictly monthly.

Besides, while that person gets HL2 and CS:S for 30 quid, you get HL2, CS:S, HL:S, DOD:S, TFC:S, TF2 (assuming it comes out within 6 months of HL2), CS, HL, Op4, Gunman, BlueShift, CZ, Ricochet and DOD for 60 quid. Plus, any future expansions (like the Alyx side missions VALVe hinted at).

exactly. the whole appeal is for people that want to get ALL of valve's current and future game content. obviously people that just want HL2 and only HL2 shouldn't consider this option.

 

[Liam]

Option A, Buying everything separate (Estimated prices):

-HL, Op4, Blue-Shift, CS, Ricochet and DOD: £10
-CZ: £12
-HL2 and CS:S: £25
-HL:S: £12
-DOD:S: £12
-TFC:S: £12
-TF2: £15
-HL2 Add-on: £22

Total Price: £120

Option B, 1 year Subscription:

-Per Month: £10

Total Price: £120

-----------------------------------------------------

Both options are same price, both options get the same products. Even if I have got alot of my estimates wrong, the final price difference won't be huge.

The only difference is the subscriber can only play for one year.

I really can't see any advantage in subscribing, especially if you can't keep the products.

Of course, most of this is just wild speculation, so who knows what will happen.

 

[Shuzer]

I'd imagine the monthly fee will be closer to £5/month

Besides, CZ retails $30-40, so the game goes for more around £20


The subscription option isn't really for people who want to play the games long term. Unless, of course, VALVe releases a CRAPLOAD of exclusive material for subscribers.

 

[ACLeroK212]

Option A, Buying everything separate (Estimated prices):

-HL, Op4, Blue-Shift, CS, Ricochet and DOD: £10
-CZ: £12
-HL2 and CS:S: £25
-HL:S: £12
-DOD:S: £12
-TFC:S: £12
-TF2: £15
-HL2 Add-on: £22

Total Price: £120

Option B, 1 year Subscription:

-Per Month: £10

Total Price: £120

-----------------------------------------------------

Both options are same price, both options get the same products. Even if I have got alot of my estimates wrong, the final price difference won't be huge.

The only difference is the subscriber can only play for one year.

I really can't see any advantage in subscribing, especially if you can't keep the products.

Of course, most of this is just wild speculation, so who knows what will happen.

did you miss the part where i said valve promised to regularly provide bonus and extra game content for subscribers to make the subscription plan worth your money?

 

[Liam]

Besides, CZ retails $30-40, so the game goes for more around £20

It's £12 here in the UK.

The subscription option isn't really for people who want to play the games long term. Unless, of course, VALVe releases a CRAPLOAD of exclusive material for subscribers.

That also seems strange, why would someone subscribe to something they probably won't use for very long?

You don't subscribe to a magazine you don't read very much.

The subscription should be for loyal Valve fans who want all of there products.

Anyway I'm pretty sure Gabe was quoted somewhere as saying "The subscribers will get the better deal" or something like that, and at the moment it doesn't sound like they will.