Recurring Payment Method

Tigairius · #1 09-03-2008, 06:19 PM

Well, because the price of gold time is now so expensive (and I'm not necessarily complaining), I think a new type of subscription should be set up.

First of all, I think the gelat payment system should be completely removed (which I doubt will happen since they make decent money off of gelat sales on places like Zone). As nice as gelats are, they shouldn't be used to pay for a subscription... There have been times where I would say to myself, "Oh, I want to buy that with gelats, but then it would cut me short of a month of gold time, so forget it."
Separating the gold time and gelat system would eliminate this problem.

I think Graal could tremendously benefit from a recurring payment method. Allowing someone to sign up with their credit card to have it automatically billed each month. I also think people should be able to just pay a one-time fee for one or two years of gold time.

With the recurring payment method it will allow people who don't have $100 to pay for Graal and still get to play on gold servers for small amounts. It would be very impressive if Graal could charge my credit card 36.00€/8 each month, which equals to about 4.50€ a month (which is about $6.50/m in USD).

I think with the recurring payment method you could even slightly raise the prices and get more money than you could when selling gold time in bulk.
This system is very easy to set up on PayPal, so it wouldn't be hard to add to the site. If you could charge $8.50 a month or maybe even $10, you would have many subscribers, since $10 is not very much money, unless you add it all up.

With this method, not only would you gain more subscribers, but you would also make more money from it. It would be easier for your customers, and it would populate the gold servers more, allowing more people to get hooked in to Zone and buy their zone items for gelats.

Another interesting option would be a one-time charge of $250-$300 for lifetime gold.

Codein · #2 09-03-2008, 06:26 PM

I agree with this completely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

Another interesting option would be a one-time charge of $250-$300 for lifetime gold.

I'd love this.

Elizabeth · #3 09-03-2008, 08:46 PM

i like the $250-$300 idea

Darklux · #4 09-03-2008, 09:05 PM

If lifetime gold works the same excellent way as lifetime classic... like: need support? Give us your lifetime classic back.

Elizabeth · #5 09-03-2008, 09:09 PM

well if lifetime classic was like $20, then gold should be atleast $30, correct?

Rufus · #6 09-04-2008, 11:36 AM

I like the idea of a recurring payment method; I wouldn't use it myself, but I'm sure some people would. I don't think offering lifetime anything is viable anymore though.

Frankie · #7 09-04-2008, 08:51 PM

10 dollars a month is still a lot for me considering the things I need to put my money towards each month. if I didn't have other stuff to pay off I wouldn't care.

stefan just really needs to step up and make graal better before anyone can just raise prices -.-

Admins · #8 09-05-2008, 09:51 PM

We plan to eventually introduce re-occuring payments for server renting in the future, but cannot guarantee yet when we get to add that.

xAzerothx · #9 09-06-2008, 12:16 AM

I like how runescape is cheaper then graal.

Elizabeth · #10 09-06-2008, 12:26 AM

it also has more players.

xXziroXx · #11 09-06-2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xAzerothx

I like how runescape is cheaper then graal.

Maybe because it sucks so much?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizabeth

it also has more players.

Maybe because it's so cheap?

Elizabeth · #12 09-06-2008, 12:38 AM

they have more players because its cheap, and they figure that if they keep it cheap more players will suscribe. like around a million people play it, think of how many people have suscribed. thats a lot of money is what im saying ..

xAzerothx · #13 09-06-2008, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXziroXx

Maybe because it sucks so much?

Come on now, you know that doesn't make sense.

xXziroXx · #14 09-06-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xAzerothx

Come on now, you know that doesn't make sense.

I'm sure they're aware of the fact that if they start charging more money, they will get less players, because frankly - their game isn't all that awesome.

Switch · #15 09-06-2008, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

(which I doubt will happen since they make decent money off of gelat sales on places like Zone)

No, not "placed like Zone".
It should just be "Zone".
All Stefan cares about right now is Zone, so he tried to make money off of only that.

Seriously, Stefan and Stephane, if you're going to do this, just take of the Gelat system. Make people upgrade and use the ingame "Zone Money".
Otherwise, please use Gelats on other servers as well.

Tig, I agree fully with you.
And also have an option for a 1-time pay, where you have to pay each month from a new subscription, instead of a recurring.
This way if someone wants just a month they don't have to cancel their recurring subscription.

Admins · #16 09-06-2008, 02:23 AM

If you want to bash then at least don't turn around the facts. Runescape is $5 base subscription each month, that is barely lower than $4.26 which is the current price for Graal Gold subscription per month if you purchase the cheapest pack.

Tigairius · #17 09-06-2008, 02:34 AM

Think about it though, if you could advertise, maybe 'promote' a good advertising video on YouTube (I could probably help create it) and bring more people to Graal, more people would be inclined to use their credit card, since that's how many larger MMOs are set up.

On top of that, if there was a one-time fee of like $250-$450 for lifetime gold and you had hundreds of people upgrading due to advertising, you would be making a lot of money. I wonder how expensive it is to promote videos on YouTube...

Switch · #18 09-06-2008, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

I wonder how expensive it is to promote videos on YouTube...

****ing NOTHING

Inverness · #19 09-06-2008, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switch

****ing NOTHING

And that's why we need to be doing it.

Deas_Voice · #20 09-06-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

If you want to bash then at least don't turn around the facts. Runescape is $5 base subscription each month, that is barely lower than $4.26 which is the current price for Graal Gold subscription per month if you purchase the cheapest pack.

hmm i think they raised there prices?
i think its $8.something now

not bash or something, just telling

Crono · #21 09-06-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

Think about it though, if you could advertise, maybe 'promote' a good advertising video on YouTube (I could probably help create it) and bring more people to Graal, more people would be inclined to use their credit card, since that's how many larger MMOs are set up.

What the hell is there to advertise?

DrakilorP2P · #22 09-06-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crono

What the hell is there to advertise?

The blindingly polite and friendly community who will do everything they can to bring you fun servers to play on and make your time with Graal Online an overall enjoyable experience.

Demisis_P2P · #23 09-06-2008, 02:35 PM

I love when people use the old "Graal is worth it because you're really paying for the chance to learn game development! And that might help you get a job later in life!!"

Wow. So, my cleaning lady should be paying me for cleaning my room because she's learning how to clean better and will probably be good at cleaning other people's houses in the future? Thanks guys! I'm totally gonna go put Graal on my resume now.

If you want to learn to script or make graphics there are plenty of ways to do that for free.
You're paying to play a game where you're treated like an employee by other kids and people are taking all your hard work for free. Work that you could theoretically be getting paid for if you were developing iPhone apps, or flash games, or making skins for programs, etc.

And now you can't even work on UC servers without a gold subscription, rofl. That is really going to encourage more people to develop your game for you, especially when there was already a developer shortage.

UC servers should be free to play (but still charge $100 or whatever for hosting).
This should see UC servers get boosted player counts which will likely translate into a boosted developer count.
Once the UC server is developed to a decent stage it can be made Classic, at which point suddenly all the people who have been playing it for free will need to upgrade their accounts to keep playing/developing it.
People who are too cheap to upgrade will probably just go play/develop on another UC server until eventually that server goes Classic too.
Rinse and repeat.
Suddenly Graal has attracted a lot of new developers with free UC servers and has multiple new Classic servers with their own dedicated playerbases (instead of the same players jumping between Zodiac, Era and UN).

Frankie · #24 09-06-2008, 03:06 PM

Tig is right. Subscriptions should be separate from the Gelat system. It's not a bad idea to have players purchase them so they can get in game items, but when it comes to subscriptions that's really stupid.

I also think that after removing subscriptions from the Gelat system, you should just set a monthly rate for gold accounts. $4.65 with the cheapest pack? Let people have the option to only pay $4.65 a month instead of having to lay out 34 dollars if they want 8 months. More new players will be obligated to try out gold accounts if they only have to pay 5 dollars for a month without being forced to buy more time then they want. If they have a feeling they aren't going to like the game, they will NOT spend the 34 dollars. If they have a feeling they aren't going to like the game, but only have to pay 5 dollars to try it out, they will probably put down the money.

xXziroXx · #25 09-06-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demisis_P2P

UC servers should be free to play (but still charge $100 or whatever for hosting).
This should see UC servers get boosted player counts which will likely translate into a boosted developer count.
Once the UC server is developed to a decent stage it can be made Classic, at which point suddenly all the people who have been playing it for free will need to upgrade their accounts to keep playing/developing it.
People who are too cheap to upgrade will probably just go play/develop on another UC server until eventually that server goes Classic too.
Rinse and repeat.
Suddenly Graal has attracted a lot of new developers with free UC servers and has multiple new Classic servers with their own dedicated playerbases (instead of the same players jumping between Zodiac, Era and UN).

Soooooo agreed.

Crono · #26 09-06-2008, 03:57 PM

You need to give people a reason to want to upgrade. How many times do I have to say this? Changing prices is fine and all but it's not going to keep people on this game.

Switch · #27 09-06-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crono

You need to give people a reason to want to upgrade. How many times do I have to say this? Changing prices is fine and all but it's not going to keep people on this game.

+rep

Tigairius · #28 09-06-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crono

You need to give people a reason to want to upgrade. How many times do I have to say this? Changing prices is fine and all but it's not going to keep people on this game.

Why don't you help then? We don't get paid to help, but Graal is just as much our game as it is Stefan and Unixmad's since we all helped create it. WE have to help keep it going. It's not "You need to do this," and "You need to do that."
It's what we as a team, a community, need to do to improve Graal.

There is a team of developers trying to get a team of people dedicated to finding ways to improve Graal, you can see the guild page here:
http://graalonline.com/guilds/viewguild?full=0&gid=9512

Crono · #29 09-06-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

Why don't you help then?

Because it's not my job to do so.

For the record I have been helping, even if slightly. I don't really take credit for the things I do though. For example I helped Xelt improve south of UN's maintown. The level to the left was revamped by Xelt but he didn't have time to do the right side, so I did it for him matching his style. Just an example of what all of you developers should be doing.

Nowadays I no longer have time due to university.

Quote:

WE have to help keep it going. It's not "You need to do this," and "You need to do that."
It's what we as a team, a community, need to do to improve Graal.

No. No, we really don't. We're players, we're not really developers. We may choose to create our own content and submit it but this does not really make us proper developers.

It's up to CJ to improve the quality of this game. This is NOT soley our responsibility, although we may help.

Graal is not a development platform, it is an "M"MORPG.

Tigairius · #30 09-06-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crono

Because it's not my job to do so.

No. No, we really don't. We're players, we're not really developers. We may choose to create our own content and submit it but this does not really make us proper developers.

It's up to CJ to improve the quality of this game. This is NOT soley our responsibility, although we may help.

Graal is not a development platform, it is an "M"MORPG.

In my opinion you shouldn't complain about the quality of the game unless you're willing and able to improve it.

Inverness · #31 09-06-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

In my opinion you shouldn't complain about the quality of the game unless you're willing and able to improve it.

Because you're allowed to improve any game right?

When you create an MMO its your job to manage the quality of the game, not your customers'.

Just because we can improve Graal doesn't mean its our duty.

Nataxo · #32 09-06-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

Why don't you help then? We don't get paid to help, but Graal is just as much our game as it is Stefan and Unixmad's since we all helped create it. WE have to help keep it going. It's not "You need to do this," and "You need to do that."
It's what we as a team, a community, need to do to improve Graal.

There is a team of developers trying to get a team of people dedicated to finding ways to improve Graal, you can see the guild page here:
http://graalonline.com/guilds/viewguild?full=0&gid=9512

In my opinion Tig, i think you work for graal too much for not being paid. i mean you administrate Graal Kingdoms...You develop some work for GK too... and idk what else. my suggestion is you should ask for getting paid

we can help improve the game we all like we can do this by suggesting, encouraging our admins to do something, or simply: be a good player.

Crono · #33 09-06-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

In my opinion you shouldn't complain about the quality of the game unless you're willing and able to improve it.

You're right, I won't judge any video game ever again because I'm not willing and able to improve it.

Get real, please.

Tigairius · #34 09-06-2008, 08:43 PM

I'm just saying we can do more to improve the game. Complaining doesn't help.

Rufus · #35 09-06-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

I'm just saying we can do more to improve the game. Complaining doesn't help.

Complaining often identifies issues that the consumer feels strongly about, issues that usually need to be addressed. I'm not sure how that doesn't help, really.

Tigairius · #36 09-06-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rufus

Complaining often identifies issues that the consumer feels strongly about, issues that usually need to be addressed. I'm not sure how that doesn't help, really.

It helps address the problem, but doesn't help fix it. I think everyone wants the problems fixed. It's nice to know the problems, but then when they are the same problems being complained about over and over again it's just redundant and doesn't really solve the problem.

Rufus · #37 09-06-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

It helps address the problem, but doesn't help fix it.

So therefore, it helps in some way after all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigairius

[..]when they are the same problems being complained about over and over again it's just redundant and doesn't really solve the problem.

Mass complaints are redundant?

Nataxo · #38 09-06-2008, 09:17 PM

Complaining does help if you're the costumer

Frankie · #39 09-06-2008, 09:44 PM

at least what they should do is improve the tools we use to make the game better.