Comments for Pumping Irony http://pumpingirony.net Me, My Virtual Self, and I Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:49:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Subscription on the Hivemind by Tesh http://pumpingirony.net/2012/02/06/subscription-on-the-hivemind/comment-page-1/#comment-10692 Tesh Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:49:50 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1144#comment-10692 I still say that "lifetime sub" is the same as "pay for the box game at triple (or more) of the price". Functionally, the GW purchase *is* a lifetime sub, just at a better price point. ;) ...and yeah, I'd have bought SWTOR if it were sold with the GW model. I don't demand my MMOs be F2P, I'll happily pay for content, even up front instead of piecemeal (like W101 or DDO). I still say that “lifetime sub” is the same as “pay for the box game at triple (or more) of the price”. Functionally, the GW purchase *is* a lifetime sub, just at a better price point. ;)

…and yeah, I’d have bought SWTOR if it were sold with the GW model. I don’t demand my MMOs be F2P, I’ll happily pay for content, even up front instead of piecemeal (like W101 or DDO).
Tesh recently posted..Trek Tales

]]> Comment on Subscription on the Hivemind by Blue Kae http://pumpingirony.net/2012/02/06/subscription-on-the-hivemind/comment-page-1/#comment-10691 Blue Kae Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:33:45 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1144#comment-10691 I used to have the "gotta get my money's worth" mindset for the first several years of playing MMO's. With EQ, DAoC, EQ2, and WoW (among others) I was always very cognizant of how much I was playing in a given month and tried to cancel my subscription as quickly as possible if I was starting to not enjoy myself. I was also pretty disciplined about only having one subscription active at a time. Currently I have two subs active: Rift and SWTOR. Both are multi-month (6 and 3 respectively). The multi-month subs have less psychological baggage for me since I don't see them on my monthly statements. The best model, for me, is the lifetime subscription (which I have 3 of), but I don't think that would work for all MMOs. I possibly would've gotten one for SWTOR (depending on the price) but wouldn't have gotten one for Rift because I don't have the investment in the setting. In a perfect world, I would much rather have had SWTOR released with a GW model, where they charged me for the initial game and then charged for additional story content as it's released (either as an expansion or DLC). But it's KotOR, which I've missed, so I was willing to pay a subscription to get the experience, even though I don't seem myself sticking with it in the way I have with other games. I used to have the “gotta get my money’s worth” mindset for the first several years of playing MMO’s. With EQ, DAoC, EQ2, and WoW (among others) I was always very cognizant of how much I was playing in a given month and tried to cancel my subscription as quickly as possible if I was starting to not enjoy myself. I was also pretty disciplined about only having one subscription active at a time.

Currently I have two subs active: Rift and SWTOR. Both are multi-month (6 and 3 respectively). The multi-month subs have less psychological baggage for me since I don’t see them on my monthly statements.

The best model, for me, is the lifetime subscription (which I have 3 of), but I don’t think that would work for all MMOs. I possibly would’ve gotten one for SWTOR (depending on the price) but wouldn’t have gotten one for Rift because I don’t have the investment in the setting.

In a perfect world, I would much rather have had SWTOR released with a GW model, where they charged me for the initial game and then charged for additional story content as it’s released (either as an expansion or DLC). But it’s KotOR, which I’ve missed, so I was willing to pay a subscription to get the experience, even though I don’t seem myself sticking with it in the way I have with other games.
Blue Kae recently posted..Another year older.

]]> Comment on Subscription on the Hivemind by Tesh http://pumpingirony.net/2012/02/06/subscription-on-the-hivemind/comment-page-1/#comment-10686 Tesh Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:57:40 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1144#comment-10686 Oh, and for what it's worth, I suppose I *could* try the private server trick, but I avoid them for legality's sake. I stand by my assertion that I'd buy offline WoW just like I'd buy any other RPG I'd like to play... but then, I *am* getting closer to "finishing" the game in the random months I get thanks to the WoW Visa card, so it's less and less likely I'd buy it. Think of it as a principle instead: I'll happily pay for a game I can play whenever I like, but demand a sub and I'm ultimately going to resent the business transaction, which may bleed over into disliking the game. Oh, and for what it’s worth, I suppose I *could* try the private server trick, but I avoid them for legality’s sake. I stand by my assertion that I’d buy offline WoW just like I’d buy any other RPG I’d like to play… but then, I *am* getting closer to “finishing” the game in the random months I get thanks to the WoW Visa card, so it’s less and less likely I’d buy it. Think of it as a principle instead: I’ll happily pay for a game I can play whenever I like, but demand a sub and I’m ultimately going to resent the business transaction, which may bleed over into disliking the game.
Tesh recently posted..Trek Tales

]]> Comment on Subscription on the Hivemind by Tesh http://pumpingirony.net/2012/02/06/subscription-on-the-hivemind/comment-page-1/#comment-10685 Tesh Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:54:00 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1144#comment-10685 "What I resent is the "get your worth" psychology inherent in a subscription." A thousand times this. The clock is always ticking. I *hate* gaming on the clock, and feeling obligated in any way. That's not what I want out of games. ...other than that, I wholly agree with this article. Great stuff Scott! “What I resent is the “get your worth” psychology inherent in a subscription.”

A thousand times this. The clock is always ticking. I *hate* gaming on the clock, and feeling obligated in any way. That’s not what I want out of games.

…other than that, I wholly agree with this article. Great stuff Scott!
Tesh recently posted..Trek Tales

]]> Comment on 2012 Resolutions by Scott http://pumpingirony.net/2012/01/20/2012-resolutions/comment-page-1/#comment-10088 Scott Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:36:32 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1135#comment-10088 Vodka is the main liquor I make drinks with, followed by rum. Pinnacle Whipped vodka is the awesomeness! And I only drink socially, so no drunkeness here. :) Foozball... I dunno. It's awful damn boring to watch. Most sports are, though. That's always been the bad thing. Since I don't care about the sport or any teams, the only thing that would technically matter is who won, and did I win the pool or not. The play-by-plays are for the fanatics and the walking sports encyclopedias. So, as you can see, I've got my work cut out for me given my general attitude and lack of enthusiasm for sports. The investing is going to be a toughie. I have your cousin's site bookmarked (third time's the charm lol) but the trouble with it is that it's designed for people who already know what they're doing. I was hoping it was a sort of "hey, I built myself up on my own and here's some tips I learned on my journey to help you all on yours" but alas, it isn't. Vodka is the main liquor I make drinks with, followed by rum. Pinnacle Whipped vodka is the awesomeness! And I only drink socially, so no drunkeness here. :)

Foozball… I dunno. It’s awful damn boring to watch. Most sports are, though. That’s always been the bad thing. Since I don’t care about the sport or any teams, the only thing that would technically matter is who won, and did I win the pool or not. The play-by-plays are for the fanatics and the walking sports encyclopedias. So, as you can see, I’ve got my work cut out for me given my general attitude and lack of enthusiasm for sports.

The investing is going to be a toughie. I have your cousin’s site bookmarked (third time’s the charm lol) but the trouble with it is that it’s designed for people who already know what they’re doing. I was hoping it was a sort of “hey, I built myself up on my own and here’s some tips I learned on my journey to help you all on yours” but alas, it isn’t.

]]> Comment on 2012 Resolutions by Aaron http://pumpingirony.net/2012/01/20/2012-resolutions/comment-page-1/#comment-10070 Aaron Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:42:47 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1135#comment-10070 Alcohol: vodka. Face it, if you don't like beer, then you only drink to get drunk. Vodka is the closest thing to pure alcohol you can drink in public without raising eyebrows. Wine is for girls. Hence, the name. ;) Sport: college football. Football is the ultimate war simulation. It's the perfect blend of high-level strategy and on-the-ground tactics. Like generals, coaches must analyze the strengths and weaknesses of opponents and anticipate their opponents' strategies while trying to come up with surprises of their own. Pick up a used video game to familiarize yourself with roles and playbooks. Investing: umm... good luck with that. Alcohol: vodka. Face it, if you don’t like beer, then you only drink to get drunk. Vodka is the closest thing to pure alcohol you can drink in public without raising eyebrows. Wine is for girls. Hence, the name. ;)

Sport: college football. Football is the ultimate war simulation. It’s the perfect blend of high-level strategy and on-the-ground tactics. Like generals, coaches must analyze the strengths and weaknesses of opponents and anticipate their opponents’ strategies while trying to come up with surprises of their own. Pick up a used video game to familiarize yourself with roles and playbooks.

Investing: umm… good luck with that.

]]> Comment on 2012 Resolutions by Brian http://pumpingirony.net/2012/01/20/2012-resolutions/comment-page-1/#comment-10067 Brian Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:47:48 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1135#comment-10067 Those all sound like good and reasonable goals. Good luck! I've tried the sports thing before and I know enough about football to follow a game, but that's about it. Honestly it's just good for when I need to make small talk. Those all sound like good and reasonable goals. Good luck! I’ve tried the sports thing before and I know enough about football to follow a game, but that’s about it. Honestly it’s just good for when I need to make small talk.
Brian recently posted..Looking Forward to 2012

]]> Comment on 2012 Resolutions by Tipa http://pumpingirony.net/2012/01/20/2012-resolutions/comment-page-1/#comment-10066 Tipa Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:27:39 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1135#comment-10066 Google Maps did it for me. I started out looking for cool bike trails. Then cool bike trails that led to cool places. And then cool places outside bike range (once I got a car last August). Which is where I'm at now -- really exploring the area in which I live -- and I've found out it's amazing, and on weekends with decent weather, I am NOT in front of my computer. I'm out having the time of my life :) Good luck! These are great ambitions! Google Maps did it for me. I started out looking for cool bike trails. Then cool bike trails that led to cool places. And then cool places outside bike range (once I got a car last August). Which is where I’m at now — really exploring the area in which I live — and I’ve found out it’s amazing, and on weekends with decent weather, I am NOT in front of my computer. I’m out having the time of my life :)

Good luck! These are great ambitions!
Tipa recently posted..STO Special Task Force walkthrough: The Cure (Space)

]]> Comment on Star Trek Online: F2P Launch! by Blue Kae http://pumpingirony.net/2012/01/17/star-trek-online-f2p-launch/comment-page-1/#comment-10036 Blue Kae Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:18:22 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1130#comment-10036 "the design team can get back to giving us more Stuff To Do!" Amen to this! An audio fix would be awesome too. “the design team can get back to giving us more Stuff To Do!”

Amen to this! An audio fix would be awesome too.
Blue Kae recently posted..Looking Forward to 2012

]]> Comment on SWTOR: Early Impressions by Blue Kae http://pumpingirony.net/2012/01/12/swtor-early-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-9973 Blue Kae Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:28:12 +0000 http://pumpingirony.net/?p=1124#comment-9973 I'm nearly finished with the Jedi Knight class story, and I gotta say that BioWare definitely managed to make a KotOR3 with TOR. I'm a little disappointed in how little interaction I've had with my companions though. It seems like I can go for days without any conversations with a companion and then suddenly four or five conversations trigger in a row. They really need to be spread out a little more, or merged together. Overall, I have to agree with you on the biggest complaint being the UI. Why on earth BioWare didn't allow for movable windows, I have no idea. The UI is also oddly buggy. Usually in these games, it's the quests that are buggy and UI is solid, but with BioWare it's the opposite. I regularly get the one where not of the UI elements respond to mouse-clicks and I have to hit Ctrl-U twice to reload. I’m nearly finished with the Jedi Knight class story, and I gotta say that BioWare definitely managed to make a KotOR3 with TOR. I’m a little disappointed in how little interaction I’ve had with my companions though. It seems like I can go for days without any conversations with a companion and then suddenly four or five conversations trigger in a row. They really need to be spread out a little more, or merged together.

Overall, I have to agree with you on the biggest complaint being the UI. Why on earth BioWare didn’t allow for movable windows, I have no idea. The UI is also oddly buggy. Usually in these games, it’s the quests that are buggy and UI is solid, but with BioWare it’s the opposite. I regularly get the one where not of the UI elements respond to mouse-clicks and I have to hit Ctrl-U twice to reload.
Blue Kae recently posted..Looking Back at 2011

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