On the subject of Free-To-Play and MMOs

[ACE-OF-ACES]

Originally Posted by CaptainDoggles

Yeah I'm not talking about making it free, though. I'm perfectly happy to pay an upfront price for the sim and for subsequent expansion packs, just like we did with 1946.

So we agree, and both realize, that here in the real world, those who make flight sims don't make as much $ on their efforts as those who make other types of games.. Hence the need to generate revenue beyond the initial cost of the game.. I am all for it! Be it the traditional IL-2 sequel money model or the RoF DLC model.. or even the pay to play model be it hourly or monthly or something else..

Originally Posted by CaptainDoggles

Depends on your definition of "serious flight simmer"...

Agreed..

To clarify, serious typically means the types that don't play any other types of games.. As in only flight sims!

Back in the day of flight simming.. we referred to them as hard core simmers..

Of which I don't even fit the definition!

Today.. I would say a serious simmer is the type that only plays realistic military types of games.. Where most of which are flight sims or first person shooters.. That is the category that fits me best, but I will admit I have played 'other' types of games in the past.. But they typically don't hold my interest for very long.. I think what makes me a serious flight simmer is that I always come back to flight simming.. In 20+ years I have not lost interest in playing flight sims.. Where I have lost interest in other types of games

Originally Posted by CaptainDoggles

I'm not in university any more; I can't spend 4+ hours every night playing video games and so being charged a monthly fee is a rip-off for me.

I'm 100% against being charged for time you spend not playing the game.

That depends..

As I noted, sometimes it is cheaper to play the monthly flat rate over the hourly charge.. At least that was the case for me when I played warbirds.. When they changed hourly my monthly bill was around $300+ and I even got a bill for $1,000+ once! When they switched to the monthly flat rate my bill dropped down to less than $200/month.. So it all depends

Originally Posted by CaptainDoggles

Maybe if I was retired, in my 60's with no dependants and had lots of disposable income then I could get away with it

It is not age based at all..

It has more to do with 'what you do' in life..

Take me for example, a basic engineering job allows me enough disposable income and time to pay to play and still support several dependants, dogs, contribute to 401ks, and pay bills in general

We should not force game makers to cater to the lowest common denominator!

Put another way, I don't want to play a flight sim that any starbuck's barista can afford!