The Agency will not charge a monthly subscription fee

by Alan Tsang { Dec 1st 2008 at 2:15PM }

In an interview with Kikizo, Kevin O'Hara of SOE announced that the MMO shooter The Agency will not be utilizing a monthly subscription model. He wasn't sure of the exact way the game will bring in revenue, but it sounds like it is going to be a combination of micro-transactions and in-game advertising.

"We're acutely aware that shooter players are not used to paying monthly fees, so I doubt we'll go for an outright $15 a month ... So we're checking out Free Realms to see how they're going to do with their micro-transactions, and we might incorporate some of that. We'll definitely have some ad revenue models."

For the entire interview with the Senior World Designer of The Agency, head over to Kikizo.

[Via Massively]

Tags: soe, sony-online-entertainment, the-agency

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

E @ Dec 1st 2008 2:42PM

I don't play PC games, MMOs, and usually don't play online multiplayer modes on console games (although I have from time to time). I'm really just a fan of single-player campaigns and co-op, including online.

As a PS3 owner and someone who isn't into MMOs, I have to say that the developer's decision to not use a monthly subscription model is even more reason for me to try The Agency. I've been really excited about The Agency ever since first hearing about and hopefully when it drops, it retains a lot of that excitement we're all hoping for.

Mo @ Dec 1st 2008 2:51PM

completely agree... leave mmo's to the geekers... something as borderline as this should be careful not to get pushed into what most people see as the "geeker" category.

I've MMO'd once or twice... no, just once. City of heroes. My friends are deep off into it. I was eyeing this as it seemed interesting. Monthly subscriptions would have completely killed the deal for me. So I'm still a watching :-)

ruibing @ Dec 1st 2008 3:56PM

Watch Patcher somehow twist this around on the next Bonus Round about MMOs to how this will actually reduce the amount of people playing this game online.

The Aggie CEO @ Dec 1st 2008 2:44PM

thats good to know....I may actually get this game now......I'm not into paying monthly feees for a game I already paid for.......which is one reason I never got into WoW

bboston7 @ Dec 1st 2008 2:44PM

My interest in this game just shot up!

Gaucho @ Dec 1st 2008 3:08PM

Not so much for me. . . The only MMO (if it qualifies as such) I might play is DC Universe . . . maybe. . . @#$% it, can i just have Killzone 2 and an Earthbound remake please?

Gonzo @ Dec 3rd 2008 3:40PM

I too was only mildly interested until now. I don't care how they supplement that income: how many billboards or what horrible institutions they advertise.

The way I play games, it just doesn't make sense to subscribe to a WoW. I'm always getting into a game then putting it down for a month or two before going back to it. If I joined a subscription mmo, I would probably get really into it for a month or two, hardly use it for the third month , disconnect, then just get really indecisive every time I think about playing again.

blkant @ Dec 1st 2008 3:05PM

at first, i didn't really care for this game, then i heard about possible fees, and i was slightly disapointed in sony but i still understood their reason, then i saw some photos and some plans, and i was more interested, now, I'm probably going to get this game just because of how much they're putting into it, Sony kicks ass :)

rohan @ Dec 1st 2008 3:36PM

having micro-transactions and in game ads make sense (will not in game ads but hey if the first few add ons are free i don't really care about the ads but u cannot have everything u have tho)
YAY FOR FREE STUFF!!

JAH75157 @ Dec 1st 2008 3:36PM

i'm interested in seeing how this game turns out. when i first heard about it i could care less.

Fane @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:00PM

To JAH and all others who make this mistake:

it's COULDN'T care less.

Think about it for a second: if you COULD care less, then you must care at least to some degree.

JAH75157 @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:50PM

i COULD of cared less, i could of cared a lot less. if i did care less i wouldn't of cared enough to click on this post now would i?

stupid grammar nazi.

react3rr @ Dec 1st 2008 4:02PM

i've been interested from 1st hearing about the game, have always wanted to see how MMO's would play out on the PS!! Stil im a bit sceptical so it'd be nice to have some sort od demo or trial

kentuckyfried @ Dec 1st 2008 4:03PM

Great to hear this. The problem with subscription models is that you actually need to play...all the time...in order for it to be worth the money, or at least there's that perceived need. Unfortunately most of us want to hold down a steady job or go to school, so that doesn't work for most people except the weirdos who drop 6+ hrs a night on that sort of thing.

kentuckyfried @ Dec 1st 2008 4:03PM

crimsonedge38 @ Dec 1st 2008 4:15PM

I don't understand the logic. Most $60 games are one time play throughs that never get played again. Most only last, about, 20 hours. To compare, $15 is equal to a fourth of that time, so if you're playing for 5 hours a month, you're breaking even.

Levi @ Dec 1st 2008 6:35PM

Agreed. If you play the game as much as you would play any regular game, there's really nothing wrong with subscriptions. The only problem it presents that I can think of is if you want to take a break, you have to mess with an account instead of just put it back on your shelf.

kentuckyfried @ Dec 1st 2008 10:42PM

^ that's my gripe. I don't want anything like an xbox live set-up, where you'll be paying until the end of time, whether or not you're actually online or not.

spyker @ Dec 1st 2008 4:14PM

HELL YES! If this game charged monthly I knew I wouldn't buy it.

Gambit07 @ Dec 1st 2008 4:36PM

So, we can be a pimp in this game?

Lard @ Dec 1st 2008 5:16PM

Monthly fees are rubbish.

You just got my attention Sony.

SuperGayParade @ Dec 1st 2008 5:54PM

This is great news!

Kristopher gonzalez @ Dec 1st 2008 6:47PM

Indeed this is great news, though i'll wait and see how the in-game advertising is handled before purchasing the game.

Captain Nemo @ Dec 1st 2008 7:16PM

The non-subscription model makes this sound interesting. I notice one of the factions has "United Nations" in its name - I'm pretty sure you need the U.N.'s permission to use their name for publicity purposes - and I'm equally sure it would not be granted to an FPS!