This is the main reason why I skip all MMOs. First off, I do get that they need money to maintain ths website, but that is not your users' problem. You shouldn't force people to pay you monthly to have access to the actual "cool" stuff just because you need money so badly to maintain your website. If you need money, ask for donations instead. I know about a sandbox PC game called Osu!. It's a free game and its website asks for donations to help maintain it and it's doing very well.
Anyway, my main problem is how they execute this. Most MMOs lock almost everything from unpaid members. Some even result to just ridiculous restrictions. For example, Club Penguin allows you to play the games and earn coins. However, the only stuff you can buy with them are profile backgrounds, colors for your penguin and two variations of the puffles. Everything else is locked away, you can't buy furniture, clothing, or any of the other puffles. They even lock away some of the modes to some of them minigames.
Oh, but that's not the worst. Toontown is the worst offender. You barely can do or buy anything. They only let you do stuff in toontown central (in other towns, you can only fight cogs), they only let you play one race track in goofy's speedway and they give you barely any customization options for your car. You can't buy any clothing or furniture. You can only buy these pet things called doodles.
The more ridiculous membership restrictions is the fact that if someone gives you any gifts, you can't take them unless you are a member and that you can't fish in ponds, go into buildings or go on trolleys that aren't in toontown central.
Stuff like this is why I don't even bother with MMO's at all.
Anyway, my main problem is how they execute this. Most MMOs lock almost everything from unpaid members. Some even result to just ridiculous restrictions. For example, Club Penguin allows you to play the games and earn coins. However, the only stuff you can buy with them are profile backgrounds, colors for your penguin and two variations of the puffles. Everything else is locked away, you can't buy furniture, clothing, or any of the other puffles. They even lock away some of the modes to some of them minigames.
Oh, but that's not the worst. Toontown is the worst offender. You barely can do or buy anything. They only let you do stuff in toontown central (in other towns, you can only fight cogs), they only let you play one race track in goofy's speedway and they give you barely any customization options for your car. You can't buy any clothing or furniture. You can only buy these pet things called doodles.
The more ridiculous membership restrictions is the fact that if someone gives you any gifts, you can't take them unless you are a member and that you can't fish in ponds, go into buildings or go on trolleys that aren't in toontown central.
Stuff like this is why I don't even bother with MMO's at all.
It really sucks :/
I have had the game for over a year and a half, and actually just started playing it again a few weeks ago. I have put a shameful amount of money into this game, but I still play it, and it is extremely fun for me still. I have 11 out of the 14 classes maxed out (Not entirely) and with pretty much the best equipment. (I have no life) But anyway, I have put 85$ into this stupid game >_> It is available on steam and in browser. I play on steam, but most everyone says it lags like nothing else. It is a 2d 8bit hell shooter MMO. Pretty much, monsters everywhere firing these things that you need to dodge, you kill them, get drops, and you work your way up with the better equipment from the more difficult dungeons and monsters. The community on the game sucks now compared to last year... So just a warning. There are still plenty of nice people, although there are still things I want to spend money for on this game, I have put almost 700 hours into it. -_-
