HMM LOOK WHAT I FOUND

[Drew2]

http://www.play.net/playdotnet/account/account_faq.asp#A1

SIMU WANTS MOR MONEY YAY

[CrystalTears]

Okay how many times are they going to screw with the rates?

I just received an email that starting May 1st they're going to increase the rates. I went to the website and found the following:

Beginning on May 1, 2004, the rates for all Simutronics games and services will change as follows:

Basic Subscription $14.95
Premium (includes Basic) $39.95
Platinum (includes Basic, Premium) $49.95
The Fallen $19.95
The Fallen w/Premium $44.95
Extra Character Slot $2.50

I'm a bit bent on this. I'll be a dumbass and keep paying, but it doesn't mean I'm any happier about it. :rant:

[crazymage]

i'll be cancelling my premiums as of now

[Jonty]

:lol: ...guess I'm quitting for good this time!

[Revalos]

I'm curious as to why Basic is going up $2 but Plat and Premium are going up $7.

Also interesting that this happened fairly near the last price increase. Guess they're starting a trend.

[Betheny]

I'll be cancelling my accounts as of now.

I'm not going to spend money on an amusement I rarely use, and I don't have this kind of money to spend.

I'd rather have another 30 bucks a month than Gemstone.

Ta-ta for now, Simutronics! Maybe when I have a better job I'll think about wasting my money!

[Sweets]

I love gemstone...but I think it's time to look elsewhere for my roleplaying enjoyment. If a game such as Everquest, complete with graphic can be 12.95 and you get numerous character slots...why is a text game now $15 to play.

That is about....19.64....I am paying $20 to play....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Soulpieced]

Notoriously close to the last price increase. I don't like it.

[ThisOtherKingdom]

I find it amusing that they denied that GS4 would see an increase in prices, they claimed that the LAST increase was going towards it. I've hardly played Gemstone in the last two months, I'm canceling as well.

[Artha]

Everyone leaving:

I'll be free to take all that stuff you won't need anymore, just U2U me when and where to pick it up :)

[crazymage]

GSAuctions.com for everyone sellin out (shameless plug)

[Straight-up]

Having played DAOC, EQ and Asheron's Call, I think you get what you pay for. Customer service is non-existent there. You have a problem...tough shit is their response IF you even get one. One on one interaction is nil. If you are bitching about 2 bucks a month...don't drink a soda twice during the month. Smoke a half a pack less of cigarettes. Anyway, JMHO.

[Soulpieced]

7 bucks more for premie which really is a joke.

[ThisOtherKingdom]

I'm hardly bitching. I wasn't playing much in the first place, I'm not going to pay even MORE not to play...

[Betheny]

I'm not bitching at all, I didn't have the money to spend in the first place, this is just a good reason to motivate myself to get off my ass and stop paying until I can afford it.

I'm not gonna go broke for entertainment. And yeah, it is 'only' 13 bucks a month, but I can use that kinda money.

no its not the $2 a month, it was their statment after the last rate hike that there would be NO more.

[Roseblossom]

wow I will be paying 40.00 dollars a month now <sighs>

What is this Fallen thing?

[Hulkein]

The Fallen is for DR.

I'm glad their jacking up premium so much, personally.

[Straight-up]

I hardly think when they said they would not be raising rates to pay for GS4 that it meant "we are never gonna raise our prices again". Costs go up, it's a fact.

[Soulpieced]

See, the problem is many people will now cancel their premium accounts and downgrade, which will cause more price increases in the future.

[Hulkein]

I think most people who waste their money on premium to begin with are well-off enough to just whine a little bit but in the end keep their premium service.

[Edited on 3-29-2004 by Hulkein]

[Edaarin]

Heh, funny shit...Simu is in dire need of hiring some economics majors...

[Edited on 3-29-2004 by Edaarin]

[Carl Spackler]

peace simu, check the selling boards for my accounts, they'll be cheap

[J-Tech]

Great, i hope my friend doesnt cancel my account. :(

J.T.

only thing is the cost of running a buisness will not go up 50% in one year Straight-Up
The least they could have done was finish GS4 before they hike the prices again, we are not even paying for the full product from the last pice raise.

[J-Tech]

Originally posted by The Edine
only thing is the cost of running a buisness will not go up 50% in one year Straight-Up
The least they could have done was finish GS4 before they hike the prices again, we are not even paying for the full product from the last pice raise.

Ya, no doubt. It's like, Hey! Lets up the price on a game that isnt even 3/4 complete now...they minus well call it GS3 and 70 cents cause it never achieved the full dollar to make it 4.

J.T.

[Edited on 3-29-2004 by J-Tech]

[DeV]

This is the reason Ive never had a premie account.. I guess 2 bucks isnt gonna break me for the basic. But FUCK, as the game goes down every 5 hours perhaps they will do something useful with the extra money. The bastards.

[J-Tech]

Originally posted by DarkelfVold
as the game goes down every 5 hours perhaps they will do something useful with the extra money. The bastards.

Ya, like buy some new staff members to assist the few usefull ones they have and maybe complete the game to at least 90%.

J.T.

[Chadj]

I might cancel my account.. or at least my extra characters. This is bullshit. I'm not paying $35 a month for this shit. I don't care if I can afford it or not (I can't), I am cancelling all but the basic. And if there is a single more price hike, I'm cancelling that too.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Maybe they'll use the extra cash to hire competent QA folks, Cust sat folks and Coders?

It was bound to happen, nothing stays at the same price forever.

I'm curious how many folks will actually cancel over it.

[Nakiro]

Bullshit.

I feel sorry for you premies. Seven extra bucks. They might as well tell you to bend over and get dry ass raped by a man named Big Joe who has one leg and hasn't seen a women in seven years.

I won't cancel, but now I will probably never buy a premium account. Good god.

[Straight-up]

They didn't raise it 50%. Nor have they raised it every year. Would you rather them raise it for example 10% every year or 50% after 5 years (as they did after they moved to the web).


I dunno, I am not an economics major, I have however worked for several businesses and corporations. Costs rise, there is not alot you can do about it (other than outsource to India) but I think Simu already has the cheap labor end covered. Anyway, you have to keep a business profitable or there is no point in running it.

[ThisOtherKingdom]

I forget when I started playing, but I think it was about 2 years ago. This will be the third price increase.

[Straight-up]

I will agree that they need to fix the fucking stability issues. As far as completion of stuff, games are never complete. There is always stuff to add. Gemstone gets new things and updates a whole shitload faster than other online games. I do wish they would learn from past mistakes though and make sure they WORK before releasing them as anything other than a BETA.

[Meos]

2 bucks... I won't mind if stone fist rules....

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Maybe they'll pay for a new bandwidth tester to tell everyone that there is no lag :)

[Galleazzo]

I don't need a lot of fancy new shit if they rape us for $7 extra every time they load in new features. I ain't happy at all. Is it even a year since the last jump?

[Iriscience]

cancelling my shit, 3 accounts.

fuck simu.

[DeV]

Originally posted by Suppa Hobbit Mage
Maybe they'll pay for a new bandwidth tester to tell everyone that there is no lag :) :clap:

[ThisOtherKingdom]

I just sent in my cancellation request. I am definately not ruling out the possibility of coming back, but since I haven't played in the last two months anyway, it makes sense right now.

[Pallon]

Clearly, the benefits of a premium account will increase proportional to the rate hike. Hello, people

[DeV]

I benefit just fine with a basic. They need to get the game to 100% operation, work on the lag, and then perhaps with the additional benefits of a Premie account they can have a little extra of my momey.

[Ambrosia]

Originally posted by Suppa Hobbit Mage
Maybe they'll pay for a new bandwidth tester to tell everyone that there is no lag :)

It's not Gemstone that is lagging, it's your internet connection. :rolleyes:

I'm not bitching about the fact that it's $2 a month, it's the fact that there are CONSTANT price increases. When I started 4 years ago it was 9.95 a month, now it is up 5 dollars per an account, not including the extra increase on the character slots.

I understand that prices will go up, but they need to make a better product if they want to raise prices.

With all the graphic based games out there, cheaper internet connections and cheaper computers, Simutronics isn't going to get too many new customers, especially when their prices are higher than many of the graphic games out there.

[Kuyuk]

Yeah, I'll jump on the "I'm an asshole" bandwagon;

If you're quitting, I'd be more than happy to take some of your silvers or items off yer hands, let it go to a useful cause! I'm not gonna sell em, cause I'm kinda lazy... I'd just like to have more than 2 million coins at some point in my gemstone career without having to pay for them. :-D


Kuyuk,
U2U me if you wanna gimme stuff :-D

[HarmNone]

As I see it, the price hike is indicating one of two things:

Either Simu is encountering the need to generate more funds and is in a "damned if we do, damned if we don't" scenario, or they are doing better than it appears and feel they are on strong enough ground to raise prices despite the less-than-stellar aspects of the game as it stands.

HarmNone

[Artha]

Yeah, I'll jump on the "I'm an asshole" bandwagon;

If you're quitting, I'd be more than happy to take some of your silvers or items off yer hands, let it go to a useful cause! I'm not gonna sell em, cause I'm kinda lazy... I'd just like to have more than 2 million coins at some point in my gemstone career without having to pay for them. :-D


Kuyuk,
U2U me if you wanna gimme stuff :-D

I call dibs. So U2U me first.

[CrystalTears]

I honestly don't have problems with perhaps small yearly rate increased. However since we shelled out at least $20 a few months ago to cover their bookkeeping screwup, I'm a bit perturbed that they want to charge me more for the same product.

I probably will keep on playing because I'm that much of a dork, but it bothers me that the price of premium has increased from $29.99 to $39.99 in a matter of a couple of years. I've yet to see a reason to charge me $10 more a month. Not even graphic games charge that much.

Now I feel stupid for quitting DAOC.

[TheEschaton]

Price changes? <scurries off to read his EMail>

Argh. Well, I was planning on freezing the accts in June anyways, so I guess it's not that big a deal for me anyways.

But I can see how it would piss people off. And, then they lowered the rate on plat, right? Why don't you keep on charging those fools $100 a month, instead of halving their costs, and keep the rest of our prices down? Grrr.

-TheE-

[Reyek]

The rate structure for all Simutronics games and services will change as of May 1, 2004.

For a new rates list, please visit our billing website at http://www.play.net/playdotnet/account/account_faq.asp.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at billing@simutronics.com.

NOTICE: This is not a promotion or newsletter, you have recieved this email because you are a customer of Simutronics Corporation.

If you do not wish to recieve newsletters or promotions from Simutronics Corporation, log into the website at http://www.play.net/playdotnet/account with your account and password.
Click on the "Email Subscriptions" link in the Profile (bottom left) area where you should uncheck the box "Product Promotions and Services by Email". Replying to this letter will not remove you.


another $2.00...

[Sean]

I dunno last time they raised the rates I ended up with gs4 which I still don't like as much as I liked gs3. I'm afraid of what shitty add on will come of my newly invested $2 more per month... well 4 really.

[Edaarin]

All the 'great' features of GSIV have yet to be implemented...

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Straight-up
I do wish they would learn from past mistakes thoughIt truly is amazing how so many honest to God smart people can be so freaking dumb.

2 bucks a month isn't going to break me, but I'm basic 4 life anyway. Guess I won't be getting that extra character slot, though. Burnout here I come! :X

[crazymage]

<<We're discussing an extended period of time. There were significant Simutronics problems early on. We worked and made major improvement. At times lag has been reported that is NOT on our end, and when it is, we tell you. Sometimes lag increases and it is on our end, when it is, we fix it.

Melissa>>

Hey Melissa you can work for my 21.4% increase bend over plz THX!

[Soulpieced]

I'm almost tempted to cancel my extra character, but I just can't come to do it since he was my first real character.

[AnticorRifling]

2 extra bones x 2 accounts = 4 bucks
.50 more per extra character x 3 extra characters = 1.50
Knowing that no matter how much the charge me I'm still so much better looking than J-Tech = Priceless

[Reyek]

Well im canceling 1 of my accounts and killing my extra characters off. gonna only have 1 at the end of the month.... yey for saving money!

[Wezas]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
However since we shelled out at least $20 a few months ago to cover their bookkeeping screwup, I'm a bit perturbed that they want to charge me more for the same product.

The old lady brings up a good question. If we cancel, are we getting reimbursed for the portion of our billing period which we have not used? Since we did pre-pay for this month?

Also, if they made Gemstone: The Fallen, I'd pay $20 in a hearbeat. But they didn't, so I won't.

Not sure I'd want them taking people off of GS4 (who could be working on shit to make it better) to create a whole new world. But Jesus, how hard could it be to make another server, put out a new SGE, and charge people $5 more a month. No staff needed. (I assume, no clue how DR:TF works.)

[Ambrosia]

Originally posted by Wezas
The old lady brings up a good question. If we cancel, are we getting reimbursed for the portion of our billing period which we have not used? Since we did pre-pay for this month?

You wont, they will just leave your account open till your next billing period then shut it down.

[Artha]

Right. If you cancel RIGHT NOW, you have it until some time in April or May, depending on the day you signed up.


Personally, I recomend you spend that time giving me your stuff that I can sell or use...but that's completely personal choice, of course.

[Edited on 3-30-2004 by Artha]

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Artha
Personally, I recomend you spend that time giving me your stuff that I can sell or use...but that's completely personal choice, of course.

Think I'd give it all to Tayre. I hate beggars.

[Artha]

I'm not a beggar, I'm just making suggestions.

[Siefer]

Christ, what were they thinking? I've been torn over leaving since the last rate hike, but this time, I'm definately dumping my accounts. Probably catch me running around an east coast SWG or WoW server in the near future. Look up Siefer or Khajiit sometime.

[Reyek]

Anyone wanna buy a 52 cleric 24 rogue and a 17 empath. heh..

[Sente]

Time for less Gemstone and more poker. I can save $25 a month by killing the premie and focus on making more $ playing poker.

[Varsus]

Heh I now pay $120 a month...

sucks to be me.

-Varsus (AND NO, Premis are not just rich people)

[IcyPoison]

Guess I don't feel so bad about being banned any longer.

Also happy I sold out while the gettin is good. Good luck to all you folks who try to get your money back by sellin out.

[Scott]

Originally posted by IcyPoison
Guess I don't feel so bad about being banned any longer.

Also happy I sold out while the gettin is good. Good luck to all you folks who try to get your money back by sellin out.

If you were trying to scam people, I doubt you had much stuff to sell.....

[imported_Kranar]

Is there any chance that this upcomming price hike reflects a successful previous price hike?

[IcyPoison]

Originally posted by Gemstone101

Originally posted by IcyPoison
Guess I don't feel so bad about being banned any longer.

Also happy I sold out while the gettin is good. Good luck to all you folks who try to get your money back by sellin out.

If you were trying to scam people, I doubt you had much stuff to sell.....

Wasn't trying to scam, but thats been argued already.

[IcyPoison]

Originally posted by Kranar
Is there any chance that this upcomming price hike reflects a successful previous price hike?

14.95 for Gemstone IV,
12.95 for DAOC (Graphical)
12.95 for EQ????? (NOT SURE)

What else? Someone able to post some more things so we can compare prices?

[Wanderer]

EQ 12.95
SWG 12.95
Horizons 12.95

Pretty much fucking everything else other than GS lol 12.95. Not sure how much WoW is gonna be nor EQ2 when its finally released but I bet money there is a lot more into any of the before mention games than was ever put into GS and you se their prices are still ......12.95.

[FinisWolf]

Originally posted by Suppa Hobbit Mage
Maybe they'll use the extra cash to hire competent QA folks, Cust sat folks and Coders?

It was bound to happen, nothing stays at the same price forever.

I'm curious how many folks will actually cancel over it.

Screw it! Everyone quit cept fer about 25 folks, that way I will have tons of scriptable areas with NO whiners. :lol:

Finiswolf

[FinisWolf]

Originally posted by Straight-up
They didn't raise it 50%. Nor have they raised it every year. Would you rather them raise it for example 10% every year or 50% after 5 years (as they did after they moved to the web).


I dunno, I am not an economics major, I have however worked for several businesses and corporations. Costs rise, there is not alot you can do about it (other than outsource to India) but I think Simu already has the cheap labor end covered. Anyway, you have to keep a business profitable or there is no point in running it.

<--- been playing 2 years almost, and have seen 2 price hikes.

Finiswolf

[Edited on 3-30-2004 by FinisWolf]

[Hips]

Sending Cancellation Request
Sending email... Done.

:smilegrin:

Finally kicked the $30-a-month habit.

More FFXI for me... which is not only cheaper, but more enjoyable and also has graphics! Did I mention it also rarely goes down, and when it does, they inform you at least a day in advance? Oh yeah, not to mention competent GMs...

Anyway. Anyone interested in some fgb or an 8x waraxe? :rolleyes:

[longshot]

I think Simutronics realizes that people have far too much time invested in their alternate personalities to quit over a price change. They know how many hours you have invested.

Four things can happen with this change-

1. You can eat the increase.
2. You can cancel some of your extra features, such as plat, or extra accounts, or extra characters.
3. You can quit, and then return.
4. You can quit for good.

Not many people have done number 4 successfully. It's understandable. You have 3,000 some hours invested in a character, which is something you can't just throw away.

Most people who try to quit come back at some point. Simu knows this.

With the second option, I'm sure the MAing scripter freak would hate to hunt like a "normal" player, so they would never give up their second account. God forbid they should hunt without every spell known to man. Seeing you don't need a second account to have more characters, it's likely that people who have two accounts use them to MA. In all likeliness, they will continue to pay for their advantage. (Which is fucking sad, I might add)

They probably figured they received enough new plat subscriptions from offering the experience multiplier for GSIV that they will come out ahead even if some people cancel. Again, you have characters and relationships that have spanned years. These are things that you can't just pick up instantly in a new text or other graphic game.

I hope that those of you who really do want to quit are able to.

Good luck!

[Edited on 3-30-2004 by longshot]

[TheEschaton]

Anyway. Anyone interested in some fgb or an 8x waraxe?

Uh...yeah?

-TheE-

[Galleazzo]

Originally posted by IcyPoison
Also happy I sold out while the gettin is good. Good luck to all you folks who try to get your money back by sellin out.
Too right, it's gonna be a buyer's market. When 100 high level characters hit eBay at once, the price is coming downdowndown.

[Galleazzo]

Hey, yeah, Michiko, I'll take the axe off your hands!

:sniffle:

[ElanthianSiren]

http://www.imperian.com

I enjoy this game beyond GSIV in that you get to write your own character description, build areas, and create items, but it also has a combat system like GS. GS, despite the past rate increases, has yet to allow its customer base (even premiums) the freedom to make their own homes etc etc, yet here's a free mud with the sweetest staff (Romeo and several of the other staff are absolute dreams) letting you do it. Simu, wake up.

The idea that was proposed before about "You get what you pay for..." totally false in this case.

That is all.


-Melissa

[Edited on Tue, March th, 2004 by ElanthianSiren]

[IcyPoison]

Originally posted by GS3 Michiko
Sending Cancellation Request
Sending email... Done.

:smilegrin:

Finally kicked the $30-a-month habit.

More FFXI for me... which is not only cheaper, but more enjoyable and also has graphics! Did I mention it also rarely goes down, and when it does, they inform you at least a day in advance? Oh yeah, not to mention competent GMs...

Anyway. Anyone interested in some fgb or an 8x waraxe? :rolleyes:

FFXI.. Glad to see someone mention this... Do you play on the PC or PS2?

[IcyPoison]

Originally posted by ElanthianSiren
http://www.imperian.com

I enjoy this game beyond GSIV in that you get to write your own character description, build areas, and create items, but it also has a combat system like GS. GS, despite the past rate increases, has yet to allow its customer base (even premiums) the freedom to make their own homes etc etc, yet here's a free mud with the sweetest staff (Romeo and several of the other staff are absolute dreams) letting you do it. Simu, wake up.

The idea that was proposed before about "You get what you pay for..." totally false in this case.

That is all.


-Melissa

[Edited on Tue, March th, 2004 by ElanthianSiren]

I'm really happy you posted this, I'll be checking it out.

[Galleazzo]

I was just checking it out myself. It's not bad for free. Now if I can get rid of the black background that'd rule.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Galleazzo
Now if I can get rid of the black background that'd rule. :?:

Black background rulz.

[Hips]

Originally posted by IcyPoison
FFXI.. Glad to see someone mention this... Do you play on the PC or PS2?

PC. You think I'd wait almost 5 months to play a game on PS2 when I can play it *perfectly* (and I do mean perfectly, according to the testing program that comes with the game) on my PC?

If you have any other questions about FFXI, shoot me a u2u, I don't want to derail this thread anymore then necessary. :smilegrin: