Analog Gamers Gaming From a Slightly Different Perspective

Champions Online, the upcoming super-hero MMO by the creator of City of Heroes/City of Villains – Cryptic Studios is nearing its September 1st release date quickly. While we’ve been lucky to see a number of videos detailing the “comic-shaded” game content one piece of critical information has been missing – the subscription model.

While the announcements regarding a pre-order payment model might not completely satisfy the need to budget and plan for the game, Atari announced that the game will offer a “lifetime subscription” to those who just want to pay once and never have to worry about the monthly impact on the budget in this unstable economy again.

I’m a big fan of the lifetime subscription option, its one of the things that makes it likely I’ll continue a game longer term – a large initial investment pays off over time and its usually easier for me to stomach a single big purchase for a game I like if it means I can continue to play it indefinitely and only buy expansion packs or upgrades over the life of the game. This is one of the reasons I’m such a big fan of Turbine’s Lord of the Rings Online – I own two lifetime subscriptions to that title because its basically guilt free. I don’t have the specter of a monthly payment lingering over my head should life get too complicated to allow me to play. I can walk away for awhile and come back to the game at any point and I know it won’t require me to readjust my spending habits.

Atari has the lifetime subscription for Champions priced at a very nice $199. This was the initial cost of LotRO’s Founder accounts and while $200 is no laughing mater consider how long you’d be playing World of Warcraft at $20 a month before you went over that mark – roughly 12 months. (You still have to buy the $40 game after all) On that scale I think this is a business model that makes sense, my only hesitation – I’m not convinced Champions is the game for me… while I love super hero games and I enjoy MMO’s a lot of what would make someone like me buy a lifetime sub is the community of friends I know playing it.. and so far.. none of my friends are Champions fanatics.

When I played a very early preview build of Champions Online 2 years ago while working at Filefront, I was impressed with the simple control and gameplay but the game has evolved considerably since then and I can’t speak from personal experience on whether the investment is worth it. Regardless I’ll be keeping an eye out for this as the game launches, I hope Atari and Cryptic continue to offer this option because should I find the game as interesting as say.. Lord of the Rings Online.. I think it’d be a no brainer for me to drop $400 for two subscriptions for my wife and I. I also want to encourage publishers to offer these sorts of options to loyal players.. after all the average attach rate for a new players is less than 8 months worth of subscription so $200 more than matches that cost and it boosts the population of the game in the long term. You can read the full details of the game’s subscription model below:

Cryptic Studios and Atari are also offering multiple subscription options for fans.

Monthly Subscription

The recurring monthly subscription will be offered for $14.99 USD, $16.49 CAN, €12.99 EUR, and £8.99 GBP.

For a limited time only, Cryptic Studios and Atari are also offering exciting six-month and lifetime subscriptions at discounted rates. These deals come with many exclusives and incentives.

Six-month Subscription

For a limited time only, the six-month subscription plan will be offered for $59.99 USD, $65.99 CAN, €44.99 EUR, and £35.99 GBP. Six-month subscribers will additionally receive guaranteed access to the Star Trek Online closed beta test and a Champions Online “Retro-Future” costume set.

Lifetime Subscription

For a limited time only, the lifetime subscription plan will be offered for $199.99 USD, $219.99 CAN, €147.99 EUR, and £119.99 GBP. Lifetime subscribers will additionally receive guaranteed access to the Star Trek Online closed beta test, an exclusive Star Trek Online Mirror Universe costume set, eight additional Champions Online character slots, a Foxbat vanity pet, a “Retro-Future” costume set, and an “Art Deco” costume set.