Phantasy Star Universe Online Play Will Not be Free

Contrary to the rumors, Sega's Massively Multiplayer RPG which is due out this year, will cost users a ten spot every month to play online. Orange Lounge Radio reported a while back that the MMORPG would be free for Xbox Live Gold members, and has corrected their statement after an email from Sega.

There has been a lot of speculation about fees for MMORPGs on Xbox Live. Because the monthly charges are meant to sustain servers and an infrastructure, some believed that the $50 a year paid for the Xbox Live Gold service would provide the needed systems and cut down on extra fees sharged directly by developers.

[Gh0stDrag0n]

Well, this sucks. The only way to force them to provide this service with a Gold LIVE account is, do not buy this game. Speak with your money and tell them this is BS. The 360 is a great console but it is not a PC. MMORPGs that you need to pay extra for need to stay on the PC.

[Evil]

You said it brother.

[PS360WII]

Give me a break. 10 bones a month to play on a server they created for live and to make sure everyone is being good and stop the bugs and get people out of glitches. I'll gladly pay an extra 10 for that. I'll make it a point to buy this game just to tell them to do a good job with my money. If your complaining about this you've never played a MMORPG before and wouldn't of bought this game in the first place...

However, if you say wait yes I have played these before I just don't want to spend 10 more dollars on Live then guess what they have an offline adventure for you too

[Gh0stDrag0n]

There is a time where the consumer must draw the line. It will start with this, then another devaloper will make a game and want to charge, then another..... and before long XBox LIVE Gold accounts will be for ARCADE games only.
I think MMORPGs on the PC are great and have no problem forkin' out the cash. But XBox LIVE does not need this, it's big thing is it is a UNIFIED ONLINE SERVICE. This makes it UNUNIFIED. We pay for the gold service so we do not have to do this $hit.
BTW.... I wouldn't have a problem with it if they gave you the game free and had monthly updates (items,quests,areas.....)

[PS360WII]

Yeah I see your point. I just wanted to play it :(

[Gh0stDrag0n]

I want to play it too :(

[beans]

Ten dollars a month my azz! Im not going to be picking this one up and besides it's only a port!

[BIadestarX]

how come this is not a surprise?
Let’s analyze the facts...
1) This game is a MMORPG and the majority of them charge montly fees (the good ones with the exception of guild of wars, kudos to them).
2) If FFXI and WOW charge you for the disk and a montly fee why would you expect any different?
3) You are not paying more to play this game on the XBox live. This game it's intended for people that already have xbox live and are already paying the yearly fee and want to play it on a big HD-TV at the comfort of their living room. What kind of idiot would buy a 360 and subscribe to xbox live just to play this game instead of just getting the PC version?
"some believed that the $50 a year paid for the Xbox Live Gold service would provide the needed systems and cut down on extra fees charged directly by developers." So, let me get this straight; Microsoft would charge $50 a year and their will maintain all MMORPG (Some of them with millions of users) games.
Do you have any ideas what it takes to maintain a MMORPG? Hundreds if not thousands of servers, T1, T3, routers, staff, each one of these MMORPG requires a lot work and you expect Microsoft to host all of them? So, you expect Microsoft to charge $50/year so you can play all MMORPG freely? So, if you pay $12/month ($144) to play one(1) MMORPG on your PC, you would go to Xbox live and pay $50/year and play them ALLLLLLLL for free.... gee… why does that sound odd?
ahh hahahaha! Sorry I had to. It’s nice to not have a clue how things work? Right?

[Boink]

I'm out, I will not pay to play it online. TFB sega. you just lost out on a lot of business...

[Ravenator529]

Well, I guess the servers should run pretty smooth!

Considering that this news probably turned away a lot of people who may have picked this game up!

[Islandkiwi]

the game should be free!

Honestly, if you have to pay to get it onto your system, and then get charged a monthly fee on top of that....

[Schmitty07]

I'll cross this one off the list too

[BIadestarX]

most console gamers will not get this game.
This game is targetted to the MMORPGs gamer. That doesn't mind paying to play MMORPGs. This is not the average console gamer. Right now I'm not into MMORPGs; but I did play 12.95/month for 2 years playing Lengend of Mir. So, if I had a 360 and they made the game (with improved graphics etc) and I was still paying to play online, already have xbox live; I would get into it. So, I if you are not a MMORPGs gamer just look away this is not your typical Ghost Recon, Zelda or Halo game.

[FadeToBlack]

Anyone that complains about paying a monthly fee for a MMPORPG is clueless to the maintainance costs of such an operation. The games you pay a flat fee one time are not updated with new content monthly and do not connect you with everyone around the world in a massive world 24/7. And for those that think these games should be included in the $50 a year live service...thats just laughable. Considering the service that MS currently provides for $50 a year is already worth more than its cost. So seriously can anyone with any clue of what it takes to run a MMPORPG really complain about the subscription cost?? Lets get real here.

[tackleb0x]

MMO's have a monthly fee. They can remove the monthly fee but then you'll be paying alot for downloaded content or like guild wars expansion sets and poor customer service. Free would be nice, but based on the previews, no ones going to play this game anyway.

[FeralPhoenix]

I don't care how much it costs for maintenance costs, this is not a PC, I'm sure some of their costs should be cut since it will be intergrated with XBL. I agree that we already get more than we pay for with XBL already, $50 bucks a year is dirt cheap for unlimited play of so many games....but that's exactly why its so popular because its a great deal. When you compare $120 bucks a year to play 1 game, thats almost 3 yrs. worth of subscrition to XBL and hundreds of games, so as you can see thats a terrible bargain. Also, if we do pay for this, its only going to lead more and more developers into thinking they can charge a fee to play their game over XBL. HELL NO!...to be honest I'm not a fan of this title anyway, but the reason I'm against this is because like I said, this will only lead to more developers charging an extra fee. Its already bad enough that developers are trying to squeeze every dime out of us by charging for extra downloaded content, but we have to draw the line somewhere. If this service costs them too much to make it free on XBL then it shouldn't be on XBL....let those PC gamers pay for it, 'cause I don't want to pay for it, and I know you will say I don't have to buy it, but if even a small percentage accept this then we will see more and more of it, hope my fellow XBL gamers feel the same way! SPEAK OUT XBL GAMERS....if you want XBL to stay a awesome service for a CHEAP PRICE!

[BIadestarX]

If this was true, "I'm sure some of their costs should be cut since it will be integrated with XBL." than I would agree with you. But his game it's not hosted by Microsoft, and it's not maintain by Microsoft. Even the dynamics behind this type of games is different. When you play a shooter, fighting, xbox live is used to organize matches etc. But with a MMORPG the game state is hosted on a centralized network of server. I know you don't care or want to care about it. But the fact is; MMORPG charge monthly, since it's not the type of game you beat in 1 day, these games usually has no ending. They organize events, guilds/clans, and you are playing and interacting with thousands of people at the same time, and what you do affect others. We all wish it would be free, but it will not happen. When was the last time you play the same game every day for the past 2-3 years? Why million of people don't mind paying for these games a monthly fee? I guess some of you will never know. I have a tip for you; don't cause if you try MMORPG you will easily get addicted. Being there… MMORPG are nothing like the games that most of you are accustomed to play. I will not pay for this game a monthly fee; but I can understand why someone would.

[FeralPhoenix]

I guess you make an excellent point because I have a buddy who plays that World of Warcraft(I think thats the name) MMORPG and thats all he does, he's like a hermit....so I guess I will have to take both of you guys word for it when you say they are addicting. Thankfully I was never really a classic RPG fan, so I never got into MMORPG's either, its just not my cup of tea, but I respect the fact that some people love them. Anyway, all I'm saying is 10 bucks a month is expensive for 1 game, and I'm hoping that this won't be a trend for other genre's, but maybe I'm wrong and this will only be the norm for MMORPG's....either way I appreciate good informative feedback. Thanks!

[BIadestarX]

"Anyway, all I'm saying is 10 bucks a month is expensive for 1 game" I agree 100%. Even while I paid to play it I though it was expensive! I knew of people that saved money to pay for the montly fee because they lived in countries where $12,95 a month was not potcket change. It's sad... but what can you do. I remember being the leader of a 60+ member guild where members were organized by ranks, and we used to organize events like going hunting (Kill bosses and to level) or simply wage wars against other guilds for superiority and land. These type of game play you don't find on any other genre. I used to say I would never get into MMORPG games but then I tried a free month... and I got hooked which is the case with most MMORPG gamers... So, keep away... or you will need a fix.. hehe.

[AzaziL]

This is disapointing especially since there's already a fee to be paid to play online (xbox live). I don't play games too much a month and I like to play a variety so at most for a dedicated game, I'd play it for around ten hours a month. A buck an hour doesn't sound bad, but considering that I've already paid $60, uh uh. Maybe I'll get it if they sell the game at a lower price so that the extra $10 can be used to try it for a month or two.