There's a Rate Hike Coming

Hang onto your wallets. This was just posted at this link on the main Everquest site. EverQuest price increase 03/25/2002 Due to the increased costs of running the EverQuest game service, we will be increasing our subscription rates in April. Effective April 25, the new monthly subscription rate will be $12.95/month. We will continue to offer discounts from the new rate plan on multi-month subscriptions. You don’t have to do a thing; you will automatically be migrated to the new billing structure under your current subscription plan when your current subscription plan expires. New EverQuest rates as of April 25, 2002: $12.95 per Month $35.85 for 3 Months $65.70 for 6 Months HOWEVER, for a limited time only (from April 10 through April 24, 2002), you may extend your current subscription for an additional 12 or 24 months by signing up for the new EQ 12 or 24 month plan – and reap great savings off of the new rates: Extend for 12 months for $109 US – and get a 30% discount off of the new monthly rates! Extend for 24 months for $190 US – and get a 39% discount off of the new monthly rates! Now is the time to lock in these rates, so don’t miss out. All pricing plans (except for the 12 and 24 month extension plans) are recurring, meaning you will continue to be billed at the appropriate interval, until you cancel your subscription. Note that purchasers of the full game will receive their free month of game play after supplying valid billing information. If you cancel your subscription during the free month, no charges will be made to your credit card. New York State and Texas residents will be charged sales tax. All subscription fees will appear on your credit card statement under the heading "SOE*EverQuest". Please note: The subscription charges are in addition to the cost of the game. You will need to purchase a copy of the game from a retail store or online at the Station Store. The price of the game will vary depending upon the store.

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Rubies of Eventide anyone?
# Sep 11 2002 at 12:41 AM Rating: Default
Hey.. looking for a new MMORPG? THere's an indie MMORPG game company that's been patiently building a pretty impressive game for how small they are. Check out www.rubiesofeventide.com

peace
paying more in may
# Apr 02 2002 at 9:19 AM Rating: Default
That was an april fool's day joke. Gamespot now says EQ will be $50.00 a month another April Fool's Day joke : ).
you're gonna pay even more in May......
# Apr 02 2002 at 3:00 AM Rating: Default
Hee Hee and you guys are worried about the price being like $13 a month....go look at AlaKhazam's site in the updates section now THERE is something to ***** about. Sony is merging with another comapny and word is that DAoC and EQ are merging too....for $25 a month per account, EQ will be a 4th realm in DAoC....I e-mailed them about this so you might want to as well after reading the article at Alla's

Mischiff Anmayhem
Necromancer of the 24th Season
Terris-Thule

You cant say anything
# Apr 01 2002 at 3:51 PM Rating: Default
Well I dont see why anyone that runs this site can talk crap about it, seeing they had one of the best eq sites, then they started charging for it too =P
Turn it off then
# Apr 01 2002 at 9:56 AM Rating: Default
The discussion is good the sides even maybe a little trip to decaff land needed.

You are all forgetting one thing .
ITS A GAME .

You can turn it off don't let it run your life
Pay the extra if you want to play don't pay if ya dont want to play Easy.

Barran Macdorf
Primus Nocte
Xegony
Enough Already
# Mar 31 2002 at 8:45 AM Rating: Default
I like EQ, I got into after 2 years of my friends playing it. For quite sometime it has been one of the only good MMORPG choices on the market. EQ set a standard for what should be expected of most MMORPGS. Everywhere you look a new MMORPG is coming out. EQ doesn't want to lose customers to new MMORPGS. So they raise the price, and offer you larger subscription blocks with higher discounts. VI/SOE is simply scared of the new market threats and wants more of a commitment from it's customers. You are all thinking in the short term, DO THE MATH PLEASE

current highest subscription block 6 months $50
$50 / 6 = $8.31 a month
new highest subscription block 24 months $190
$190 / 24 = $7.92 a month

For those willing to commit and show higher loyalty to a hobby they enjoy VI/SOE is willing to make no infringment on.
For those of you who are complaining about the cost and the game, stop playing now and save up your money for the new MMORPGs.
VI/SOE doesn't want to make more money, they want to lock in there customers for the long run. They are in it to keep the same profit going in the wake of the new MMORPGs being released.

Thank you, I really believe nothing more can be said in wake of my opinion. stop the flaming please.
#Anonymous, Posted: Mar 30 2002 at 8:28 PM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) C o c k-suck motherf u c k eat my s h i t and die you d i c k-smoker!
EQ rules
# Mar 30 2002 at 11:46 AM Rating: Default
I pay close to one hundred dollars a month for digital cable and my cable modem. If that's not a rip off I don't know what is, but I get it because I want it and it makes me happy. Same deal with EQ. I think 12.95 a month is reasonable because I love EQ, the people I know there, and all the bugs, 100 hour quests, and nerfed armor that go with it.
Increasing price ! ! !
# Mar 29 2002 at 4:10 AM Rating: Default
Just a little thing : Old Price 9.85$ / New price : 13.95$.
Its not 3 dollars but 4 dollars increasing price. So a little bit more than 30% more. But if you sign up for one year, you have a 30% discount! so you pay the same price.
I think too its a rude raising and i think many people will leave the game cause its to high. There are many people playing EQ who have from 12 to 16 years old and who doesnt gain money.
For DAOC, in France its 65F so about 8$ againsnt the 14$ of EQ. Many will choose DAOC.
Now, everybody will choose, its useless to say its too high or some other things. You can play EQ or change to another game. Thats all.
If you want to complain, make some mail directly to Verant, i and some friend have done this but no answers at all :) :)

Kalhan Masterinall
Magicican in her 51e Circle
Officer of "La confrérie du tonnerre"
Karana Server
RE: Increasing price ! ! !
# Mar 31 2002 at 4:47 PM Rating: Decent
It's 12.95 a month, not 13.95, so it is still a 3 dollar increase.

The price is now exactly the same as DAoC, regardless of what country you are from, so I think that the only way people will go to DAoC now that the prices are the same is if they think DAoC is better.

Unless DAoC is giving a deal to its french players, both EQ and DAoC should be exactly the same price, since they both cost 12.95 American dollars a month to play.
Timing
# Mar 28 2002 at 10:49 PM Rating: Default
There is such a thing as timing all you SOE/Verrant sycophants. They damn near quadrupled the hardware requirements on us with Luclin. They ceased Win95 support with Luclin. The Luclin zones are slow. They have done nothing to fix existing bugs. The damn boats have been broken on 7th Hammer for a week now and they aren't doing anything about it.

And then on top of all of this **** poor service, they ask for more money.

If I did that in my profession, I'd be out on the street with no clients, probably disbarred, and certainly sued for malpractice.

They've got those of us who have been around by the short hairs because they know we've put a lot of time into a characters and would be loath to lose them. In this regard, SOE/Verrant are very much like the neighborhood crack dealer.

The thing about that is, someone always comes along with a better high. I, for one, am waiting for the day SOE/Verrant gets its comeuppance. When someone comes along with a better mouse trap, I will demonstrate the exact same loyalty that SOE/Verrant has...and jump ship immediately.

So all you SOE/Verrant employees in here spreading your BS disinformation, take that back to your superiors. Once you get a legitimate competitor, most of us are gone.
<Yawn>
# Mar 28 2002 at 12:01 PM Rating: Excellent
OK folks, I know that some of you just aren't going to want to pay the extra 3 bucks to keep playing. That's fine with me, and probably fine with most of the peeps that play. I, for one am tired of people ranting about how bad things are.

So please, if you don't like EQ then leave EQ, your empty threats are beginning to bore me.

Yousaif
Cleric of Brell
Draconis Arcanum- MT
rates
# Mar 28 2002 at 2:07 AM Rating: Default
It's not that difficult folks... you have put far too much effort into it.

DAOC gets 12.95 a month so Sony says why shouldn't EQ get 12.95 a month.. period.. the end
Sony's Financial Statements
# Mar 28 2002 at 12:27 AM Rating: Good
Since everyone is saying that EQ is making a mint for Sony and that Verant/SOE is just a money grubbing corporation against the weak and helpless consumer, I actually got off my proverbial *** and headed off to Sony.com to have a look at their financial statements.

I don't have the interest to write a full analysis (and I freely admit I don't have the experience), but like everyone else I'm pulling a few key numbers to make a point.

These are REAL NUMBERS (according to their accountants). Not guesses and approximations.

Sony doesn't make much mention of Sony Online Entertainment or Everquest in its financial statements. Where the figures were divided by category, I assumed that EQ falls into the GAMES category. Their Balance Sheet does not show the different divisions of Sony. These are numbers for the whole corporation, but they serve the purpose.

Here is the link to the Consolidated Income Statement, you can find the entire financial report by going to Sony.Com, mousing over the Corporate Info link and selecting Investor Info

http://www.sony.co.jp/en/SonyInfo/IR/Financial/AR/2001/f_statement.html



The Game department of Sony in the year 2001 took in an Operating Revenue of $5,159,000,000. That's 5.159 billion dollars. 400k EQ subscribers at 10 bucks a month times 12 months is $48 mil.

So, assuming that EQ is in the Games department and all of its subscriber fees go directly to Operating Revenue, EQ is responsible for roughly 0.9% of Sony's revenue in the GAMING DEPARTMENT ONLY. Nevermind that the gaming department is nearly 35 billion dollars behind the Electronics segment, its next closest department. EQ isn't making a whole bunch of money for Sony to begin with. For the entire company, EQ accounts for about .08% of Revenues.

Now let's look at Sony Corporation's Net Income. They show $58.5 billion in Total Revenue. Minus Operating expenses, taxes, insurance, other crap, they show a whopping $134 MILLION dollars of profit.

When you run a business, you start with $58.5 BILLION and you end with $134 MILLION after paying your employees marketers, tax collectors etc.

The goal of most corporations is to maximize their PROFITS.

All of you saying that Sony is making a mint off of EQ and is simply exploiting the Consumer is misinformed. You have no idea what kind of expenses are involved in running a business.


This is an imperfect argument for a copule reasons. I don't have exact numbers for Everquest or the SOE division in specific, I have no idea how costs are allocated for EQ, and I didn't bother to think much about analysis before I posted. Did I damage my credibility? Oh well.

Despite that, I don't think that Sony is in any way exploiting Everquest players by raising the price $3 a month. That only raises EQ's contribution to revenue to 1.2% Assuming every single dollar of that hike goes straight to the bottom line (highly unlikely, the income is taxed afterall and going towards other expenses) would raise Profits by $14.4 million, or roughly 10%. What company wouldn't want to do that?

So why raise it at all? My guess is EQ is coming close to losing money or breaking even. Divisions that aren't adding value to the company are targets to be dropped. A way to improve EQs value from a financial standpoint is to raise prices while demand is still high. Sure there are huge intangible benefits to EQ, and dropping it would do more damage to the company at this point than it would help, but the option is still there.

It's the nature of the beast. Suck it up and get used to it.
Good for the money
# Mar 27 2002 at 3:54 PM Rating: Decent
It was bound to happen. I was angry at first, but then again, DAoC started at that a few months ago. We've been blessed with 9.99/month for 3 years. They've added dozens of new zones and improvements to the graphics and interface, yet they've kept the price low until now. Besides, like another post said, 12.95 isn't bad at all. I wouldn't subscribe for a year, but still, it's reasonable and totally acceptable for them to raise the rate each month, in my opinion.
Ahem
# Mar 27 2002 at 3:46 PM Rating: Decent
24 posts
Please take the extra money and buy an extra phone line or two - I have a running bet with a friend, we call 4-8 times randomly to your cutomer service line only to find it busy - $100.00 to the first guy to get a live body. (BTW we have been trying for two months) LOL

Also, I petitioned a GM last week for a quest turn in problem, and it actually only took four (4) Real World days to actually get a response.

I understand the complexities of running a network like this, but with the expansion "promises" not being completed yet... Im beginning to wonder why - improve customer service, and people will pay... Couterstrike anyone?
$13.00 is a good deal to me.
# Mar 27 2002 at 2:41 PM Rating: Decent
As much as I like to complain about Verant and their many problems (many that could probably be solved by a measure of redundancy), I have to say that $13.00/month is a bargain for the product they make and sell. As a former head system admin for an ISP of 25,000, I can tell you that it costs A LOT OF CASH to run any system like this. Telecommunications costs (even wholesale) are ridiculous, every technical person with a clue is a fortune, frequent computer and equipment updates are expensive, and this is the surface. You still got housing of people and equipment, utilities, benefits, IANA costs (if you are getting large blocks of IPs - very expensive), yadda, yadda, yadda. For us that meant good service was $20 a month. When I left and the company was bought by Earthlink that meant $25 a month and ****** service. With Verant (who probably has the resources of a very nice ISP), you pay $13 a month and get a decent game with ok- support. Would be better a $10 a month, but after 3 years, $1/year raise isn't gouging. If you think it is, look how much other things around you have increased in the same time frame. Gas is 30% higher than it was 3 years ago. Food is definitely higher (don't know percentage). Movies cost more (about 35% in PA) and a NFL football game here is unreachable by the common man. In all, everything goes up, people complain. Some leave, some don't. It is all a matter of how much you think something is worth. For me, EQ is defintiely worth $13 a month. If it gets to $20, I will probably want a website included that shows my guy sleeping and cooking when I am camped =).

My $3.02 (was $.02 3 years ago)
Bored...
# Mar 27 2002 at 12:13 PM Rating: Default
LOL, was bored enuf to read this post, and just want to say, it amazes me that peeps can brag about knowing how to network, knowing the costs to run a operation like EQ, and the most they ever did was probally set up roomates computer to share a broadband connection. Was great for the laughs though, thanks guys.
RE: Bored...
# Mar 27 2002 at 12:35 PM Rating: Good
I am the gentleman who wrote the mock Budget you see below.

In real life I am a programmer/analyst and also do some internal networking for the company i work for.

I do not brag about knowing anything, in fact I admit I do not know it all.

The fact is I do know how to network computers. I mean real honest to goodness networks comprised of hundreds of computers. I also know how to write programs, I've been doing these things for many years now.

It is very wrong and rude of you to judge people whom you do not know anything about.

The mock budget below is one that I was guessing at and is just there as an example of what it takes to run an operation like SOE. If you want to get the facts then you may ask SOE for their financial statement.

I believe your post needs to be removed as it is very insulting to everyone and you should be humiliated to post something in which you judge everyone else to be a fool.
WOC
# Mar 27 2002 at 12:02 PM Rating: Decent
This has assured it, when world of warcraft comes out, I am gone. Blizzard is an infinitly more customer friendly company... and their games are infintly better as well.
RE: WOC
# Mar 27 2002 at 11:21 PM Rating: Default
Blizzard more customer friendly what kind of crack have you been smoking cause I want some.
Have you seen the result of some of blizzard games?
I think we all remember what happened to Diablo1 on Bnet.
And now Diablo 2 is moving to that way very fast. On top of that Blizzard has been planning on releasing a new patch for oh I don't know a year or so...
go back and read my post I wrote before...
RE: WOC
# Mar 27 2002 at 7:11 PM Rating: Default
Why do people think that they have to announce here thier plans for Eq...if you think EQ is a bad game and want to leave, good for you. If you think anyone cares, then you are sadly mistaken.
Another View
# Mar 27 2002 at 9:11 AM Rating: Default
Let's take a look at the problem from the start.

To start let's define some terms.

DEMAND - The amount of want or need for SOE's Everquest Game including the need to write patches and create new content, etc.

SUPPLY - The ability of SOE's programmers, networkers, and game designers to adequetly keep up with the DEMAND for their Everquest game.

INFLATION - The effect of time on a dollar in a growing capitalist economy. The dollar today will buy MORE than the dollar TOMMORROW.

CAPITAL - Cash.

EXPAND - To become larger.

BUDGET - A planned expenditure of revenue or capital.

First, it is my belief, and probably a fact, that for all those who wrote about or were concerned about INFLATION that is has nothing to do with the price jump.

In this case we can say that the DEMAND for SOE's Everquest Game far outweighs the SUPPLY.

Now, in basic economic terms this means raising more CAPITAL to EXPAND the business (i.e. hire more programmers to fix bugs etc.) so that the SUPPLY can keep up with the DEMAND.

This is also means that SOE is forced to fix bugs and create new content or risk losing customers.

Imagine for a second that the SUPPLY outweighed the DEMAND for the Everquest Game. Sony would probably lay off some programmers, artists, networkers etc. and all those patches, bug fixes and new content would not be seen as often as they are now.

We are lucky to live in a society with CAPITALISTIC economy. It promotes change and forces people to improve. Yes, this does come with a price, but the alternative is a stagnant economy with no prospect of change.

I believe the post below entitled 'A Closer Look' gives a brief view of what SOE's BUDGET might look like for the Everquest Game. Good Job to the person who took a step back and thought that one out. Even SOE has to stick to and have a BUDGET.

For those of you who are wondering why it takes SOFTWARE such a long time to EVOLVE or why the software just can't be made right the first time (i.e. Why there are a lot of bugs in software products) I suggest you read the book entitled 'THE MYTHICAL MAN MONTH' by Fred Brooks.
/agree
# Mar 27 2002 at 2:15 AM Rating: Default
First of all i love the concept of EQ) own all the expansions and play when i get the time away from my job therefore the little time i do play i like to not have to deal with Verant's problems and instead go off to adventure and deal with my own hehe. Most of you have valid points of both sides of the coin. But just to be safe and to make sure that they are not just sucking up More profit margin and giving Less service(lmao as if that is possble), I hope yall send letters to verant ******** about the service,lack of testing prior to patches, server downtime, lack of responses to bugs and server caused crs, and the fact of how you feel about the price increase and more importantly how you will react to another in the near future). I know I will be emailing them And Sending them a Bug Report about my service notimproving with this added cash flow) ?? Should that amazingly enuff not occur. Flame away but the only way you can get things to change is to Quit (doesn't always work just look at voter apathy in the U.S. now hehe like that has changed a thing) or React so take the time to pass yer comments and suggestions on to verant if they fear losing profit they will respond. Here are some places to send yer rants flames applause and suggestions.) SO do it dammit and get yer mates to do so also).
http://boards.station.sony.com/ubb/everquest/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Events&number=6&DaysPrune=20&LastLogin=
Have a question that just doesn't seem to fit anywhere else ? Send it to feedback@soe.sony.com. We'll see what we can do to forward it to the right person.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO contact our customer service department by phone. Customer service reps are available weekdays from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM ET, except holidays.
1-858-537-0898
For EverQuest and Tanarus technical phone support, please call 1-858-537-0898. Phone support is available Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM PT, except holidays. For better service, please be online and at your computer when calling.
On a side note...
# Mar 27 2002 at 2:11 AM Rating: Default
With all this talk of Realm merging i hear... why not just make a NORMAL!!! server. Not everybody on a crowded server wants to make the move to some crazy faction server, or to a new PvP server. It may spice things up a bit, and actract a few new people onto that sorta thing, but why not just make server splits... kinda like Povar when Xev was made. I believe half the uber guilds in Xev right now and most every veteran from when Xev first came out, was on povar. I would say our server isnt all that crowded, I would definatly say it could get a little less crowded to appease me more, but in general, its not all that bad. Exp gainin is a little ruffer now though, since 60's are back in the mix. So instead of making some new whacked out fanciful realm, or new legends server for you guys to take us to the cleaners with, why not just add a good ol' player vs comp server. /shrug

Kinda interesting that the most popular ice cream is still Vanilla. Maybe you can use that theory while creating new servers.
One last question
# Mar 27 2002 at 2:07 AM Rating: Default
Verant/Sony, didnt you promise alot of amazing features with the luclin expansion that were never even implemented, such as the bazarr? Why have they not been implemented or even mentioned? [answer : Oh bugger...you all remember those things we promised huh? (whisper to technician : prep the memory wiping nerv gas and prepare to steal credit cards from unconcious victims) here look at this shiny little bauble i brought for everyone (Verant/sony rep. hands out small gas grenades and runs into a corner tugging on a gasmask and giggling like a schoolgirl)]




Pissed off EQ veteran
What have they done to deserve more cash?
# Mar 27 2002 at 1:51 AM Rating: Default
It comes down to a simple line of questioning :

1) Verant/Sony, have you completely fixed all of the bugs/problems from the first 3 expansions? [answer : um no, give us more money]

2) Verant/Sony, have you done anything to increase customer support on regular servers? [answer : ummmm, no. what was your visa # again?]

3) Verant/Sony have you realised that you're ruining what was once a great game? [answer : ummmmmmmm, yep. oh and by the way now that youre signed on for another 2 years we will be jerking you around and decreasing the quality of EQ gameplay to accomodate all of the 00ber n00bs out there who bought lots of 00ber ph4t l3wtz on ebay so :P]




Pissed off EQ veteran
I hope it goes to Customer Service...
# Mar 27 2002 at 12:54 AM Rating: Decent
I've been playing EQ on and off for 2 years now, and I have played a few other online games I've paid around $10 a month for. Do I like EQ's graphical interface? Yes. Do I think it has a good background and enough monsters/items/quests etc...Yes. Do they have good customer support? No. Actually horrid would be an understatement. When I appeal in other games for assistance, the longest time it's ever taken was 30 minutes. In EQ it's been to the point that my petition canceled and I had to re-petition because it took so long. Three hours or more is a horrendous time to wait for some help. Then, when they finally get around to you, they never help you anyway, because they have some bogus policy that prevents the GM from releasing any information, or changing a name (even though they can do it for a player with an inappropriate name), or take 3 weeks to do a character transfer (or longer)...

Basically, I hope the extra 3 bucks a month goes to hiring some more customer service staff, because what they have now is a little lower than pathetic.

Other game: appeal "Can I have my claw weapon changed to a hammer?" 10 minutes later:
"Sure hand it to me"
thats it.

EQ: /petition "I'm getting a character transferred to this server with the same name as this character. Can you add an x to the end of this name so that my original character can maintain his first name?"

1 hour 16 minutes later (Timed): "Hi, guide xxxxx here, I'm sorry but we cannot change your name."


BAH I say! Oh well. Done griping, time to sleep.

/camp desktop
Wow
# Mar 27 2002 at 12:53 AM Rating: Decent
I really expected a lot more people complaining about this, but instead most people favor it. I especially liked the comment about working for 3 years and expecting a pay raise. I sure as heck would! I also want to make the comment, that as far as costs go, I think EQ actually has a relatively low cost for what they provide, even if it is sometimes buggy and annoying, and $3 a month more really is not that much.
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