APB released July 2

[FunkyJ]

Very interesting pricing model...

I just hope they open up the EU Beta times so I can see some of the bloody game!

Realtime Worlds has confirmed both a release date and the pricing structure for its anticipated MMO APB.
According to the FAQ section of the game's website, it will launch in Europe on July 2 and the US on June 29.
A price-plan has also been set for the game, with users being given the option of either buying a package of gameplay hours, or a longer term subscription.
The retail price of the game will be £34.99 ($49.99) both in physical form and as a digital download, said the site, which will include 50 hours of gameplay "out of the box", plus unlimited time in the game's social districts where users can customise, socialise and trade on the marketplace.
Once the 50 hours is up they will then have the choice of either topping up game time for £5.59 ($6.99) for an additional 20 hours, or purchasing a 30 day unlimited package for £7.99 ($9.99)
Discounts will also be available for users buying 90 and 180 day packages and the retail package will contain a bonus 100 RTW points towards future purchases.
"An additional benefit to this evolutionary model is the ability for you to convert your own customisations and rewards to tradable products to give to friends or clan-mates or to place on the Marketplace to earn more RTW points (convertible to game time) or in-game cash," said the site.
Realtime Worlds CEO David Jones has spoken previously about online distribution and payment models, saying that games are perfect for treating as services.
"We do have to think like a service-based company, it's absolutely right for our market and for it to be delivered," he said.
"In some respects we should have been ahead of the music industry - it went digital pretty damn quickly. We should have been there, we're perfect for that, but they just got carried by the wave. I think we'll follow, but it's taking a risk - it depends how pioneering people want to be."
UPDATE: Jones has released a statement on APB's upcoming release and the pricing model the studio decided to go with.
"We wanted to provide a simple and flexible way for occasional and core players alike to pay for their play without being financially tethered to the game," he said.
"The model also provides an opportunity for customers to subsidize their costs by leveraging their talent or market savvy in the 'points' Marketplace. Highly talented players could potentially even play for free in this way.
"We’re delighted to finally be announcing the release date for APB, and we’re looking forward to welcoming players on to the mean streets of San Paro. Gamers will soon get to experience a world of unparalleled customization, conflict and celebrity – whether they choose to be a Criminal or an Enforcer."

Realtime Worlds to launch APB on July 2 | News

[cowkiller]

since most mmo give u the first month free and most players do try and burn the midnight hrs when playing new mmo for levels. 50 hrs is less than 1 weekend
i see this as a

[Snott]

That pricing model is pretty much a direct copy of an article I saw once on stopping goldsellers. The details or where i saw it elude me right now, I'll try and find it later.
I actually like the 2 pricing options, and if you spend 50 hours in a single weekend then you haven't slept, so I don't see any issues with it.

[R4ZOR]

man 2 months, just awesome i recon, who cares about the price, like you pay $40 a month (game Cards) for wow and others nowadays anyhow.

the next thing i spose we need to get cracking on in a apb division set up and what not. anyome know who we would talk to about that and what not?

Ps. already have pre order it as of last night. hehe

[Reoh]

I've always thought that offering reduced time per month at lower fee's would open the game up more to those players who don't spend as much time as others in the game, and can't equate the monthly fee out to be as worthwhile. Be interesting to see how that works out.

Still I agree on the 50hrs, would've been better for consumers if the box gave you a 1 month sub.

[R4ZOR]

still going to have a monthly fee type like the otheres where you can play as much as you want.

[Snott]

I was going to pass on this game, but am tempted to try it seeing as I will be able to buy time and only slowly use it up as I'll be playing casually.

[Aragonias]

I just thought i should point out that

50 hours gameplay time = time actually spent in the instance combat doing missions etc... i.e. not in social zones.... quite impossible to do 50 hours on the opening weekend unless you have no life and do not require sleep.

from what I read you can still access social zones without gameplay time... They also mentioned using game tokens/credits for subscription ala EVE online ...

I reckon if they come through on the customization and social aspects they have been talking about it should be a moderate success (like SWG 1.0 where it was largely a crafters dream augmented with a combat system)

i tried it to make sure they are close to delivering what they talked about... I will probably preorder/purchase