Topic

Benefits of Subscription?

I was just looking over the subscription price points, and I have a couple of questions.

What can you buy with your credits besides clothing for your avatar and teleport tokens?

What is a Glitch referendum, and what kind of things are voted on? (Never mind on this one - reading the fine print explained it ) ^__^

Will there be credit-purchase-only items once the new housing takes effect? (I realize this can only be answered by staff, but wanted to ask, anyway)

All auctions are done via in-game currency, correct?  No need to use credits for auctions?

I'm trying to figure out what I'd use all those credits on if I became a subscriber... One can only purchase so many pieces of apparel ;)

Ah, and another question.  What happens to all of your subscriber-only items if you cancel your subscription?  Are they taken away?

Posted 10 months ago by Genkicoll Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • What can you buy with your credits besides clothing for your avatar and teleport tokens?
    As far as I know nothing.

    All auctions are done via in-game currency, correct?  No need to use credits for auctions?
    Correct, currants are what is used in auctions not credits.

    I'm trying to figure out what I'd use all those credits on if I became a subscriber... One can only purchase so many pieces of apparel ;)
    Some of the pieces of clothes cost quite a few credits, and yay purdy glitches!

    Ah, and another question.  What happens to all of your subscriber-only items if you cancel your subscription?  Are they taken away?
    The free subscriber only items will be taken away, but the ones that you paid for with credits will stay tied to your account.

    For more info check here:
    http://www.glitch.com/help/faq/#subscriptions
    Posted 10 months ago by P4UL Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'll try and answer at my best!
    Ok...
    1) You can only buy clothes and tokens with credits.
    2)I believe credits will be used after the new housing. You can only buy clothes and tokens with credits, so I believe they're here to stay.
    3)All auctions are done with in-game currency.
    4)If your subscription ends, or you cancel it, all of your sub-only items disappear from your inventory.
    I hope these helped!
    Posted 10 months ago by Megha Subscriber! | Permalink
  • What can you buy with your credits besides clothing for your avatar and teleport tokens?
    Just clothing and tokens... at this moment. But Soon™ you will (probably) be able to purchase stuff for your home with credits.

    All auctions are done via in-game currency, correct?  No need to use credits for auctions?
    Correct. Credits and currants are kept very separate.

    I'm trying to figure out what I'd use all those credits on if I became a subscriber... One can only purchase so many pieces of apparel ;)
    This is true. And that should go into the thought process of what level you purchase. And you can also supplement your monthly credits by buying credit packs.
    Posted 10 months ago by Lord Bacon-o Subscriber! | Permalink
  • When you purchase a subscription, you also support a company that is working very hard to create a game that you love.
    Posted 10 months ago by Addi Bee~♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Staff has said something in the past about there eventually being some housing items that could be bought with credits only- but it'd still only be vanity items like clothing (decorations for the house), not anything that would give an advantage.

    I'm trying to remember what the last thread was that it might have been mentioned in by staff. I will try to find it if I can! I think it's been a long standing thought through the first beta at least.
    Posted 10 months ago by Little Miss Giggles Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have to say that for me, the biggest draw to being a subscriber, other than cool character customization, is teleportation tokens. Being able to teleport 7 times a day instead of 2? Yes, please!
    Posted 10 months ago by Abby Cadabra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • you don't *think* you'll use those tokens until one day you decide you need a full dino suit, that glitchmas sweater you've had your eye on, some bunny slipper and a warm peacoat!

    You also get more options in the vanity (eyes, hairstyles, ect).

    Really my reasoning for subscribing was to support TS, but I do love my ability to buy clothes on a whim.
    Posted 10 months ago by Avery♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The main benefit for me is to show support to TS for such an awesome game. 
    Posted 10 months ago by Dew E Morning Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Since everyone else has covered the important stuff...honestly, I subscribe because I want the pretty lips. XD Every other mouth looks like your Glitch is frowning.
    Posted 10 months ago by Shiromisa Kaya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • No benefits.. Just you pay them.. In another way of saying thank you.
    Posted 10 months ago by Mrkurasaki Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Personally I think the subscription rates are a little high for what you get. I've been a subscriber to other online games that could be played for free and really felt like I was getting a good value for my dollar. Here, I just don't feel it. Maybe when the game finally comes out of beta and we see what it's really going to be like, then I'll feel an interest in becoming a subscriber.
    Posted 10 months ago by Lynnt Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It's pretty great, though, that using real-world money gives you NO playing advantage over someone who never subscribes. The tokens are useful but it's not like there's not piggies everywhere to nibble.

    I just subscribe to say thanks to the devs who make this game possible. I figure I get more than $9 of fun out of it every month.
    Posted 10 months ago by Mixterrific Subscriber! | Permalink
  • To be completely honest, I agree with Lynnt. Final Fantasy XI costs less per month than a Glitch subscription. World of Warcraft is about the same price as a Molybdenum subscription. I do, as much as I hate to admit it, think that the cost of a subscription is unfairly high. That said, I obviously bought one despite this. Primarily it's because I want to support TS, and because I was able to afford a year's worth with my tax refund.

    It would be lovely if the price were to drop a bit once the possibility of getting more subscribers presented itself. I don't expect that to happen, but a glitch can dream, right?
    Posted 10 months ago by Abby Cadabra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree with both Miss Buckets and Lynnt.  The Tin level subscription gives NO credits, but only "access to subscriber-only options and customizations" and ONE vote.  Considering that there have been exactly ZERO referendum votes thus far, I'm not sure why this is even offered.  The Copper subscription at $8.99/month gives 150 credits, which you could easily spend on one outfit.  The TP tokens are nice, but at higher levels less appealing since it's so easy to use energy.  This might be useful if you were really into TP'ing, but then you'd probably just end up paying more cash anyway since 20 probably wouldn't be enough.
    Posted 10 months ago by Shallawalla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I really like Glitch, but paying Tiny Speck money every month to say thank you for creating and sustaining a free game just seems silly. If they expected my money, it wouldn't be a free game.

    But if you have disposable income to burn, and you feel like you should be paying for a free game, then go right ahead. Or, you could just run your cash through a shredder and flush it down the toilet.
    Posted 10 months ago by dm Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just to clarify, because there have been contradictory statements made above:

    When your subscription ends, you do NOT lose your subscriber items, if you used your credits to pay for them.  

    The only subscriber items that are removed are the ones you didn't pay for.  The "free-to-subscriber" items will disappear.  But anything you paid credits for will not go away.

    You also will not lose any of the credits in your account or your left over votes.  
    Posted 10 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • No company can continue to offer free product with no revenue, so it is absolutely not throwing money away.  Supporting the developer is something I definitely like to do whenever possible, as more income for them means more updates and fun stuff for the game! 

    The proposed housing changes are especially exciting for me, as I am an old FaunaSphere player who greatly misses the creative outlet of fashioning my own home.  I'm hoping that there will be credit-only items available to decorate our homes with, as that would really make me feel like I'm getting my money's worth.  I do love all of the pretty outfits, but I think this would add some extra depth to the game.
    Posted 10 months ago by Genkicoll Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I realize that without any revenue, the game would die, and I understand people subscribing with the purpose that they get the things only subscribers get. I'm all for that, and I hope that more people feel like they want to subscribe in order to get those things. I just think it's silly to subscribe if the only reason is to say thanks for the fun game. It's like having a tip jar at a free public water fountain.
    Posted 10 months ago by dm Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I see it more like having a tip jar at a coffee shop that sells drinks, but will also let you have a glass of water for free if you just want water.  
    Posted 10 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Or one of those "pay what you can" restaurants. People who can afford to pay more and appreciate the service pay a lot to help the restaurant stay in business, while others pay less (or in this case, nothing) but can eat as well.
    Posted 10 months ago by Shiromisa Kaya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I wouldn't say it is 'pay what you can.'  There are specific amounts one can subscribe for, and obvious perks, in the form of Avatar dress-up options.  If they wanted to implement a 'tip jar' it might not be a bad thing, but that doesn't presently exist.

    I am wondering what the business model of Tiny Speck is.  They can't be solely planning on Subscription Revenue paying for the whole operation.  Investors have put multi-millions in Venture Capital into this game.  Are they going to capitalize on the 'social networking' aspects of the game at some point?  Are we glitches the customers, or like on Facebook, the product being delivered to some entity.

    I like to think that it's all just Stoot's expensive hobby, but that doesn't account for the VC megabucks someone has put up.
    Posted 10 months ago by Kalstept Subscriber! | Permalink
  • it's not silly to subscribe solely to support the game and company.

    glitch is a free to play game that does not have an overbearing pay to win cash shop or in-game mechanisms designed to push you towards purchasing things. this game is obviously a labour of love rather than a method of siphoning cash out of our pockets and i don't know if you've played other free games but this isn't a very common thing. glitch succeeding would signify to the gaming industry that this is a viable business model which would encourage a growth of other quality games.

    i do agree that glitch's current state is not really living up to the price of subscriptions but it's a relatively young game and a small company, rome wasn't built in a day. glitch has the potential and a passionate enough team behind it to become a really awesome game but it's not going to get there on good wishes.
    Posted 10 months ago by Fur Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Moreover, any credits you buy in the beta period will be doubled once we're out of beta.
    Posted 10 months ago by Shiromisa Kaya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If you have a subscription, you can laugh at those who don't, from your high horse.
    Posted 10 months ago by Volkov Subscriber! | Permalink
  • And occasionally a grown up might even give that horse a push and set it to rocking for you.
    Posted 10 months ago by Kalstept Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I once laughed from atop a high horse. It was magnificent.
    Posted 10 months ago by dm Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The only reason I purchased a subscription was to help ensure that the game stayed around. I enjoy it, and don't want to see it shut down because there were too many free players and not enough subscription players... which is exactly what happened to Lego Universe.
    Posted 10 months ago by TotallyMentalMommy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • There are specific amounts one can subscribe for, and obvious perks, in the form of Avatar dress-up options. "

    This is simply not true for the tin subscription.  Well...I guess technically it does open up the subscriber-only options, so yes, technically true.  But you get no credits and no tokens.  Not much of an obvious perk to me.  I really hope they revamp the tin subscription, at the very least.  I wouldn't mind paying something for something, but I am not into charity for multi-million dollar companies.
    Posted 10 months ago by Shallawalla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Shallawalla:  I wouldn't mind paying something for something, but I am not into charity for multi-million dollar companies.

    Exactly my feelings. I'm also baffled by the cost to buy individual credits without a subscription, which is what I would do if I did feel like saying thanks, but not at the current rates. https://www.glitch.com/credits/

    Why in the world is there an option to get 400 credits for $25 and also 500 credits for $25? Second a subscriber gets 400 credits and 50 teleportation tokens for $14.99/month. But if I just wanted 400 credits to buy my Glitch a new wardrobe I have to pay $25 (no teleportation tokens included). Where's the incentive for me to buy individual credits in that? I'm better off subscribing for a month and then cancelling.

    Shouldn't the rate for purchasing credits without a subscription be a bit more reasonable? It seems to me the individual credit purchases should be structured as an alternative for those of us who can't afford a lengthy monthly subscription, but would like to occasionally splurge on some extra credits. And yes, I realize there are cheaper levels than 500 credits/$25, but honestly I still don't feel the ratio of credits to real world dollars is reasonable. 
    Posted 10 months ago by Lynnt Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I love how people ignore information to be more dramatic. The option for 500 credits for $25 clearly says 'Special' next to it.

    One of the biggest reasons I subscribed was for the teleportation tokens. Once projects start again, tokens will be invaluable if you are trying to the one of the top spots. The ability to jump to whereever you need to go to get the resource you need beyond your saved spots and your map teleports is awesome.
    Posted 10 months ago by MaryLiLamb Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I look at it as the price of an evening's entertainment (movie for example) for a whole month's worth of fun. Sure I could wait until the movie is on TV (take the free route), but I get way more than a couple of hours worth of pleasure for my subscription.

    I look at it more like buskers in the city center. You are not obligated to pay them in any way. And you are allowed to enjoy the performance whether you pay or not. But if enough people enjoy and don't pay, they will stop performing. I would rather encourage the performance with financial support than risk losing the opportunity for everyone, including those who can't or won't contribute.
    Posted 10 months ago by Kookaburra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I love how people ignore information to be more dramatic. The option for 500 credits for $25 clearly says 'Special' next to it.

    I wasn't ignoring it, my point was more, why is the option to buy 400 currants for the same price even still a clickable option? It could be still listed there and struck out, or at least no longer click-able, since no one would intentionally pick it when there is a better option. 

    Anyways, that was just one sentence out of my longer comments about inequalities in the pricing in general. Certainly didn't mean to seem "dramatic," just expressing my opinion. 
    Posted 10 months ago by Lynnt Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have chosen to be a subscriber in order to support the continued development of the game. I certainly don't look down on anyone who plays for free. I do feel that right now there are insufficient benefits for a top level subscription, but I am hoping this will change with the launch of the new housing and the associated game changes. I do feel that the game is in limbo for many players who have maxed out on levels and skills, and that players and subscribers will be lost if the delay in launching the upcoming changes is too long.
    Posted 10 months ago by Mostly Mellow Subscriber! | Permalink
  •  I would rather encourage the performance with financial support than risk losing the opportunity for everyone, including those who can't or won't contribute.
    This. And I've had times when I couldn't have paid $9 a month to play a game (it's already something I carefully factor into my budget), and Glitch is the highest-quality free game I've played. It's amazing to not be bombarded with ads and crap all the time, and to be able to succeed in the game without shelling out tons of RL money.
    Posted 10 months ago by Mixterrific Subscriber! | Permalink
  • this thread again

    media.giantbomb.com/uploads...
    Posted 10 months ago by Mr. Dawgg Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You will find clothing to purchase with your credits, TRUST ME!

    I like to buy one new outfit a month with my credits. Either a whole new outfit or a few items to mix and match. It's fun to change your look when you want to and to be able to wear what you want. It makes the game that much more fun!

    I'm lucky. A super duper nice Glitch purchased a subscription as a gift for me right after we descended from first beta. I love love love love getting the credits every month. I'm waiting to see if they release anything for Valentines Day. 
    Posted 10 months ago by Eye Wonder Subscriber! | Permalink
  • To those who wish to pay in hopes of preventing the game from going away: Good luck with that. And I mean that most sincerely. I paid for multiple accounts on Faunasphere, another free game, and it still went away because it was not profitable. I wasn't alone. Many people paid real money there.

    I REALLY hope that does not happen here. However, the fact is, Glitch's financial success will be determined by what goes on behind the scenes, NOT by players choosing to "donate" to the game. Part of that success will come from making sure there is real value to spending real money. If not, people will eventually stop spending it.
    Posted 10 months ago by Audaria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well put, Audaria. I highly doubt that when stoot and the TS gang pitched their concepts to VCs, they led with, "Well, we're counting on subscriptions, some of which will be from dedicated players just wanting to keep the game from disappearing." If I was a VC and heard that, I'd take my cash and run in one direction for an hour.

    TS doesn't need the charity. They're smart, proven (look at Flickr), and they have a plan. Let's watch what happens.
    Posted 10 months ago by dm Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Still, it's interesting to speculate on what said 'plan' might be.  What do other glitches think?  How is T.S. going to monetize our participation in this game?  It's obvious from earlier communications that there are separate channels of info from TS to the players and to the investors;  i.e. some of the most active and informative threads here regarding the actual game have been spurred by 'crossover' from conversations Stoot has had with V.C. types....  What is he selling the suits?

    For the record:  Flickr started out as a game.  I don't know if 'smart' or 'lucky' is the way to describe what it morphed into.  "Right time, right place" has made a lot of the Internets' billionaires.
    Posted 10 months ago by Kalstept Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thumbs up Audaria! That's exactly what I'm thinking about all this. 

    I too subscribed to Faunasphere and gave additional cash each month to obtain more of their "currency" so I could purchase things that were only available with that buyable currency (the game also had an in-game currency you could earn without spending real world dollars, for those wondering). 

    It wasn't my intent when I purchased on Faunasphere to donate to the developers or say thanks. I spent money there because I truly liked what I was getting for my real world money. 

    My point is, as it stands right now, I feel no motivation to make a similar financial contribution to Glitch because I don't feel what I'd get for my dollar is worthwhile or reasonably priced.  
    Posted 10 months ago by Lynnt Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You know honestly for me, I didn't get a subscription because of what I'd get out of it, I became a subscriber just to support the game that I had already become enormously addicted to, lag and all.  If you find you can easily spend 6+ hours in-world and you enjoy those 6+ hours hugely, and time flies by for you and you wonder where it went, and you see something in game that makes you smile, and you end up having dreams at night about petting piggies and seasoning beans and such, it's time to support the developers who have brought you that much joy.

    If at some point I stop enjoying the game I'll stop being a subscriber.  But right now I'm paying because I genuinely love what I'm getting out of it: The game called Glitch.

    Credits to spend on clothing is just a perk IMO.  I like getting teleport tokens but don't really NEED them with the higher tp skills and penpersonship allowing me to make scripts to wherever, for energy.  :: shrugs ::

    That's just my 2c on the matter.  =)
    Posted 10 months ago by ♪♥~ Auren ~♥♪ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • While I might agree that Glitch doesn't need the charity, I believe they probably do need the visible sign of player commitment that a certain percentage of payers among the player base indicates. As well, I prefer to pay for my recreation up front with cash since "free" otherwise seems to so often end in my somehow paying in a currency I find much more irritating than money. (My privacy is one example.) The only exceptions I've found is where "free" is flat out understood as a kind of charity for the player that somehow brings status to the provider. (There are a few fan-built projects that work this way.)

    Also, I like to teleport to rook attacks so the subscriber tokens come in handy. ;)
    Posted 10 months ago by Perry Helium Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Volkov, Thank you, gentlemen. Someday I will repay you, unless of course I can't find you, or if I forget. 
    Posted 10 months ago by Rook Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I fervently hope there will be things to buy with my overload of Moly credits in NewGlitch.. I don't spend very much on outfits..  If not, guess I'll be doing a lot more teleporting :)
    Posted 10 months ago by Joni Mitchell Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Princess Fi, I'm pretty sure they are not interchangeable. With your subscription you get 400 credits AND 50 TP tokens. As far as I know, one cannot be exchanged for the other.
    Posted 10 months ago by Audaria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Audaria, you can purchase tokens with credits.
    Posted 10 months ago by oscarette Subscriber! | Permalink
  •  Audaria wrote: As far as I know, one cannot be exchanged for the other.

    Yes, as Oscarette says you can definitely use credits to buy TP tokens. I do it all the time as I don't change my clothes
    Posted 10 months ago by IrenicRhonda Subscriber! | Permalink
  • While I might agree that Glitch doesn't need the charity, I believe they probably do need the visible sign of player commitment that a certain percentage of payers among the player base indicates.

    Well said Perry Helium.

    While the VC are not counting on subscription income to support the game at this point, they do need some measure of community commitment.  I have participated in a goodly number of venture forums on both sides of the table and I can tell you with 100% confidence that a company that can not demonstrate a sound business plan for developing a revenue stream is not going to garner much interest in today's economy.

    And of course they are telling the VC more than they are telling us.  They are legally, morally and contractually obligated to do so.  Don't be naive.  This is a business not a charity and while the success TS executives had in other endeavors does open doors for them, it does not ensure success here.  No one involved with TS has made a fortune from the game at this point.  Chance are employees are working for below market salaries with the hope that the share grants they receive in lieu of part of their paycheck will payoff when, and if, the company goes public or is bought out by Google or another behemoth.  Whatever financial resources they have are dedicated to keeping the train moving forward, not sustaining a life of luxury for anyone involved.
    Posted 10 months ago by Kookaburra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • "I really like Glitch, but paying Tiny Speck money every month to say thank you for creating and sustaining a free game just seems silly. If they expected my money, it wouldn't be a free game."

    If they needed or expected *every* player to subscribe, then it wouldn't be free. I imagine they expect (and need) a certain percentage or number of players to subscribe.

    "But if you have disposable income to burn, and you feel like you should be paying for a free game, then go right ahead. Or, you could just run your cash through a shredder and flush it down the toilet." 

    The money is going to the people who make the game, its nothing like shredding the money. I have no idea how much TS are currently getting from subscriptions, but if you think they'd be just as happy if everone shredded the money then you're crazy.

    "I just think it's silly to subscribe if the only reason is to say thanks for the fun game. It's like having a tip jar at a free public water fountain."

    If the money from the tip jar went to the people who built and installed the free public fountain, and would be used for paying for more(or better) free public fountains, then yes, this is a good analogy.

    "To those who wish to pay in hopes of preventing the game from going away: Good luck with that. And I mean that most sincerely. I paid for multiple accounts on Faunasphere, another free game, and it still went away because it was not profitable."

    Of course a subscription doesn't garantee a game will stay, but it certainly makes it more likely than if no one subscribes. There are pay-to-play games that have failed, and donate-if-you-like games that are still going strong many years later (i.e. Kingdom of Loathing, etc).

    "TS doesn't need the charity."

    If they didn't need money from subscriptions they wouldn't have them. They do. you do understand that there are lots of financially successful games and products that run on a voluntary subscription basis, right?

    You might not want to donate to the game, but criticising the people that do (and thus support your free play) is pretty sad and ungrateful.
    Posted 10 months ago by Lukie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Lukie. You basically got across all the points I wanted to make but was too busy going "GRAGH WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THIS" to get on screen.
    Posted 10 months ago by Shiromisa Kaya Subscriber! | Permalink
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