From https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/storefaq

Q: When do I begin my included 30 days of game time?A: Once the Early Access period is finished and the game has launched (see server launch times above), please visit https://account.elderscrollsonline.com  and follow the prompts to select your preferred subscription plan. For customers who prefer to purchase Game Time cards from a retailer instead of using a credit card, we offer this as an alternative option for your convenience. Redeeming a Game Time Card or selecting a subscription plan will commence your 30 days of included game time.

I understand this like; we have to pay for at least 30 days to get the 30 days free game time.

Please tell me I am wrong?

That's how it is worded. More likely you'll have to input some kind of payment information before your 30 days begin, but you can cancel your account prior to being billed.

Yep, that's how it sounds like. Does it bill you automatically though once you choose the subscription plan? That is the question.

Thats what I got from it. The purchase of the game gives you 30 days of gameplay.

That text doesn't appear anywhere on the page.

What it does say is :_

"Once players purchase the game, they will have unlimited access for the first 30 days and can continue beyond that with a subscription of $14.99/30 days (€12.99 / ￡8.99). The first 30 days begin at or after the official launch of the game when players select their preferred subscription plan. Subscription fees will only be charged after the first 30 days."

Before you can enter the game, you have to either select a subscription plan(and presumably enter payment details of some sort), or redeem a gametime card(for people who prefer cards).

In either case, You first play 5 days for free(assuming you got 5 days early access), then you play for the next 30 days for 'free'(first 30 days are part of the game box price).

After that, you will be billed for the next month depending on the payment details you provided, or your game time from the gametime card you redeemed starts getting used up.

If we have to pay to get them, then it's not really included, but the OPTION to get 30 days free is included

Wonder if anything else that is included is really just an option to get it.

Eg, you can get the pet when you have paid for 6 months.

See what I mean?

*Edit some posted and explained this while I was writing.

Thanks for clarifying it

store faq https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/storefaq

"The first 30 days begin at or after the official launch of the game when players select their preferred subscription plan. Subscription fees will only be charged after the first 30 days."

early access and launch faq http://elderscrollsonline.com/en-uk/news/post/2014/03/25/early-access-and-launch-faq

Q: When do I begin my included 30 days of game time?

A: Once the Early Access period is finished and the game has launched (see server launch times above), please visit https://account.elderscrollsonline.com/ and follow the prompts to select your preferred subscription plan. For customers who prefer to purchase Game Time cards from a retailer instead of using a credit card, we offer this as an alternative option for your convenience. Redeeming a Game Time Card or selecting a subscription plan will commence your 30 days of included game time.

/edit

By the way, we are not getting anything "for free" here.

Not really. You need to provide payment details(like credit card number) to get the 30 days free, but not actually pay.

Your card is not charged until after the 30 free days are over.

Technically, you could select a subscription plan, enter the credit card number, then immediately cancel the subscription. If you do that, you will be able to play in the early access and the next 30 days after that, then you would lose game access.

You have to subscribe to get the 30 free days, but you aren't charged until the 31st day.

So:

1. subscribe (pick any plan)

2. play for 29 days, 23 hours

3. Unsubscribe before you get charged.

Or, you know, just keep playing... derp?

If it works like every other subscription-based MMO I have played, you create an account and provide your billing info. You won't be charged until the 30 day period is over. You have 30 days to opt opt out. If you do not, then you will be billed $14.99 US and your access to the game will continue for another 30 days with the same option to cancel.

your wrong

I don't understand what the issue would be. It's like this in p2p mmo's. You choose a subscription method, input your credit card, and then you get 30 days free play and then your bank account starts getting withdrawn every month thereafter. Just cause you enter your CC information in the system doesn't mean they're billing you at that time.

Someone close the thread?

I do not think you will need to enter billing info to recieve your 30 days. If so how would game time cards work that they clearly say are availible.

Actually.. there seem to be no way to check if you subscribed / subscribe?

I can only see billing history and it shows the purchase and there is no way to subscribe atm ? =)

You are reading too much into it imo. In my experience, it is SOP to take down CC info from ppl participating in a trial. You have 30 days from 1st loggin to figure out if you like whatever the trial is for. If you do, youj let the billing occur at the end of the 30 days or set up a game card. If you don't, you take steps.

Its really a standard procedure.

maybe asking for a subscription plan AFTER the game time runs out.

Cancelling a subscription should be with a couple of days of anticipation not 1 hour.

Here's the thing about this business model, which really is standard.

1) They take your billing information, you play for the 30 days your box gives you before you start getting billed. Say you don't like the game...a percentage of people will actually forget to unsub. Bingo! Another month's worth of sub fees there. If you just kind of liked the game and are on the fence having the information already means you're not as likely to have second thoughts and will "let it ride".

2) If they don't take your information until afterwards, a certain percentage of folks will want to sub but forget to. So it's the opposite of the above...money they should be getting but aren't. On top of that there is a chance that those people who enjoyed the game but not so much that they sub right away may not sign on.

It says you have to choose your preferred sub plan, nothing about pre paying for it (except, maybe, game time cards.) You can cancel before the paid month starts. This is standard practice for all sub based games.

Said it much better than i did.

It's a good thing they didn't.

There was more information given to the OP that they might not have thought about.

The way it has worked in every MMO I have ever played is, you get 30 days free access, but you still have to enter your credit card info. This acts as sort of an "age verification" for them. It doesn't matter that this game is just launching, almost every MMO in the past, no matter when you buy it, you get 30 days free just for buying it.

Normally they'll take your payment details but they won't charge you until the 30 days that came with your purchase has expired.

Appears to be following in the standard monthly subscription model.

But people are writing (or parroting) info about time cards. Which stores are selling time cards? It's only two and a half days until early access begins.