Official response regarding the P2P decision:

“And it’s important to state that our decision to go with subscriptions is not a referendum on online game revenue models. F2P, B2P, etc. are valid, proven business models – but subscription is the one that fits ESO the best, given our commitment to freedom of gameplay, quality and long-term content delivery. Plus, players will appreciate not having to worry about being “monetized” in the middle of playing the game, which is definitely a problem that is cropping up more and more in online gaming these days. The fact that the word “monetized” exists points to the heart of the issue for us: We don’t want the player to worry about which parts of the game to pay for – with our system, they get it all.”

I must agree that "monetized" games are certainly annoying.

However, when I look at how it was handled, for example, with 'Guild Wars 2,' then this argument loses much of its steam.

Disregard if you enjoy GW2, or not (I like it, just for the record, although this bares no relevance in this discussion) you can see that this business model (in GW2) gives generous content which is always free and offers "monetized" content which is either cosmetic (meaning it is not needed but, looks good) or, it offers various mechanics and boosts (changing your hairstyles, for example, or boosting you crafting for a given time).

I believe that they (Bethesda) are not taking this route because they know, or believe, that they will initially get a large amount of people who will pay for one/several months of subscription and this will help them recoup some of the costs incurred during the games' production. That makes sense. However, I personally think it is a gamble which will backfire.

In the long run, the player base - in my humble opinion, as a gamer in his forties, who has witnessed the rise and fall of many, many games - will be decimated. In other words, players who become disgruntled about various issues that they have with the game (inevitable!) will quickly learn to resent the subscription fee and the game will begin to leak players.

My predictions would be:

• SERVERS: If there are several servers, then some servers will become like ghost-towns; there will be cries for server mergers; there will be long-awaited server-merger news; there will be server-mergers which may or may not cause further issues like name changes or, result in various servers still being low population or, even worse, a server which has a high poulation resulting in queses and lag;

• MECHANICS: people will see that there are some nice game mechanics which have been implemented but, still not enough to warrant a subscription or drastically change the MMORPG model, as it stands today. The result: people leaving the game;

• GRAPHICS: one of the nicest things about Skyrim, on my PC, was that I could enable some sweet mods which enhanced the graphics even further. Just standing atop a high mountain, looking out across sprawling valleys where the sunlight glistened in winding rivers and low clouds hung to rocky crags; all of it was breathtaking and it made the experience more absorbing and compelling to me. Although I understand why it has been done, I will certainly not fork-out my hard-earned cash for a low-poly, splodgy-textured world just so I can run around with other players who may (or may not) afford more depth/enjoyment to the game;

• SUBSCRIPTION: will kill this game within 6-8 months. It WILL eventually turn to the F2P model.

Defenders of this game - and I have no doubt that, even now, this early on in its production, there will be devoted, blinkered and feverish [censored] who will prefer to bash anyone who speaks out against the game - will no doubt decide to rush head-first into this thread, flaming and wailing about this forthcoming title. I have no time or patience for them and, to be truly fair, I understand their pain; they do not want this title to fail; they want this title to be the best it can be; to be THE game that they have been waiting for and hoping for...

It won't. Take a breath. Be silent for just a moment and empty yourself of feelings on the subject. Only then will you hear the soft deathknell that is whispering on future winds. Subscription WILL kill this game and rob it off its potential.

Remove the P2P model and save this title.

Take good care, gamers.

This topic is not allowed anymore.

Also, you have obviously no idea what you are talking about with this game anyway.

I was unaware that this topic is "not allowed anymore" so, should that be the case, I can only:

(1) Apologise for my ignorance with regards to this;

(2) Wonder why gamers are not allowed to debate, in a free and unrestricted manner, their feelings on a game. Not good!

As for your well thought out, succinct and profound insight into my eligibitlity of being qualified to speak of this game, I am left dumbfounded - nay, speachless - at your remarkable ability to look through my words and see my apparant ineptitude, staring with wild-eyed ignorance at my monitor: you're a genius!

Sarcasm aside: your ill-educated swipe was childish.

These THreads NEVER, EVER, END WELL. EVER

You would have done yourself a favor by reading these forums first, before start that topic. I am fine with your opinion, but I predict your predictions to fail... at least partial, because ESO now already does not match with aspects you describe. However you should know more about somehing you want to criticize. This is my opinion.

These payment model complainers are really irritating now.

I agree: I would have realised not to post had I read. Howver, still glad I did.

"ESO now already does not match with aspects you describe"

Explain further because a lot of people who defend games so things and never back it up with a well-rounded and actual POINT!

The title said it all so why put yourself theough the pain of clicking it and reading it...?

Is there something wrong with you because, I equally find it irritating people who complain about other people who have opinions. You come across as a moron but, well tried...

One mistake -- there are no severs, but ONE server. (aka Megasever). The pop can ebb and flow, but the server still look full anyways. Phrasing can make or combine zones to keep the pop at a normal working level.

Take of your tinfoil hat. They are not allowed because we don't know enough to discuss it, all that could be said about payment model was said in the first thread . Every thread after it developed in to pointless argument between people that wasn't about TESO and/or name calling .

That is good news and a solid point in favour of the game. Well said.

It's like a discussion where people share both opinions, feelings and facts. Well said, I like oyu.

Yep I'm a moron, spot on, nothing to do with these people coming to the forums every week moaning about the payment model time and time again, they've made their choice and it's the best way for them to carry on with the regular content updates they have planned, don't like it? Then find a free to play game...

If you don't want to pay a sub, don't pay it. It's really not complicated.

I refer you to the start of your sentance.

Irony. Bye.

Cool, another opinion on the P2P model by someone who demonstrates they have done minimal research about the game. Have you at least heard of the Megaserver? They have kind of talked about it in nearly every interview with few exceptions, usually the more recent ones.

You are also on the fast track to getting your thread locked or yourself ban-hammered. I would recommend you and others cease with the name calling. You are only dragging your own thread down.

At no point was this ever pointed out as being complicated.

Naturally, If you do not like it you would not pay.

I am not here because I just fancied having an almighty and unwarranted whinge about a game not yet released. I am here because I give a [censored]. I am here because I don't want it to fail. I am here because I believe - rightly or wrongly - that this P2P model will kill it off.

That's called, GIVING MY OPINION.

It's not complicated,. See me after class!

I will give you a hansel of what I mean.

Servers: There will be only 1 US and 1 EU server supporting/devided in English, German and French languages each.

Mechanics: Regarding that ESO is nothing like any other MMO I know. And I know. I do no believe or such. I know. So that is fact.

Graphics: You should not rely on any video or pic you've seen so far. It will be pretty much different. That is fact, too, because I know that not from videos or pictures.

Subsription: Is the only way they can afford to deliver new content regularly. New content on a regular basis has proven to be a very good carrot.

Let's have a look at that crystal ball you're looking in to?

Yeah some guy mentioned it several posts before you. Do some research.

Incidentally, posts tend to crop up from time to time, despite having been debtaed before. Should you NOT like it - as the title obviously dictates what the content of the thread is going to be - why the hell did you enter?! Yes, you wanted to get up on your high-horse, I see.

OP, before you bring up GW2 having updates twice a month, get your head out of the mud and understand those are not real updates. GW2 has not had a REAL update in things to do in quite a while. Those Living story updates are hated by almost everyone.

Thanks for your response. I see it as a positive response to someone giving an opinion.

I do enjoy picking up on other's opinions because it does make you think on it somewhat, and maybe look into one aspect or another with a differing viewpoint...

You can not post topics about the payment model.

Also I had no idea their model would bring about such topics, it still amazes me. There was a time p2p was normal, and I'm still ok with it.

Only you mention "twice a month"....

I wasn't speaking of them but, good effort.

Now, that is ironic. Anyway as I and people before me and after me said this types of topic are for the moment forbiden.

i just want to point out that if the game goes f2p it does not mean its dead. it will be far worse but by no means dead. if going f2p meant dead then why would anyone ask for f2p from the start?