The word on the streets is that Cryptic Studios is planning to build Neverwinter as a micro-transaction-funded title. That hasn't been confirmed, and it looks as if Cryptic won't be revealing the game's model for awhile, as it's still evaluating its options.

In a chat with Gamasutra (via Big Download), COO Jack Emmert implied that the studio is still thinking about the pricing model and said that every sort of model--pay-by-the-hour, monthly or weekly subscriptions, and free-to-play, etc.--are still fair game for the MMO developer's non-MMO title. 
  
"I can guarantee you that we envision this as an online product that will continue to grow over time, that we continue to add content to. So whether it's subscription fee, whether it's free-to-play, whether it's micro-transactions, whether it's pay-by-the-minute [laughs], whether it's some sort of Ponzi scheme that I haven't figured out, I don't know. None of that has been announced," he said.
 

The word on the streets is that Cryptic Studios is planning to build Neverwinter as a micro-transaction-funded title. That hasn't been confirmed, and it looks as if Cryptic won't be revealing the game's model for awhile, as it's still evaluating its options.

In a chat with Gamasutra (via Big Download), COO Jack Emmert implied that the studio is still thinking about the pricing model and said that every sort of model--pay-by-the-hour, monthly or weekly subscriptions, and free-to-play, etc.--are still fair game for the MMO developer's non-MMO title. 
  
"I can guarantee you that we envision this as an online product that will continue to grow over time, that we continue to add content to. So whether it's subscription fee, whether it's free-to-play, whether it's micro-transactions, whether it's pay-by-the-minute [laughs], whether it's some sort of Ponzi scheme that I haven't figured out, I don't know. None of that has been announced," he said.
 

Did I do it? 
 
Of Course I did.

" @Xolare: Fail. "

Yesh, here I thought Cryptic was going to make a game without a fee, just straight box purchase. Still, seeing as I have no idea what the actual game is gonna be, I guess I'll wait and see. If this is gonna be a more straight take on DnD with focus on small party co-op, then I could see them offering a micro-transaction model that involves buying new quest "modules" like in the old days of DnD. Knowing exactly how this game is gonna play is the first thing I wanna know thought.

 At first I thought I read a COO response from Jerk Emmact.
 
I'm truly disgusted with all the money-grubbing going on in the games industry lately.  Pay to play! DLC!  Extra XBL Live fees!  Newer (HIGHER) Used Game Prices!  Just Because!  
 
It had better last 50 hours or longer or forget it.  

The game page says it not out till Q4 of next year, and it was only announced a few days back, the fact we know nothing of the pricing structure is hardly anything to write about.
 
Also on the game itself I'm less interested because the products Cryptic put out seem to be some what sub par and instead of fixing them it seems they just churn more out, though I don't know how many staff they have, so maybe they're not stretching themselves as thin as all this seems.

they will fuck NWN up :(

Here's a pricing model that's guaranteed to succeed: The one that people are willing to pay for your game.

Because making it up as you go along always leads to success.

What the fuck?! I gave Cryptic my trust with this game but all I can say to them now is get the fuck away from my game!!!

I don't buy loot with people money. No.

A MMO type subscription for a regular game? Strange but hey, it's Cryptic. All they've done is MMOs so I guess it's not that surprising.
 
Hopefully they don't go that route...

" I don't buy loot with people money. No. "

I fail to see why people critisize micro-transactions so heavily, yet are fine with subscription fee's.  Are you aware that "server maintenance" is almost totally a myth, and almost the entirity of the subsciption costs simply go towards the developers profit.
 
When developers continue to release new content on a very regular basis, I can let it slide..  But I'd still rather pay for the new content as it comes and just be able to play the standard version of the game when I want with no extra costs tacked on.
 
That being said, the first two Neverwinter games offered multiplayer exactly like they're describing here.  As did Diablo and countless other games.  They can not possibly even contemplate putting an on going charge on this.

So what does this news story actually say? That they haven't decided about something yet? I'm sure they haven't decided on all the game play systems, levels, classes, and other content but there is no point in reporting that they haven't decided what those are.

"...So whether it's subscription fee, whether it's free-to-play, whether it's micro-transactions, whether it's pay-by-the-minute [laughs], whether it's some sort of Ponzi scheme that I haven't figured out, I don't know."

I'm a long time Neverwinter nights and D&D tabletop fan, but after being burnt by Cryptic with Champions (a game I followed for a long time) and how they dealt with their community, I'ma have to take a pass. 
 
The reason he can't decide which description model to talk about is because they're probably going to go with all of them...

" A MMO type subscription for a regular game? Strange but hey, it's Cryptic. All they've done is MMOs so I guess it's not that surprising.  Hopefully they don't go that route... "

But hey, they could be taking Neverwinter back to it's pay-by-the-minute-and-use-up-your-phone-line roots. It was one of the first MMOs back when AT&T launched it in 1993 or when it was.

And hey, wouldn't forcing the user to constantly be on the phone with an employee of Cryptic or licensed intermediator while playing the game be a fantastic DRM to shove up the loyal customer's license.

 Problem with Cryptic microtransations is that they are not micro.  For Star Trek Online, which they said would only have relatively cosmetic stuff in their "C-Store" they've started introducing new ships, ships the users asked for, nifty stuff like the Galaxy class from the future in the TNG finale.  The problem is the Cryptic Points you'd need to buy one of these run to somewhere around $20-25!!!   *edit* That galaxy is 2000 Cryptic points, which sells for $25  The other ships they've added so far are 1200.
 

NOT MICRO

cryptic hasn't really wowed me with their games as of late and the matrix which was published by atari and an SOE network MMO(could me wrong about that)? The last two Neverwinter games were system hogs and didn't really stand out to me as OMGosh, AWESOME looking game! This doesn't excite me all that much considering there is already a free to play DnD title out there. 

Oh cool. I missed this game announcement. I hope it does the genre the justice it's been lacking.

So... a developer renowned for making bad games is probably going to expect people to pay a subscription or pay for micro-transactions for a non-MMO game...
 
When did game development move into loonytown?

Combining the fact that Cryptic make soulless and empty games along with the fact I play solo RPGs, not online RPGs, means I am less than enthused for this.

" I fail to see why people critisize micro-transactions so heavily, yet are fine with subscription fee's.  Are you aware that "server maintenance" is almost totally a myth, and almost the entirity of the subsciption costs simply go towards the developers profit.  When developers continue to release new content on a very regular basis, I can let it slide..  But I'd still rather pay for the new content as it comes and just be able to play the standard version of the game when I want with no extra costs tacked on.  That being said, the first two Neverwinter games offered multiplayer exactly like they're describing here.  As did Diablo and countless other games.  They can not possibly even contemplate putting an on going charge on this. "

This is sad news indeed. I despise how Cryptic feels the need to nickle and dime every god dam game they make.

"

What the fuck?! I gave Cryptic my trust with this game but all I can say to them now is get the fuck away from my game!!!

"

" @WinterSnowblind said:

" I fail to see why people critisize micro-transactions so heavily, yet are fine with subscription fee's.  Are you aware that "server maintenance" is almost totally a myth, and almost the entirity of the subsciption costs simply go towards the developers profit.  When developers continue to release new content on a very regular basis, I can let it slide..  But I'd still rather pay for the new content as it comes and just be able to play the standard version of the game when I want with no extra costs tacked on.  That being said, the first two Neverwinter games offered multiplayer exactly like they're describing here.  As did Diablo and countless other games.  They can not possibly even contemplate putting an on going charge on this. "

Haven't you noticed? Micro-transactions have, more often than not, failed to really satisfy people in the long run. At least, when they're done they way Cryptic Studios has done it. "

this was the shittiest press release ever, I cant believe the PR department let this guy say this, not that he intends to use necessarily any of these models but its still something you shouldnt say in a press release, makes the consumers lose faith in ur product and just see it as some desperate grab at the dollars in our wallets

I thought we tried the Hellgate model once before... 

I don't care about anything Cryptic is doing.  I've been disappointed by too many of their games in the past. 

Cryptic is just fucking adorable.

I hate when devs add micro-transaction.  Usually all the good stuff are the things you can only buy.

" @Nettacki said:

" @WinterSnowblind said:

" I fail to see why people critisize micro-transactions so heavily, yet are fine with subscription fee's.  Are you aware that "server maintenance" is almost totally a myth, and almost the entirity of the subsciption costs simply go towards the developers profit.  When developers continue to release new content on a very regular basis, I can let it slide..  But I'd still rather pay for the new content as it comes and just be able to play the standard version of the game when I want with no extra costs tacked on.  That being said, the first two Neverwinter games offered multiplayer exactly like they're describing here.  As did Diablo and countless other games.  They can not possibly even contemplate putting an on going charge on this. "

Haven't you noticed? Micro-transactions have, more often than not, failed to really satisfy people in the long run. At least, when they're done they way Cryptic Studios has done it. "

Oh, I agree that the way they're normally handled is terrible, especially as it's usually ON TOP of a subscription. But when done right, there's less to complain about than other methods, in my opinion. "