So? 
 
I paid 200-something for Lord of the Rings Online at the launch of it. Still playing 2 expansions later. ;)

Go for it if you got the money and time, though since you play games for a living a MMO might be a bad thing if you get addicted to it.

Wow, i literally only just finished listening to the Star Trek online part of the bombcast! Cue me saying 'nooooooooooo' when i saw the front page.....

Damn dude....good luck Jeff.

Given that Cryptic has had three successful MMOs released (meaning they aren't shut down yet), I don't see why STO would be any different.  However, the question really comes down to how often you'll end up playing it. 
 
Nonetheless, way to impulse buy.  Mind spotting me $300 for my own impulsive necessities (meaning buying enough MSP cards to get all the DLC that I want)?

I dont think your going to get your moneysworth jeff. Sorry. I dont expect you to put in 300 dollars worth of play before you get sick of it.

You know those " Dear Diary, today I turned into a Zombie" moments in videogames? A sort of descent into madness? Yeah, this was kind of like reading one of those.

So it's the price of 16 months for lifetime access.  I really enjoyed my time with WoW and felt it was a superb MMO, but even then I stopped playing after a year.  I cannot fathom spending nearly as much time with STO.  So financially, there's almost no way it could possibly be worth it for me.   Do you really, honestly see yourself booting up STO two years from now and playing it?  I guess that's the chief question you have to ask yourself if you're considering the lifetime subscription.
 
I could also go into some paranoid rants about how lifetime subscriptions discourage regular game updates and post-release support, but it's such unfamiliar territory that it's hard to say one way or the other.
 
In the end, when it comes down to stuff like lifetime subscriptions, just remember Hellgate London.  And think about the people who got screwed with their lifetime subscriptions to that.  Cryptic hasn't released such a dud yet, but there's no guarantees.

Having played WoW for about 4 years on and off I wish they had a lifetime :( I have a couple of friends who bought lifetime for lotro and they never regretted it. They can jump in and play whenever, especially when u have those days you are bored with WoW they just have to pay for 15 that month instead of 30 for both games. Considering how many free updates CoH got its not a bad idea, 240 for the lifetime is about a year and a half worth of play per month, ive dropped over 1000 with WoW till this day now that I think about it, thats an expensive game.
 
STO isnt as big as WoW but they arent really in direct competition, its sci-fi vs fantasy. STO will be around for a while, Starwars wont be out till next year spring time and Eve is getting old.

" I don't believe i'd ever pay 300 dollars for a game, Jeff, ESPECIALLY an MMORPG. You is a crazy mofo. "

 
Lifetime Subscription, eh? Hmmm.....

1. I've got no other MMOs coming that I really care about until SW:TOR and GW2 sometime next year, and either or both could l be delayed substantially by then.
2. I grew up with ST:TNG, ST:DS9, and ST:VOY. Participating in that universe scratches an itch I've had since I was, oh, FIVE.
3. I COULD PLAY AS A FREED BORG

That's actually not a bad deal. A year from now, you'll forget all about the 300 bucks and you'll never ever worry about fees ever. 
 
More MMO's should offer stuff like this.

I'm totally gonna do a Lifetime sub for FFXIV if they offer it.

" Star Wars: The Old Republic and Final Fantasy XIV are both coming out this year, so this is also something else to consider. "

This is something I have been thinking of doing my self. It is very hard to put out that much for an MMO but I have been playing WoW for 4 years and the last MMO I played I was on for close to 5 years. I am liking what I am seeing in the beta my only problem is how long will it last. I would get my moneys worth out of it I do know that but if it don't last for at least 2 years it is a waste.
 
Money isn't the problem it is paying that much for something I am unsure will last.

I'd judge Jeff, but I recently spent more than that on an airsoft rifle that may never get used. And more for attachments for it. F' the recession yo! We gonna turn this thing around through good old capitalism!

That would be very tempting if not for my complete and utter disinterest in all things Star Trek.  If they put out that deal for Champions Online, I might just have to buy it.

If only there was a lifetime subscription for WoW...

The worst part about this was watching Jeff's thought process and having no way to leap in and stop him.

Well if the star-wars MMO has this option, then yes. I'd pay the 200 whatever dollars. But I can't get THAT addicted to an MMO, most I'll play for a month or two and get bored, like any game really.  The old republic one looks like it might make me take the plunge though. STO... not so much. Looks decent, but not fantastic. Not 200+ fantastic, or 15 a month. 
 
I wish online games were as good a deal as something like Xbox live. 60 for the year is just about right for me. I value an MMO at that, if it was really good. That's like buying a new copy of it each year, which is alright, once again, if the game is fantastic.

That is a truly terrible decision...  but I still keep looking at it myself.  I'm actually still really enjoying it (about level 8), which I wasn't expecting at all.  It's much better than Champions.
 
My main concern is that the whole 'playing out of guilt' thing will be 100 times worse when you / I want to stop playing in about 6 weeks.

Wow Jeff, that took balls.

You know, Jeff, I can see where you're coming from, but I doubt a lifetime subscription is necessary. However, look at WoW. People have been playing it for like 5 years now... and if the lifetime subscription is the same price as 16 months, then well, this could totally end up being the right move. Still, man, that's a heck of a lot of cash to throw down on one game. I guess that's just the way of MMORPGs, though. Well, whatever, it's done now. I hope the game turns out good for you and you get a few great, fun-filled years out of it.

Turbine did something like this with LOTRO didn't they? Well anyway, good luck and have fun with STO!

Christ.

Comparing the $239.99 cost to the various other monthly rates ($9.99/mo at the yearly, 12.99/mo at the 6 month etc) the time investment you would have to sink into STO is quite significant to 'get your money's worth' (so to speak). Heck, it would take you 16 months paying the basic $14.99 per month to end up with the same tab as the lifetime subscription. At the yearly rate that inflates to 24 months! Now, while most MMOs that aren't Tabula Rasa will still be around after the 12-month mark, the audience for them by this time has almost always condensed down significantly to the devoted. Can you say with any reasonable amount of certainty from only playing in a beta where the true endgame doesn't exist (and really, that's where you will end up spending most of your time likely in an MMO) that you want to invest time in the same game over the next year and a half? Certainly if you have the money to spend on something like this it's your choice. But that much cash, on an unproven game is still a great leap of faith.
 
I can't deny though that some of STO is tempting. New and shiny MMOs often are. I've dabled for 3-4 months in far too many over the years. But I've been WoW and MMO-free  for 30 days and counting! I'm hoping not to have a relapse when Cataclysm comes out. Thankfully I have games that actually have endings to look forward to (Mass Effect 2, Heavy Rain etc etc) in the very near future to keep me from temptation. Then again, I'm sure the bill for all those games will come up to something comparable to the lifetime subscription and not yield the 100 days+ /played that I've accrued in WoW over the years on my main. Damned if you do, damned if you don't I guess.

I think we need a special short bombcast of Jeff trying to rationalize his reasoning to the rest of the crew.

Live long and prosper on this MMO..

I would have played the game more myself Jeff before spending that kind of $.  As someone who's played it extensively I can say that it's not worth the lifetime subscription, let alone the purchase.  It's just a highly generic MMO, with poor story telling/immersion, and it completely misses what Star Trek is about.
 
The game feels as if Cryptic Studios watched the first 15 minutes of First Contact and truly believed that's that the IP was all about.  There's no meaningful exploration, no mysterious and well written quests on planets.  Your crew is made up of lifeless avatars that only serve you in space as bonus moves for your ship.  On land they're still lifeless but you can equip them in gear and promote them... how exciting.  There's no attatchment to them.  No meaningful decisions that could have ramifications on your crew.
 
After the 10-12 hour mark the combat truly starts to become extremely repetitive and boring.  I will say though that shield rotation concept was a nice touch and expanded off of what was done in Age of Conan.  Still though... it's the same thing over, and over, and over again.  Even worse, you have so few moves and most everything is a giant cluster mess.  
 
The difference this MMO has to other very generic MMO's is that it bears the Star Trek name.  I myself am quite sad that his game has been such a failure, at least in my eyes.  I expected a game that actually put you in the captains chair in the Star Trek universe, not a boring  almost entirely combat filled grind-fest... seriously, farming Bird's of Prey... might as well be warthogs.  Oh, you can't sit in the captains chair by the way, let alone go anywhere outside of your poorly designed bridge.  You'd think that content would be important for launch.
 
There was a serious lack of polish and overall effort given by Cryptic into this game.  It shows that they wanted to get something out fast to get some money (which is guaranteed due to the license as evident in this post by Jeff), not create a truly epic gaming experience.  It has the visuals and sounds of Star Trek but completely misses the core of what the IP is.  It's like going on a date with some hot chick to find out she's completely devoid of any personality or brains.  There's no long term viability.
 
Luckily for you though, I think you can get a refund if you act fast.  Thank goodness for Open Beta's because without it I might have made a purchase as well because I love Star Trek.

Whether its a monthly fee or a subscription fee how will that determine whether or not it feels like a perpetual rip off?
 
You wont feel even more obligated to play at any given time? 

Now I just have a mental picture of Jeff standing in the GB offices, tapping the commlink and stating "One to beam out."
 
STO Endurance run, engage.

Oh Jeff. You are insane. Absolutely insane. INSANE!
 
Either that or you're a visionary.

I've spent $300+ on 1 game.  latest example is Street Fighter IV.  Game + 2 HRAP sticks + new Sanwa parts = $300+     Don't regret 1 cent either.   The caveat here is that SFIV will not be shutting down servers one day and no longer available to play.  The STO sub thing is kinda like a gamble, especially when it's in a WoW dominated market where many other games have gone to die.  Jeff has said himself he doesn't have a lot of time to play games for fun really due to the nature of his job, so $300 seems kinda steep for something you might play half a dozen times or more in the next 1-2 years.  But hey, it's your $300!  g'luck Jeff.

The only problem with this is, will Star Trek Online keep you entertained for a year and a half in order for you to get your money's worth? I'm going to go ahead and say no. The beta is fun but I don't think I would ever want to play it again after it's over. But you know Jeff and his bad impulses disease. This couldn't be helped.

Honestly, i would LOVE if this option were available for 1-2 months after release, let me buy my copy, get my 30 days out of the box, decide if I want a lifetime sub.  As it is, this seems like something either very shady, or just another business model.  They either think the game is going to tank, or really feel like it will be up at least 2-3 years and will give lifers their money's worth.  And after the open beta being pretty shaky, i just really wish there was some time to evaluate a retail version before making a 300 dollar investment.
 
I went the opposite way, I simply wont buy it.  If I didn't have a life sub I'd feel cheated every month, and since they're asking me to pay a non refundable fee without seeing the product, I have to simply decide not to play the game.  Quite the double edged sword they have there. 

I'll bet someone 100 dollars that Jeff never plays the game enough to see gameplay for cheaper then 1 dollar an hour. Meaning he has to play the game for a freakin 300 hours!

Jeff, sometimes you are a dangerously insane individual. 
 
It's fun to read about though.

 
Exactly.  Asking people to drop that much cash on something unproven is just...well...dumb.
 
@Renahzor said:

" Honestly, i would LOVE if this option were available for 1-2 months after release, let me buy my copy, get my 30 days out of the box, decide if I want a lifetime sub."
 

I'm struggling with this myself.  It's very hard to say no to all the bonus exclusive content, and that after 16 months you're playing for free.  They're also pushing you into making a decision given the limited-time-only nature of the deal.  
It's just a huge gamble whether or not I'll even like the game.  I bought Champions Online at launch and ended up hating it.  Maybe the game is better now, but I don't want to feed it $15 to find out.

the only thing stopping me from doing that is my computer.

The only reason I'm not doing this as well: the grace period for my student loans ends this month.

I find myself in the same position as you. However, I just got back into WoW. With Cataclysm coming out next year, Warcraft is my excuse to not jump on this. Like you, I was searching for something to talk myself out of it. Unlike you, I actually found a reason to not break and sign-up for lifetime Star Trek.

Damn, you could get any console for $300. I don't think you have the right profession to play a MMO enough to justify a lifetime subscription.

Many are in for a difficult decision: Buy an additional console (Xbox 360/PS3) OR.... A version of Star Trek Online that doesn't run out. 
 
I mean it's a full priced game, that and it's instanced nature doesn't seem to justify a monthly fee to begin with. Yet they want $240 on TOP of the $50 if you wan't it to have the monthly cost it should have, which is nill. 
 
I like the game but c'mon now gents. 

*Hangs head* I did it too

Oh god.

will you buy the next big mmo for 300$ as well ?
star wars maybe ??
 
and for 16 months, is it even possible to play for 16 months total ... but at least for that 300$ you don't have to keep playing full months just because you payed a monthly fee ... it sure is tricky