For the seventh birthday of the Free2Play MMO Age of Conan, there is a gift for the players: Two new zones. However, there comes a price tag with it. The festive mood is spoiled.
It’s one of those somewhat unfortunate marketing ideas. One thinks: We are planning new game content anyway and it’s soon birthday time, let’s bring that together. And since it fits so nicely, one forgets that players expect gifts or a celebration for the birthday of an MMO and that free of charge.
They announced an “extended, permanent” version of the birthday event. There should be rewards, a riding bear, a new 1-3 player dungeon with multiple instances. The two “new” zones: The blue mountains and “the snowy tundra of Vanaheim.”
Sounded good, until players realized: It’s not available for free, it’s behind a paywall. There is the normal version and also a Collector’s Edition in the cash shop.
The reaction in the forum is quite nasty. Some of the “freemium” players complain: We have paid for the last 6 months. For what actually? Another player says: “It’s like coming home and saying to your wife: Happy Birthday, dear! Give me $20, and I’ll take you out to dinner!”
Well. Birthday party a bit ruined.
