Re: PBeM RPG's: Free or Pay?

From: Jacob@Proffitt.nospam.com (Jacob Proffitt)

Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 00:00:00 +0000

On 16 Jun 1997 18:16:44 GMT, soliiigm@aol.com (Sol III GM) wrote:

>  First off, we are talking about RPG's, not other types of PBeM games.

Why not.  Seems to me the reasons should be pretty similar.

>  Someone basicaly asked what the incentive was to pay for what you could
>obviously get for free, and while I have no doubt as to the worth of my
>product, it started me thinking.  What does prompt a person to spend money
>when there are so many free products out there?  The obvious answer is
>that the free products are lacking something, but that is too pat, and
>there are too many exceptions to the rule.  So what is it, in truth that
>is the deciding factor?

I pay to play a PBM that is struggling to become a PBeM.  I've tried the
free games.  I keep coming back to this one, though.  The moderator is
dedicated, the players are serious enough to front the cash (which cuts down
on the transients), and I am motivated to get my turn in on time with proper
protocols followed.  Something about the cash transaction makes the whole
thing a little more 'real', by which I mean that my decision to join and to
remain is a considered, belabored decision.  Though I played some pretty
good free games (okay, one) and beta-tested one or two others, the level of
commitment and the quality of the GM attention to detail is significantly
higher in a paid-for game.

Gotta admit, though, that my experience is a limited one.  This is the only
PBeM I've ever paid for, though I did trial runs and some substantial
investigations into some of the bigger named games (most notably Monster
Island).  I don't spend *that* much time playing anymore (life has kinda
picked up for me, with available free time shrinking dramatically), so YMMV.

I've been toying with doing a review here in rgp of the game I'm in as I'm a
big fan of it.  I wonder if that wouldn't be a useful thing from others as
well.  Most of the stuff I've read here (lurking the last month or two) is
posted by GM's, or by players looking for inside information/alliance--i.e.
talking amongst themselves.

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References

PBeM RPG's: Free or Pay?
soliiigm@aol.com (Sol III GM)
Mon, 16 Jun 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

PBeM RPG's: Free or Pay?
soliiigm@aol.com (Sol III GM)
Mon, 16 Jun 1997 00:00:00 +0000