'Free Game' with the subscriber issue of PC Zone.

RaMDOM · 3 Nov 2007 at 12:01

So the lastest issue of PC Zone dropped through my door this morning and my attention was drawn to the game box wrapped inside the sellophane. It was a retail copy of City of Villians complete with CD key so you do not have to go and buy a retail copy to continue playing, and complete with 30 days free play as expected.

This was accomopanied by a sheet of A4 explaining the purpose of the free game in that it is rewarding loyal subscribers and that we are getting the copy a whole month earlier as it will be given away with shop bought copies in the next issue. It was essentially a big thank you for subscribing.

Now, don't get me wrong I love free stuff. But giving away an MMO is not really a free game. There is the monthly subscription to consider. Secondly, PC zone offering this a a big thankyou. Well offer us something which is not game that is dying and an obvious desparate attempt for the publishers to get a few more subscriptions. If PC zone really wanted to thank us they should have offered us a decent single player game, or a steam voucher or something.

The fact that non subs will get it in a month makes this completely transparent and obviously means that this thanks has come from no where near PC Zones heart, but from NC Soft.

Call me a cynic but I think the sentiment that PC zone were trying to put out with this offer is lost very quickly.

PinkPig · 3 Nov 2007 at 12:17

I'm not quite sure what you were expecting from them to be honest - they're a magazine out to make a profit. To encourage people to subscribe they offer a few benefits (ie getting something a month early) - but presumably you're also getting a discount. They probably got the license to give away City of Villians for free (since you'd have to pay a subscription to continue) - they couldn't possibly afford to randomly give everyone a "real game", and why would they? Whatever they say it's not as if anyone who subscribes is one of their best friends who deserves a "big thank you", it's just a marketing idea.

RaMDOM · 3 Nov 2007 at 12:49

I know it is a marketing thing. You say they can't probably can't just give away free games - but they do when you subscribe. I just thought that as a marketng idea it falls flat on it face a bit.

Deks · 3 Nov 2007 at 14:28

I dont think its anything to do with PCZONE looking out for subscribers IMO (thats the cynic in me too). Its a failing mmorpg game that needs more subscribers to continue to exit and be supported. The cost for PCZONE to put this in the mag will have been paid for by the developer to put this in their mag. The fact they gave us it a month early was just a jesture so subscribers think they are being put first. They probably would have to package it different for the newsstand and could'nt get this package sorted in time

LOL thats the cynic in me

Deks

ins0mn1ac · 3 Nov 2007 at 15:05

They shoulda put Heroes in instead.

SpaghettiOs · 3 Nov 2007 at 15:17

Yeah, but unfortunately, I think Heroes is doing better than Villains at the moment, hence the choice of Villains.

ins0mn1ac · 3 Nov 2007 at 16:18

gamer_boy said:
Yeah, but unfortunately, I think Heroes is doing better than Villains at the moment, hence the choice of Villains.

Always has been.

RaMDOM · 3 Nov 2007 at 18:21

well I have tried both and thought they were fun, but did not really stand up to WoW.

Doesn't matter anyway as I have now quit MMO's altogether about 8 months ago after being sucked into WoW for 12 months. Hence the CoV disc that arrived this morning is in the cupboard already, grinding for a +12 dust modifier.

Deks · 3 Nov 2007 at 18:42

RaMDOM said:
well I have tried both and thought they were fun, but did not really stand up to WoW.

Doesn't matter anyway as I have now quit MMO's altogether about 8 months ago after being sucked into WoW for 12 months. Hence the CoV disc that arrived this morning is in the cupboard already, grinding for a +12 dust modifier.