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[RCU005]

So when the App Store was introduced on iPhone, it changed the way we got apps, and started the closed, wall garden model that Apple and Google have, as well as other companies.

Many apps were free (specially games) with less features, but you could get the paid app which unlocked everything.

But now, many apps are going subscription model. You can no longer own an app, only rent it.

It this something people is ok with? IMO, this is worst than DLC and loot boxes.

I know in some cases a subscription model make senes and/or it's more convenient, but for all apps going that route, it's absurd.

Am I the minority by not liking this?

 

[DunDunDunpachi]

Personally I hate it, and it's why I've never been fully on board with digital ownership. It was promised to be an even better way of owning your games, but it turned out to be a trojan horse for never ever being able to fully own any game (offline).

 

[Elektro Demon]

I hate everything subscription based. I just don't like that business model. It feels like a way to milk money.
I'm an old school guy. You make a good product and I'll buy it once and that's the end of our business transaction. They can shove their subscriptions up their bum.

 

[Nymphae]

But now, many apps are going subscription model. You can no longer own an app, only rent it.

Can you give a couple examples? Never heard of renting an app before.

 

[008]

What are you? From 20 years ago? Subscription based is where the money is

 

[Deleted member 801069]

every IOS game I've paid for only required I pay once, not really sure what games you are playing that require you rent them?

I own:
desert golfing
alto's odyssey
stardew valley
atom rpg
slay the spire
crashlands

 

[eddie4]

every IOS game I've paid for only required I pay once, not really sure what games you are playing that require you rent them?

I know that there's apps that are free, but require a monthly subscription if you want premium features. They don't just let you pay once. I know that WeatherUnderground is like that and I believe MyFitnessPal, and some others.

edit: Also, people are more inclined to pay $2 a month, rather than a one time $25 fee because, the $2 seems more affordable at the moment, even though they will pay more than the $25 after a year is up.

 

[TheContact]

Originally most apps were just paid, then mobile started to adopt to the f2p method with microtransactions, but there are still a decent amount of "buy once" apps out there. What examples are there for subscription-based apps? Outside of iOS, Adobe has gone from a pay-once model to a subscription based model, and so has Microsoft Office with 365, but I can't really think of any apps that require a subscription outside of streaming services. (Then again, I only have like 20 apps on my phone)

Developers like subs because it's guaranteed money. F2p can be extremely profitble but the future never guaranteed, with subs they have a pretty good idea about what kind of income will be coming in.

 

[Deleted member 801069]

I know that there's apps that are free, but require a monthly subscription if you want premium features. They don't just let you pay once. I know that WeatherUnderground is like that and I believe MyFitnessPal, and some others.

edit: Also, people are more inclined to pay $2 a month, rather than a one time $25 fee because, the $2 seems more affordable at the moment, even though they will pay more than the $25 after a year is up.

can you think of any games that require you rent them

 

[Mistake]

The only subscription type stuff I saw were either dating, news, or TV streaming. I'd never subscribe to a game, that sounds dumb. Although I suppose WOW always did that

 

[eddie4]

can you think of any games that require you rent them

Not that I know of. I don't play mobile games that's not gaming, come at me bro
I buy games for the PC and the PS4.

 

[Qwell]

No you aren't the only one that hates the subscription model. I hardly ever buy anything on the appstores anymore for that very reason. If I remember it was around Plants vs Zombies 2 that I really stopped buying stuff as it was either sub based, or 1 time boost / energy based whatever you want to call it where you pay $2, or $5 or $10 or whatever to get a number of coins, energy, boosts to really play the game but of course they run out and you have to buy more.

I get it, I know for some reason people don't mind dumping more and more money into a game, but its not for me. I'm old school as well, I don't mind paying for a game, but I want the whole experience (with no adz if I pay) and be done with our transaction. Same thing with movies, I don't tend to "rent" movies, I "buy" them on VUDU which so far hasn't done me wrong and I hope it stays that way. But I also have a Plex server as backup, and of course a giant collection of boxed up DVD / Blu-Rays under my stairs, just in case they decide to willy nilly pull or censor movies / tv shows like they had done just recently with Community, Always Sunny and South Park.

 

[Deleted member 801069]

that's not gaming, come at me bro

it's something to do while you poop

 

[BadBurger]

Apple never hid their intentions. Many of us working in the tech sector saw it a mile away. But you don't need to buy in. I own an iphone and ipad have none of the walled garden stuff.

 

[n0razi]

Am I the minority by not liking this?

Well you are basically voting with your wallet and saying that you like it when you buy...

 

[zeorhymer]

It's just a cycle. Subscription model has always been around forever. It started with MMOs back in the day. Then the F2P model took over the mobile market by storm and everything went that way. Not every app can do the subscription model and not every app can do the F2P model. The buy once model barely incentivizes the developers from supporting the software. Why spend time on old stuff, when you can develop and sell new stuff? Pros and cons to the different models.

 

[T8SC]

Unfortunately its the way of the future, a future being paved by Netflix, Spotify and various other "subscription" based digital services that are raking in a profit.

I'd prefer to buy CD, Blu-Ray, Game or other physical media/item than pay for a subscription forever where sometimes I can watch what I want, and other times its not available and generally always poorer quality over it's physical sibling.

Edit: Cars are the same these days too. People will get a car on "PCP" and basically rent it for 2-3 years and then hand it back for a new one. Very few people seem to actually own a car. Why? Because PCP means people can generally drive around in something they actually cant afford and therefore look like they're doing better in life than they really are. £449 for that Audi RS4 and hand it back after 2 years - Money down the drain but Audi RS4 for 2 years boiiiii. Or buy it outright, ok that's £999 for 5 years + deposit.... exactly.

 

[eddie4]

I don't buy physical CDs, but I do use bandcamp or buy directly from the artist, support them in other ways. I also buy dvds/blurays, but I'm very selective of what I actually buy. I don't trust streaming services or digital companies, they can always go under. If you read the ToS, which no one does, it states in there that they can pretty much remove things if they feel like it. I usually buy used cars for cash and they run for a while (my wife's 98 volvo is still running fine). I think the subscription model works because so many people want instant gratification. Pay a small fee now and you can have all of it now, as long as you keep paying a small fee.

edit: yet no one is talking about the OG subscription model, insurance.

 

[Slings and Arrows]

Unfortunately its the way of the future, a future being paved by Netflix, Spotify and various other "subscription" based digital services that are raking in a profit.

I'd prefer to buy CD, Blu-Ray, Game or other physical media/item than pay for a subscription forever where sometimes I can watch what I want, and other times its not available and generally always poorer quality over it's physical sibling.

Edit: Cars are the same these days too. People will get a car on "PCP" and basically rent it for 2-3 years and then hand it back for a new one. Very few people seem to actually own a car. Why? Because PCP means people can generally drive around in something they actually cant afford and therefore look like they're doing better in life than they really are. £449 for that Audi RS4 and hand it back after 2 years - Money down the drain but Audi RS4 for 2 years boiiiii. Or buy it outright, ok that's £999 for 5 years + deposit.... exactly.

This was happening way before netflix. As soon as the APP store become a thing, the writing was on the wall.

I remember getting guitar tabs for free and using GuitarPro to play/modify them. Now you have to get an app on your phone and pay a sub to remove adds and blah blah blah.

Even youtube is in on it. From 0 adds to intrusive adds within what, 10 years? I cant even play my playlist in my car without fucking ads every song, ads that require me to 'skip' ads, unless i want to sit through 2 minutes of drivel.

 

[Shadowstar39]

So when the App Store was introduced on iPhone, it changed the way we got apps, and started the closed, wall garden model that Apple and Google have, as well as other companies.

Many apps were free (specially games) with less features, but you could get the paid app which unlocked everything.

But now, many apps are going subscription model. You can no longer own an app, only rent it.

It this something people is ok with? IMO, this is worst than DLC and loot boxes.

I know in some cases a subscription model make senes and/or it's more convenient, but for all apps going that route, it's absurd.

Am I the minority by not liking this?

I hate this. I seen this on desktop apps too. One had $19.99 /year subscription or buy license for 75 (discounted today for 39.99).

I already get pinged for audible, youtubeRed/Google music (fuck those ads), Amazon prime, psplus, Nintendo online, this crap adds up. It's death by a thousand cuts. Made to look more appealing to the non thinkers.

It also means you loose ownership. What happens when said app is pulled from the store for wrong think? (x company says something to piss off reeeseters/woke mob, or they go bankrupt).. You loose. At least if you buy it out right you can keep it and redownlaod or save etc. Subs though cut access as it requires a server and license model.

I bought guitar tabs app a few years back on my old iPod touch 3rd Gen. Later on I went to buy it on Android Google play and it was $5.99/year no longer set price. I paid like 5 to 10 for it originally.

I also think game pass is a bad thing (in before the pitchforks). It makes games more of a commodity and not something to cherish, and collect. I like physical when possible. I loved old games with maps and books etc.. I don't like how they can move and replace games on the fly. As someone who doesn't have much time to game it takes me weeks to finish something or maybe I will get bored and play something else. But if it's pulled when I go back, gone.

 

[ResilientBanana]

Just don’t give them money.

 

[Shadowstar39]

every IOS game I've paid for only required I pay once, not really sure what games you are playing that require you rent them?

I own:
desert golfing
alto's odyssey
stardew valley
atom rpg
slay the spire
crashlands

All those are mostly single player non mobile games. Like atom rpg, Stardew valley slay the spire. These were ports from pc. I own them on switch. The thing is there are not many of these. App store is mostly iap old mobile games made to rip you off.

 

[llien]

Android is not a walled garden. You can connect to multiple stores and even directly sideload apps.