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LightWaver-67 · Nov 16, 2003, 07:50 AM

"Gee... thanks for being so swell and renewing your .mac account with us. Here at Apple, your patronage is appreciated, so... HERE... choose a free (lame?) gift..."

So... I figured, I'd just choose the "FREE" EverQuest game on DVD-Rom. Seems interesting.

> flash-forward two weeks <

HEY! Look what's in the mail... it looks like a disc of some sort. Oh, hey... it's my "free" EverQuest disc.

Let me just pop it in and check it out.

Hmm... it's a big install... about 2GB.. oh well, go for it.

> install <

Okay... Double Click the icon.

Create user...? Okay. Hey, it's launching a browser... OH! It looks like it links to the internet for multi-player gaming or something... Neat!

Okay... created my name & registered... next page... yep, confirmed... next page... WHAT? Choose a subscription method...? What the heck is THIS crap...? Nah-nah-nah... no subscriptions... I just wanna play the game.

> close Safari <

Okay... double-click the game again... same launcher window. Close launcher window. Search for actual app in folder. find app. Double-click app. It says to use the launcher app to start the game.

WAIT! Are you frickin' KIDDING me...? My "Free" game cannot be played unless I subscribe to this stupid website and give a CREDIT CARD NUMBER...?

* sigh *

I think not.

I just re-read all the literature and marketing stuff... I can't find where it says "HEY! Nimrod... you're gonna need to PAY MONEY on a monthly basis to even USE this game".

Caviat Emptor, damnit!

Gul Banana · Nov 16, 2003, 08:26 AM

Um
I think it's fairly well known that Everquest is an MMORPG... not only do you have to pay for it (unless you get it free from .Mac) you also pay a subscription.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...0.11.0.1?57,49

"EverQuest is a multiplayer online game you play via the Internet. A stable Internet connection is required to play. Sony Online Entertainment charges a small monthly fee for this game, separate from your Internet service provider access charges. The first month of this fee is included in the purchase price of this package. You must provide a valid credit card to register and play."

The entire third paragraph is devoted to this.

NeXTLoop · Nov 16, 2003, 08:39 AM

Gul's right. EverQuest is well known for this. It's not Apple's fault. They're simply making the game available for people who are into that kind of game.

sushiism · Nov 16, 2003, 12:12 PM

i think its damn fine of them to give the actual game away, people spent like �45 on that and the subscriuption on top. Anyway this is one reason why multiplayer gaming really isnt all its cracked up to be, if you want a really involving multiplayer rpg then go on a MUD or MOO server with telnet, damn i was impressed those things are so advanced these days

LightWaver-67 · Nov 16, 2003, 12:16 PM

Again...

Caveat Emptor...

I realized that I shoulda/coulda read the fine-print. I'm just not up on games at all. I rarely game, and when I USED to, it was 1st-person shooters like Marathon, Quake, Unreal, UT, etc.

I know NOTHING about other game types... so I just clicked and hoped for the best. I had NO IDEA I'd have to subscribe to something.

I just wish I was more informed.

Horsepoo!!! · Nov 16, 2003, 12:54 PM

It's probably best that the game is subscription based. Or you'd lose your job, your wife, and your sanity.

OwlBoy · Nov 16, 2003, 04:14 PM

Hmm, looks quite obvious to all of us...

Many complain that they have to pay for the game if they have to do a monthly fee.

So you avoided that...

-Owl

fulmer · Nov 16, 2003, 07:32 PM

pretty obvious. I did my homework before selecting my free gift. maybe you can trade it to a friend for something.

LightWaver-67 · Nov 16, 2003, 07:48 PM

Originally posted by fulmer:
pretty obvious. I did my homework before selecting my free gift. maybe you can trade it to a friend for something.

(Ugh!)

Okay... fine... I get it... you're all more observant than I am. I just had no-clue that there were games that were internet-only that required a 2-GB install. I "assumed" that there might be some sort of off-line, single-player mode or something.

no need to rub-in the "pretty-obvious-to-me" thing over & over...

wallinbl · Nov 17, 2003, 06:24 AM

Originally posted by LightWaver-67:
I just had no-clue that there were games that were internet-only that required a 2-GB install. I "assumed" that there might be some sort of off-line, single-player mode or something.

I was always amazed by this part. I'll never play the game because I refuse to pay a subscription to use software I own. I can't believe how many people have played the game and were apparently willing to pay the monthly subscription.

naphtali · Nov 17, 2003, 07:40 AM

At least you've gotten yours. I've yet to hear from Apple though I've been with .Mac since day 1?

Arkham_c · Nov 17, 2003, 08:41 AM

Originally posted by wallinbl:
I was always amazed by this part. I'll never play the game because I refuse to pay a subscription to use software I own. I can't believe how many people have played the game and were apparently willing to pay the monthly subscription.

I feel the same way. I'm not going to pay a monthly fee to play a game, period. I will happily put down $50 if it means I can play as much as I want, as long as I want.

I got a G5 recently and installed "Giants: Citizen Kabuto" on it. I bought that game around 2 years ago, but I can still play it today. I have Diablo and Diablo 2, and I can still play those online. I own Soldier of Fortune and Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament 2003, and I can play them all without a monthly fee.

I don't have the time to waste on an MMORPG anyway. I never get to play games until my wife and kids go to bed.

KidRed · Nov 17, 2003, 10:07 AM

Descriptive-Title, my A$$...!

Grrr · Nov 17, 2003, 03:56 PM

I plumped for the Everquest game when renewing my .mac membership also. And I must admit, I was kinda disappointed to say the least. The last thing you expect of a 'free' game is the software nagging you for your credit card details within 2 minutes of installing it.
Thats not what I call 'free'. Especially (as others here have said) there is no offline self play option.
sure, the 1st month is apparently free. But you still cant get that without entering your card details 1st.

Wish I had opted for the Apple store voucher instead now. Oh, maybe not.. cos when ever I order anything from Apple direct (In stock or otherwise) they insist on sending it on a long tour of Europe. Starting with London (where I live) then onwards to numerous destinations in mainland europe (Yes, thats right), then back to London again 2 weeks later.
Muppets..

Apple, Great products.. Shame the company is such a diabolical mess.

MindFad · Nov 17, 2003, 09:43 PM

Surely you don't feel EverQuest adds to this "diabolical mess"!?

Cadaver · Nov 17, 2003, 09:57 PM

Originally posted by Grrr:
I plumped for the Everquest game when renewing my .mac membership also. And I must admit, I was kinda disappointed to say the least. The last thing you expect of a 'free' game is the software nagging you for your credit card details within 2 minutes of installing it.
Thats not what I call 'free'. Especially (as others here have said) there is no offline self play option.
sure, the 1st month is apparently free. But you still cant get that without entering your card details 1st.

Again, this isn't really Apple's fault. A) you should know what you're asking for, and B) it's no secret that EverQuest is a subscription-requiring online-only game. It's been out for the PC for, what, two years?

I got a copy of The Sims as my free gift....

If you don't like it, try to trade it or sell it.

MindFad · Nov 18, 2003, 01:51 AM

Originally posted by Cadaver:
Again, this isn't really Apple's fault. A) you should know what you're asking for, and B) it's no secret that EverQuest is a subscription-requiring online-only game. It's been out for the PC for, what, two years?

I got a copy of The Sims as my free gift....

If you don't like it, try to trade it or sell it.

I agree. It's all fairly common knowledge, and it says so on the site if you're absolutely clueless about the game. I believe it'a almost five years old now, actually. At least four.

JKT · Nov 18, 2003, 06:49 AM

Originally posted by Grrr:
I plumped for the Everquest game when renewing my .mac membership also. And I must admit, I was kinda disappointed to say the least. The last thing you expect of a 'free' game is the software nagging you for your credit card details within 2 minutes of installing it.
Thats not what I call 'free'. Especially (as others here have said) there is no offline self play option.
sure, the 1st month is apparently free. But you still cant get that without entering your card details 1st.

Wish I had opted for the Apple store voucher instead now. Oh, maybe not.. cos when ever I order anything from Apple direct (In stock or otherwise) they insist on sending it on a long tour of Europe. Starting with London (where I live) then onwards to numerous destinations in mainland europe (Yes, thats right), then back to London again 2 weeks later.
Muppets..

Apple, Great products.. Shame the company is such a diabolical mess.

It could actually be worth a reasonable amount if you can sell it. IIRC, this .Mac promotion is the only way to get the game in Europe.

Anyway, you should have gone to MacGamer.com or what ever to read a review before making your choice

<rubs-it-in>

I chose the Sims and the voucher (I pay for my brother's .Mac account as well) - the voucher arrived in good time... before my copy of Panther anyway

but the Sims was actually shipped all the way from the US and only arrived this week!

Grrr · Nov 18, 2003, 09:10 AM

I didnt know that the only way to get it in Europe was via .Mac. But then this explains why I hadnt heard much about the game before. Other than a friend many months ago casually saying "Oh thats good"
So not really knowing much about the game, thats the one I ticked off.
Maybe i'll give it a go sometime anyway. Or perhaps i'll donate it to a friend or something.

Either way, I still thought it a bit cheeky for it to be free, yet not free. If you get my drift..

JKT · Nov 18, 2003, 11:51 AM

Originally posted by Grrr:
I didnt know that the only way to get it in Europe was via .Mac. But then this explains why I hadnt heard much about the game before. Other than a friend many months ago casually saying "Oh thats good"

Be warned, its nickname is EverCrack (apparently). I'm not 100% certain about this being the only way to get it in Europe, but I seem to remember reading that somewhere...

LightWaver-67 · Nov 18, 2003, 08:20 PM

Originally posted by wallinbl:
I was always amazed by this part. I'll never play the game because I refuse to pay a subscription to use software I own. I can't believe how many people have played the game and were apparently willing to pay the monthly subscription.

Some of us don't have money to squander on a monthly basis when we are FAR from gaming fanatics... sorry!

LightWaver-67 · Nov 18, 2003, 08:25 PM

Oh... and two more things... scroll-up... I already admitted I DIDN'T READ THE FULL DESCRIPTION and I am to blame. And I don't care if it's been out for 7-years... it doesn't mean squat. I NEVER PAID ATTENTION to this stuff.

Some of you (most of you) are more up-to-speed with gaming... I think it's fairly obvious that I am NOT. It doesn't mean I'm an idiot for not knowing this was internet only when I never read the description.

Sheesh!

I'm sorry I started the thread...

By the way, why hasn't this died yet...? I just needed to vent.

Truepop · Nov 19, 2003, 09:21 AM

It's 2GB because the world and all the textures and items and monsters and such are on your computer so you can use the game on a dialup connection and all that is sent are like vector points or something...

about the monthly fee. I don't remember if it was EveryQuest or what but there is a program for windows that allows you to play the game in like a training mode so you can practice offline. I think it is at SourceForge and it may be for Ultama or something else. The fee is for their bandwidth and servers.