Pricing and details on Hellgate: London's 'elite' multiplayer subscription have been revealed in the latest issue of US Games for Windows magazine.
Apparently the RPG will be free to play online without subscription though for $9.95 a month (about £5) subscribers will receive extra benefits and features such as the following:
- 24/7 phone- and internet-support
- No (server) queues for elite subscribers, with preference over non-paying customers
- 3 chars per account for non-elites, 12 for elite-customers
- Elite subscribers can store up to 40 items (instead of 20 for non-subscribers), which can be accessed from any char in an account-wide item vault.
- Visible distinction from other players. Elite subscribers are recognisable from their equipment and may trade subscriber-only equipment to other elite subscribers.
- VIP-Shuttles to remote areas
- Housing and founding of guilds are enabled for subscribers. Elite subscribers may attain - officer/leader priviledges within their guild.
- Elite subscribers have access to additional game modes, including Hardcore mode.
- Elite subscribers and non-subscribers can play with each other.
- Costs actually depend on where you live. Subscription fees in the Asian market will cost considerably less, in accordance to the market conditions and expectations of the players and local publishers within the region.
According to Games for Windows mag the costs make it possible for Flagship studios to pump out new game content twice a month, including new items, monsters, character classes etc. It's not known at this point whether this content will be exclusive to paying subscribers.