So I'd like a decent answer on this. I unsub, for whatever reason, but I can't have a word with the community of the game or the CS via the forum? Are you serious? Why is that?

 

Some ppl told me this is happening to keep out trolls/ppl who have no relation to the game but still....I think every1 should have access to the forums, regardless of the subscription status.

 

Am I wrong?

 

I'd like to hear your opinions (and a CS response but I doubt that) on the matter. I urge you to be constructive and avoid trolling/hating me

Not allowing guests to post is standard for forums.

 

It eliminates anonymous spam.

So I'd like a decent answer on this. I unsub, for whatever reason, but I can't have a word with the community of the game or the CS via the forum? Are you serious? Why is that?

 

Some ppl told me this is happening to keep out trolls/ppl who have no relation to the game but still....I think every1 should have access to the forums, regardless of the subscription status.

 

Am I wrong?

 

I'd like to hear your opinions (and a CS response but I doubt that) on the matter. I urge you to be constructive and avoid trolling/hating me

 

yes you are wrong I can't think of a single Pay 2 Play mmo that allows unsubscribed members to post on the forums.

 

To even post on the Diablo 3 forums you have to have Diablo 3 tied to your account

It is standard and it's for a good reason. Look at all the people who have unsubbed and posted their vitriol on this forum alone before their sub has run out. Why would BW want that on their forum? The forums are for those playing and paying.

I don't have a problem with that on any game's "official" forums. Those forums should be for the use of those active with the game (playing and/or subbed), because they have a vested interest in the community and improving the game. There are plenty of other gaming forums out on the 'Net that people who don't play a game can go to badmouth it (or praise it, if that's their thing).

 

BJ

Not allowing guests to post is standard for forums.

 

It eliminates anonymous spam.

 

I have used many forums for MMOs and never came across one I couldn't use before I installed the frikkin game after I was already signed up and confirmed to the website for crying out loud, It is simply ridiculous. What do they think people not playing are going to come in and spoil the forums for everyone. I think it is a bit paranoid of Bioware to do this. Like myself, I wanted to ask alot of questions before commiting myself to buying the game and paying for a monthly.

Edited June 22, 2012 by RipperNyght

All official MMO forums don't allow users without a subscription to post which you see this is the same. If we were to simply allow anyone to post on here, we'd have nothing but a series of troll threads which you can already see a couple up.

I have used many forums for MMOs and never came across one I couldn't use before I installed the frikkin game after I was already signed up and confirmed to the website for crying out loud, It is simply ridiculous. What do they think people not playing are going to come in and spoil the forums for everyone. I think it is a bit paranoid of Bioware to do this. Like myself, I wanted to ask alot of questions before commiting myself to buying the game and paying for a monthly.

 

name 1 that isnt free to play.

I have used many forums for MMOs and never came across one I couldn't use before I installed the frikkin game after I was already signed up and confirmed to the website for crying out loud, It is simply ridiculous. What do they think people not playing are going to come in and spoil the forums for everyone. I think it is a bit paranoid of Bioware to do this. Like myself, I wanted to ask alot of questions before commiting myself to buying the game and paying for a monthly.

 

You can sign up here and confirm by entering your registration code. Then, for 30 days, whether you install the game or not you can post on the forums. After that 30 days, you have to continue to be a paying subscriber. And if you've watched this forum over the last six months then you'd see that yes, exactly what you said is what happens.

 

It is standard. Even SWG, which you mention in your sig, did not allow posting on their forums if you did not have an active subscription. I know this for a fact. So I don't think you can really say you've never come across it.

Not quite democratic eh?

 

Welcome to the current state of our society: Pay to talk and pay even more to be heard. And this is everywhere.

 

There should be a section of the forum where everybody, regardless of subscription should post. Giving voice to the people et al.

Edited June 22, 2012 by Socialist

No Pay

No Say

 

Its nothing new, if your sub isnt active, or has run out you cant post.

Not quite democratic eh?

 

Welcome to the current state of our society: Pay to talk and pay even more to be heard. And this is everywhere.

 

There should be a section of the forum where everybody, regardless of subscription should post. Giving voice to the people et al.

 

I disagree.

 

Why people who don't play this game would want to post on this forum anyway? If you don't play, what's your interest in posting here? If you are considering to play - reading forums is good enough imo...

I don't know what everyone is talking about. I currently do not have a subscription to the game, I can not log into the game.... but I can post on the boards here. Though I have not tried every board, as I have only posted here and on the art forums.

Based on what?

 

This game is owned by a company, to make money. The bottom line of any company is to post a profit and re-compensate the shareholders who allow it to function. The secondary goal is to please those who do business with their company , via feedback, etc.

 

The forums are an expenditure of money made so that the company can interact with paying customers. Period. If you are not longer a paying customer, the chances that the company can change anything that will bring you back that won't lower their profits is probably zero. The chance that your remarks, no matter how important you think you are, will be of some measure of benefit to the company, is also zero -- I can almost guarantee they have heard it before.

 

Freedom of speech is required from governments, who tax us and give us laws and where we have no choice to obey. You are not required to pay for this game nor play it, and given that people who don't pay and/or who have unsubbed no longer support the game, I fail to see a LOGICAL reason for allowing these people to have a voice.

 

There are other non-restricted methods of communication with the developers -- email, twitter, facebook. So that can't be a reason.

 

There is no reason for people unhappy with the game to need to communicate with those who are except to either cause trouble or whine. Neither is profitable or useful.

 

There is nothing that needs to be said to developers or EA that can't be communicated in the "why are you leaving us" box.

 

As soon as someone gives an intelligent and logical reason for having ex-members who now badmouth the game and those who play it being allowed a voice, I'll be happy to discuss it.

It's to eliminate the truth from getting out in the open. Let's be real.

Though I wouldn't be upset about not being able to post without a subscription - the fact remains that I can indeed post without a subscription.

 

Why do I continue to post? Because I still have a interest in the game, just not an interest in playing at the moment. I also like the art community and am glad i can still post over there and contribute with more 3d works.

I think you should be allowed to continue to post unsubbed aslong as you've paid once, or have reached a certain amount of posts. Edited June 22, 2012 by DiabloDoom

I think you should be allowed to continue to post unsubbed aslong as you've paid once, or have reached a certain amount of posts.

 

At launch you could post without a subscription, they changed it. See post up top for answer.

At launch you could post without a subscription, they changed it. See post up top for answer.

 

when was it changed? I can still post.

when was it changed? I can still post.

 

You can post unsubscribed from the free month, once it runs out you cannot post until you pay the monthly fee. It changed during launch.

Edited June 22, 2012 by SWGVet

You can post unsubscribed from the free month, once it runs out you cannot post until you pay the monthly fee. It changed during launch.

 

My free month ran out on the 18th, I have no access to the game.

Not quite democratic eh?

 

Welcome to the current state of our society: Pay to talk and pay even more to be heard. And this is everywhere.

 

There should be a section of the forum where everybody, regardless of subscription should post. Giving voice to the people et al.

 

This is ridiculous. This is a video game service, not a government. There is zero reason for anyone who isn't a customer of a service to be able to comment on that service's forums - those forums are for customers only. If you want to complain about SWTOR without being a customer - go do it elsewhere (best choice would be your blog, which only your next-door neighbor and your mother read). If you want to learn about the game you can read these forums all you like (you just can't post) - or you could go to any number of fansites. Reddit has a subreddit at /r/swtor

My free month ran out on the 18th, I have no access to the game.

 

It's mostly a bug then because after the first free month is up you cannot post until you resubscribe to the game. Maybe you haven't logged out since you canceled?, that happened to me. Once you log out it should disable chat from you.

Edited June 22, 2012 by SWGVet

It's mostly a bug then because after the first free month is up you cannot post until you resubscribe to the game. Maybe you haven't logged out since you canceled?, that happened to me. Once you log out it should disable chat from you.

 

Interesting. Logged out and back in. I thought I'd be locked out last week and I was prepared for that to happen, but it was a nice surprise that I can still post.

 

What games lock people out for not having a subscription? I can still log into the EQ2 boards and post as well and I haven't had an active account with Sony for over a year now. (note: before they went free to play)

 

Is it offically posted someplace that we're locked out without a subscription?

Edited June 22, 2012 by Ironcleaver

I have used many forums for MMOs and never came across one I couldn't use before I installed the frikkin game after I was already signed up and confirmed to the website for crying out loud, It is simply ridiculous. What do they think people not playing are going to come in and spoil the forums for everyone. I think it is a bit paranoid of Bioware to do this. Like myself, I wanted to ask alot of questions before commiting myself to buying the game and paying for a monthly.

 

Want to provide some examples?

 

In fact some MMOs restrict WHERE you can post on their forums after you first subscribe. Your account has to be active for a certain amount of time before that restriction is lifted.

 

But no, I've never seen a subscription-based MMO which allowed non-subscribers to post.