How can and do a MMO have exspansions?

How can a MMO be a whole mmo, but have different expansions that let people play in more places and more levels?

it sounds kinda complex to me. what if someone signs up for a MMO, then a expansion comes? does his current version gets upgraded, or does he have to get the expansion?

it almost sounds like the player is playing a single player RPG with sequels, but has online game play. is that possible?

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Originally Posted by SnOwBunZz

in the most cases, like free mmorpgs and p2p but not b2p mmos you get the expansion for free

but dont count on it if its a b2p and p2p mmo

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Care to give an example of a P2P the does that?

WoW-BC & WotLK, both the expansions you had/have to pay for after you purchased the main client

Star Wars

FFXI

DAoC

All of these premium MMO's you had to pay for the expansions seperate from the main client at one point in time.

You cannot say anything about Vanguard, LoTR, & DDO cause they havent released an expansion yet.

Even some P2P that went F2P had expansions you had to pay for. One example is Anarchy Online.

You could try to argue that they have package deals where they sell the main client and one or more expansions in one box set, but what were they before that?

To the person quoted, I dont see how you came to that conclusion. You know very little about P2P MMORPGs.

You may try to argue about GW, but it only had one expansion and it was sold seperate and in a package deal. So that would be moot.

NOW back to the OP:

In MMOG's where you purchased the main client and later they release an expansion (P2P & B2P), you still have to pay for the new content from the new expansion. You are not barred from what you have been playing (original client), you are just locked out of the new content.

In the end, it really depends on how the developers/publishers decide to package the material in the expansion.

No matter what, you still can enjoy the original material.

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Originally Posted by Justin1221

How can a MMO be a whole mmo, but have different expansions that let people play in more places and more levels?

it sounds kinda complex to me. what if someone signs up for a MMO, then a expansion comes? does his current version gets upgraded, or does he have to get the expansion?

it almost sounds like the player is playing a single player RPG with sequels, but has online game play. is that possible?

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hurrrr gee maybe the expansion adds content and areas that only another player with the explanion can access kinda like how you gotta be a member on runescape to access the member features but your character can still co exist with them in the game world hurrrr durrrr nurrrrrr

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Originally Posted by Justin1221

that's what i thought.

but isn't that kinda screwed up?

kinda takes away the usual feel of a MMORPG i get.

sounds like the kinda thing that will screw a paying player over board.

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huh? you get what you pay for

dont want the extra content? then dont pay for it

have you even played any mmo's before???

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Originally Posted by cyber7chink

Care to explain how you think it screws the paying player?

1. Is the player barred from anything he was able to do before the expansion came out?
2. Is the purchase of the expansion required?
3. Is the quality of service or community going to be less if you do not purchase an expansion?

What you do not understand about P2P games is that the service, community, and content is better than your average F2P MMORPG.

Why pay for expansions? Cause it adds to the content you enjoy.
Why do we have to pay for it? How else do you think this type of premium content is going to continue?

Premium is premium for a reason.

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well, I've never played a p2p MMO before.:D

but you do make it sound like a reasonable thing.

besides. if i keep trying to look for a free MMORPG, im probably only gonna get a bunch of grind and disappointment.