

I know there are some genuinely decent games out there with tolerable, free-ish business models - "Dungeons & Dragons Online" comes to mind - but if I like something enough I'll happily pay a monthly fee if it means not getting nickel and dimed in-game. I learned my lesson a while back when I downloaded the slick-looking "Allods Online," only to discover the game ultimately herds players into its cash shop for essential and pricey items. until the aggressive sales pitch kicks in. Yes, it's possible to enjoy yourself for a while.


Let's face it: "free to play" online games are basically the "free" timeshare condo vacations of the video game world. Some people think it's crazy to pay a monthly fee for an online role-playing game, but if you're a devoted fan of the genre it can be pretty dicey going the no-subscription route.
