By John Walker on June 29th, 2011 at 1:58 pm.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun Ltd. announces Rock, Paper, Shotgun is to go free-to-read, introduces new NanoPayment™ Technology™
BATH, UK, 29 June, 2011 – In a move once more demonstrating that Rock, Paper, Shotgun Ltd is at the forefront of online PC gaming news development initiatives, the organisation is delighted to announce that as of the 1st July 2011 www.rockpapershotgun.com will be going free-to-read.
“Once again Rock, Paper, Shotgun Ltd has proven that it’s ahead of the curve, pushing forward new synergic stratagems for dynamic reader integration,” explained RPS representative, Dave Tosser. “We believe that by moving RPS forward in this free-to-read direction, our web enterprise once again advances the scheme for all interactive users on a broad dynamic scale.”
Where other gaming sites are still using the outdated model of offering their information without the option for consumers to choose to pay for content at will, Rock, Paper, Shotgun is taking the bold step forward to introduce optional micropayments to all its free-to-read posts.
“This is such a great opportunity for our readers,” RPS founder and creative director Dave Tosser points out. “As we continue to transition our business for the future we’re reviewing our practises, like most media organisations, to ensure we are investing even more in the areas which will advance our progress and secure the company’s future as a successful and profitable publisher. Finally people will be able to pay for the free content they want to receive.”
Of course there will be no need for readers to pay anything at all to read the new Rock, Paper, Shotgun. The first two paragraphs of every post will always be accessible to everyone, and readers can read them as often as they want, wherever they want, unlimited times*. The rest of the post will become available to those who make the RPS patented NanoPayments™, of anything from just $0.59® to only $299.99 per article. And Premium Users will continue to receive the same excellent service for exactly the same price as everyone else.
Launching at the start of next month, this new initiative aims to make the site more accessible to both readers and advertisers alike.
“This is the next big step forward in online content distribution,” said RPS co-owner and CTFO Ian McProfits. “Our readers will have access to more opportunities to make payments than on any other gaming site out there, thanks to the new paradigm of online games reading technological innovation opportunities. Paying for free content has never been easier!”
The NanoPayment™ technology is being introduced as part of Rock, Paper, Shotgun’s plans to be delivered exclusively via RPS Ltd.’s new offline portal, the rMat™. The mousemat/portable browsing device will be launched exclusively on Rock, Paper, Shotgun’s rStore in September, for an RRP of £989.99, and will be the exclusive way to read the site.
*Up to a maximum of four times.



29/06/2011 at 14:00 President Weasel says:
As someone who subscribes to RPS, I am angry that you are trying to introduce both payment systems simultaneously.
29/06/2011 at 14:07 Gnoupi says:
Exactly. What about the people who paid for it earlier?
Are we getting a “premium” hat?
29/06/2011 at 14:15 Alexander Norris says:
Yes. Two paragraphs? That’s two paragraphs too many. I’ve been a subscriber for eleventy years, and I demand a refund!
29/06/2011 at 14:16 DBG says:
Need Premium Hat now!
29/06/2011 at 15:04 Brutal Deluxe says:
Well that’s it, you’ve left me no recourse but to pirate your website. So long, suckers.
29/06/2011 at 15:27 Out Reach says:
what happens if rogue journalists put way to much text into the first two paraphrases to side step this initiative?
29/06/2011 at 16:35 Lajcik says:
What about Platinum and Diamond accounts? Will those be discontinued? :/
29/06/2011 at 16:35 Odeon says:
Won’t SOMEbody PLEASE think of the CHILDREN!
29/06/2011 at 17:39 PoulWrist says:
Indeed, I cancelled my subscription this minute.
29/06/2011 at 19:13 smokingkipper says:
I would buy an RPS hat, I already own the t-shirt.
Give me hat, damn it.
29/06/2011 at 14:01 Meneth says:
My comments are going free to read as well!
Anyone can see the first paragraph or so of every comment.
To see the rest of my comment, just send me $10.
29/06/2011 at 14:09 egg651 says:
Anyone can read my comments, assuming they’ve purchased my patented virtual monocular eye enhancement package (c) (r) for a mere 70 Eggbucks.*
*Eggbucks may be converted from any standard currency at a variable rate of 0.1% exclusively at http://www.whyamispendingsomuchonthingsthatarentevenrealireallyneedtotakealonghardlookatmylife.com
29/06/2011 at 14:26 niko86 says:
Without even reading your comment egg I’ve posted a near copy of it … lame. Why am i so unoriginal?
29/06/2011 at 14:02 Njordsk says:
LMAO
that’s why I love RPS
29/06/2011 at 16:34 caesarbear says:
me too
29/06/2011 at 14:03 Schaulustiger says:
I guess this is the only way a PC gaming site can be as profitable as a console site.
29/06/2011 at 14:08 Sweedums says:
PC GAMING JOURNALISM IS DEAD
didn’t you hear?
29/06/2011 at 14:25 phlebas says:
I didn’t hear. Was it in paragraph three?
29/06/2011 at 14:53 c-Row says:
Well played, phlebas.
29/06/2011 at 22:42 destroy.all.monsters says:
All I know is that I want a copy of your talking browser Phlebas.
I just hope it speaks in the dulcet tones of the Amiga.
29/06/2011 at 14:03 bglamb says:
In the past I’ve been forced to overlook many free articles due to there being no system to pay for them. I’m glad RPS are finally starting to correct this.
29/06/2011 at 14:04 Dlarit says:
I’m going to rage quit right this second! wait where is the cancel account button!
29/06/2011 at 15:42 Stupoider says:
Bah, bunch of WHINERS. RPS is a BUSINESS working for PROFIT, not a CHARITY. The SELF ENTITLEMENT in this community is bloody rampant, you all need to get some PERSPECTIVE. DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT, CRYBABIES.
(How do you like my anti-protest buzzwords?)
29/06/2011 at 21:08 Batolemaeus says:
You clearly are unexperienced at this. You should’ve asked for his stuff, and also told him to get a life so he could pay.
30/06/2011 at 04:31 RCGT says:
I’m going to buy PREMIUM ACCESS and take screenshots to TROLL YOU ALL.
Don’t you wish you had $300 bucks to waste like me, PEASANTS??
29/06/2011 at 14:04 STiger says:
“$0.59® to only $299.99″
Now owned by an American company, yeah?
29/06/2011 at 18:59 arccos says:
All other currencies are charged at three times the current exchange rate.
29/06/2011 at 19:14 Carra says:
As he said: an american company.
30/06/2011 at 04:32 RCGT says:
Icelandic company tbh.
01/07/2011 at 10:33 HeavyStorm says:
So maybe this means EUA will receive content earlier? And heck, will there be any kind of pre-ordering articles, like that so much hyped Skyrim review?
I can’t wait to spend more money on free stuff! F2R is the best!
29/06/2011 at 14:04 povu says:
Oh you…
29/06/2011 at 14:04 drakkheim says:
Can I get it on steam?
29/06/2011 at 14:11 RC-1290'Dreadnought' says:
Steam doesn’t support the rMat™ yet.
29/06/2011 at 14:41 wcaypahwat says:
Yes. Unless you live in the UK.
29/06/2011 at 14:04 RiptoR says:
Where can I put my creditcard info? Can’t seem to find the payment option anywhere?!?
29/06/2011 at 14:04 alphager says:
RPS has a capture-the-flag officer? Splendid!
Also, what happens to buyers of RPS:Gold Edition? Will we be grandfathered in? And who is going to wear the virtual hats?
29/06/2011 at 14:05 jealouspirate says:
Multiple payment options empower me as a consumer! Spending money makes me feel good about myself! Where are the hats with puns written on them?
29/06/2011 at 14:05 applecup says:
A++ would lol again
29/06/2011 at 14:09 Berzee says:
Instead of article hyperlink contained bobcat.
29/06/2011 at 14:05 subedii says:
This is ridiculous!
Do you truly believe that such an industry model is sustainable without the provision of hats?
29/06/2011 at 14:05 Berzee says:
*snort*
Wouldn’t it be moar fiar to allow people to pay for only cosmetic changes?
(For example, you could make the text be lightest grey on a white background, and in the RPS Shop you could buy black text.
Also, can I buy a red background for my comments plz, to finally get the respect I deserve.)
29/06/2011 at 14:06 JohnArr says:
I hope there is some sort of cosmetic change to my avatar when I pay $299.99 for an article. I want other readers to look at me and think, ‘Wow, he’s cool. He’s making a statement.’
29/06/2011 at 14:13 RC-1290'Dreadnought' says:
Only when other people view your avatar.
29/06/2011 at 14:53 skurmedel says:
You’ll get a pair of virtual $1000 Japanese designer jeans.
29/06/2011 at 14:58 somini says:
I didn’t vpay, so I can’t see your avatar…
29/06/2011 at 14:06 Nathan says:
I for one welcome our nano-transaction overlords.
29/06/2011 at 14:06 kikito says:
I could not find the “RPS Hat Shop” link. Where is it?
29/06/2011 at 14:06 Gnoupi says:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/can-i-donate-or-subscribe-to-rps-like-with-money/ the page is now dead.
Is that a coincidence?
I THINK NOT.
29/06/2011 at 14:25 JFS says:
This calls for riiiiiiiiiiiiooooooooooooottt!!! Pew pew!
29/06/2011 at 14:07 Nero says:
What about hats?
29/06/2011 at 14:07 skinlo says:
NEEDS MOAR HATS!!!!!!11!!1!11
29/06/2011 at 14:07 mynameisme says:
Will reading monocles be available in the nanopayment store?
29/06/2011 at 14:08 juandemarco says:
What about the DLCs? :P
29/06/2011 at 14:08 amateurviking says:
Where do I sign?
29/06/2011 at 14:09 Freud says:
How can you guys give an information advantage to the readers with the biggest wallet?!? My rage about this is almost endless.
29/06/2011 at 17:13 Mr Bismarck says:
You can download more rage for just $11.99.
29/06/2011 at 14:09 Keukeu says:
Can I buy monocle for my avatar?
29/06/2011 at 14:24 niko86 says:
Virtual monocle’s are required for reading RPS small print. None compliance with said small print can and will incur addition NanoPayment charges.
Monocles can be purchased using RPS NanoPayments to purchase virtual F-U credits. RPS Monocle retailing at 42 F-U.
Current exchange rate 1 F-U —> £2.21.
29/06/2011 at 14:09 VA1N says:
Take my money!
29/06/2011 at 14:11 pakoito says:
But D00000000DS it’sa free like leage of leyents!!! bettar tat odar games cus is frii
29/06/2011 at 14:11 Lack_26 says:
Thy should rlas DLC as wll, the Vrb DLC could b £12 and contain 4 randomly slctd vrbs that will b addd into posts. That or rmov all the vrbs and hav thm addd in by day one DLC sinc thy wrn’t rady whn th articl wnt gold. You could gt micro-DLC for punctuation, as wll.
The Letter ‘e’ DLC can be purchased at just £10.
29/06/2011 at 14:17 ucfalumknight says:
I think the DLC should be released BEFORE the actual article. That way we can get really excited about the potential of a potential article that we may be potentially interested in.
29/06/2011 at 14:31 Temple says:
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
[pirated the DLC for you]
29/06/2011 at 14:12 Mike says:
Aww, David Tosser is back! He’s been behind the scenes for too long.
29/06/2011 at 14:19 Lambchops says:
David “call me Dave” Tosser. A legend indeed. May all his opinions be lauded and his profit margins engorged.
29/06/2011 at 14:23 westyfield says:
Indeed, long has Dave Tosser lain in wait, biding his time. Now the twin forces of Tosser and McProfits unite, and are shown to be unstoppable!
29/06/2011 at 15:09 sonofsanta says:
He’s not been behind the scenes, you just needed to press the Reveal button on your remote to see him pop up on the front page.
29/06/2011 at 15:22 Nick says:
I thought he was in prison for mass murder!
29/06/2011 at 14:12 benjamin says:
This is the day RPS dies.
29/06/2011 at 14:23 subedii says:
I’ve been saying this for months now, ever since they went “mainstream”. Blegh.
29/06/2011 at 14:12 lasnicholaslovell says:
I know that this is satire, but you are wilfully missing the point of free-to-play.
It is to remove the barrier that paying a monthly subscription puts in the way of attracting new users
It is to allow players to choose to spend on what they want to spend on (progress, self-expression, collection, whatever)
It is not about selling the first two paragraphs of content: all the content is generally free. It’s status items that sell
It will enable more games to survive. Games that are too niche to have massmarket appeal, but which have core fans
It means that those who use the game most, and enjoy the games most, pay the most, rather than the current experience where those who don’t really play very much subsidise the rest.
I know that you like to get angry about things. I get the satire. But it would be better if you weren’t missing the target.
29/06/2011 at 14:19 ucfalumknight says:
Every party has a pooper that’s why we invited you! Party Pooper!
29/06/2011 at 14:19 RC-1290'Dreadnought' says:
You make me sad.
29/06/2011 at 14:24 Buttless Boy says:
“I know that this is satire.”
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means
29/06/2011 at 14:27 John Walker says:
That’s a bold interpretation of getting the satire.
29/06/2011 at 14:27 wu wei says:
It is not about selling the first two paragraphs of content: all the content is generally free.
Not in all cases. Champions Online definitely has non-free missions.
It’s status items that sell
Spiral Knights charges you for more game time per day.
It will enable more games to survive. Games that are too niche to have massmarket appeal, but which have core fans.
I’m not so convinced. I think many free to play games are going to rapidly hit the other hard economic limiter on their success: gamers only have a finite amount of time.
I get the satire. But it would be better if you weren’t missing the target.
It’s almost as if “free to play” was a broad term for a bunch of different marketing & business strategies, which the article itself was cross-referencing in a humorous melange with recent events, related tropes and parodic representation of the more common knee jerk responses to the whole concept.
29/06/2011 at 14:30 subedii says:
Oh someone’s definitely missing the target alright…
29/06/2011 at 14:14 Mr_Hands says:
With this pricing structure, RPS is poised to compete with console video game news sites!
29/06/2011 at 14:15 AlabasterSlim says:
Well this sucks. It’s just going to attract a bunch of griefers who will eat up the free content and ruin the site for the rest of us.
At least with the old subscription model there was a pay wall keeping all those 13 year old Chavs at bay.
29/06/2011 at 14:23 fiddlesticks says:
I see a lot of people with this attitude, and frankly, I think it’s disgusting. Rather than shun any new member as potential griefer or cheater, we should embrace this change. Yes, there may be problems at first, but over time, those griefers will get bored and leave. Yes, many newcomers may have problems with reading at first, but with time and practice, their skill level should rise sharply and they too, can become part of the hivemind.
It is now our chance to show that we’re an open community, one that’s willing to accept anyone, regardless of their income or social status. Aquinas spoke of the mythical free-to-read magazine. That magazine will soon be a reality and we will be crowned its kings.
Or better than kings. Gods.
29/06/2011 at 14:27 subedii says:
Oh come on, you don’t live in the UK Slim, you don’t get chavs over there. Think of this as a valuable cultural experience.
On a slightly more serious note: You were seriously able to buy a full game by selling off your hats? Man, I’ve been missing out.
29/06/2011 at 15:17 Dozer says:
Quit screwing around.
30/06/2011 at 05:42 WhenInRome says:
My NanoPayments are augmented (it gives you access to the 4th paragraph!) All of you mech-NanoPayments are electronic old men! WE HAVE THE SUPERIOR PAYMENT METHOD!
29/06/2011 at 14:16 lunarplasma says:
Why are the prices not in €?
29/06/2011 at 14:18 Kdansky says:
0.59 $ -> 0.99 €
And so on.
29/06/2011 at 14:19 prunesaver says:
Sure the prices should be in ‘RPS Points’
29/06/2011 at 14:27 fitzroy_doll says:
@Kdansky Exactly.
In the world: http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=EUR
but game pricing in Europe is more like http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=INR
29/06/2011 at 14:31 Joe Duck says:
You mean Nanoeuros™
29/06/2011 at 15:07 sonofsanta says:
@Joe Duck: Euros and Nanoeuros are soon to be the same thing anyway, thanks to Greece and Ireland’s fantastic, forward thinking economies.
LOL POLITICAL HUMOUR
29/06/2011 at 16:58 Malibu Stacey says:
You meant economic not political.
You’re welcome
29/06/2011 at 14:17 Kdansky says:
How long until Lawyers will descend upon RPS because they have not really trademarked “Nanopayment” and registered 0.59$?
>Our readers will have access to more opportunities to make payments than on any other gaming site out there, thanks to the new paradigm of online games reading technological innovation opportunities.
I love it.
29/06/2011 at 14:17 Lambchops says:
I paid £18.73 sterling for the status privilige of posting in bold. It’s superb and truly show that what I say is much more important than those plebian commentators with simple unboldened opinions.
.
Oh and I’m oh so much better than those bold n’ underline toffs. More money than sense that lot. Extra 300 shillings and a thruppeny bit for an underline? Entitled gits!
29/06/2011 at 14:21 westyfield says:
Italics, bitch. Now who’s laughing?
29/06/2011 at 14:22 DiGi says:
Muhahah!
29/06/2011 at 14:23 westyfield says:
Shit! Where’s my wallet?
29/06/2011 at 14:32 Joe Duck says:
I would pay for a Comic Sans upgrade. Then we’d see who rules the interwebz!
29/06/2011 at 14:34 Nero says:
What now?29/06/2011 at 14:43 McDan says:
I’m scared.
29/06/2011 at 15:19 Dozer says:
▲
▲ ▲
29/06/2011 at 17:18 Raiyan 1.0 says:
I’m so poor, that the only way I can feel the assertiveness of writing in bold and italics is by copy-pasting all your comments.
I paid £18.73 sterling for the status privilige of posting in bold. It’s superb and truly show that what I say is much more important than those plebian commentators with simple unboldened opinions.
.
Oh and I’m oh so much better than those bold n’ underline toffs. More money than sense that lot. Extra 300 shillings and a thruppeny bit for an underline? Entitled gits!
▲
▲ ▲ (What the fuck is this?)
And the best part is, RPS’ patented RPS Anti Cheat program and DRM can’t do shit to me.
30/06/2011 at 03:22 liqourish says:
Hahahaha. You can’t triforce.
29/06/2011 at 14:18 Terics says:
Finally maybe my friends will try this.
29/06/2011 at 14:19 GoodPatton says:
NanoPayments…Maximum Cash out!
Hope the site gets a Hi-Def texture pack and tessellation down the line.
29/06/2011 at 14:19 nerd says:
I was hoping this big announcement was going to be about Episode 3.
oh well…
29/06/2011 at 14:20 Gundrea says:
I totally called this about a year ago. Link to my comment on this very article predicting it was only a matter of time before RPS went F2P.
29/06/2011 at 16:03 ColOfNature says:
Whu? Guh? My brain hurts.
29/06/2011 at 14:20 andyhavens says:
Will this update my Facebook Friends(tm) every time I read a premium story so that they’ll be jealous and have to read it too? The only reason I pay for anything on the ‘net anymore is to make my Friends jealous that they haven’t had the chance to pay for it… yet.
I don’t mind paying for Quality Content, but I insist on being able to rub my Friends noses in it.
PS: I’m looking for an RPS reader who has read all the articles, ever on this site and made at least 500 comments to sell me their account.
29/06/2011 at 14:20 darkkis says:
CCP did satire dev blog about ‘subscription 2.0′, mocking micropayments in 2008 aaand look where we are today :) http://www.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&bid=549
29/06/2011 at 17:00 Malibu Stacey says:
Oh that’s irony. I’d completely forgotten about that.
Bravo!
29/06/2011 at 14:21 trioptimum says:
Do those of us who have been reading from the start get some sort of cosmetic and ultimately meaningless reward?
29/06/2011 at 14:21 chabuhi says:
This is total bullshit! Next thing you know we’re going to have to pay $9.99 for verbs and prepositions. Where’s the horse armor? RPS sucks – f’ing sellouts. And you still haven’t fixed crafting.
Oh, BTW, when are you planning on getting around to reporting the hacker breach of RPS’ thousand monkeys on typewriters that exposed all of our passwords and credit card numbers?
29/06/2011 at 14:21 R10T says:
.. and 4.500 people just cancelled RPS subscription..
29/06/2011 at 14:22 JFS says:
Will we be able to customize our comment avatars? I’d pay as much as 25 € if only I could put a monocle on that beast.
29/06/2011 at 14:23 Ikkusei says:
I can’t wait to revel in my premium status, browsing RPS while wearing my $1000 Japanese jeans and selecting virtual headwear on the rMat’s rHat app. (Free to all us premium users, $Your Soul to everyone else)
Edit: Edited for redundant tautology. Waitaminute…
29/06/2011 at 14:23 Ezhar says:
You forgot to leak an internal newsletter first.
29/06/2011 at 17:27 Rambal says:
There is a leaked document about this, but it´s £199 to download.
29/06/2011 at 14:25 bwion says:
You know who wins in a scenario like this? The pirates, who can use all the money they save by not buying any games ever to pay your exorbitant nano-fees. Meanwhile, we honest gamers who have all filed for bankruptcy as a result of games being like sixty bucks these days and also the DRM makes your computer explode, it totally does, it happened to a friend of mine, must drag our shattered bodies to the Transfus-O-Mat to sell our blood, all to afford your free content.
ENJOY YOUR BLOOD MONEY, PIRATE-ENABLING MONSTERS!
29/06/2011 at 14:25 bill says:
Er.. with a “subscribe” option, and with dabbling with Flattr (that didn’t last long btw..) and even with an advertising based model, is RPS really in a position to be making jokes about F2P games?
I guess you don’t sell t-shirts or mugs like many F2P sites, but still…
29/06/2011 at 14:25 Jams O'Donnell says:
I think Dave Tosser should hold every role in the RPS hierarchy.
29/06/2011 at 14:25 DuckSauce says:
This hits the nail on the hit on how terrible free to play can be(not that it always is), awesome article!
29/06/2011 at 14:27 Grubblik says:
On sale this week only:
250RP$ = All 5 vowels + Bonus Y
100RP$ = Paragraph Spacing
Get your RP$ from the online store now!
29/06/2011 at 14:27 Bodminzer says:
All transactions must be paid for in ShotBucks™. Smallest transaction pricepoint: 59SB. Smallest SB denomination: 50SB.
29/06/2011 at 14:27 Burlypenguin says:
Do you accept Bitcoin?
29/06/2011 at 16:50 Screamer says:
I was thinking more in the line of I.O.U’s……
29/06/2011 at 14:27 Dirtyboy says:
I am so going to download pirated copies of RPS from now on.
29/06/2011 at 14:29 Joe Duck says:
Yes, yes, that is all well and fine, but the most important thing right now was not disclosed: Is there a Mac version?
29/06/2011 at 14:34 roryok says:
A mac version of a PC gaming site, because macs are just very expensive PCs
29/06/2011 at 14:30 roryok says:
I love you guys. And I don’t mean the talented comedic writers behind RPS, although I do so love them – I mean the commenters. You guys crack me up every time. Well spoken sirs.
29/06/2011 at 14:30 Nero says:
I’ll wait for a sale.
29/06/2011 at 14:32 Bluebreaker says:
“Paying for free content has never been easier!”
29/06/2011 at 14:33 Lobotomist says:
Scary.
Irony is based on truth. And that truth is approaching us quickly (not for RPS, but other stuff)
29/06/2011 at 14:34 Temple says:
Any1 no web site wear i can download rps stuff pleaz!
29/06/2011 at 14:35 roryok says:
http://www.thepiraterockpapershotgunbay.com
29/06/2011 at 14:35 Greg Wild says:
As a subscriber-shareholder (that’s how it works, right?), I fully endorse this radical new project.
29/06/2011 at 14:39 testman3 says:
But can you also pay via SMS? And will you guys open a store for hats and clothing items for the avatars?
29/06/2011 at 14:39 talon03 says:
This is utterly dispicable. To treat your loyal readers in such a way is utterly disgusting.
In a sign of protest, I will continue to read your excellent article opening paragraphs, but with a sneer of contempt on my face.
29/06/2011 at 14:39 Alex Bakke says:
I paid £9291 for the pleasure of meeting with Horace (Praise upon his endlessness) and my eyes are still sore.
29/06/2011 at 14:45 Misnomer says:
You…you…monetized me. Ewwww.
29/06/2011 at 14:46 Dana says:
What.
29/06/2011 at 14:51 thebluemonkey81 says:
I too have opinions about this
29/06/2011 at 14:52 Eagle0600 says:
How can you possibly justify this decision? You’re just inviting hoards of new readers who aren’t serious about news. This is a travesty; you are going to ruin the website for us hardcore newsreaders!
29/06/2011 at 14:52 Jajusha says:
Wait, so $0.59® to only $299.99 per article == €0.59® to only €299.99 per article??? You won’t be getting my euros for sure!
29/06/2011 at 14:53 Raziel_aXd says:
Whatever, I’m still pirating the whole site and I don’t care about high-def textures or hats.
29/06/2011 at 14:57 strange headache says:
Fuck yeah, Dave Tosser!
29/06/2011 at 15:00 0p8 says:
i call for protest and riot by endlessly repeat posting on an indestructable comment thread.
(got here too late and thats all i could come up with)
29/06/2011 at 15:03 zeroskill says:
Hats or GTFO. No seriously RPS stop beating the dead horse, its deader then dead. This has been discussed to death in 2010 why its good for a game like TF2 to have an item shop. Horse: uber-dead.
29/06/2011 at 15:03 sonofsanta says:
What a brilliant idea. In comparison to a $1000 physical magazine, which would contain only limited articles and slowly deteriorate over time due to Grubby Toilet Hands, my RPS reading can now be infinite in scope and eternally pristine.
I am particularly looking forward to accessing RPS on a mousmat so I can lovingly rub my mouse over Jim’s beautiful, beautiful face.
29/06/2011 at 15:05 The Sombrero Kid says:
$0.59® lol
29/06/2011 at 15:12 markcocjin says:
We’ve decided to take our comments to our own online journo distribution outlet. We believe that RPS should not be a monopoly and we have the right to make full profits out of our words.
People will need to come over to our newly opened PC games journalism digital distribution Arpee-Es. We feature exclusive comments and shoe sale spam on our system not seen elsewhere in the internet.
We feature the following:
Receive our DLC (Down Loaded Comments) for free exclusively from us.
Comments that can be read even in offline mode.
No need to have the browser running while you read.
Click the links to directly download individual document files of each comment.
You don’t need Arpee-Es when you purchase our comment hard copies through retail.
*Arpee-Es is the evolution from our first comment system from years ago known as Verbal Reaction.
29/06/2011 at 15:13 MonkeyMonster says:
What happens if you can google cache the page and read for free! OUTRAGE on the streets paved with gold.
29/06/2011 at 15:22 noobnob says:
Looking at the source code works too.
Sure, it’s not formatted and you won’t see the images and the videos, but you won’t see ads either!
29/06/2011 at 15:16 slpk says:
Hmm, synergic stratagems for $299.99? JUST SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY
Also, don’t listen to the naysayers. They never were true fans.
29/06/2011 at 15:16 noobnob says:
So…
RPS bought by News Corp?
29/06/2011 at 15:24 Optimaximal says:
When’s the RPS:Vietnam DLC due?
I fucking hope it isn’t a pre-order exclusive… unless it’s the Rum Doings pre-order exclusive. That’s fine by me.
29/06/2011 at 15:27 MajorManiac says:
Brilliant as always John.
29/06/2011 at 15:31 Stardog says:
this is a fricken joke itll attract noobs who gots no grammar.
29/06/2011 at 15:31 ColOfNature says:
Dear Sir
I am disgusted at the naked avarice on display here. What next, renaming the site “Rock, Paper, Mammon”?!?!!?!?? Please cancel my subscription forthwith.
Yours
In-a-snit
Tunbridge Wells.
29/06/2011 at 15:42 LionsPhil says:
They should unhook Gravatar and offer upload of custom comment thread icons for moneybucks. Maybe let people buy tags for so many pence per letter (so as to limit their use and thus maintain value). So many opportunities to monetize the ramblings of Angry Internet Men being passed over.
29/06/2011 at 15:47 Ginger Yellow says:
Ridiculous. People who pay for Rossignol’s posts are going to be totally OP.
29/06/2011 at 15:54 Tretiak says:
Rock.Paper.Shotgun.PAL.UK-Proper
Size: 7.3GB
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪●●●●◦◦◦◦◦◦◦□□□▫▫▫▫▫●●●●●●▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪●●●●
http://4wrd.us/asdf
Download fast , single link..
▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪●●●●◦◦◦◦◦◦◦□□□▫▫▫▫▫●●●●●●▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪●●●●
29/06/2011 at 16:05 Urthman says:
Penny Arcade did this a couple days ago. And theirs was funny.
29/06/2011 at 16:07 Chuck84 says:
Similar Humour Derived From Topical Subject Shocker!!!
29/06/2011 at 17:50 Nick says:
That can’t be correct.. Penny Arcade is never funny.
29/06/2011 at 18:25 Malibu Stacey says:
That’s not true Nick. There was a time when it was funny. Like the Fruit Fucker 2000 strips. OK so that was 10 years ago………
29/06/2011 at 16:07 Rambal says:
Why my account is billing me everytime someone comments?
29/06/2011 at 16:08 aircool says:
Well, I don’t like it, but I guess the £10 for punctuation is a necessity.
29/06/2011 at 16:33 Odeon says:
No wonder it’s missing from so many comments all across the Web…
29/06/2011 at 16:22 Tei says:
I have a bad experience with free websites. How do you know if a free website will not infect your computer with virus? Or sell your details to sudan pirates, that will take his boat to europe to get you and ask for a ransom?
You never know!. At least, wen I pay money ( Reddit Gold, Something Awnful Titles, ) I know I have RIGHTS, because my money buy me rights.
29/06/2011 at 18:10 Temple says:
This is the internet everyone on it has a right and an entitlement to whatever they think they have a right and an entitlement to.
And will be angry if you say otherwise.
Or if you agree with them.
29/06/2011 at 17:11 Fitzmogwai says:
Fuck you, RockPaperShotgun. Fuck your Cock The Fuck Off Ian McProfits. So much for your readership, eh? So much for your INTEGRITY as HUMAN BEINGS. So you want another gold-plated helicopter, do you? Well you won’t be getting one with any of my money, fuckers.
I just can’t believe that you’d do this. WHY? I suppose that the complacency of the readerships of other sites that SOLD their customers down the river of nanopayments, like Minesweeper Alert and Desktop Tower Offence, gave you the idea that we’d just BEND OVER like them and let you FUCK US. Well FuCK YOU.
RPS used to stand for something, but you decided to throw all that away in the pursuit of mere money. I hope you’re happy with it, because whatever RPS used to be DIED TODAY.
29/06/2011 at 17:13 HunterJax says:
This is a completely reasonable system good sir
29/06/2011 at 17:14 golddragon says:
Hats, hats, hats….what about my RPS ROBE with monogrammed initials?
29/06/2011 at 17:31 nyck says:
I don’t understand, is this a TF2 Parody? LOL
29/06/2011 at 17:33 metalangel says:
I am not paying for these extra paragraphs when they’re new. I am going to wait for them to be all bundled into the “Post Of The Year” edition, so I get the news as the author intended.
29/06/2011 at 17:57 Bullfrog says:
Dear sirs you may all go ‘Ugandan discussions’ yourselves, please consider my subscription cancelled forthwith.
29/06/2011 at 17:57 The Dude says:
Man, you’re following such an old business model. If you’re not charging per page visit and locking all your text into a non-selectable flash container that times out and blanks out after seven minutes of access you’re gonna lose out.
29/06/2011 at 18:04 jama says:
That’s it, I’m gonna open a new steam group and start a boycott.
29/06/2011 at 18:38 Daniel Klein says:
Once I got a hat for giving someone a graphics card. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF HATS EVER SINCE!
29/06/2011 at 18:58 SpinalJack says:
I thought Dave Tosser died
29/06/2011 at 19:15 smokingkipper says:
Ban This Sick Filth
29/06/2011 at 19:17 Daiv says:
I demand the right to thrash freeloaders with my trusty birch!
29/06/2011 at 19:19 smokingkipper says:
Also, what happens when we have read all the articles, what happens when we there is nothing else to read? Do you have the resources and will power to keep us going?
29/06/2011 at 20:39 kregg says:
OK guys, I have a Gift Pass for 1 x RPS. Now that it is free-to-read, what will I do with it?
29/06/2011 at 20:48 MythArcana says:
Bwahahaha! Touche, RPS!
P.S. My ass is Free to Smell if Kotlick is interested.
29/06/2011 at 22:09 alilsneaky says:
I see what you did there.
29/06/2011 at 23:53 Sleepymatt says:
I tried to pay you for these pearls of wisdom but apparently your Paypal and Google Checkout accounts have been frozen. Please can you sell us some 5th rate keyboard-cleaner’s scribblings with access to any future writing you may or may not produce thrown in as a freebie? Multiple payment options depending on the awfulness of the scribblings should be available at your own discretion, naturally.
Thank you.
30/06/2011 at 00:26 Devan says:
The sad thing is how close this is to the real industry. That polished marketing-speak which not only manages to make it sound like the speaker has the best interest of consumers at heart, but attempts to generate its own demand by convincing people that THIS IS WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED. While in reality those “innovative advancements” are all focused on getting more revenue for less cost.
Not saying the desire for profit is unreasonable, but selling a lie about how beneficial it is for customers and psychological manipulation/PR BS is what really gets me.
30/06/2011 at 10:20 tameimpala says:
“explained RPS representative, Dave Tosser”
classic.
30/06/2011 at 10:39 Zarunil says:
THIS INNOVATION IS NOT DYNAMIC ENOUGH!
I DEMAND MORE SYNERGIC DYNAMOS!
30/06/2011 at 10:40 Flobulon says:
What a shame.
30/06/2011 at 15:50 Thermal Ions says:
Exactly frightlever. RPS may appear to be working for the greater good of their readers, but you just wait, it won’t be so pretty down the track when their patented NanoPayment™ technology has been quietly licenced to every gaming site you visit. You’ll wake up one day and have to rely on Fox News for your gaming news because your 2 free paragraphs will suddenly be 2 words, the article header image will be a 16×16 pixel icon, and access to the Hivemind Throbometer reading updates will only be for premium subscribers who promise their firstborn daughter on her 18th birthday.
30/06/2011 at 15:59 adonf says:
Wouldn’t it be even funnier if this was true (except for the silly bits like the dedicated hardware) ? Well we’ll see next month.
30/06/2011 at 16:02 steviesteveo says:
For all I don’t read walls of text in comments I’d hate to advantage people who just post “fag” in comments instead.
30/06/2011 at 17:41 Araxiel says:
What happens to my RPS Gold account?