5-day trials would not entice people. That is why there are such systems like membership (for runescape, etc...) and a-cash systems (for maplestory, etc... ) An example for a system which made people pay on a per month basis is ragnarok, however you must understand, gamers go to where the community is large, where the game is fun. Let me ask you a question, if there was a game which made you pay-to-play, you are most probably quite turned off. If the graphics are bad, it turns you off even more. Ultimately, if the gaming community is small, would you even bother giving the game a try?
These creators let you play for free, because it attracts you. Once you are enticed by these games, it would be hard to let go, especially for younger children. Then you would want to explore further, like runescape. You have the cash, you pay for the privileges that you never had.
Hosting free players form the community. Lets say you go to the member area to gain your resources, ores, fishes, etc... (due to the fact that its easier to obtain these resources there)
But who are the ones that are going buy your stuff? Who is going to pay the gold? Who are the ones who are willing to get ripped off?(Just kidding) The community of players who can't obtain the items as easily as you.
And if there were no 'free' players, would you even bother paying to play, when there is no market for the items you obtained?

Cheese


Koalas are here! there! over there! everywhere! arhhhh!


Oh yea, one more thing guys, help me update the football status on the football page, like whenever clubs win/lose/draw.


Thanks
Fuji_Syuusuke

Why do people create games?

1. For entertainment
2. For money

Every games need to earn profit of some kind. Even if they wanna go profitless, you need to take in account the fees for hosting a large number of players and the number of computers needed to host 100+ RuneScape servers.

If I was the creator of RuneScape, I would only give people a 5-day-trial or something, so that I wont waste money to host the free players who can play as long as they want and still receive some kind of updates.

mmmm, i find runescape very money orientated.
if u dun pay, it's like u only get to play the trailer part..

This is where many train their Prayer skill in Members. They make bonemeals here which can be used to give 4 times more experience than usual bones they bury.


RuneScape: The Ectofuntus
This is where the usage of bonemeals are carried out.


RuneScape: Castle Wars
This is the home to one of RuneScape's biggest minigame, the castle wars. This game uses the concept of the game 'Capture the flag'. The 2 portals at the extreme top and bottom is the two teams, the one in the middle allow you to be allocated to a random team.


RuneScape: Basement of Ectofuntus
This is where you collect slime, used in conjunction with the bonemeals to earn prayer experience.

so foreign to me.. yet again.