I know this game is similar to Phantasy Star Online, which also had paid online play, but that business model seems so outdated by now. These games aren't really persistent, nor are they massively multiplayer -- you're in groups of four, like a very basic FPS. Maybe the Japanese have different standards, but if Monster Hunter 3 Tri is ever released in the West, I think Capcom will have to make the online features free just to maintain parity with everything else in the market.