Curse

Mercury Angel · Apr 14, 2007, 06:34 PM // 18:34

This came up with special bonus items;
Korea did not have a special pre-order package with weapons the same way the US and Europe did, with exclusive store-based items, so later on, they got promotional coca cola items, and people were wondering why Korea got special items.

Eventually, we saw even more special items coming out, and they did so in countries just getting Guild Wars, with the 7 sins items, and a number of people were even more frustrated.

However, though not necessarily identicle items, access to highly similar ones was granted with the Game of the Year addition.

Though yes, some countries may end up with a 'more desirable' promotion item, promotional items are promotional items; They're given out where they believe they'll do the most good, when they think they can, and how they can.

There's always the possibility in the future that accessibility will be expanded. And perhaps not, because unlike weapons, they're not customised.

And if that's not a comforting though, then take solace in the fact that the most of the regions that missed out on those promotions for minipets are going to be having their second birthdays soon.

lyra_song · Apr 14, 2007, 07:36 PM // 19:36

Nothing they have as promo items will ever be enough to give them instant favor :P

KingKryton · Apr 14, 2007, 11:25 PM // 23:25

Oh noes poor america is missing out! They are promotional pets from companys that most likely paid anet alot of money for the privelige

erkun · Apr 15, 2007, 02:10 AM // 02:10

Lol, another clamor for a bunch of useless minipets.

DreamRunner · Apr 15, 2007, 02:51 AM // 02:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Komes I

Highschool?!

We have been teached that in 4th grade of n00b school!
But anyway here is some of the info:

Asia: about 4 bilions
Africa: about 900 000 milions
Europe: about 700 000 milions
South and central America: 550 000 milions
North America: about 360 000 milions
Oceania: about 35 milions

Numbers says it all. There are more people at Asia than at whole rest of the world but here is the problem:
Asia is not as rich as Europe and America. A lot of people can't afford to buy the game. But hey A-net knows better, right?

You know people play in Singapore too?

ctbear · Apr 15, 2007, 03:14 AM // 03:14

If the european players who farm UW and FoW every day are to be put into asian servers i believe they will whine about minis no more

noocoo · Apr 15, 2007, 04:21 AM // 04:21

Actually, guildwars is very very very very unpopular in Asia, so I guess Anet would give the Asian players some special gifts to make them to be willing to play this game.

In Taiwan, people who play Guildwars are called weirdy by other OLG players

Chunk · Apr 15, 2007, 08:48 AM // 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solveig Ikram

Any marketing campaign will always favour Asia.
Close to 7 billion people as possible customers would be a major drawcard to any marketer. If you want to make tons of cash of your product you have to break into the Asian market.

Umm, i think world population stands at just over 5 billion ATM

arcanemacabre · Apr 15, 2007, 08:59 AM // 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunk

Umm, i think world population stands at just over 5 billion ATM

6.5 billion, actually. Of course, not including Sasquatches.... or bottle-nose dolphins.... They probably could play GW, too...

daraaksii · Apr 15, 2007, 09:08 AM // 09:08

I don't really care about it.. Minipets are worthless things. Kthxbai.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcanemacabre

6.5 billion, actually. Of course, not including Sasquatches.... or bottle-nose dolphins.... They probably could play GW, too...

Dolphins are the only animals that having sex to have fun. They do count into the population!!!

Chunk · Apr 15, 2007, 11:08 AM // 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by daraaksii

I don't really care about it.. Minipets are worthless things. Kthxbai.

Umm? They show how 1337 i am. OOOhhh Pwned!

Gear853 · Apr 15, 2007, 06:21 PM // 18:21

it's call marketing tactics. that's why Asia is so special.

Gaile Gray · Apr 15, 2007, 06:42 PM // 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by savage vapor 33

Notice, most of them say, "Preview Event." Taiwan, China, etc, didnt get to acquire the other minipets, that America, Europe, etc received. So that's why they got their own special minipets.

I'm pretty sure thats the reason :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury Angel

This came up with special bonus items;
Korea did not have a special pre-order package with weapons the same way the US and Europe did, with exclusive store-based items, so later on, they got promotional coca cola items, and people were wondering why Korea got special items.

Eventually, we saw even more special items coming out, and they did so in countries just getting Guild Wars, with the 7 sins items, and a number of people were even more frustrated.

However, though not necessarily identicle items, access to highly similar ones was granted with the Game of the Year addition.

Though yes, some countries may end up with a 'more desirable' promotion item, promotional items are promotional items; They're given out where they believe they'll do the most good, when they think they can, and how they can.

There's always the possibility in the future that accessibility will be expanded. And perhaps not, because unlike weapons, they're not customised.

And if that's not a comforting though, then take solace in the fact that the most of the regions that missed out on those promotions for minipets are going to be having their second birthdays soon.

Both of these answers are quite good. I think I need to make a page on GWW with information about this, because it comes up about once a month, and it usually, as in this thread, becomes at least somewhat racist in nature.

Some countries have preorders. Some have bonus items. Some have certain promotions. At times we make the promotional items available at very nominal cost in the Guild Wars Official (Online) Store, and we are looking at making more of them available that way in the future.

The bottom line is that no region has preference; no culture is favoured; no nation is better served. The miniatures that were mentioned in the OP are being made available to various teams in all regions so that we can use them for prizes and other support ideas. That means that the items will get out to players in meaningful ways.

JC68 · Apr 15, 2007, 06:58 PM // 18:58

funny things about preorders - weapons are customized, you cant trade them, etc....
special minipets - america & europe - magazine pets, their price will drop to 10-30k
asia - very very rare, worth some millions ingame...

so maybe reason, why are ppl complaining is that there are sooooo limited = $$$$$. i think that if there were more of them (and sure, it can remain in Asian countriesl), their price was around 10-200k there wont be such complaining as it is now. i mean, panda is ubercute, everyone want it, but there is only little % of players who can afford to pay 4-6M for it

darkknightdominator · Apr 15, 2007, 08:07 PM // 20:07

Me want panda. keep common pets. Give panda. NOW...

Why not make panda next magazine release? it cute. Everyone love panda. Give. Me deserve panda.

nightwatchman · Apr 16, 2007, 12:12 AM // 00:12

The problem is always going to be that existing customers don't feel that they're as important to anet as new customers.

ANet are trying to sell into Asia, so special events are happening there. Europe/America receive less events as they've probably already got 95% of the people they ever will get.

A bit of a counterbalance is that the birthday presents series are a reward for the existing players because the new asian players don't have accounts old enough to qualify until recently, and they're even further behind for year 2, etc. so most birthday presents come from american/european accounts. Most bone dragons will be from american/european accounts, etc.

Its a little lopsided though in that the asian promotional minipets are available in hundreds, whereas the birthday presents are available in the thousands at least (probably millions for Jungle Trolls and Devourers) and it looks like birthday presents just continue to enter the market, driving down the price.

Given the comparatively tiny amounts of promotional mini-pets released, they are probably as rare to asian players as they are to american/europeans.

Diablo™ · Apr 16, 2007, 03:31 AM // 03:31

it's the asian sensation thats causing all these jealousy. lol

Chunk · Apr 16, 2007, 09:36 PM // 21:36

Whoa!!!

Gaile blessed my thread with her presence. Sweet!

I understand what you are saying Gaile, but I have one issue with it. I see Japanese and Chinese minipets in the auction forums going for +500 ectos. It kills me to know that certain players are being awarded in-game items that have real world values of hundreds of dollars. Now, I am not accusing anyone of selling GW gold for real money. But with that much gold the temptation is there. With certain Asian countries having a history of gold farming, I feel that it is irresponsible of Arena Net to trust them with such rare items.

I think the beef most other players from different regions have with the special treatment is that it makes us feel inferior. Why should another server region be awarded an item worth so much gold. I am thankful for the extras I get here in the states. But you don't see me going and selling my pre-order sythe to Japan for 100k+ 600ectos.

*Takes a bow

Mercury Angel · Apr 16, 2007, 10:28 PM // 22:28

The initial question was responded to, and after a few prior comments that required deletions, and the path current comments have taken, I don't think there's a way this thread isn't going to veer into a flamefest, almost certainly hinged on racism.