Curse

Barrage · Apr 16, 2010, 11:52 PM // 23:52

Not sure if this goes here or in Off topic:

Well it seems that Blizzard is also capitalizing on the want for customization for real-world money, theirs is slightly more extreme however, up to $25 US for a Mount!

Links:
http://kotaku.com/5517956/world-of-w...blizzard-store

http://kotaku.com/5518416/world-of-w...blizzard-today

http://kotaku.com/5519154/blizzard-i...-demanded-them

code · Apr 16, 2010, 11:54 PM // 23:54

Aye, I read about that. Some guy was posting in the WoW forums that his order got placed in an 8 hour queue with 150k people in front of him.

Sick, when you imagine how much money they're making out of this RECYCLED model!

*Darcy* · Apr 17, 2010, 12:03 AM // 00:03

And I don't suppose they are dropping the subscription fees. And our forum members complain about ANet.

Cuilan · Apr 17, 2010, 12:03 AM // 00:03

That's really wonderful for them and their costumer base, I wish them all the best of luck.

StormDragonZ · Apr 17, 2010, 12:09 AM // 00:09

I don't get it, but if it makes people happy, fine with me.

Gennadios · Apr 17, 2010, 12:13 AM // 00:13

This is just sad. I can understand the need for small infusions of money in models like GW or DDO. In both cases they've stopped making money off of box sales ages ago.

The fact that WoW and STO would do this infuriates me to no end. WTF is the $15 a month for?

Axel Zinfandel · Apr 17, 2010, 12:14 AM // 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gennadios

The fact that WoW and STO would do this infuriates me to no end. WTF is the $15 a month for?

Gullibility Insurance?

Mokeiro · Apr 17, 2010, 12:23 AM // 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrage

Not sure if this goes here or in Off topic:

Well it seems that Blizzard is also capitalizing on the want for customization for real-world money, theirs is slightly more extreme however, up to $25 US for a Mount!

Links:
http://kotaku.com/5517956/world-of-w...blizzard-store

http://kotaku.com/5518416/world-of-w...blizzard-today

http://kotaku.com/5519154/blizzard-i...-demanded-them

From the links:

Blizzard earned almost 3$ million in a few hours, selling one texture, a wet dream for any software company, why waste your time and resources in making a new game when you can hook your players with addiction on your game and sell them something you can create in a few hours and get 3$ million money back, i think im gonna buy Blizzard stocks, there are lots of new idiots born every minute.

Beta Sprite · Apr 17, 2010, 12:32 AM // 00:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mokeiro

From the links:

Blizzard earned almost 3$ million in a few hours, selling one texture, a wet dream for any software company, why waste your time and resources in making a new game when you can hook your players with addiction on your game and sell them something you can create in a few hours and get 3$ million money back, i think im gonna buy Blizzard stocks, there are lots of new idiots born every minute.

I already have Blizzard stocks, for this very reason. Fanboys pay out like nothing else. =P

Ariovist Lynxkind · Apr 17, 2010, 12:40 AM // 00:40

So in other words...

Instead of playing pot-luck by buying the WoW cards and hoping to get a mount, you can just buy it from a store?

Regulus X · Apr 17, 2010, 01:14 AM // 01:14

Players are so weak-minded it's retarded. Paying $10 for a costume, or for a bunch of unneeded crap is beyond me! I'd gladly pay for a skill balance, or for more y' know... actual content? ...and not some sort of gimmicky costume designs that they came up with over the weekend and made in about an hours time.

Yawgmoth · Apr 17, 2010, 01:35 AM // 01:35

This is not really a new thing for WoW - they had been selling ingame stuff including mounts for real $$ for quite a long time, but it wasn't a direct sale but in the form of rare loot cards with codes in the WoW Trading Card Game - some of which are absurdly expensive (Spectral Tiger mount code = over $700 !!!) - and people really pay that kind of prices!

This is just another sign of the whole genre going really wrong.

In the past it was simple - 2 basic business models for MMOs: either you got an absolutely FAIR for everyone Monthly Fee model or you got all the Free2Play games where increasing amounts of real $$$ you put in the game gained you increasing advantages.

Then came Guild Wars with a hybrid model, which was taking the BEST of both worlds, it was originally completely FAIR for everyone and didn't require heavy commitment to the game as a subscription game would. You only payed for the actual large content packages. BEST BUSINESS MODEL EVER. Sadly not used anymore by any worthwhile game. Developers of all games get greedy and want to drain as much money from it as possible, ruining the FAIRNESS aspect of the business models that had it.

colosusjokers · Apr 17, 2010, 01:36 AM // 01:36

Well, it's not like the WoW playerbase is known for being brilliant or anything. The only time the use of microtransactions is a practice that is to be respected is when it's on a game that doesn't use monthly subscription fee's. I'd say all of the idiots who have been complaining about A-net's costumes need to find a WoW forum and go on about this but it's not really a game that is worth the time to do that.

Personally, I love the way that A-net went with the microtransactions. When it got to the point they needed to supplement their income until they make their next big release they did so with items that look nice and all but don't give an advantage over other players and thereby keeping it fair for all of their players. Just selling things that are nice to have appearance wise. Naturally, there are plenty of players who either like it and buy it or realize that they owe A-net for all of the good gaming and buy it.

I am convinced that those of you who have been complaining about it are just a bunch of stupid kids that don't think about such things. Just because your parents won't buy them for you is no reason to complain or give others crap for buying them(assuming that there has been a few of the complainers doing that).

October Jade · Apr 17, 2010, 01:50 AM // 01:50

I don't really care anymore; the spirit of meritocracy in MMOs is long dead. What must be remembered is that a game is a product, and ANet (or Blizzard in this case) is free to market it however it chooses. Likewise, we as consumers get to decide whether we will purchase the goods in question. If you don't approve of the direction in which the game is headed, spend your money elsewhere. They'll get the hint.

Regulus X · Apr 17, 2010, 01:58 AM // 01:58

Compulsive buyers are compulsive, and rich Anet is rich. $_$ Buy sum moar costumes OOLOLLOOLOLOLOO

DoomFrost · Apr 17, 2010, 02:20 AM // 02:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus X

Compulsive buyers are compulsive, and rich Anet is rich. $_$ Buy sum moar costumes OOLOLLOOLOLOLOO

I've already bought 50 of them and still buying! $_$ All the money I'm giving them is sure to burn a hole in their pockets. Maybe even set their building on fire!

Skyy High · Apr 17, 2010, 02:52 AM // 02:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yawgmoth

Then came Guild Wars with a hybrid model, which was taking the BEST of both worlds, it was originally completely FAIR for everyone and didn't require heavy commitment to the game as a subscription game would. You only payed for the actual large content packages. BEST BUSINESS MODEL EVER. Sadly not used anymore by any worthwhile game. Developers of all games get greedy and want to drain as much money from it as possible, ruining the FAIRNESS aspect of the business models that had it.

So...what exactly can you buy in the store that is ruining the "fairness" aspect of the business model?

Eragon Zarroc · Apr 17, 2010, 03:25 AM // 03:25

imaine how much people would pay for mounts in GW ;-) quick cartographer fun ;-)

FengShuiDove · Apr 17, 2010, 03:52 AM // 03:52

ANet take note: $25 < $7 per hero.

xylonna · Apr 17, 2010, 04:01 AM // 04:01

and here we have people complaining abt gw micro trans, claiming the game would be "Destroyed" and expect arenanet to survive as a company when WoW, a subscription based game, is no where different from gw.

i seriously doubt these people that dont actually end up as an actual troll in disguise get out of gw and give another mmo a real try, but it would be a blessing to them, honestly, so that they learn to appreciate gw is actually the best f2p game out there with a good working business model.