Joystiq goes to Hot Topic, finds WoW
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 30th 2006 at 12:54PM
Those crazy lads over at Joystiq have made a journey too perilous for us here at WoW Insider to even imagine. They braved the parking lots, dodged the teenagers, somehow avoided the tackiness, and reached a dungeon even scarier and harder than Naxx. Yes, they went to their local mall's Hot Topic.And surprisingly, they found WoW. A lot of it. There's buttons, stickers, t-shirts, hoodies, even hats-- all the stuff that Blizzard has been selling through J!NX online. You know the game has made it when the
And as Joystiq found, Hot Topic is not only selling the gear, they're selling the game, too-- in the form of a $1.99 two week trial disc. It's a pretty nerfed trial, though. Not only is the full purchase of the game required later (along with that monthly fee), but apparently there are restrictions in game-- no trading items, no auctioneering. But then again, Blizzard didn't hit seven million players by not giving people ways to find the game for the first time. And the fact that Hot Topic is selling stuff that references WoW gives you an idea of just how popular this game has gotten.
Filed under: Items, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DÖT Oct 30th 2006 1:13PM
you can actually upgrade to the full version online without having to buy the game...it's $19.99. WoW hoever has dropped down to $19.77 at Wal-mart so just go buy the thing...gah!
Nelson Oct 30th 2006 1:20PM
I bought the /dance, WoW Hoodie and a PWN* Hoodie @ J!NX. I work 1 street away from them. They are really cool guys and waived my shipping fees cause after work, I just stopped by and picked them up.
If you just looked at their "office" you wouldn't have known that they are advertised at Hot Topic, multiple websites and G4TV.
Bollenator Oct 30th 2006 1:23PM
Quote:
"It's a pretty nerfed trial, though. Not only is the full purchase of the game required later (along with that monthly fee), but apparently there are restrictions in game-- no trading items, no auctioneering."
For the record, the "free trial" that Blizzard has offered on their website (monster download) works in the same way and was how I got started playing last July. I saw the free download option and after some coaxing by my already-WoW'ing friend, I bit the bullet and downloaded the trial. After thoroughly enjoying the first ten days, I thought it worth it to purchase the game and the rest is Stormreaver-A history. :-)
The limitations make perfect sense when you realize that without those limitations, someone could cause some serious grief in those 10-14 days without any recourse (since they haven't paid for anything yet). I really didn't have any problems with the "nerfed" trial, because once I purchased the game and was able to trade, my buddy helped me a little in the gold department. :-)
Druid dude Oct 30th 2006 1:26PM
Wow Board Game, Wow Trading Car Game, T-Shirts, Hats and much much more. Does it seem like Blizzard is going overboard? I sure can't blame them for capitalizing on ancillary marketable items; if people want to buy something, they want to sell it. That's what a business does.
But I have to wonder, with a movie and more in the works, are they going too far? How far is too far?
What comes next? Dolls in the toy stores that say quotes from the game, with the obligatory 'rare' and even 'epic' dolls? WoW the Breakfast Cereal with an item inside each and every box, also with the obligatory 'rare' and even 'epic' items? Wow Visa cards? Commercials on TV for these credit cards "World of Warcraft: 49 dollars. Decent gaming computer: 1500 dollars. Ganking in Stranglethorn Vale: Priceless."
warforge Oct 30th 2006 1:31PM
I saw that there like two weeks ago. they had a big Warcraft sign out front of the store.
I normally avoid a store like that since it tends to appeal to the teens. My wife and I checked it out.
Plenty of Alliance shirts and I survived barrens chat. They ran out of Horde shirts. In two different malls I checked.
I finally got my Horde shirt! Sporting it at work taunting my alliance co workers!
Aaron Oct 30th 2006 1:39PM
Hey, I for one would get the WoW Visa if the points I earned on it went towards paying for my subscription. (Like you get Free Coffee with the Starbucks Visa)
Hiddenmonkey Nov 18th 2006 2:59PM
14-day trials have been around in New Zealand for about a year now, I don't know why they have only just been released in the US now. I got into WoW via a 14-day trial that i bought
Aaron Nowack Oct 30th 2006 1:46PM
I'm tempted to buy the trial disc just to have an up-to-date copy of WoW on one DVD for re-installs and the like.
Anyone know offhand whether it will work for that?
Aaron Oct 30th 2006 1:50PM
It should work, after all it's the same program.
I've used my CE DVD to install the game a couple of times for friends that didn't have the CE and didn't want to mess with changing out disks.
Roseroyce04 Oct 30th 2006 2:27PM
[quote]:Wow Board Game, Wow Trading Car Game, T-Shirts, Hats and much much more. Does it seem like Blizzard is going overboard? I sure can't blame them for capitalizing on ancillary marketable items; if people want to buy something, they want to sell it. That's what a business does.
But I have to wonder, with a movie and more in the works, are they going too far? How far is too far?
What comes next? Dolls in the toy stores that say quotes from the game, with the obligatory 'rare' and even 'epic' dolls? WoW the Breakfast Cereal with an item inside each and every box, also with the obligatory 'rare' and even 'epic' items? Wow Visa cards? Commercials on TV for these credit cards "World of Warcraft: 49 dollars. Decent gaming computer: 1500 dollars. Ganking in Stranglethorn Vale: Priceless."[/quote]
I can't wait!
Druid dude Oct 30th 2006 3:13PM
Aaron said "Hey, I for one would get the WoW Visa if the points I earned on it went towards paying for my subscription. (Like you get Free Coffee with the Starbucks Visa)"
You know, that is actually a pretty good idea... Oh snap, I've created a monster!
Big Dan Oct 30th 2006 3:54PM
#4 Those are all awesome. You should be asking for commission on those ideas. I Love the idea of credit card with subscription point payment. (Epic cereal items here I come!)
zwax01 Oct 30th 2006 7:28PM
I don't see this as being a good thing necessarily. I'm just a little leary of having all the "hype" associated with merchandising actually deplete the WoW experience.
I'm always sceptical of the "Hollywood-ization" of games, because it tends to alienate the hardcore gaming community that made the game so popular to begin with. The hardcore gamers will leave to find a game that they could call their own and all you'll have left playing is a bunch of newbs.
The same analogy could be said of an up-and-coming band that you and your friends like. The band gets real popular sell a $#!% load of albums and merchandise. Then all the sudden the your parents start singing thier songs. You and your friends are like... "WTF??"
paul Oct 31st 2006 5:29PM
game is way to mainstream and to may immature Aholes, wich is why i would like to start in warhammer or Vangaurd.