Zombies are bad for the economy
by Zach Yonzon 
Oct 27th 2008 at 7:00PM
When the disease grew potent enough to transform anyone it infected within a minute, it became practically impossible to accomplish anything. Especially not with Argent Healers calling for a hasty retreat. Entire cities -- or key areas of cities -- were quickly transformed into ghoulish carnivals and it was simply too bothersome to do any business. As a result, players couldn't put anything up on the Auction House nor could anyone buy anything, either, slowing commerce to a crawl. My wife's daily Auction House profits of upwards 500 Gold dwindled down to nary a copper with her alt being unable to collect from the mailbox, move stuff from the bank, or scan the Auction House, as she died istantly to roving zombies.
What's next in store for us? Did Blizzard really cave in to the demands of players who felt that the World Event disrupted their normal routine too much? Or is there something more devious waiting in the wings? I know my wife was so upset by being unable to conduct her business that she decided to hold off from logging in at least until the event died down. Now that the zombie infestation seems to be under control, perhaps business will pick up again. Or maybe not, depending on what Blizzard has prepared for Azeroth. One thing's for sure, these Dawn of the Dead-type events certainly take a bite out of the economy.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Events, Economy, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
epic Oct 27th 2008 7:07PM
maybe the crux of you problem was using low level bank alts and forgetting to just mail the stuff to a more hardy toon
sonicfire12 Oct 27th 2008 7:25PM
umm ur wife was silly she should of gone to the least populated city for her alt (thunderbluff and exodar no one goes there just might mean a tad bit longer for her to get to a mail box lol. and i like the zombie attack made thiongs more interesting
Aubrecia Oct 27th 2008 7:40PM
@ sonicfire12
TB was actually one of the worst cities on my server. SMC was always a good bet, though -- it's always empty AND it's gigantic.
gridwerk Oct 27th 2008 9:18PM
Why is it that when I made this same observation everyone flamed me for being too serious and that it was just a game and that I should lighten up? Now that people realize that their in-game economy was affected (as I complained mine was) now suddenly Blizz pulls the plug and we are all back to normal.
Now I'm not going to say- waitaminnit- I AM going to say "I told you so..." cause I did and I feel I was right.
Fell free to fade this into obscurity, I got my instant gratification and it only took 5 days of not playing WoW to get it.
rosencratz Oct 28th 2008 3:42AM
"Why is it that when I made this same observation everyone flamed me for being too serious and that it was just a game and that I should lighten up? Now that people realize that their in-game economy was affected (as I complained mine was) now suddenly Blizz pulls the plug and we are all back to normal.
Now I'm not going to say- waitaminnit- I AM going to say "I told you so..." cause I did and I feel I was right. "
The instant gratification of having the blindingly obvious confirmed to you? The reason you were flamed for posting your comments about the economy is for the reasons you just stated, no one cared and it's just a game.
Don't go thinking that Blizz "Suddenly pulled the plug" on anything either. the event lasted as long as mostly any other weekend event, it is no coincidence that this is the case and it could not have sensibly been planned to go on longer than it did. If you didn't take advantage of the event and have some fun, shame on you imo but don't go saying "You told us anything" because you informed no one of anything that anybody didn't already know.
Manatank Oct 27th 2008 7:07PM
I figure it is just part of the game, but the mini-game of manipulating the AH for a profit is probably as annoying to people like me who like playing the game as the zombies were to the bankers. At least, we zombie lovers got our 5 days of fun. Now we can go back to getting gamed on the AH as usual.
gridwerk Oct 27th 2008 9:19PM
You probably also hate all those damned people in the real world that "manipulate" the marketplace by going out and finding a rare gem in the ground, mining real-world precious ore or even inventing an ingenious item, write a great book, create a beautiful piece of artwork or music and then have the gaul to sell that to others.
Perhaps you'd prefer we "spread the wealth" around a bit so you can have the same as everyone without actually doing any work yourself? I hope you're a smashing success in the real world cause you come off as an abject failure here.
Manatank Oct 27th 2008 9:23PM
You've clearly missed my point. I am specifically refering to the people who have lots of gold and just watch for cheap things to buy on the AH to then repost on the AH for a higher price. The people who don't actually bring anything into the market, but artificially increase prices. Much like investors. I hate them in real life too.
tatarynowicz Oct 28th 2008 7:00AM
Lol, if you think investors don't bring anything to market, you have no idea how real world works.
Sorry, but you sound so 12 year old...
Xaktsaroth Oct 29th 2008 7:08AM
I think he just got his terminology wrong.
Investors are a legitimate part of the finance world, who make things happen and generate growth for the economy
Speculators (people who buy low and sell high) are scum-sucking bottom feeders, who contribute nothing but artifical bubbles to the ecnonomy and have created the global financial downturn we're mired in right now.
Backbeat Oct 27th 2008 7:08PM
Wow, holy switching sides of the argument!! Screw you, you don't care about what pain and hardship it was during the damn invasion. Now because you want to make your daily wage, you cover the fact that "Perhaps everyone wasn't that excited about the invasion..." Go to hell.
Jamesisgreat Oct 27th 2008 7:30PM
'Pain and hardship' - lol! You Backbeat, are a funny funny man.
Oh hang on - I just read the rest of your posts, you were serious weren't you? Oh. Oh dear.
jbodar Oct 27th 2008 9:26PM
I will look forward to the headline for your upcoming lawsuit appearing on Wowinsider:
Player sues Blizzard over World Event, demands 5 days of playtime and $1M for 'pain and suffering'
Man the **** up.
I had a blast on both sides of the plague. I smashed zombies into paste and defended the cities and towns, until I'd get turned and then wreak havoc until it was time to explode in the name of the Lich King. Yeah, I could've done some dailies in that hour or so, but it was fun as hell.
Vendrill Oct 28th 2008 3:12AM
Wow... I went and read Backseat's posts as well. I think he needs a hug!
EVERYONE!!! Give Backseat a hug!!!!
/hug
Zamboni Oct 27th 2008 7:08PM
It wasn't just the auctioning, but it really made Trick or Treating hard to do with all the dead Innkeepers. For those of us still looking for Squashling or the missing wands, losing a few days to the zombie raids really disrupted the holiday events.
rosencratz Oct 28th 2008 3:45AM
I TnT'd every hour available on all my characters all weekend totally uninterrupted. If you had difficulty enough that you found it impossible then you probably weren't trying hard enough to deserve it.
Zamboni Oct 28th 2008 5:07PM
Yes Rosie, I also TnT'd every hour on all characters. According your your standards I'm part of the deserving elite, there were other players that were affected by it.
Gorlath Oct 27th 2008 7:09PM
I never had a problem.... sold just as much with the invasion if not more because sellers weren't smart enough or too lazy to go elsewhere to AH.
Prophetik Oct 27th 2008 7:34PM
This - Exodar & Darnassus were ghost towns (as per normal).
jbodar Oct 27th 2008 11:16PM
There was this sad, sad little man late last night who was dead set on nuking the SW AH, but there were a few of us in there either spam-cleansing him or bursting him down as soon as he turned. You'd think he would get the message after several failed attempts, esp. when we /lol'd at his cries to "stop f'ing cleansing" him.