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by Mike Schramm 
Dec 12th 2008 at 3:00PM
Blizzard has rules for their RMT, though, and Zarhym lays a few of them out: they won't charge for any item that means anything in game -- cosmetic items and looks are fair game, but actual gear or "integral services" (whatever that means exactly) is a no for them. They won't charge for anything that was free before, so creating up to 10 characters on a realm, for example, will always come with the subscription (though adding more may eventually be possible with an extra charge). And Blizzard's RMT comes as a game mechanic itself -- they choose to charge for things not just because there's a cost for them, but also to "curb their frequency," to keep all players from doing them all the time.
It's an interesting idea, and it's definitely a lot more player-friendly than charging for things like, say, horse armor. You could also argue, of course, that something like the WoW TCG is also a kind of RMT scheme, since you have to pay real money for real cards to get in-game items (even though Blizzard has made sure those items are cosmetic as well). But paying for transfers and changes is a little sneakier -- Blizzard is slowly wading into RMT, so far successfully dodging all the sharks in the water.
Filed under: Patches, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Making money, Wrath of the Lich King, WoW TCG
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Nathan Dec 12th 2008 10:51PM
Heres why blizz will never have RMT for gear or anything of that sort: wow is a competitive game. Players compete both in pvp and pve. Gear is actually a visual indication of your skill in certain aspect of the game (pve/pvp). A visual indication is required cause you dont expect everyone to inspect u to view your achievements or arena rating. Also to make the game last blizz needs to give u a feeling u accomplished something and the ability to show off about it. Otherwise why play at all? Content u say? Just open a private server and u can see all the content u want. And that is why blizz will never have real RMT. It'll just rob the game of any purpose and it'll come crashing down!
Nathan Dec 12th 2008 10:58PM
Melchior. Lets say u made a mistake with the re-custumization or name change. Lets say u just changed your mine. Do u really feel like waiting 6 month? Let me assure u. U wont want to wait even a week!
Amaxe Dec 13th 2008 9:57AM
I don't think Blizz should use RMT for anything that affects game play. If they want to allow it for sex changes, name changes or the like, fine. I could even tolerate a faction change if they could address issues like faction rep.
But making items that improve your performance available for money? No. I think that is wrong. People who have their epics from drops or from crafting or from badges have worked in game to get what they have, whether by faction, skill ups, grinding or developing friendships with people who can make them.
RMT would remove that, making these things available without effort in-game, and while it might not wreck the game in the same level as the illicit gold sellers do, it would impact the AH, the need to work for something and so on. If you can buy better, there will be less interest in running the instances.
Maybe we could see some new achievements for buying items:
"One Born Every Minute" (10)-- Spent $20 in real money on game items
"...as a Sack of Hammers" (20)-- Spent $50 in real money on game items
"Loser" (30)-- Spent $100 in real money on game items
"Dumbass" (40)-- Spent $500 in real money on game items
"Just think what you could have bought IRL" (50)-- Spent $1000 in real money on game items
GameRates Jun 2nd 2009 10:17PM
A while I hosted a point-counter point debate about both the ethics and legality of RMT (but not from a developer like blizzard; but from individual players outside the game). Some of you may find it interesting:
http://gamerates.com/posts/show/debate_over_the_justifcation_and_legality_of_rmt
Blizzard goes to great lengths to create "RMT" that doesn't impact actual gameplay. I've always felt like name-changes could be a bit dangerous as they allowed players to shed their reputation in a virtual society without any costs (well a $15 cost!). Then again, it's a game; how people view the "game" determines a lot how they view the RMT issue along with it.
Deadly. Off. Topic. Dec 15th 2008 10:50AM
If people get their gear handed to them by getting to pay real life money for it, then that's a whole new reason for people like me to quit playing. If it's so easy to get your gear, why play? Why bother if it can just be bought.
I like the accomplishment of doing it on my own within the requirements of the world we play in. I don't like seeing "freebees" handed out to people who are too lazy or don't want to put the time in to raid or whatnot.
And before people tear into me and claim "But I'm a casual" or "but I have a life," just keep in mind that you're chosing to play. If you're a casual, you're not gonna care, but if you do care then you're not a casual player. (Either that or you're that kind of person who "wants everything" but doesn't bother to put any time or effort in).
Mark Dec 15th 2008 2:13PM
I really applaud Blizzard for this, the idea of having to pay actual real-world money for game items is preposterous. if there was no monthly fee than perhaps.
OTOH, I really wish Blizzard had some method of gifting gold to players. I so wanted to give my Brother-in-law 1000g for a Christmas present but can't risk him losing his account. A legal way to buy gold seems good to me, though what it might do to in-game economics and to people who can't afford the inflated prices may make it bad.
lycanther Dec 16th 2008 2:21PM
If you want to give him 1000g, an in-game Happy Winter Veil! mail will work. Unless you don't have the 1000g. Buying him gold from a goldseller is wrong, just like buying him a stolen car stereo would be wrong.
Belgar Dec 26th 2008 4:52PM
I think this is one of the many acts Blizzard is doing against illegal virtual economy.
Did you know that gold selling with Wotlk has never been that low? Wow gold price is falling ( http://goldcomparator.com/wow-gold-price/eu/aggramar/alliance/10000.html ) because no one needs gold anymore. It's really easy to get gold with daylies and all the instances.
I hope they are going to continue their fight against RMT :)