We haven't heard much from the folks at
You Play or We Pay lately, but maybe that's a good thing for them -- after
all the noise from their initial launch, it seems like things have calmed down over there. They're giving out "Compensation Credits," it looks like they've started running a few ads, and it seems like they've finally settled on a model that works for everyone -- both the founders of the site and the people who sign up for compensation. While we heard the first month of slots filled up pretty fast, the second month seems to be going a little slower -- they've still got about half the slots for March still available as of this writing. But as you can see from the picture, they're promising some real items in exchange for those Compensation Credits. With 150 slots in March and about 100 credits given out last month, you may be waiting over a year to save up the credits to buy a 30-day game card, but the site is working the way they planned: you can sign up for free and eventually get something back for your realm's downtime.
And they're planning on expanding soon -- the site reports that by the 15th of March, English
EU players will be able to sign up for compensation on their realms' downtime as well. This site caused a lot of controversy when it first opened up, but we have to give it to them: it looks like they've worked out a way to do what they want to do.
Tags: blizzard, compensation, controversy, credits, downtime, eu, february, founders, items, launch, march, model, players, third-party, working-model, youplayorwepay
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Realm Status, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Making money
Mar 11th 2009 at 7:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ezlo Mar 11th 2009 7:11PM
I still think it's a stupid idea, but if you want to spend the money go ahead I guess.
Blake Mar 11th 2009 7:18PM
Well since it's free, I just might go ahead and spend the $0 required to sign up.
Mr Magoo Mar 11th 2009 7:46PM
Nothing like this can be free. There is no such thing as a free business model. I am not going to lower myself to reading their terms because they are irrelevant. (I just don't care how they get their revenue - by ads or CC in the first instance)
I have seen companies like this before and they are not good for the customer. I say that again: I have seen real life (not play school wow life) examples of this sort of scam (mainly in sales) and they are always very similar and based on if we win, we win, if we lose, we win scenarios. (obviously they win MORE in the first case)
Basically their business model is a craps shoot and is like this:
1) Collect revenue in shell company and pay ourselves salaries and obtain and move assets as much as is legal. Make sure debts/loans from yourself or your other companies are on tier one of debtors list.
2) Hope that WOW never actually goes down significantly
3) profit a lot
2.1) If wow goes down significantly, fold company. there will be next to nothing in it anyway once balance is up and guess what morons your entitlements are LAST on the debtors list.
2.2) profit a little
Oh well, too bad so sad for you.
It sounds like from the parent post that they are no conning people enough to take REAL money off them. Thank god. You are right, all you are wasting is your time.
But PLEASE FOR GODS SAKE NEVER GIVE THEM REAL MONEY!?!?!?!? I cannot state this loud enough...
While it may be free now, be on guard for "premium" or "value added" services. Don't take them.
PS: Shame on wowinsider for advertising this site, even if they are not getting a kick back or ad/link sharing deal. This is bad.
Mr Magoo Mar 11th 2009 9:25PM
So I did read it after you mentioned it. I was basing this on the previous article which talked about credit cards and whatnot and assumed that is was even slightly like the previous scam.
I guess a lawyer and/or accountant made them see the error of their ways after all....
So it is a competition with very small chance to win kicked off by whether WOW crashes or not???
wow...a competition site. So it is just stupid...
I should have read it first before posting. I usually do, lesson learnt.
My points are still valid from the previous incarnation. Just irrelevant now! :)
kuri Mar 11th 2009 10:17PM
I pay so much for my Google membership it's ludicrous. Oh, wait.
They are just banking on income from partners and advertising. They are not your typical insurance company that collects fees and pays out to a small percentage of affected people.
This site doesn't strike me as the next business model winner of the year, but the hate being generated is unnecessary until they actually do not deliver a promise.
Rihlsul Mar 12th 2009 9:45AM
I don't personally give a crap about this peripheral company that is trying to find some way to bottom feed off wow. I would please please please ask WI to stop paying any freaking attention to these fools who can't stick to a business model.
Cuddlebunny Mar 11th 2009 7:14PM
stop posting about scam sites
Blake Mar 11th 2009 7:19PM
Yes, those damn free scam sites. Throw in an e-mail address you can throw away if they sell their user list and you're set. How else could they "scam" you?
Nick Mar 11th 2009 7:24PM
@Blake
Don't worry Blake, some people are just really close minded. Let him keep thinking that a site using information that anyone could get from the Armory is a scam.
Meanwhile, me and you will be getting free game cards.
Psy Mar 11th 2009 7:46PM
Lol, even if it's "ph33" I really cbf using it. In all honestly, downtime does not worry me and in my opinion, these guys shouldn't have to or feel the need to payout people on downtime.
By playing an MMO you run the risk of some downtime, either from server downtime, lag making it impossible to play, or server queues. Cashing in on that downtime is all well and dandy but why should these guys pay people for something that Blizzard needs to deal with?
To me, it just seems like they're trying to come off as some sort of gaming martyr when they're not. I don't think they are trying to be, it just seems to be that way. I also won't use it cause I REALLY can't be bothered, I'd probably forget.
PeeWee Mar 11th 2009 8:16PM
"Meanwhile, me and you will be getting free game cards. "
Yeah, cause playtime is soooo expensive.
gftt Mar 11th 2009 9:33PM
It's no point telling Mike Scamm to stop posting about this company, ya know why?..
Because WePlayYouPay SCAMMERS are paying the Schrammster $$$ to write articles about their little site. I guess I can't knock him too much for lining his pockets with a little side dough, but I mean c'mon, this is what the 4th article in a month about these scammers? Figure prints didn't get this much coverage at all and they provide and actual service to people!
Eh, I think 95% of wow players are smart enough not to buy into this crap, but its still a dam shame that we have to see their stupid company name plastered across the front page courtesy of Schramm and his posse. Viva La Capitalism?
Nick Mar 11th 2009 9:46PM
@PeeWee
Did I say it was expensive? No.
Don't be an idiot.
Hatfield Mar 12th 2009 10:56AM
@gftt seriously? You seriously think this site is paying Mike on the side to write about it?
I've got an idea for you. Go back and look at how many hits and comments the first article got and let that sync in for a bit. Maybe after some quiet reflection you might gain a clue as to why the topic might get further treatment in the blog.
Leighlu Mar 11th 2009 7:23PM
I don't know if the realm status history is available from anywhere else, but I found it a vital tool to selecting a new realm.
1. Went to WoWWiki's realm info page to determine which servers were hosted on data centers located near me.
http://www.wowwiki.com/Realms_list
2. Used the tool on youpayorwepay to determine server history since release of WotLK.
http://www.youplayorwepay.com/RealmStatusHistory.aspx
I looked for high uptime percentages and decent server populations to narrow my choices down to a top 3 list, then looked for guilds on those servers that fit my playstyle and times via the offical WoW realm forums.
Bjara Mar 11th 2009 7:30PM
These guys again?
elvendude Mar 11th 2009 7:49PM
Nope. =P
Cabcru Mar 11th 2009 7:34PM
This model - giving something away for nothing... I assume that's what the 'ads' are for now and how it'll pay for itself? Well, until WowInsider stops pimping them every month, I guess.
seanfury Mar 11th 2009 7:36PM
I understand how this works. It makes PERFECT sense you guys.
First of all, all businesses lose money initially to get started. Gotta start somewhere, right?
Enough people get interested in the business that they start participating, and in this case, giving the site loads of traffic.
How do webmasters make money? Advertisements. With the money from the advertisements, they can afford to give better rewards, getting more people to come and sign up, which leads to more expensive advertisements and etc.
It's genius, really.
tonedeff Mar 11th 2009 7:51PM
/yawn