Breakfast Topic: How far would you let WoW microtransactions go?
by Zach Yonzon 
Nov 9th 2009 at 8:00AM
At any rate, it looks like the Pet Store is here to stay. Besides, Blizzard has already been hawking in-game services for real money, so it's not as if these vanity pets are any different. I personally don't find anything wrong with these pets, and seeing the number of diminutive liches and kung fu pandas showing up all over Azeroth, it really seems like a lot of other people don't, either.
Blizzard states that these items, similar to the TCG loot cards, are "purely cosmetic and just for fun." They say that they'd be loathe to introduce things that are "detrimental to the game and (detracts) from the gameplay experience for players who choose not to use the service." So that probably means no epic weapons or anything of the sort.
How far does that go, though? Are heirloom items considered detrimental to the game? How about buying levels? Premades? I personally wouldn't mind paying a fair price to skip the painful leveling process (an attitude that might admittedly change during the Cataclysm). What's do you think is next for Blizzard? Armor dyes, perhaps? Vanity outfits such as the complete Brewfest set or gag items such as those found on the TCG? Titles? Now that the microtransactions gate has been opened, how far do you think Blizzard will go?
Filed under: Items, Blizzard, Economy, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Betherian Nov 9th 2009 8:06AM
Blizzard needs to put every piece of TCG loot on that shop imo.
Swift Spectral Tiger mount $15 anyone?
Jademalo Nov 9th 2009 8:10AM
..thats not a bad idea. Maybe not that cheap, and maybe something to differentiate from this store and a tcg loot item but.. not a bad idea.
Betherian Nov 9th 2009 8:12AM
I'm happy with the micro transactions as long as they don't sell things to get new players to end game content faster, like say free levels or tier.
"Newbs" need to learn how to play their class rather than pay money and level straight to 80 then claim that they are a melee hunter and have 85% of their dps coming from traps.
Betherian Nov 9th 2009 8:14AM
Although I wouldn't mind the option to buy tier from past expansions.
I also wouldn't mind an edit button.
Holgar Nov 9th 2009 8:39AM
As far as I go if you want previous versions of tier you damn well go earn them. Selling ANY kind of gear with stats on it is WAAAY over the line in my books. As in start giving WAR a serious relook kind of over the line, and as in go play Warcraft 3, diablo and starcraft and become an embittered vetren of "The good old days" who spits on "The money grubbing basterds activision because this is all their fualt."
Yea thats where the line is TRUELY drawn for me the quit line, the annoyed line has been passed with the mini pets, the angry line when mounts are up for sale, the furious line when xp potions, respec potions ect, and the I'm gone line follows shortly after.
travis Nov 9th 2009 8:42AM
Maybe not the same exact loot at TCG, but I could see Blizz selling mounts or novelty items, all similar to TCG loot.
A lot of people hated the fact the Blizz released the Pet Store, but none of those people realized that TCG is exactly that, except with some luck (a 'common' card is in 1/11 booster packs, which means the chances of getting on is not only pretty small, but you will have to spend over $10 to get one).
I bought Lil' KT, and I think I would spend up to 15 bucks on a mount. Some people might think this is a lot, but think about the last bet you made... I'm guessing it was around $10, or the bet really wouldn't be worth the trouble of going through with the bet.
Now there are 2 ways in which Blizzard can ruin this store:
-Offer novelty items for over $25
-Offer Gear/Gold/Patterns/Epic Flying/ etc.
(I'm almost positive that this won't happen)
Betherian Nov 9th 2009 8:43AM
How about level 1 statless gear that just has the same model as the tier?
WTB a way to reply to those who reply to other people also...
Knyle2 Nov 9th 2009 8:56AM
I WOULD LOVE IF BLIZZ WOULD SELL GOLD!!!
I WOULD LOVE IF BLIZZ WOULD LET YOU PAY TO ROLL A TOON AT 80!!!
I WOULD QUIT IF BLIZZ EVER SOLD ITEMS!!!
I WOULD LAUGH AT ALL THE NOOBS THAT WOULD BUY MOUNTS AND TITLES!!!
dashize Nov 10th 2009 9:29PM
I will have to say that yes i did buy the Monk because 1/2 the proceeds are going to make a wish foundation. As far as anything else unless blizz is going to be donating 1/2 or more to a charity they wont be getting my money, thus is the reason i didn't buy lil kt
Frank Nov 9th 2009 9:54AM
I've got money ready to spend on more items. Heirloom items would be a great addition. I wouldn't want to see end game gear for sale, that would be silly, but something that helps level alts would be much appreciated.
As for skipping levels or speeding up the process, you can already 'buy levels' by using Recruit a Friend and referring yourself and dual-boxing for a bit. Might as well quit pretending that isn't what people use it for and just sell the levels if people want to pay.
LilBanshee Nov 9th 2009 10:38AM
@Betherian
"I'm happy with the micro transactions as long as they don't sell things to get new players to end game content faster, like say free levels or tier."
They've done that already, it's called recruit-a-friend. Tons of people recruited *themselves* and leveled 1-3 new alts at a time at a ridiculous pace (i.e. leveling 2 alts together, each at 300% experience, then giving free levels to a third alt). In the end they simply spent like $45 to buy around 30-40 levels worth of experience per toon. That frustrated the heck out of me after all the effort I've invested leveling a half-dozen toons through the same content.
Eyhk Nov 9th 2009 10:50AM
GC promised me a PONY!
Deadly. Off. Topic. Nov 9th 2009 10:56AM
Actually, that is a really good idea. TCG loot cards SHOULD be made purchasable like that. This way those who actually collect the cards can buy the boxes and get lucky if they find a card, and those of us who WANT the loot card, but don't give a rat's ass for the cards themselves can buy the loot card directly. (I like the cards, but buying box after box of TCG, I've seen double after triple after quadruplets...-_-)
Moonkinmaniac Nov 9th 2009 12:01PM
I love how people are so jealous and spiteful about the tcg items. Lets make them all avialable so they aren't special to those who got them is what it comes down to and why? Cause your jealous they spent money to get them....yet you like the cash shop. Hell they should puts the tcg items up there, but reskin them. Those items are special to those people and they should be respected. Its like saying put all the gladiator mounts up there! And hell everything I DIDNT want to work for or to try to get without it being super easy and instant.
Julie Nov 9th 2009 2:36PM
Most players don't really seem to realize what's going on :)
Here's the thing. WoW is based on subscriptions; someone has to not only buy the game (which is normal) but someone has to keep paying every month (which is not normal). Eventually, people get bored of paying every month, or at least, paying for the same game every month. And then they leave. Well -- when enough people leave, Blizzard will no longer have a reason to support WoW so heavily. Oh sure, they'll keep supporting it till it no longer makes money. But they'll cut back on staff long before that. In short -- Wow WILL end, someday :p
Blizzard is already preparing for this. That is why they sent the senior designer to start working on another MMO. In all honesty, I would be shocked if Catacylysm has more subscribers that WOTLK. Not because the game is worse; but just because the game is OLD. It's basically the same dog and pony we've been playing now for years. Raid this, quest that, pvp here and there. Get new gear, level up skills, buy mats on the AH. You can throw up all the smoke and mirrors you want, with new patches, fresh coats of paint to make everything seem new. But deep down underneath, we're still playing the same game. And yeah, that gets old.
Which brings me to the final point. What Blizzard is doing with all these 'changes', is basically trying to keep the game from getting old too fast. Race, faction, pvp server changes. Easing the leveling process, etc. All these things are designed to retain players who were already on their way out. 'oh wait. no, don't leave! you can change to horde now!' If cataclysm seems like a fan service... reworked azeroth, flying mounts in old zones, new race/class combos, new races... it's because, well, it is a fan service :p It's their evil plot to keep us playing just one more year or two, even though we've already been there, seen that.
Anyway, microtransactions are going to go all the way eventually. Actually, it makes more sense for Blizzard to be selling gold, than for gold farmers to be selling gold. So don't be shocked if at some point it happens. But do understand the reason behind these things. Many of the complaints say, 'oh this is killing wow!' No. WoW has been dying ever since Burning Crusade. Many people already realized this and moved on; those of us who stayed -- we are only staying because of Blizzard's stunts. like 'what will they do next' type of thing. If Blizzard didn't introduce these microtransactions, and other similar things, most of you wouldn't even be reading this.
Thundrcrackr Nov 9th 2009 3:12PM
Those of you who think people who don't like the pet store don't realize its basically the same thing as tcg loot don't realize that we don't like the idea of tcg loot either. It's not exactly the same, and not as bad, because at least tcg is a game unto itself, and Blizz is simply trying to cross-advertise its platforms, but its still not a good thing as far as most of us who dislike the pet store are concerned. ANY way to get loot by cash instead of in-game means is bad and threatens the integrity of the game. its only a matter of time before they start offering gear, etc. for cash too.
Eturyu Nov 9th 2009 5:12PM
I'm hating the pets.....not because i think they give somone the edge , not because i can't afford them, but because it set a precedent of blizzard selling things via micro-transactions...
like most, when wow starts selling gold/items/mounts/lvls/xp/ dungeon access/ BG access/ etc... it'll be time to dust off Empire Total War or head to another MMO (aion and war sucked imo lol)
jbodar Nov 9th 2009 5:34PM
@Moonkinmaniac
I'm no lover of Arenas, but I know you didn't just seriously compare a mount one would find in a TCG Booster pack or buy on eBay to a mount earned for high-level success in the Arenas. I agree that the TCG loot probably should not be for sale in the Blizzard Store, but come on...
jbodar Nov 9th 2009 6:56PM
@Thundercrackr
I would think that Blizzard is smart enough to realize what can safely be monetized and what can't. Monetizing anything with a significant in-game advantage (even a 310% flying mount) would be suicide and they know it.
"As with the pets, mounts, and other items players can obtain through Loot cards from the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, Pet Store pets are purely cosmetic and just for fun. Like other paid services we offer, such as Paid Name Changes, Race Changes, and Character Re-Customizations, the Pet Store service is entirely optional and intended to provide players another means to enjoy World of Warcraft in a way that isn't detrimental to the game and that doesn't detract from the gameplay experience for players who choose not to use the service." SOURCE -- http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?locale=en_US&articleId=29845
Betherian Nov 9th 2009 11:19PM
@ LilBanshee
Yes but people who do that recruit a friend trick are usually more experienced players and not complete noobs who I don't want entering end game until they learn to play through leveling.