Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsBlizzard responds to Guardian Cub controversy
by Matthew Rossi 
Oct 11th 2011 at 4:00PM
Bashiok - Re: Blizzard, you've crossed the line
TCG Loot card mounts like the Spectral Tiger have been BoE for a long time now (since patch 3.2), and that was and continues to be well-received, and as far as we've been able to tell hasn't had any adverse impact to the game or economy - despite them selling for sometimes astronomical amounts of gold.
It's potentially worth noting that no new gold is being introduced into the game's economy with those mounts or the new Guardian Cub pet.
Our goal with the Guardian Cub is to provide alternative ways for players who don't want to spend real money to add these pets to their collection. Even though this has been available a while now with the TCG mounts, this is obviously a new kind of way to deliver Pet Store pets, and we're definitely interested to hear your feedback and ultimately see how this will play out.
It's potentially worth noting that no new gold is being introduced into the game's economy with those mounts or the new Guardian Cub pet.
Our goal with the Guardian Cub is to provide alternative ways for players who don't want to spend real money to add these pets to their collection. Even though this has been available a while now with the TCG mounts, this is obviously a new kind of way to deliver Pet Store pets, and we're definitely interested to hear your feedback and ultimately see how this will play out.
To be fair, since this is exactly what I said about the Cub on the WoW Insider Show this week, I'm already on record as agreeing with him fully. The only difference between the Guardian Cub and loot cards is that you don't have to spend money hoping you'll get the Cub. You spend ten bucks and you know you have one.
Well, also, the thing is adorable. That's not really germane to the discussion, though. What do you think about our friendly Cub? Cute pet, money for gold, soul-meltingly cute step off of the slippery slope? Tell us.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 8)
Eskarel Oct 12th 2011 5:57AM
The thing about this is that it's actually quite clever because it allows for gold buying but not gold selling. Gold sellers hack accounts and steal things because they can turn gold into cash. This doesn't do that, you can't convert the pet back into cash. It also doesn't introduce inflation the way that directly buying gold would do and is inherently limited by the market for the pet. Essentially it allows people to buy gold with pretty much zero consequences and within the scope of the game. Not too bad really.
mlever2000 Oct 12th 2011 7:55PM
@Drakkenfyre
Obscene amount of gold huh ? like the 40,000+ gold for the "Vial of the Sands" in your nearest AH, if u ask me that's where the gold selling enterprise should be heading to.
woecip Oct 11th 2011 4:10PM
Buying 3 , one for my main and 2 to sell.
relmatos Oct 11th 2011 4:18PM
Funny how I dont think I ever saw 3 of those chicken mounts from the TCG so, how is the TCG like this new gold selling scam that blizzard is introducing?
For those who didnt understand, the original poster said he was buying 3. I'm just pointing out that there is a big difference between the TCG items and this new one. Rarity.
Imnick Oct 11th 2011 4:35PM
That means it will also introduce a new difference in the way they are sold:
They'll be vastly cheaper in terms of in game currency
Narayana Oct 11th 2011 4:11PM
I'm not sure I buy the party line of this being in response to people wanting an alternative way to get these pets. If they actually wanted just that, they could have kept the BOP nature of the pets and just sold them for X gold.
Narayana Oct 11th 2011 4:12PM
In addition to money, of course.
Minstrel Oct 11th 2011 4:42PM
They want people to have an alternate way that still benefits them (Blizzard). I actually don't consider this a backdoor effort to "sell gold." It's not a very efficient way to do it...it'll only allow people to "buy gold" insofar as there is in-game demand for the pet. There will obviously be some, but not nearly enough for this to be a no-risk spigot. I can easily foresee a time, in a month or few months, where someone buys this pet from Blizzard and tries to sell it and finds it hard to do so.
What this is is Blizzard's way to sell real-money pets to people who don't want to spend real money, via using an intermediary. Person A has gold and no inclination to spend real money. Person B wants gold and doesn't mind spending real money. Person B buys pet sells to Person A. Blizzard Result: Person A has pet, Blizzard has cash. It's functionally the same as if Person A just bought the pet themselves. It's clever, as it creates "customers" (in effect) among people who don't want to spend real money.
Narayana Oct 11th 2011 4:49PM
Perhaps, but the reality is that this won't actually happen and I think we all kind of know that. The price that potential sellers will want are going to be way out of whack with what people are actually willing to spend, as such no one is going to buy it with the intent of selling it.
Add in the fact that this transition moves something that used to cost $10 for multiple copies to something that costs $10 for a single copy and Blizzard will now have to contend with declining sales on the pet itself.
rapsam2003 Oct 11th 2011 4:11PM
I think anyone who thinks this will sell for lots of gold on the AH is nuts. Here's how it'll break down. Player X (who has no life and is the first person to buy the pet on his/her server) will post the pet for a ridiculous amount of gold. Then, player y to player 1million will undercut player X. By the time we actually get down to it, the pet will equalize at a reasonable price. In other words, all the people dreaming they'll make tons of gold will have wasted their $10.
Narayana Oct 11th 2011 4:43PM
I agree completely. You might have one or two guys make a pretty penny on one of these- but if you miss the boat you're gonna get boned. People are VERY stingy with in-game gold and I am also predicting a certain measure of spite on the part of potential buyers.
Really, you'd have to imagine that anyone who is looking to make some gold on this is really looking to make SERIOUS gold and the only way to do this is with a high price. Take a look at the pets on your AH right now- the highest priced ones will generally be the Mccaw (which is actually rare) and then there's a huge drop off to the Argent Tourney pets. Given how easy it is to get this guy, I think buyers will spend to a maximum of 1,000 G for this pet- while sellers will sell for a minimum of 10K. It's a broken market from the beginning.
Krsnik Oct 11th 2011 4:13PM
Personally, I could care less about the whole RMT aspect of this debacle but what gets me is... I'm paying $10 for 1 of these things whereas I used to be able to pay the exact same amount for a pet for all my toons.
Noyou Oct 11th 2011 4:23PM
Yep. And apparently there will be a few people out there who don't care that they are getting 1/50th of the product for the same cost. Basically like getting one potato chip for the cost of the entire bag. I have bought a few pets and the Winged Guardian mount. I will not even consider buying the new companion pet nor will I consider buying anything from the Blizzard store that isn't BoA. To me it is an insult to my intelligence as a consumer.
mem0ryburn Oct 11th 2011 4:25PM
Exactly. HATE this, Blizz. How is THIS not the big angle of these stories? Or at least half of the story instead of a passing mention?
sezen Oct 11th 2011 4:29PM
I concur. I don't want to pay 10$ for one copy of one pet when precedent states that I can pay 10$ for 7 copies of one pet. I definitely don't want to encourage them to continue to use this model, either...
TJ Oct 11th 2011 4:40PM
This is my concern as well. I have never had a problem paying for the pets/mounts from the Blizz Store (for the record I have bought 2 of each - me and wife) because they went to all current and future toons. Now, I am being asked to pay $10 for 1 pet to go to one toon. I would prefer to have an option. For example, pay $10 for the BoA version to to go all toons, and pay $5 for a BoE version to sell in AH or whatever other use. As for the TCG pets, I own a few of those, and I have never paid more than $5 on eBay for any of the cards. - Just my opinion.
loop_not_defined Oct 11th 2011 4:55PM
Meh. I would prefer to pay 10,000g for one pet I actually want than $10 for 7 pets I'd rarely ever see.
loop_not_defined Oct 11th 2011 5:02PM
My point: I have two collector's edition pets, Murky, and the Core Hound pet. I only really use Murky on my main (Troll Warrior) and the WotLK CE pet on my DK.
The Cata CE pet and Core Hound pet are nice to have, but I almost never use them. I mostly got them because I wanted the additional CE stuff and the authenticator. If I'm going to drop $10 on ANY pet it's because I really, really want it, and I have a specific character who will use it regularly.
But if the Guardian pet rolls out the way many people are predicting, I'll be able to purchase it for much less than 10,000g, and maybe even purchase enough for all my alts just for the pet achievements. Never even have to spend a dime.
Zapwidget Oct 11th 2011 5:05PM
My wife and I (mostly my wife) have bought several Pet store pets, and sure, the BoA feature is nice, but when we buy them we buy them with one particular toon in mind and the rest getting them is just bonus, an achievement in the starter zone, and little else. Druids with hippogryph hatchlings are adorable, and dwarves with baby gryphons are cute. Paladins being followed by Lil' K.T? Not so much.
Still, while there are people that will absolutely buy them from the pet shop for their own use, but more likely they will be bought with the intention to sell in the AH. They aren't going to be selling at the same rate as a Spectral Tiger. And really, it gives players that have more gold than they are ever going to be able to spend something to spend gold on, while giving players who have more disposable income than gametime a way to get enough gold to buy that doohickey they need to have a shot at the raid team.
Wren Oct 11th 2011 5:12PM
I also have bought all previous pets/mounts but won't be getting this one because of the non BOA aspect. Would it be very difficult for Blizz to offer 2 versions of the pet when purchasing? A BOE one for those wanting to profit from gold sales, and a BOA one for those of us that have no intention of selling?
Though I see their point about how TCG pets have always been BOE, those pets can be as cheap as $3.99ea, depending on your luck.