World of Warcraft Confirms Microtransactions

[dalek sec]

As I read the article, storm clouds have begun to form outside.

I'm kind of expecting a Horus Heresy level shitstorm from the WoW forums.

Hey it's catching on!

OT: Yeah, I can't see this ending well in any shape or form. So, I'm gonna get some soda's and some popcorn, anyone else want anything? Maybe some burgers or sandwiches?

Yeah, I can't see this going over well on the forums there.

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

So, a buy-in, a subscription and microtransactions.

Meh, I've never had any desire to play WoW, but now I've been put off for good.

I think you missed the part of the article where it said they'd be ditching the pay-to-play.

 

[LetalisK]

Edit: Before people start shouting end of the world, keep in mind that all of these things, aside from not even existing in the game yet, are optional.

Would you be OK with them selling BiS gear for money? Or content packs? Because, you know, you don't have to buy it, it's optional...

Vegosiux, capable of making ridiculous logical leaps in a single bound!

Only when arguments as ridiculous as "It's optional" and/or "Companies exist to make money" are brought up. Logic already went out the window, so why hold back?

Lesser charms and XP =/= BiS gear, not by a long shot. Just because the argument doesn't work with the latter doesn't mean it's automatically invalid for the former.

Also, who has defended this with "Companies exist to make money?" I understand that is an argument that has been used in the past to defend certain corporate practices, but shouldn't someone here actually have to subscribe to that argument before you, ironically, get to claim it as a stab against the illogical opposition? Or did I miss it in the page and a half of this news post?

How about keeping a cash store out of the game entirely, considering there's already a subscription fee running? But hey, if people want to buy the entire "It's all for your convenience" shtick, fine with me...or it would be, but such practices affect every consumer, including those not directly using them.

So no cash store in a subscription game just for the sake of not having a cash store in a subscription game? That's a poor reason not to have something. I would hope most people would actually care about what's in that cash store before deciding whether it's okay or not.

edit: fixed the quote

 

[Baldr]

Now before everyone get to deep into this, do your research:

1. Asian markets are not on the same subscription plans as western markets.
They are almost on a F2P level, not quite, but it setup much different.

2. They are only introducing this in Asian markets for now

And what can you spend lesser charms on? I have 700+, that includes buying the weekly 90- every week. I do so many pet battles charms do not matter.

 

[Vegosiux]

Lesser charms and XP =/= BiS gear, not by a long shot. Just because the argument doesn't work with the latter doesn't mean it's automatically invalid for the former.

Actually, "You don't have it use it you know" is a shoddy argument for anything. Telling me that I can ignore something kind of validates my position of not wanting it to happen.

Also, who has defended this with "Companies exist to make money?" I understand that is an argument that has been used in the past to defend certain corporate practices, but shouldn't someone here actually have to subscribe to that argument before you, ironically, get to claim it as a stab against the illogical opposition? Or did I miss it in the page and a half of this news post?

Nobody, I was just listing an example of arguments that I really wish people would stop using. *grin*

So no cash store just for the sake of not having a cash store? That's a poor reason not to have something. I would hope most people would actually care about what's in that cash store before deciding whether it's okay or not.

Yes, for the sake of not having a cash store. Indeed, the very concept of a cash store in an MMO is something I take issue with; the moment you can buy an actual in-game advantage, no matter how small or "foolish to spend money on that" it is. If it creates an even slightly uneven ground, then I'm against it.

 

[Sectan]

Yeah this isn't going to get me back into WoW. The adventure of leveling is what kept me going up until Mists of Pandaria. They're basically making a game that you pay for. And if you want you can pay more money NOT to even play it. I'll stick with RIFT.

Yes I know that Blizzard was selling mounts and pets, but those don't even do anything besides look cooler and they didn't invade the game with some old Azerothian vendor asking your for real money in a fantasy world. All this XP boost is going to do is make the low level questing zones even more dead. A horrible way to get someone into an MMO is to have them completely alone until they reach level 90.

So you have to buy the game, all it's expansions and pay a subscription fee and now their asking for more money for XP boosts? Yeah, WoW's sinking faster than I would have thought.

This has nothing to do with it sinking fast. It has everything to do with making money. Wow has been selling in game items for over-inflated prices for years now, why are we only complaining about this just recently?

Mounts were piss easy to get when they introduced the option to buy a sparkle pony and the pets have no effect on the game besides pet battling, which I think only awards vanity items. What they're hoping to introduce will actually effect the gameplay and interactions with other players.

 

[LetalisK]

Actually, "You don't have it use it you know" is a shoddy argument for anything. Telling me that I can ignore something kind of validates my position of not wanting it to happen.

So because you don't want to have to ignore something that will have no effect on your experience, nobody should be able to take advantage of it?

Yes, for the sake of not having a cash store. Indeed, the very concept of a cash store in an MMO is something I take issue with; the moment you can buy an actual in-game advantage, no matter how small or "foolish to spend money on that" it is. If it creates an even slightly uneven ground, then I'm against it.

Such an absolutist stance seems unnecessarily restrictive to me.

 

[Waaghpowa]

Edit: Before people start shouting end of the world, keep in mind that all of these things, aside from not even existing in the game yet, are optional.

Would you be OK with them selling BiS gear for money? Or content packs? Because, you know, you don't have to buy it, it's optional...

I've quit years ago, but am just facepalming quietly at this. You already pay for the game, for the expansions, and there's a monthly subscription.

Honestly, I wish so many people hadn't jumped on board with that retarded horse, and this maybe wouldn't have happened.

On the other hand, I'm only surprised it took them this long to try and pull this one. I suppose they believe the community has been lubed up by the pets&mounts enough so that they can start introducing actual gameplay bonuses for money...

The micro transactions, not only haven't been implemented yet, but is in "testing". Everything that has been mentioned may not even exist in a few weeks. Why don't we just wait and see how things pan out before we start assuming that Blizz will start selling best in slot gear. When they actually do it, then let's get out the pitchforks.

 

[Fdzzaigl]

There will probably be a shitstorm, but I honestly think they have enough fanboys who will defend them no matter what.

Regardless, WoW already has microtransactions, for mounts and pets. Some games get by with just convenience and appearance like that alone.

I also wonder whether these microtransactions aren't going to turn into MACROtransactions, with the way they handled their flying ponies and other mounts (which also prompted the rest of the MMO's to ask outrageous prices for mount skins).

 

[Drops a Sweet Katana]

So, they're adding micro-transactions to the original model now? So let me get this straight: you have to buy the game and its expansions, pay for a membership AND they're adding micro-transactions? Are they TRYING to kill their own game?!

 

[Elvis Starburst]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh man, this is probably not gonna go over well...
>.>
.>
*grabs popcorn and takes a seat in a leather recliner*

 

[SecondPrize]

So... Blizzard is offering all of the shit of free to play with none of the free? Where do I sign up?

There will probably be a shitstorm, but I honestly think they have enough fanboys who will defend them no matter what.

Regardless, WoW already has microtransactions, for mounts and pets. Some games get by with just convenience and appearance like that alone.

I also wonder whether these microtransactions aren't going to turn into MACROtransactions, with the way they handled their flying ponies and other mounts (which also prompted the rest of the MMO's to ask outrageous prices for mount skins).

They have microtransactions now, but they've not really done it like pretty much any other games with microtransactions, up till now. Like you said, it was just mounts and pets, cosmetic stuff. Now they're adding the kind of useful things you find in most FTP MMOs. The story here isn't that they're adding them, it's that they're changing the nature of the microtransactions they offer.

 

[Vegosiux]

So because you don't want to have to ignore something that will have no effect on your experience, nobody should be able to take advantage of it?

As I said, even practices that I personally ignore or opt out do affect the market, and as a consumer, I am affected by any change in the market, even if I contributed nothing to such a change. As a consumer, I can also voice my opposition to such changes at any point, even when they're in "planning".

Such an absolutist stance seems unnecessarily restrictive to me.

Well I believe that in gaming it's absolutely necessary that the playing field be even for everyone, and real money should not factor into it past actually buying the game and/or paying a subscription; otherwise what's the point. Cosmetic stuff, okay, if people want to throw money at pixels to show off, fine. But giving an actual advantage over those who do not spend real money past buying/subscribing crosses a line, again, no matter how "small" or "foolish to spend money on" such an advantage is.

If that stance is "unnecessarily restrictive" in your opinion, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[LetalisK]

But giving an actual advantage...

I guess we will have to agree to disagree then, because it's an advantage in the same way affirmative action is an advantage to minorities[footnote]In principle, not in magnitude, obviously.[/footnote]. People who currently play have no use for these things since they're at the top of the power structure already, as it were, and this entire expansion has been about lowering the barrier to entry for new and returning players. The entire purpose of these boosts are to help them to even start working at reaching where the rest of the player base is and that's a tricky situation because you don't want to over-extend into just throwing BiS gear at people. However, I don't think Blizzard is going to take this to that extreme and I'm thus far happy with their attempts to bring in new and returning players.

So, yeah. Okay, I can concede that this might create a slight advantage for some players. And I'm okay with that, because I don't see that advantage to those players doing anything other than helping the game, if it even affects it all. We'll see if Blizzard keeps this tame or goes nuts with it.

 

[piinyouri]

Couldn't possibly make the game any worse at this point right?

Do they have any plans to drop the subscription? As others said, having two paygates and an additional cash shop just seems excessive.

 

[BanicRhys]

I see nothing wrong with this, they aren't selling anything crucial to gameplay like currency or gear. They're just giving players the option to speed up leveling which can get extremely tedious after the third or fourth time.

 

[VladG]

For the record, WoW has had "microtransactions" for years, they've been selling pets and mounts for 10 or 20 bucks since the second expansion (they're on the fourth now). The news here is that they're setting up the store ingame, where previously you had to log into Battle.net through a browser to make purchases.

Just wanted to clear that up.

No, the relevant news here is that in addition to the mounts and pets they will also be selling boosts. And that's just the start.

I don't play WoW any more, but if I did, this would put a stop to that. I find it unacceptable in a subscription based MMO.

 

[walrusaurus]

For the record, WoW has had "microtransactions" for years, they've been selling pets and mounts for 10 or 20 bucks since the second expansion (they're on the fourth now). The news here is that they're setting up the store ingame, where previously you had to log into Battle.net through a browser to make purchases.

Just wanted to clear that up.

But that's always been limited to a handful of mounts and pets. Now it's going to be pay to level faster. And it's going to feel a lot more intrusive as more items are added.

To me it honestly feels greedy, but Acti/Blizz don't have the best record. WoW has earned it's last £8.99 from me if it continues down this path.

I don't think EXP boosters should ever be a microtransaction in an MMO. Leveling up should be FUN (as wow has been) not a race to the end. It's like square enix is porting a game to IOS or something.

I agree with you on principle -that leveling "should" be fun- but the reality is that WOw has beena game designed and focused exclusively on its endgame for an extremely long time. Its been years since the grind to level cap has been anything but exactly that: a grind, a barrier of entry to where the actual game is.

Thats the reason why its already possible to boost your XP gain rate by nearly 100% through in game items.
To say nothing of the fact that actually making it to level 90 still takes well over 100 hours even then.

If you want an MMO where level cap doesn't matter and leveling is fun play Guild Wars

 

[walrusaurus]

For the record, WoW has had "microtransactions" for years, they've been selling pets and mounts for 10 or 20 bucks since the second expansion (they're on the fourth now). The news here is that they're setting up the store ingame, where previously you had to log into Battle.net through a browser to make purchases.

Just wanted to clear that up.

No, the relevant news here is that in addition to the mounts and pets they will also be selling boosts. And that's just the start.

I don't play WoW any more, but if I did, this would put a stop to that. I find it unacceptable in a subscription based MMO.

I'm curious what you find so objectionable about boosts. So long as the game isn't intentionally designed to be totally unreasonable without them, they seem to be the most unobjectionable way possible to add microtransactions to a game.

Personally i'd actually rather see an MMO sell boosts than store exclusive mounts/pets.

 

[Altorin]

Wait, wait, wait...
So, you have to buy into the game, pay a monthly subscription and they're putting in microtransactions?
Does nobody remember The Secret World, the MMO that had all of that and failed spectacularly? Because I'm damned sure those two facts are related.
I mean this is EA levels of greed. As if WoW wasn't dying fast enough.

The Secret World isn't World of Warcraft.

the definition of failure between a new MMO and World of Warcraft is vast.

World of Warcraft could lose half of its playerbase, and if the remaining playerbase sticks around and buys the microtransactions, Activision-Blizzard will still come out way on top.

And this move isn't even going to hurt them as much as all that.

There just seems to be infinite money pouring out of WoW.