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Blizzard is Considering In-game Micro-payments for WoW
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Post by
ttppt2007
I found out an article regarding Blizzard considers trying Micro-payments in WOW and it is including many possibilities you may think or not. Just read it.
Source from :
http://2p.com/857217_1/WoW-is-Considering-In-game-Micro-payments-A-Ballsy-Move.htm
Blizzard is Considering In-game Micro-payments for WoW
WoW Patch 5.4 World of Warcraft P2P
By StellaX on Jul 05, 2013 0
A new spell for WoW patch 5.4 got attentions of many players. This spell is called Enduring Elixir of Wisdom which will double the gain from killing monsters and completing quests. And way to get this spell remains unknown. Many players worried about an f2p future. And the Brown’s answer leads to more speculations.
We are currently exploring the possibility of adding a way for players in certain regions to make purchases directly within the game. As part of this process, elements related to this will be appearing on the PTR. We’ll provide additional updates on our plans as development progresses.
Just a small Advantage
Actually most players are optimistic towards this. They point out that this spell only applied to 85-90. So it won’t affect the end game content. What’s more, the custom items like appearance, mounts, and pets once are only available in web-shop may be buyable directly in game. This would be great convenience of the masses.
Guild Wars 2 Mode
Speaking of micro-payments, a representative example is Guild Wars 2. In Guild Wars 2, they introduce gems as intermediary currency between in-game gold and real world money. Players buy gems with real world money. And they can trade gems for in-game gold and vice versa. So players have two ways to buy items they want, no matter in-game items or microtransactions: play to earn gold or buy gems with money. And the microtransaction shop always sells cosmetic items which won’t break the balance in game. So many players feel optimistic if WoW microtransaction goes in a GW2’s mode.
F2P / P2W Pattern
Many F2P/P2W games have high end items, like advanced gears, which are available for real world money. Those products will make the player way stronger than others who didn’t buy the items. So in the end only players spend money can enjoy the game. And grind accelerate items is one of those items which usually brought by real world money. So when Enduring Elixir of Wisdom came out in the list of WoW 5.4 patch note, the idea of F2P sparks in WoWers’ head. And when jonathan confirmed a direct purchase system within the game the concerns of F2P mode for wow raised. Thought a experience accelerate item is not a big deal and the in-game purchase mode still remains unknown, players are worried that this would be a sign
Diablo III Auction House
On this topic, some players think about the Diablo III’s auction house which allows players to trade items obtained in game with real world money for each others. However it becomes a problem of Diablo III’s economy balance. It is distorting player’s motivator towards the game. Almost 50% of players are using Action Houses to make money. But since most gears in WoW are tied and Blizzard must learned the lessons, it was unlikely for WoW end in this way.
Those guess above include the main ideas from players. No matter what mode Blizzard will take in, it is a ballsy move. How do you understand Blizzard’s intention? Please do not hesitate to leave a comment.
Post by
Adamsm
That it's PTR...and people need to remember that not everything that appears on the PTR actually makes it in.
Even if they did add this one item, considering that the Guardian Cub is a one time buy as well, it's not the first time it's happened.
Beyond that: Blizzard is making an assload of money off of WoW, and going to a F2P would cut that down a lot; don't think we'll ever see it until they are doing put out real content.
Post by
jcf190
That's a pretty tremendous leap for one data-mined item that isn't even confirmed for the NA region.
Post by
Laraden
That's a pretty tremendous leap for one data-mined item that isn't even confirmed for the NA region.
This. It's PTR, not confirmed.
Who cares what they put in the other versions?
And even if it does go to NA region, bluntly put, what's the big deal? Buy an exp pot. 100%? There's a farmable 300% one in game already. The speed at which another person levels has ZERO effect on ANYBODY but the person who levels.
For me, it'll be the same as the rest of the cash shop stuff, I'm not buying it.
Post by
193475
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Nulgar
That's a pretty tremendous leap for one data-mined item that isn't even confirmed for the NA region.
Exactly, they said
"in certain regions"
, which to me sounds pretty much like the Asian regions, where almost all MMOs operate that way.
Either way, I seriously doubt that WoW will go F2P in the next several
years
.
Post by
Azrile
All the games that were subscription that went f2p had less than 400k subscribers. WOW has probably 4M western subscribers. When you see WOW going under 1-5M subscribers total ( including china).. then you are probably ready to start talking about it going f2p.
Here is the thing that people don´t realize. Businesses love predictability. A subscription is very predictable. It allows the managers and leads to plan workloads, plan new hires for the upcoming year.. Cash-shop games are much less predictable. You create a new item for the cash-shop and you really don´t know how well it will be received. It makes it hard to do a 1 year plan for your business under that type of system. Monthly revenues jump up and down.
I really wouldn´t mind if Blizzard added stuff like EXP potions to the cash-shop. You already have crazy sstuff like RAF and there is a better potion already in the game.
Post by
rabican1
I am extremely ambivilent about buying things in game with real money. So I really don't know what to say about it. I worry about the effects that will have on the in game economy, but it is only worry not an educated position.
The idea of buying a really powerful xp boost is interesting. My knee jerk reaction is that it is a really dumb thing to do, but then I think about my Shaman and Druid that I am trying to get to 90. Unlike my three other toons neither was 85 when MoP came out and taking them through BC, Wrath and now cata has been so painfully boring. I had forgotten how horrible all of Wrath was and how Mount Hyjal is like being trapped on a roller coaster.
Post by
perculia
I am pretty sure this is going to be a Korean-server item, where you have to pay to play WoW by the hour and playing in public areas like internet cafes is common. There's already been some Korean-only changes in place like
10s and 25s sharing different lockouts and 25s dropping higher ilvl loot
.
Post by
678294
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
lankybrit
Well,
It requires level 85, so what's the big deal.
Here's the post over on the main forums:
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/9377319765
and here's the blue response:
We are currently exploring the possibility of adding a way for players in certain regions to make purchases directly within the game. As part of this process, elements related to this will be appearing on the PTR. We’ll provide additional updates on our plans as development progresses.
Cheers.
Post by
ElhonnaDS
I doubt they are, but if they do I'm hoping for a better selection of vanity stuff.
Post by
1012446
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
perculia
And more
details from Blizzard
that an experience elixir and ways to get Lesser Charms of Good Fortune are planned to be introduced on Asian regions.
Seems a long-term goal is to let players in general purchase mounts/pets directly in-game.
Post by
yukonjack
I don't normally go for the slippery slope fallacy but in the span of a mere handful of days since Zarhym confirmed the datamined xp booster to yesterday when Bashiok further confirmed their intentions and also added lesser charms to the list, I am now worried.
If you read Bashioks post on the matter the following excerpt is particularly troubling,
First, we’ll be testing the in-game store with some new kinds of items we’re looking into introducing (in Asian regions, at the outset)
especially the the words "at the outset" That implies to me that there are plans to bring it other regions, perhaps North American realms eventually.
I already considered the xp booster as crossing the line, lesser charms just confirms it.
It worries me greatly that once character boosters of any type are for sale for real money, the development of the game will be formed in such a way as to encourage purchasing of said boosters.
The one over arching principle I have always admired most about Blizzard and the way they approach WoW is their stance on gaining character advantages paid for with real money. With this announcement I feel they have broken their own promise to the players.
Since it is Tuesday and battlenet is down for maintenance I will leave Bashioks post from yesterday here:
Thanks for all the feedback so far, everyone. We’re still pretty early in the exploration process, but we did want to go into more detail about our rationale for introducing an in-game store, as well as provide some insight into what you might ultimately see available there.
For players who are already interested in the in-game items we offer, such as Pet Store pets and mounts, the benefits of an in-game store are pretty clear. We think everyone would appreciate the convenience of being able to make such purchases without having to leave the game, and ultimately that’s our long-term goal for the system, though there’s quite a bit of work involved in retrofitting those existing items into the new system.
First, we’ll be testing the in-game store with some new kinds of items we’re looking into introducing (in Asian regions, at the outset) based on player feedback: specifically, an experience buff to assist with the leveling process, as well as an alternate way to acquire Lesser Charms of Good Fortune. We’ve had a lot of requests from players in different regions for convenience-oriented items such as these, and as with other new ideas we’ve introduced as WoW has evolved—including Pet Store pets, mounts, and more—your feedback plays a hugely important part in determining what we add to the game.
Ultimately it’s still too early in the process to make any final determinations about our plans, but in the meantime, we hope you’ll check out the in-game store once it’s implemented on the PTR and let us know what you think.
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/9377319765?page=88#1745
Post by
Jkpman
when things like this are found and everyone gets their panties in a bunch for something thats most likely not even going too affect the majority of us.
People get their panties in a bunch over the slightest little thing.
So what if they introduce a purchasable XP boost, who does that harm in the grand scheme of things?
NOBODY.
Sure people will cry about it, slippery slope, pay to win, waaaah, it's all BS.
This game has needed a way for experienced players to skip as much content as possible for a long time.
They allowed returning players to skip to 80 with SoR, They have Heirlooms for practically every slot now, There is an elixir in game you can get with a little camping with a 1h 300% XP boost.
Honestly, I enjoy some aspects of leveling but would love the option to just skip content I've seen many many times or at least zoom through it with minimal effort.
Post by
Laraden
Even with the added lesser charms, this is still not a big deal. I don't even really do that many dailies and I'm sitting at 1200+ lesser charms. Enough to last me, what, 24 weeks?
Only people I can imagine needing to buy Lesser charms would be fresh 90s, and even then, can't imagine anyone would think they are uncommon enough to blow money on.
But then again, some people have more money than sense. If they want to pay for it, that's all on them, let them give blizz a little extra cash, I don't mind.
Once again, the net impact on my gameplay is 0.
Post by
yukonjack
Once again, the net impact on my gameplay is 0.
Is the net impact on your game play still zero when lesser charms suddenly have a 0.1% drop rate from mobs and are no longer awarded from dailies?
Post by
Lordplatypus
Trolling or reality?
Or dance system?
Post by
130798
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
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