If you havin' ghoul problems I feel bad for you son (3.3)

[Majicka]

Did you read the article?

The idea was to switch from subscriptions to micro-transactions. Personally, I think that would be a good idea, but I'm also horribly biased towards micro-transactions.

Yes, I meant that it'd never happen because Activision will pump the game for every single dollar that they possibly can. It's the same thing that is happening to Guitar Hero.

For example, Blizzard said they would never allow faction/race changes. Activision buys them out, and suddenly you can do said features for 15 bucks.

[Kaden]

Ah. So you're equating micro-transactions with making less money.

I agree that the change will be motivated by whether or not they think micro transactions will bring in more money than continued subscriptions. Like I already said, I'm biased.

I BELIEVE IN YOU, MICRO TRANSACTIONS!

[Josh]

Micro-transaction model is never very good.

It's an unstable business model, and generally isn't profitable until the game has been active for awhile. It's usually better to add a free server or two that supports micro-transactions, and then offer them to transfer to a subscription based server for a nominal fee.

At least that's the way I see Blizzard doing it, if they ever decided too.

[Kaden]

With established IPs, micro-transactions have been pretty successful.

I don't think something like WoW would have any problems whatsoever.

[Josh]

With established IPs, micro-transactions have been pretty successful.

I don't think something like WoW would have any problems whatsoever.

I've played on quite a few free servers, generally the successful ones are full of bots or some other type of annoying man-child and the transactions they have are for uber gear.

[Kaden]

When I say "established IPs" I mean things like LoL or Urban Rivals or Guild Wars or things like that. Y'know, things that incorporate an actual business model.

Free WoW servers... don't really have anything to do with it.

[Cain]

Subscription fees are terrible. Micro transactions are win. Hence the awesomeness of Megaten.

[Josh]

When I say "established IPs" I mean things like LoL or Urban Rivals or Guild Wars or things like that. Y'know, things that incorporate an actual business model.

Free WoW servers... don't really have anything to do with it.

I was talking about Seal Online, Maple Story, etc- not free private servers. LoL is fun when you play with your friends, but it's limited in scope. Urban Rivals and Guild Wars are meh, and with Guild Wars you have to purchase the product to begin with.

[Majicka]

So reading back over the article again, it talks about the idea of WoW making people buy items and accessories in game for real money, unless I am mistaken. That is the worst idea I've ever heard of, and I hate games that have that premise, unless it's like pets or clothing. However if they did that with WoW it'd be gear or something, which is a horrible idea. I hate the thought of people getting a leg up on people because they bought a chest piece from blizzard for five dollars.

Blizzard already has two pets online for five dollars each, and I imagine that they will continue this process with more pets. But to completely convert to a free game and rely solely on that style of play they would to have much more of a variety of items to buy, and the only reason it'd work in the play style of WoW would be to sell levels or gear. And that'd be the worst thing the game could possibly do from a players standpoint, and from a marketing standpoint it'd be a horrible idea as well. Enough people quite the game at 3.2 because of the "free lootz" and how easy it was to get gear from the new raid. Doing this would only drive away more players, unfortunately.

/end rant.

[Kaden]

How good the games are isn't the point. The fact that the business model has worked, is.

[Kaden]

So reading back over the article again, it talks about the idea of WoW making people buy items and accessories in game for real money, unless I am mistaken.

That's what micro transactions are. Receiving smaller amounts of money at intervals determined by the customer.

The point is to make the amounts of money non-issues. Spending a couple of dollars on something really cool is a trade-off most players will make for being able to play the rest of the game for free.

[Majicka]

That's what micro transactions are. Receiving smaller amounts of money at intervals determined by the customer.

The point is to make the amounts of money non-issues. Spending a couple of dollars on something really cool is a trade-off most players will make for being able to play the rest of the game for free.

I'd agree, and I don't mind that part. The part that would make me worried is how they'd make around the same amount of money as they do now. Seeing that the premise of WoW is built on reaching the max level and getting better gear, the only way I could see it working is by selling gear to players. And.. the thought of people getting the best gear by paying real money, and not actually working for it in game, is a downer.

[Sage]

Spending real money for fake things is super lame.

I hated when EA started charging people for stuff in their games, and I would hate Blizzard for the same.

Forgive me, but I think micro transactions are furiously greedy.

If they were micro transactions alone (and they were reasonable), then fair enough, but most companies either still charge you for the game itself (only broken, unless, of course, you buy the 'add-ons' that should have come with the game in the first place), or some other kind of companion fee.

I hate them.

[Kaden]

the thought of people getting the best gear by paying real money, and not actually working for it in game, is a downer.

You don't get any amusement out of the fact that they're working for the gear in real life?

[Ashe]

You don't get any amusement out of the fact that they're working for the gear in real life?

Its possible. That or they are using their mom's credit card to buy their way to the top.

The additional problem is that some people can't tell the difference in gear and skill. Erin logged on today just to check something and apparently now they use some "Gear Score" thing where they require your score be (as is usual in the game) twice what is necessary to actually clear the places with no problems (GUYS, YOU TOTALLY NEED FULL TIER 8 GEAR TO DO NAXX TO EARN TIER 7!). So those who are money tight would be considered "crappy players" for having to earn their stuff through in game methods, and the "pro players" would be those with full best gear the moment the new raid zones launch.

This is also a problem with the userbase itself, but that is a problem that can't exactly be dealt with.

[Sage]

Its possible. That or they are using their mom's credit card to buy their way to the top.

The additional problem is that some people can't tell the difference in gear and skill. Erin logged on today just to check something and apparently now they use some "Gear Score" thing where they require your score be (as is usual in the game) twice what is necessary to actually clear the places with no problems (GUYS, YOU TOTALLY NEED FULL TIER 8 GEAR TO DO NAXX TO EARN TIER 7!). So those who are money tight would be considered "crappy players" for having to earn their stuff through in game methods, and the "pro players" would be those with full best gear the moment the new raid zones launch.

This is also a problem with the userbase itself, but that is a problem that can't exactly be dealt with.

God, I hate World of Warcraft.

[Belle Hibiki]

WoW will go free to play when:

1) Their user base stops growing, and

2) They project that making WoW "free" with microtransactions will yield a greater monthly income due to vastly increased player traffic than their previous subscription model.

Right now they have no reason to stop what they're doing. They're making a predictable, regularly-scheduled shitton of money every month - and they're still growing.

[Waffuru]

Enough people quite the game at 3.2 because of the "free lootz" and how easy it was to get gear from the new raid. Doing this would only drive away more players, unfortunately.

And look how much they cared? They don't want to cater to the hardcore players anymore, they'd much rather have more weekend players that pay their fees and don't play much.

[Majicka]

And look how much they cared? They don't want to cater to the hardcore players anymore, they'd much rather have more weekend players that pay their fees and don't play much.

They are trying to draw them back with the toughness of Icecrown, which is supposedly supposed to be the hardest raid since sunwell.

[Kaden]

I don't think that has anything to do with drawing people back.

Add something easy. Add something hard. Rinse. Repeat.