Home Gaming Blizzard confirms World of Warcraft microtransactions

Blizzard confirms World of Warcraft microtransactions

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Chaching

There were rumblings a few days ago that Blizzard was looking to start introducing some form of micro-transactions. Well wonder no more, because that’s happening. Blizzard will be launching the first phase of an in-game store in a test run in Asian regions soon.

Community manager Bashiok confirmed this on the Blizzard forums yesterday, writing that Blizzard was still “pretty early in the exploration process,” and that having such items on offer would make 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,” Bashiok wrote.

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.

Doesn’t really bother me, all this talk of micro-transactions because I could barely last twenty minutes in the game before uninstalling it out of sheer boredom. But ideas like those lesser charms of good fortune? That smells like pay to win to me. “Ultimately it’s still too early in the process to make any final determinations about our plans,” Bashiok said, “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.”

Hate or love the idea, the store looks like a definite new addition to the game now. Still, if done properly, it should at least help parent company owner Vivendi to suck even more cash out of the studio for who knows what reason specifically.

Last Updated: July 10, 2013

52 Comments

  1. Header = Ultra Win

    Reply

  2. RinceWind

    July 10, 2013 at 10:39

    Darryn, I spat cheese, ham and chilli sarni on my laptop with that header! Damn you, DAMN YOU! *wipes screen

    Reply

    • Spathi

      July 10, 2013 at 10:40

      Now I’m hungry… Any mustard with that?

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 10, 2013 at 10:41

        No, but did have mayo in. Chillies instead of mustard. But now I want Hot English Mustard. Damn you!

        Reply

        • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

          July 10, 2013 at 10:57

          Hot English Mustard FTW!!!!

          Reply

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 10:59

            Do you think if I pop down to the Food Lovers Market with my sarni, and help myself to their mustards things might get complicated?

          • Trevor Davies

            July 10, 2013 at 11:05

            Not if you tell them that I said it was okay. Let me know if they give you trouble.

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 11:07

            Capital! Of course if the weight of your righteous word doesn’t work, it may be sometime till you hear from me again…

          • Trevor Davies

            July 10, 2013 at 11:13

            But of course.

            PS: +100 Internet points to anyone who gets this reference.

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 11:14

          • Brady miaau

            July 10, 2013 at 13:52

            Sledge Hammer.

            Peter Gabriel theme music too

            Just before the nuke went off was my favourite time he said it. And he said it a lot. Man, that show was AWESOME

          • Trevor Davies

            July 10, 2013 at 14:03

            WINNAH!

          • Brady miaau

            July 10, 2013 at 16:01

            thanks. Was not sure about the pic though, hairstyle seems wrong to me.

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            July 10, 2013 at 11:08

            They may charge you for that microtransaction

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 11:12

            NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

          • Trevor Davies

            July 10, 2013 at 11:13

            Sarmie armour?

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            July 10, 2013 at 11:17

            lol

          • Brady miaau

            July 10, 2013 at 13:52

            nice insight into the next step of the food industry

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      July 10, 2013 at 11:14

      Wtf is a sarni?

      😛

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 10, 2013 at 11:18

        sarnie 😛

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

          July 10, 2013 at 11:19

          Oh, a sarmie? Sammich?

          Reply

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 11:22

            Nope, Brit slang is sarnie! But yes it is a sandwich!

          • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

            July 10, 2013 at 11:23

            Last time I checked you LIVE IN CT, SA

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 11:24

            Last time I checked your mom trololo!

          • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

            July 10, 2013 at 11:34

            O_O

            ok then

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 11:26

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            July 10, 2013 at 12:01

            Reverse Roundhouse kick like a boss!

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 12:10

            hahahah! Totally!

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 12:10

            PS. Where have you been banana?!

          • Trevor Davies

            July 10, 2013 at 11:28

            Which side of the almighty curtain though? Some things are different over there.

          • RinceWind

            July 10, 2013 at 11:31

            Hahah! Indeed!

          • Brady miaau

            July 10, 2013 at 13:51

            we use British englsh for our spelling needs.

            Sarmie is not a word, in my vocab, at least. Sarnie it is.

  3. Ultimo_Cleric N7

    July 10, 2013 at 10:40

    Free to Play is imminent……

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      July 10, 2013 at 11:59

      If they continue with subscriptions and have micro transactions then Blizzard has truly lost its way to the Unholy Greed – of Activision!

      Reply

      • Lardus

        July 10, 2013 at 12:47

        Yeah, pick one. F2P with micro scamactions or Subscription. They are really losing the plot these Blizzard guys.

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          July 10, 2013 at 12:57

          Of course, you know they’re going to do both… because… revenue trumps all! 😮

          Reply

          • Lardus

            July 10, 2013 at 13:16

            Then I’ll fall even further behind (assuming my internet works and I can play again) because I do not pay to win. The ladies of Teazers and The Grand need my moneyz more!!

  4. RinceWind

    July 10, 2013 at 10:42

    These Microcrapactions make me sad.

    Reply

  5. Argentil

    July 10, 2013 at 10:45

    I would expect this if they were to move to F2P, but doing it on a p2p model is just greedy. I already have a hard time justifying that the game has still not yet switched to P2P, considering it’s age and dip in quality over the years.

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      July 10, 2013 at 11:09

      I bet they are, but want to get their microtransactions up & running first so that when they switch they don’t see a massive dip in revenue when all the F2P players join in – I’d expect a lot of them to purchase stuff to help them level up faster.

      Reply

      • Argentil

        July 10, 2013 at 11:17

        That doesn’t make sense. Microtransactions releasing concurrently with F2P allows for F2Players to purchase their experience boosts as they level new characters (and there are usually restrictions in place that make these purchases more appealing to F2Players). There’s not really a huge dip in revenue. Releasing it prematurely is going to give your game, and your related companies, bad press. I’d understand if the microtransactions were to occur a maximum of a month before F2P hit, but they haven’t even spoken about F2P.

        Reply

        • Trevor Davies

          July 10, 2013 at 11:22

          I never said it was a good idea 😉

          Reply

          • Argentil

            July 10, 2013 at 11:26

            True dat. ActiBlizz, how far will you fall?
            Maybe it’s another ploy by Vivendi to further lower ActiBlizz’s net worth to encourage someone to purchase them.

  6. Vampyre Squirrel

    July 10, 2013 at 10:57

    LOL!!! Illidan header win!!!

    Reply

  7. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    July 10, 2013 at 11:00

    F2P incoming

    Reply

  8. Captain Minion TallTwit

    July 10, 2013 at 11:44

    Maybe they should now make it free to play. 🙂

    Reply

  9. Theo Steenekamp

    July 10, 2013 at 11:46

    Glad I sold my account now.. Buying coins that will let you earn extra loot. pay to win.. Got a steady $480 for my account, so if anyone has one and wants to quit now is the time to jump ship!

    Reply

  10. matthurstrsa

    July 10, 2013 at 13:22

    Because RMAH made Diablo 3 the popular, well loved game it is today

    Reply

  11. Fritz Colburn

    August 9, 2013 at 14:20

    Instead of micro=purchases how about making it fun again?

    Reply

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