Microtransactions pt. 1

I went with the broadest title possible because I have a feeling this will turn into a 100 page novel of some sort. This blog specifically is an overview and my opinions on Blizzard selling in game items for money AND THIS RIDICULOUS IDIOTIC CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING IT.

Overview

Blizzard recently started selling in game vanity items, such as non-combat pets, for real money (as opposed to in game money). The latest of these items, is a mount called the Celestial Steed, which is a one time purchase that goes to every current character and future character on your WoW account. The mount scales at whatever riding speed you have and functions as both a ground and flying mount where applicable. It cost $25 dollars.

My Opinion on the Current State of Blizzard's Microtransactions

(See how I carefully worded that? I can only talk in the present because some people think it is a slippery slope and only a matter of times until Blizzard will let you pay real money for an in game advantage.)

I think the current system is great. You have the option to spend money on in game items that are neat and look cool and offer no competitive advantage. Therefore, should you choose not to buy these things, you are not at a disadvantage. Meaning, WHO THE FUCK CARES?! I will tell you who, a portion of Blizzard subscribers, that's who. These people say, "it is a slippery slope" and, "it is only a matter of time before they sell in game gold and gear." Do I really think that will ever happen? No. You know why? Because Blizzard does closely monitor the forums and the actions of players and know just how far they can go until they go over the edge. Anywhere you look there are people saying, "it is fine as long as they don't get an advantage." Blizzard knows this and will not alienate their subscribers by doing something as insane as that.

The Money and Numbers Section

There are overwhelming number of people complaining about the cost of this mount. Here is why Blizzard is smart. As I said before, Blizzard knows what it going on around the internet. They know that any mount loot card they come out with will EASILY sell for about 100 bucks on Ebay. Not to mention, some of them go for HUNDREDS of dollars. So what does Blizzard do? Funnel that revenue to themselves more directly. Make cool pets and cool mounts that people want and sell them for significantly lower. If they can get $100+ on Ebay they should have no problem going for $25 in the Blizzard store. And no, they didn't. Blizzard made over 2.5 million dollars in one day. Easily.

You know what Blizzard also knows? That people pay $15 dollars a month to play their game, most of them will pay the $50 to buy the expansion as soon as it hits shelves, a lot of them will buy $150 tickets to attend Blizzcon (enough to sell out the venue), a lot of them bought Blizzcon for $40 when it was on DirecTV two years ago SOLELY for a mount, a lot of them bought Blizzcon last year for $40 SOLELY for a Murloc Marine non-combat pet, a lot of them bought a spot in the arena tournament SOLELY for a Murloc Gladiator pet, and a lot of them bought non-combat pets from their online store as soon as they hit the digital shelves. So why exactly is it a stretch and an outrage that you spent real money on something virtual (since everything above BESIDES attending Blizzcon) is virtual?

The Controversy

The following list are the problems people have with Blizzard selling this mount and people buying this mount.

• The cost of the item, $25.
• A bad use of money or a waste of money.
• That Blizzard will only ever make cool things for real money now and not in game achievable.
• That Blizzard already has $15 a month from us and we deserve cool stuff like this in the game.
• The fact that so many people have a cool mount make it cheap looking and lame.
  
• The mount is actually cheap looking, lame, and feminine.
• The misleading info that it got you a 310% mount. (Untrue.)
  

And in the special case of Seraphina Brennan, an author on Massively.com

• That all of these Microtransactions are okay when Blizzard does it, but not okay for any other company. Basically, gamers are two faced and Blizzard biased.

This is the end of "pt. 1." Stay tuned for the immediate and exciting follow up where I address all the concern and controversy, right after this short commercial break.