Exactly What Does "Paid Character Customization" Mean for World of Warcraft?
Exactly What Does "Paid Character Customization" Mean for World of Warcraft?
October 13, 2008
It has been reported on a number of sites, Ten Ton Hammer among them, that the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion for World of Warcraft will feature something mysteriously called "Paid Character Customization."
This news reportedly slipped out at a BlizzCon press conference featuring WoW's J. Allen Brack.
From the TTH story:
In a press conference late on Saturday, Lead Producer J. Allen Brack confirmed what some data file combers had surmised: WoW will feature paid character customization:
"I don't mind stating that there will be paid character customization at some point. I can't really go into detail."
Details such as when this feature will be added and the extent of customizable features for hire are unknown at this point, but its safe to surmise that any kind of paid changes will be purely cosmetic.
But, will it be purely cosmetic, as TTH assumes? Gamasutra has something of a different take on Blizzard's news:
Emerging business models for online games like microtransactions and tiered subscriptions have long met with skepticism from the average MMO enthusiast, who's viewed Blizzard and its standard subscription model for World of Warcraft as a bastion against new monetization strategies.
But it seems possible that Blizzard might soon explore the pay-for-goods arena after a press conference at its BlizzCon event -- though specifics are still being ironed out.
So, if it turns out that Blizzard is selling character upgrades such as special items and gear, philosophically, is that much different from buying WoW gold from a third-party seller? (which I've done in the past and for which I get a great deal of criticism from some MMO gamers whenever I mention it).
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Posted 11/20/08 at 10:03pm
PHX Corp: ok, I get it now, no need to repeat it
PHX Corp: ok, I get it now, no need to repeat it
Posted 11/20/08 at 09:45pm
Brokenscope: The DTV transition doesn't effect the videogame industry.
Brokenscope: The DTV transition doesn't effect the videogame industry.
Posted 11/20/08 at 09:31pm
PHX Corp: If JT attempts to flood his punditry with Gay porn It will cause him to become a Public Nusciense and put him in trouble with the people who run his site
PHX Corp: If JT attempts to flood his punditry with Gay porn It will cause him to become a Public Nusciense and put him in trouble with the people who run his site
Posted 11/20/08 at 09:22pm
PHX Corp: sigh, nevermind
PHX Corp: sigh, nevermind
Posted 11/20/08 at 09:16pm
sqlrob: @PHX: What does DTV have to do with video games? A console doesn't care, and most people are on cable
sqlrob: @PHX: What does DTV have to do with video games? A console doesn't care, and most people are on cable
Posted 11/20/08 at 09:16pm
sqlrob: @d.vel.oper: What protocol? Depends a lot on what you're doing. I think it's 10X+ on CIFS
sqlrob: @d.vel.oper: What protocol? Depends a lot on what you're doing. I think it's 10X+ on CIFS
Posted 11/20/08 at 08:45pm
PHX Corp: Just asking anyway since we have 88 days til analog has finally bitten the dust
PHX Corp: Just asking anyway since we have 88 days til analog has finally bitten the dust
Posted 11/20/08 at 08:42pm
PHX Corp: Do you think the Video game industry is already aware of the DTV transistion
PHX Corp: Do you think the Video game industry is already aware of the DTV transistion
Posted 11/20/08 at 07:18pm
Shadow D. Darkman: @PHX: Yo.
Shadow D. Darkman: @PHX: Yo.
Posted 11/20/08 at 07:14pm
PHX Corp: hey shadow
PHX Corp: hey shadow
Posted 11/20/08 at 07:13pm
Shadow D. Darkman: Hmm...
Shadow D. Darkman: Hmm...
Posted 11/20/08 at 07:06pm
d.vel.oper: @sql: Ah. How's the performance? Looking for a quantifiable sum, btw.
d.vel.oper: @sql: Ah. How's the performance? Looking for a quantifiable sum, btw.
Posted 11/20/08 at 07:03pm
sqlrob: when it hits the server. The server doesn't know anything happened
sqlrob: when it hits the server. The server doesn't know anything happened
Posted 11/20/08 at 07:03pm
sqlrob: @d: The endpoint doesn't see the change. It's compressed (and other optimizations) between client and hardware, then normal
sqlrob: @d: The endpoint doesn't see the change. It's compressed (and other optimizations) between client and hardware, then normal
Posted 11/20/08 at 07:01pm
d.vel.oper: @sql: I'm assuming we're talking about more here than just endpoint compression?
d.vel.oper: @sql: I'm assuming we're talking about more here than just endpoint compression?
Posted 11/20/08 at 06:59pm
sqlrob: ..., needs the proper network backend hardware for most features, but not all
sqlrob: ..., needs the proper network backend hardware for most features, but not all
Posted 11/20/08 at 06:59pm
PHX Corp: WTF, Obama Citezinsip questioned again http://foolocracy.com/2008/11/supreme-court-to-review-obamas-citizenship/
PHX Corp: WTF, Obama Citezinsip questioned again http://foolocracy.com/2008/11/supreme-court-to-review-obamas-citizenship/
Posted 11/20/08 at 06:58pm
sqlrob: @d.vel.oper: I also don't want to spam. It's a WAN accelerator, runs under Windows and accelerates network traffic
sqlrob: @d.vel.oper: I also don't want to spam. It's a WAN accelerator, runs under Windows and accelerates network traffic
Posted 11/20/08 at 06:56pm
d.vel.oper: @sqlrob: What product(s) do you actually work on, if you're not all NDAized, that is.
d.vel.oper: @sqlrob: What product(s) do you actually work on, if you're not all NDAized, that is.
Posted 11/20/08 at 06:56pm
PHX Corp: If things go well the Republicans may have to go libertaian if all else fails
PHX Corp: If things go well the Republicans may have to go libertaian if all else fails
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Comments
This is just my personal guess, but I imagine this'll be for features that can't be changed through the ingame Barber Shop, such as skin tone, faces, or possibly switching the character from male to female or vise-versa.
This is just wishful thinking on my part but maybe you could transfer a charcter from Alliance to Horde. That'd be great for me cause then I could finally move my druid to a server that I'll actually play him on.
I don't see how the Gamasutra is taking the information much differently than TTH. I think the commentary in the article is projecting your own desires a bit much. "So, if it turns out that Blizzard is selling character upgrades such as special items and gear, philosophically, is that much different from buying WoW gold from a third-party seller?" No, it's not different. In fact, that's precicely what it is, which is why it won't happen.
I'd tend to agree with Arad and TTH, in that the feature will probably be one time micropayment to unlock 'unique' cosmetic changes in the upcomming Barber Shop.
Bah, come play on a free custom server, so much more fun :)
So Blizzard is dabbling in the Micro-transaction model. A good move. Micro-transactions are quite successful in Asian Markets, I don't see why they are not taking more of a foothold in the US.
AS for what it is exactly, I am still unclear. I don't think that people would complain too much as long as quest itmes are not available for purchae outside of the game. As long as it is stuff available in standard shops, I see no problem.
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It is that different from buying gold, because Blizzard makes the money. MMO-people don't like other people making money off their game.
"So, if it turns out that Blizzard is selling character upgrades such as special items and gear, philosophically, is that much different from buying WoW gold from a third-party seller?"
If this were to happen, you could kiss WoW's economy goodbye. Luckily, I stopped playing a month or two ago.
Based on Blizzard's previous history with the trading card game and limited edition promotions, anything to be "sold" will be cosmetic. Blizzard has proven that people are willing to pay shitloads of money on trading cards to get cosmetic gear for World of Warcraft.
I don't think Blizzard would alienate its playerbase by giving advantages to people who have the most amount of cash, just doesn't seem like that would be their style. Blizzard isn't SOE, afterall.
Unfortunately the general theme of Blizzcon this year seemed to be "Money; we wants more of it, precious."
Lets not kid ourselves. If an MMO thought they could get away with the outright sale of goods and services that offered a competitive in-game benefit, they would do it. And the gold buyers, power-levellers, and multi-boxers demonstrate that there is a market.
I was afraid of something like this. Mergers tend to be bad for corporate cultures. i.e. the thing that made the company great in the first place.
No problemms with Micro-transactions here as long as its only cosmetic or titles or whatever, if they start selling gear or upgrades then I am vehemetly against it. By the way in beta the barber shop does cost money... but only in game money, you pay a few gold to change your hairstyle or whatever and thats it, so I dont think youll have to unlock it with real money or anything like that.
What's wrong with being able to purchase equipment that is available to you from ingame shops using real world money?
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
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This is nothing but utter and total confirmation that the End of the World (of Warcraft) approaches. When a company starts to nickle and dime for every little thing it sells. It shows that it no longer cares about the consumer which means that it will start taking short cuts in its products. Blizzard no longer controls the company, Activision's money managers do, and they are sucking the soul out of the company.
Bethesda made DLC for Oblivion. They must be the devil.
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I'm not under the affluence of incohol as some thinkle peep I am. I'm not half as thunk as you might drink. I fool so feelish I don't know who is me, and the drunker I stand here, the longer I get.
Its time the MMO priceing setup changed I'd rather spend 80$ (with game) plus a monthly of 8$ to paly a fun game with a charatcer thats abovethe nromal with stats and stuff rather than pay 30 for the ame and 15 a month to endlessly grind on my new anti job....
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
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"So, if it turns out that Blizzard is selling character upgrades such as special items and gear, philosophically, is that much different from buying WoW gold from a third-party seller?"
In terms of gaming impact, I guess it depends on how Blizzard go about it. It's possible to have that balance between paid-for vanity tweaks that don't affect gameplay or game balance or fairness. Possible, but probably not likely XD
In terms of ethics, it is different, since third party sellers do not own the property they are selling :) Blizzard, on the other hand, do. It's a matter of copyright infringement when it comes down to it, not gaming impact.
Either way, I'd say WoW players pay enough already, frankly, without having to pay more for extra perks.
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