Welcome to the new era in MMORPGs. Pay, Pay more, Pay again.
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I pay more to go out and watch a movie (including snacks and possibly eating dinner), i don't see the big deal in this, should i complain the theatre charges so much for food? wait i don't even have to go to the theatre if i don't like what they so, and i won't waste time screaming over it.
I'm surprised people freak out over this, don't like it don't do it, as i already said they don't even have to do it in the first place and the PLAYER BASE said they would pay for it so the player base is to blame not blizzard.
and they already have some blue posts saying they won't be selling items, should i freak out over every little change comapanies make to the game they own, nah.
Can't handle change stay away from mmo's.
Companies care about money wow that strange, not like they don't have tons of people to pay and bills to pay, not like they aren't taking that money and developing other games with it...i'm tired of the "they don't care about us attitude" no game company is doing this out of love for some gamers they don't even know, they are doing it for cash plain and simple. I think single player games would be better for most of you.
"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand." - Lewis Thomas
Welcome to the new era in MMORPGs. Pay, Pay more, Pay again.
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I know!! I mean come on. A company whos number priority is making money, what a absurd and stupid idea!
Can you imagine what would happen if every company in the US started doing this? We'd be headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. Like Old Testament type stuff, real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, Volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, cats and dogs living together....MASS HYSTERIA!!!
I just have to stop reading(this whole site) to say this: The PR reason for the charge may be to limit it's usage with the side effect of fleecing stupid people. But stuff like this, in no way, 'stresses the database'. Unless you think looting stresses the database or buying new abilities or using talents does so, too.
But I'm sure there'd be idiots/white knights heralding what a wonderful feature it is if an MMO introduced a 1c charge every time you looted...
I just have to stop reading(this whole site) to say this: The PR reason for the charge may be to limit it's usage with the side effect of fleecing stupid people. But stuff like this, in no way, 'stresses the database'. Unless you think looting stresses the database or buying new abilities or using talents does so, too. But I'm sure there'd be idiots/white knights heralding what a wonderful feature it is if an MMO introduced a 1c charge every time you looted...
Welcome to the new era in MMORPGs. Pay, Pay more, Pay again.
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I know!! I mean come on. A company whos number priority is making money, what a absurd and stupid idea!
Can you imagine what would happen if every company in the US started doing this? We'd be headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. Like Old Testament type stuff, real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, Volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, cats and dogs living together....MASS HYSTERIA!!!
lmao
anyways here is why nobody should complain imo...i go to the general wow forums and i see this post
"I'm sick of being a big cow. (should of thought about that when I created him)
I'm targeted first in pvp. I have to dismount to fit through some doors while other races have no problem.
Blizz, let me give you $15 for a race change...please."
As you can see people keep bringing this crap onto themselves, so blizzard keep on charging these dumb asses i won't hate you for it, i applaud you for takeing ever last cent from these people
Can't blame blizzard for giving people what they ask for, and if they say they will pay then so be it.
"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand." - Lewis Thomas
I agree with the OP on this one. We pay a monthly sub. Services such as these should be covered. Granted, this is more extensive than most changes allowed to an avatar, but even SWG so many years ago had image designers that allowed you to change your appearance.
What they shoudl do is expand the barbershop feature they now have in the game, and add other things to it like more hair and facial choices.
Welcome to the new era in MMORPGs. Pay, Pay more, Pay again.
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I know!! I mean come on. A company whos number priority is making money, what a absurd and stupid idea!
Can you imagine what would happen if every company in the US started doing this? We'd be headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. Like Old Testament type stuff, real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, Volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, cats and dogs living together....MASS HYSTERIA!!!
I agree with the OP on this one. We pay a monthly sub. Services such as these should be covered. Granted, this is more extensive than most changes allowed to an avatar, but even SWG so many years ago had image designers that allowed you to change your appearance.
What they shoudl do is expand the barbershop feature they now have in the game, and add other things to it like more hair and facial choices.
Does anyone even play this game...Like really? You do know there is a Barber shop in the game that allows you to change a lot of features, hair styles, jewelry, hair color, etc. and it doesn't cost RL money. EQ2 doesn't let you change your gender or name when changing the look of your character.
You are basically paying 5 bucks on top of a name change to change your gender, that seems resonable. I dunno if I want to be a Male tauren named "Pamela".
People, who probably don't even play the game, are posting here like Blizzard is charging folks just to change their hair, and they aren't (Since all that's free at the barber shop).
I agree with the OP on this one. We pay a monthly sub. Services such as these should be covered. Granted, this is more extensive than most changes allowed to an avatar, but even SWG so many years ago had image designers that allowed you to change your appearance.
What they shoudl do is expand the barbershop feature they now have in the game, and add other things to it like more hair and facial choices.
Does anyone even play this game...Like really? You do know there is a Barber shop in the game that allows you to change a lot of features, hair styles, jewelry, hair color, etc. and it doesn't cost RL money. EQ2 doesn't let you change your gender or name when changing the look of your character.
I would suggest you read the post preceding yours again before you rant at said person. He said 'expand', fully realising that the Barber shop already existed in the game.
I agree with the OP on this one. We pay a monthly sub. Services such as these should be covered. Granted, this is more extensive than most changes allowed to an avatar, but even SWG so many years ago had image designers that allowed you to change your appearance.
What they shoudl do is expand the barbershop feature they now have in the game, and add other things to it like more hair and facial choices.
Although I don't consider this the apocolypse, but I do agree that Blizzard should simply enhance the Barber Shop to include image modifies. If anything, keep the fee to name changes.
Hopefully Blizzard considers this.
Ico Oh, cruel fate, to be thusly boned. Ask not for whom the bone bones. It bones for thee.
I agree with the OP on this one. We pay a monthly sub. Services such as these should be covered. Granted, this is more extensive than most changes allowed to an avatar, but even SWG so many years ago had image designers that allowed you to change your appearance.
What they shoudl do is expand the barbershop feature they now have in the game, and add other things to it like more hair and facial choices.
Does anyone even play this game...Like really? You do know there is a Barber shop in the game that allows you to change a lot of features, hair styles, jewelry, hair color, etc. and it doesn't cost RL money. EQ2 doesn't let you change your gender or name when changing the look of your character.
I would suggest you read the post preceding yours again before you rant at said person. He said 'expand', fully realising that the Barber shop already existed in the game.
And Im sure they will someday, but that has nothing to do with WHY people are being charged and what most people are complaining about. The main complaint here is that Blizzard is charging for something other games have for free, AND THEY AREN'T!
Point me to a game that has free name and gender changes.
"And Im sure they will someday, but that has nothing to do with WHY people are being charged and what most people are complaining about. The main complaint here is that Blizzard is charging for something other games have for free, AND THEY AREN'T!
Point me to a game that has free name and gender changes."
There's a reason most games don't let you utterly change your name and appearance... But, I think I might have found a way for me to actually enjoy WoW!
First, I join a 'mid level' raiding guild, gain their trust and rise in their ranks. Then, since I'm playing a critical class, say MT or MH, make sure I'm the first to get kitted out in all the best stuff in the top raid. And finally, once I have all the raid items I want; loot the guild bank and run!
Then all I have to do is spam every member of the guild until they ignore me-- to make sure I'm not listed as their friend. And perform one of these 15$ name/sex changes and the challenge begins!
"And Im sure they will someday, but that has nothing to do with WHY people are being charged and what most people are complaining about. The main complaint here is that Blizzard is charging for something other games have for free, AND THEY AREN'T! Point me to a game that has free name and gender changes."
There's a reason most games don't let you utterly change your name and appearance... But, I think I might have found a way for me to actually enjoy WoW! First, I join a 'mid level' raiding guild, gain their trust and rise in their ranks. Then, since I'm playing a critical class, say MT or MH, make sure I'm the first to get kitted out in all the best stuff in the top raid. And finally, once I have all the raid items I want; loot the guild bank and run! Then all I have to do is spam every member of the guild until they ignore me-- to make sure I'm not listed as their friend. And perform one of these 15$ name/sex changes and the challenge begins!
From what I remember, if they add you as a friend or on their ignore, it will update that. So instead of a server-transferring, name-changing ninja, you'll be a Server-transferring-name-changing Transexual ninja.
So congrats on degrading yourself one step more on the ninja scale lol
Honestly, the billions Blizzard makes isn't enough? They have to screw the players more, when they could easily add this feature in with no cost to the player as a reward to millions of those that have been supporting the company? Utterly ritidiculous. This is on the same level as price gouging in the oil business.
Sweet jesus, unless you were wishing you could change your name and sex for free since the release of the game four years ago, quit bitching. I don't recall reading a single thread moaning about how Blizz needed to implement sex changes, so obviously it wasn't a big deal. But now that they have and are charging for it, you all are crying like a bunch of three year olds that just got told they can't have any ice cream. It's not like they're forcing everyone who subscribes to pay them another fifteen bucks, it's just to take advantage of dumbasses willing to throw their money away. You know what they say about a fool and his money. Just pretend it doesn't exist and go back to your earlier contented (or bitching about something else) state.
Your subscription fee pays for Blizzard to host and maintain the servers, it pays the wages of GMs, it pays for developers to continually work on improving the game (ironing out bugs, adding content etc). You CAN download updates from Blizzard, obviously, you choose not to... If you dont want to pay to edit your character, then dont... noone's going to force you to... You were happy when you made and finalised your character in the beginning, whats changed? Blizzard are cashing in on giving players an option, so its your option to pay them... Edit: You've claimed that its a basic service, that should be included for free... yet off the top of my head, I cant think of a single other game that allows this. Any that I can, have offered paid character-editing or server-changes, for years now... and I'm not aware of any complaints against that...
Yeah, all that surely costs a dollar or ,aybe even 2. Rest go to Blizzards (or any other MMO companies) pockets. This is not something that costs Blizzard a single dime.
Barbers which are free (or costs a gold in game currency) exist in both EQ 1 and 2 (Probably Vanguard too, never played it). Only games I know that charges for this are F2P games like Runes of magic.
Being able to change stuff like hairstyle is a basic thing that should be included for free in any MMO, anything else is bullcrap.
There is a tendency to greed right now with the big MMO publishers, SOE item shop is another sign at this. Love Wow as much as you like, nothing wrong with that but trying to defend Blizzard when they taking your money is a different thing. It is ok for F2P game to take money for all small services they do but not for P2P.
If Blizzard or SOE don't think that can include basic services in the monthly fee they should raise it, not put in small crappy fees for functions that should be included in what we already pay. Only MMO company right now that isn't greedy are Arenanet.
Sweet jesus, unless you were wishing you could change your name and sex for free since the release of the game four years ago, quit bitching. I don't recall reading a single thread moaning about how Blizz needed to implement sex changes, so obviously it wasn't a big deal. But now that they have and are charging for it, you all are crying like a bunch of three year olds that just got told they can't have any ice cream. It's not like they're forcing everyone who subscribes to pay them another fifteen bucks, it's just to take advantage of dumbasses willing to throw their money away. You know what they say about a fool and his money. Just pretend it doesn't exist and go back to your earlier contented (or bitching about something else) state.
Ok, I can buy that they charge for sex change and name changes but just for changing your hair? That is something that is commonly asked in all games that don't have it, and since it is not something a real human at Blizzard needs to do for you like a server transfer it should be free.
It is true that they only try to take money from morons but it is still low off them, it is not like they don't have enough money. Also the risk is that other companys follows.
Sweet jesus, unless you were wishing you could change your name and sex for free since the release of the game four years ago, quit bitching. I don't recall reading a single thread moaning about how Blizz needed to implement sex changes, so obviously it wasn't a big deal. But now that they have and are charging for it, you all are crying like a bunch of three year olds that just got told they can't have any ice cream. It's not like they're forcing everyone who subscribes to pay them another fifteen bucks, it's just to take advantage of dumbasses willing to throw their money away. You know what they say about a fool and his money. Just pretend it doesn't exist and go back to your earlier contented (or bitching about something else) state.
Ok, I can buy that they charge for sex change and name changes but just for changing your hair? That is something that is commonly asked in all games that don't have it, and since it is not something a real human at Blizzard needs to do for you like a server transfer it should be free.
It is true that they only try to take money from morons but it is still low off them, it is not like they don't have enough money. Also the risk is that other companys follows.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying here, but Barbershops are in the game already and only cost a few gold. The changes discussed in the service are major changes, such as body type.
The only game I've known to do this sans fee is SWG ( Image Designer ).
Ico Oh, cruel fate, to be thusly boned. Ask not for whom the bone bones. It bones for thee.
I am very confused as to what the problem is with this. It is a paid option that the company is offering. They are not forcing you to do this and there is no actual in-game effect. CoH has charged previosly for extra character slots, costume sets, etc. What about FFXII charging you PER CHARACTER SLOT. If they just openly allowed drastic character changes it would be rampant. If it has a real cost, less people are likely to do it. So just like with anything, if you don't like it don't support it. How hard is that?
Yeah, all that surely costs a dollar or ,aybe even 2. Rest go to Blizzards (or any other MMO companies) pockets. This is not something that costs Blizzard a single dime. Barbers which are free (or costs a gold in game currency) exist in both EQ 1 and 2 (Probably Vanguard too, never played it). Only games I know that charges for this are F2P games like Runes of magic. Being able to change stuff like hairstyle is a basic thing that should be included for free in any MMO, anything else is bullcrap. There is a tendency to greed right now with the big MMO publishers, SOE item shop is another sign at this. Love Wow as much as you like, nothing wrong with that but trying to defend Blizzard when they taking your money is a different thing. It is ok for F2P game to take money for all small services they do but not for P2P. If Blizzard or SOE don't think that can include basic services in the monthly fee they should raise it, not put in small crappy fees for functions that should be included in what we already pay. Only MMO company right now that isn't greedy are Arenanet.
Well as others have said the barbershop is in game, and people haven't put it honestly. It does cost you some gold, only if your high-leveled. The cost of using the barbershop is completely dependant on your level, while it might cost my Belfadin to get his hair and goatee touched up a few gold, for my alts, it may only cost a few silver or so.
Also I laugh at this line.
"Love Wow as much as you like, nothing wrong with that but trying to defend Blizzard when they taking your money is a different thing."
They aren't taking your money with this. Its a completely optional idea that has no adverse effects in game. They couldn't let you change your race because then people would use it to change races with the current winning flavors of the month in arena or raiding. Imagine a guild forcing you to roll a Draenei warrior or priest for the 1% hit bonus and free HoT (specially if you play a healadin). Or making you change into a human for the racial "pvp trinket" ability they have just so you can PvP with them.
I've seen some people argue "your choice, live with it". If you've been playing the game for as long as its been, I'm pretty sure you'd be a little tired of your hair. And while the hair is something that most can hide with a helmet, yet changing the entire model (specially between male and female) is most likely a little more work. The barbershop lets you change the things that aren't affected by the character model, only its look, your face or skin color or switching gender on the hand, requires a bit more.
I'm no game designer, and I very well may be wrong, but that's how I see it. Personally, I think the prices are crazy. $15 for that, 10 for a namechange are outrageous. The transfer thing I'm fine with, its not a simple click, they have to gather up all the data of your toon, whats on them and in their bags, gold, and all that and carry it over to a different cluster of servers, and possibly deal with another toon that might have your name already.
Edit: As the person said above me, it aint nearly as bad as some other devs. The people behind FFXi made you pay just to have more than 1 toon, and pay more incase you want some minigames. WoW allows you though, to have multiple toons (I've heard the max is 40-50 toons per account). for just the $15 a month you pay, no additional cost.
Comments
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I know!! I mean come on. A company whos number priority is making money, what a absurd and stupid idea!
-Currently looking forward to FFXIV
-Currently playing EvE and Global Agenda
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I pay more to go out and watch a movie (including snacks and possibly eating dinner), i don't see the big deal in this, should i complain the theatre charges so much for food? wait i don't even have to go to the theatre if i don't like what they so, and i won't waste time screaming over it.
I'm surprised people freak out over this, don't like it don't do it, as i already said they don't even have to do it in the first place and the PLAYER BASE said they would pay for it so the player base is to blame not blizzard.
and they already have some blue posts saying they won't be selling items, should i freak out over every little change comapanies make to the game they own, nah.
Can't handle change stay away from mmo's.
Companies care about money wow that strange, not like they don't have tons of people to pay and bills to pay, not like they aren't taking that money and developing other games with it...i'm tired of the "they don't care about us attitude" no game company is doing this out of love for some gamers they don't even know, they are doing it for cash plain and simple. I think single player games would be better for most of you.
"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand."
- Lewis Thomas
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I know!! I mean come on. A company whos number priority is making money, what a absurd and stupid idea!
Can you imagine what would happen if every company in the US started doing this? We'd be headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. Like Old Testament type stuff, real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, Volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, cats and dogs living together....MASS HYSTERIA!!!
I just have to stop reading(this whole site) to say this: The PR reason for the charge may be to limit it's usage with the side effect of fleecing stupid people. But stuff like this, in no way, 'stresses the database'. Unless you think looting stresses the database or buying new abilities or using talents does so, too.
But I'm sure there'd be idiots/white knights heralding what a wonderful feature it is if an MMO introduced a 1c charge every time you looted...
Please don't give em ideas!
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I know!! I mean come on. A company whos number priority is making money, what a absurd and stupid idea!
Can you imagine what would happen if every company in the US started doing this? We'd be headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. Like Old Testament type stuff, real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, Volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, cats and dogs living together....MASS HYSTERIA!!!
lmao
anyways here is why nobody should complain imo...i go to the general wow forums and i see this post
"I'm sick of being a big cow. (should of thought about that when I created him)
I'm targeted first in pvp. I have to dismount to fit through some doors while other races have no problem.
Blizz, let me give you $15 for a race change...please."
As you can see people keep bringing this crap onto themselves, so blizzard keep on charging these dumb asses i won't hate you for it, i applaud you for takeing ever last cent from these people
Can't blame blizzard for giving people what they ask for, and if they say they will pay then so be it.
"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand."
- Lewis Thomas
I agree with the OP on this one. We pay a monthly sub. Services such as these should be covered. Granted, this is more extensive than most changes allowed to an avatar, but even SWG so many years ago had image designers that allowed you to change your appearance.
What they shoudl do is expand the barbershop feature they now have in the game, and add other things to it like more hair and facial choices.
Its really bad that they're making it so obvious that they care more about $$$ than us.
I know!! I mean come on. A company whos number priority is making money, what a absurd and stupid idea!
Can you imagine what would happen if every company in the US started doing this? We'd be headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. Like Old Testament type stuff, real wrath of God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, Volcanoes, the dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifices, cats and dogs living together....MASS HYSTERIA!!!
And at least one plauge of locusts.
-Currently looking forward to FFXIV
-Currently playing EvE and Global Agenda
Does anyone even play this game...Like really? You do know there is a Barber shop in the game that allows you to change a lot of features, hair styles, jewelry, hair color, etc. and it doesn't cost RL money. EQ2 doesn't let you change your gender or name when changing the look of your character.
You are basically paying 5 bucks on top of a name change to change your gender, that seems resonable. I dunno if I want to be a Male tauren named "Pamela".
People, who probably don't even play the game, are posting here like Blizzard is charging folks just to change their hair, and they aren't (Since all that's free at the barber shop).
Does anyone even play this game...Like really? You do know there is a Barber shop in the game that allows you to change a lot of features, hair styles, jewelry, hair color, etc. and it doesn't cost RL money. EQ2 doesn't let you change your gender or name when changing the look of your character.
I would suggest you read the post preceding yours again before you rant at said person. He said 'expand', fully realising that the Barber shop already existed in the game.
Although I don't consider this the apocolypse, but I do agree that Blizzard should simply enhance the Barber Shop to include image modifies. If anything, keep the fee to name changes.
Hopefully Blizzard considers this.
Ico
Oh, cruel fate, to be thusly boned. Ask not for whom the bone bones. It bones for thee.
Does anyone even play this game...Like really? You do know there is a Barber shop in the game that allows you to change a lot of features, hair styles, jewelry, hair color, etc. and it doesn't cost RL money. EQ2 doesn't let you change your gender or name when changing the look of your character.
I would suggest you read the post preceding yours again before you rant at said person. He said 'expand', fully realising that the Barber shop already existed in the game.
And Im sure they will someday, but that has nothing to do with WHY people are being charged and what most people are complaining about. The main complaint here is that Blizzard is charging for something other games have for free, AND THEY AREN'T!
Point me to a game that has free name and gender changes.
Blizzard is charging for Skin tones and face changes - that other mmos give you for FREE
you want your WOW character to have a tan? cough up $15.00
EQ2 fan sites
they are allowing complete gender changes not just this, stop being a scrooge with your cash =P
"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand."
- Lewis Thomas
re spect talents 5$ coming soon!
Soul-less and cynical cash-in is soulless and a cash-in
More news at 11
"And Im sure they will someday, but that has nothing to do with WHY people are being charged and what most people are complaining about. The main complaint here is that Blizzard is charging for something other games have for free, AND THEY AREN'T!
Point me to a game that has free name and gender changes."
There's a reason most games don't let you utterly change your name and appearance... But, I think I might have found a way for me to actually enjoy WoW!
First, I join a 'mid level' raiding guild, gain their trust and rise in their ranks. Then, since I'm playing a critical class, say MT or MH, make sure I'm the first to get kitted out in all the best stuff in the top raid. And finally, once I have all the raid items I want; loot the guild bank and run!
Then all I have to do is spam every member of the guild until they ignore me-- to make sure I'm not listed as their friend. And perform one of these 15$ name/sex changes and the challenge begins!
From what I remember, if they add you as a friend or on their ignore, it will update that. So instead of a server-transferring, name-changing ninja, you'll be a Server-transferring-name-changing Transexual ninja.
So congrats on degrading yourself one step more on the ninja scale lol
Damn. I knew about friend following your name, but not about ignore-- I should've assumed...
Sweet jesus, unless you were wishing you could change your name and sex for free since the release of the game four years ago, quit bitching. I don't recall reading a single thread moaning about how Blizz needed to implement sex changes, so obviously it wasn't a big deal. But now that they have and are charging for it, you all are crying like a bunch of three year olds that just got told they can't have any ice cream. It's not like they're forcing everyone who subscribes to pay them another fifteen bucks, it's just to take advantage of dumbasses willing to throw their money away. You know what they say about a fool and his money. Just pretend it doesn't exist and go back to your earlier contented (or bitching about something else) state.
Yeah, all that surely costs a dollar or ,aybe even 2. Rest go to Blizzards (or any other MMO companies) pockets. This is not something that costs Blizzard a single dime.
Barbers which are free (or costs a gold in game currency) exist in both EQ 1 and 2 (Probably Vanguard too, never played it). Only games I know that charges for this are F2P games like Runes of magic.
Being able to change stuff like hairstyle is a basic thing that should be included for free in any MMO, anything else is bullcrap.
There is a tendency to greed right now with the big MMO publishers, SOE item shop is another sign at this. Love Wow as much as you like, nothing wrong with that but trying to defend Blizzard when they taking your money is a different thing. It is ok for F2P game to take money for all small services they do but not for P2P.
If Blizzard or SOE don't think that can include basic services in the monthly fee they should raise it, not put in small crappy fees for functions that should be included in what we already pay. Only MMO company right now that isn't greedy are Arenanet.
Ok, I can buy that they charge for sex change and name changes but just for changing your hair? That is something that is commonly asked in all games that don't have it, and since it is not something a real human at Blizzard needs to do for you like a server transfer it should be free.
It is true that they only try to take money from morons but it is still low off them, it is not like they don't have enough money. Also the risk is that other companys follows.
Ok, I can buy that they charge for sex change and name changes but just for changing your hair? That is something that is commonly asked in all games that don't have it, and since it is not something a real human at Blizzard needs to do for you like a server transfer it should be free.
It is true that they only try to take money from morons but it is still low off them, it is not like they don't have enough money. Also the risk is that other companys follows.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying here, but Barbershops are in the game already and only cost a few gold. The changes discussed in the service are major changes, such as body type.
The only game I've known to do this sans fee is SWG ( Image Designer ).
Ico
Oh, cruel fate, to be thusly boned. Ask not for whom the bone bones. It bones for thee.
I am very confused as to what the problem is with this. It is a paid option that the company is offering. They are not forcing you to do this and there is no actual in-game effect. CoH has charged previosly for extra character slots, costume sets, etc. What about FFXII charging you PER CHARACTER SLOT. If they just openly allowed drastic character changes it would be rampant. If it has a real cost, less people are likely to do it. So just like with anything, if you don't like it don't support it. How hard is that?
Well as others have said the barbershop is in game, and people haven't put it honestly. It does cost you some gold, only if your high-leveled. The cost of using the barbershop is completely dependant on your level, while it might cost my Belfadin to get his hair and goatee touched up a few gold, for my alts, it may only cost a few silver or so.
Also I laugh at this line.
"Love Wow as much as you like, nothing wrong with that but trying to defend Blizzard when they taking your money is a different thing."
They aren't taking your money with this. Its a completely optional idea that has no adverse effects in game. They couldn't let you change your race because then people would use it to change races with the current winning flavors of the month in arena or raiding. Imagine a guild forcing you to roll a Draenei warrior or priest for the 1% hit bonus and free HoT (specially if you play a healadin). Or making you change into a human for the racial "pvp trinket" ability they have just so you can PvP with them.
I've seen some people argue "your choice, live with it". If you've been playing the game for as long as its been, I'm pretty sure you'd be a little tired of your hair. And while the hair is something that most can hide with a helmet, yet changing the entire model (specially between male and female) is most likely a little more work. The barbershop lets you change the things that aren't affected by the character model, only its look, your face or skin color or switching gender on the hand, requires a bit more.
I'm no game designer, and I very well may be wrong, but that's how I see it. Personally, I think the prices are crazy. $15 for that, 10 for a namechange are outrageous. The transfer thing I'm fine with, its not a simple click, they have to gather up all the data of your toon, whats on them and in their bags, gold, and all that and carry it over to a different cluster of servers, and possibly deal with another toon that might have your name already.
Edit: As the person said above me, it aint nearly as bad as some other devs. The people behind FFXi made you pay just to have more than 1 toon, and pay more incase you want some minigames. WoW allows you though, to have multiple toons (I've heard the max is 40-50 toons per account). for just the $15 a month you pay, no additional cost.