Keeping in mind that is without either of the two exp packs, so you'd have to shell out 40 more dollars to be able to get the "full game."
Don't forget to factor in the subscription itself: $15/month * 12 months = $180/yr. If you have been playing wow like many for many years (I will use 4 years just as an example), $180/yr * 4 yrs = $720. Because of how long I have been playing (over 4 yrs myself), I actually consider this game to be an investment of sorts. That is a bit of money to put to a video game, but heck, I enjoy playing it, and hopefully will continue to do so.
So my two questions are:
1) Is $25 after years of gameplay really that bad?
Keeping in mind that is without either of the two exp packs, so you'd have to shell out 40 more dollars to be able to get the "full game."
Don't forget to factor in the subscription itself: $15/month * 12 months = $180/yr. If you have been playing wow like many for many years (I will use 4 years just as an example), $180/yr * 4 yrs = $720. Because of how long I have been playing (over 4 yrs myself), I actually consider this game to be an investment of sorts. That is a bit of money to put to a video game, but heck, I enjoy playing it, and hopefully will continue to do so.
So my two questions are:
1) Is $25 after years of gameplay really that bad?
and
2) Anyone else feel that it is an investment?
Personally I think your nuts for buying the mount however... I will defend your right to do so to the bitter end.
I have many friends who collect many different things, one of my friends LOVES hallow ween so much her apartment looks like a freak show year round. She has spent thousands of dollars on dolls and fake skeletons and plastic zombies.
At least this mount doesn't take up space in her apartment and look extremely gawdy when you have friends come over to hang out. There is something to be said for hobbies that don't take up all the room in your house.
Hobbies are hobbies, you spend money on them because its worth it to you. Thats a good thing!
I agree, for $180 a year, you get to enjoy a pretty polished game...For anyone with a decent job, that's pocket change if you consider how much money even a part-time worker makes a year for working minimal hours.
Now people say "why is blizzard charging so much..." So much?! If you factor it down to a denomation per person, it's not "so much" at all. Now if you don't have a source of income and you're sitting on your ass playing games everyday---you need to wake up and be a contributive member of your community/family. If you do have a source of income - things like this aren't so expensive at all.
How much do you normally spend to go out for a night with your friends? How many times have you done the things that you've done with them for that amount of money? Now people are still playing WoW partly (and a big part) because they enjoy the people they play with. So investing $15 a month - or the occasion $25 is not expensive at all. Hell i spend at least $20 whenever I go out with my friends, and we go out on a weekly basis.
Monetary argument is seldom valid in these situation imo - because it's all relative. Personally i think it's not a lot to any person with the average job.
It's their money, why would you care how they spend it?
Because it negatively effects everyone by artificially inflating the price of content. You may not be old enough to remember this, but there was a time when companies would *gasp* release content for "free" via in game events and patches. In fact, mmorpgs use to be 10 dollars a month rather than 15 or 20. Then came along mico transactions... and at 25 dollars a pop we are up to macro transactions. Where do you draw the line? Companies have no motivation to draw that line nor is there any legal obligation or regulation to stop them from exploiting their player base in this fashion.
Noobs on fast mounts from a cash shop? Sounds like a competetive edge to me. Killing noobs will never be the same with this.
It's only as fast as what riding skill you have. If you happen to have a 310% speed mount already, it will be that fast as well. There is no competitive edge in getting this other than what you already had.
Keeping in mind that is without either of the two exp packs, so you'd have to shell out 40 more dollars to be able to get the "full game."
Don't forget to factor in the subscription itself: $15/month * 12 months = $180/yr. If you have been playing wow like many for many years (I will use 4 years just as an example), $180/yr * 4 yrs = $720. Because of how long I have been playing (over 4 yrs myself), I actually consider this game to be an investment of sorts. That is a bit of money to put to a video game, but heck, I enjoy playing it, and hopefully will continue to do so.
So my two questions are:
1) Is $25 after years of gameplay really that bad?
and
2) Anyone else feel that it is an investment?
Personally I think your nuts for buying the mount however... I will defend your right to do so to the bitter end.
I have many friends who collect many different things, one of my friends LOVES hallow ween so much her apartment looks like a freak show year round. She has spent thousands of dollars on dolls and fake skeletons and plastic zombies.
At least this mount doesn't take up space in her apartment and look extremely gawdy when you have friends come over to hang out. There is something to be said for hobbies that don't take up all the room in your house.
Hobbies are hobbies, you spend money on them because its worth it to you. Thats a good thing!
LOL, I know people who do the same exact thing. True, everyone has a hobby, and so long as it is legal and does not infringe upon anyone else, all power to them. I know a few people who pay ~$150 for golf memberships a month. I think thats is a bit much. I personally stopped going to the movies but once every 4-5 months, because of the costs. The way I see it, I save money by quite a bit by not going out like I use to when I was in my teens, so my paying $12.99 (because I do the 6-month plan) for wow allows me to go and get things like that once in awhile. Heck, I just bought my wife and I two new LCD monitors for "enhanced gameplay", which just arrived today in the mail, and other than bills, my computer is mainly dedicated to playing wow.
So when someone says that they bought something ingame with real money, my sincere response is I hope they enjoy it. Otherwise it is a waste of money at that point.
The whole idea about "buying" things for money in game seems to be pure greed and "how can we make more money" way of thinking. And yes. Blizzard is a company and making money is important for them.
But they are also making a game. And should not the whole idea behind a game to actually achieve and earn stuff through game play?
I mean. How fun would it be if you started a level 1. Bought 80 levels for rl money. And then bought all gear for RL money and then .. whohah.. finished! :P
I know I am stretching it a bit here.
I like the new pet and mount. And I have no problems buying them as I am in a good situation moneywise in RL. But I would never do so. I just cant support a system that will eventually lower the game integrity quite a bit.
And I like to know that stuff I have ingame, is stuff that I worked a little bit for. It does not have to be extremely hard. But just a little questline or simmilar.
I consider buying stuff almost as cheating. Its like getting the cheat code. Get stuff for nothing.
I am a Blizzard fan. But this is on the list of horrible mistakes done by Blizzard and its lowering their reputation in my eyes.
And I remember the days when you had to really work hard to be able to afford an epic mount. Felt like a real achievement and was part of the game. Now you can just go out there and "buy" one for RL money and take it to the Dalaran "fashion Show".. Guess I am getting too old for this
I'm completely okay with vanity items for sale. And xp pots, and repair bots and and and. I would never buy any of it, but could care less if someone else does.
And no in game accomplishments are not meaningful in any way. Its for fun, exploration and because there isn't anything else going on that night =P And as entertainment its by far the least expensive thing going. MMOs cost .50 a day. I spend more for everything else day to day than my MMOs.
Now what WoW does need is appearance slots and then appearance only items on the shop. Because unlike say EQ2 where there is a class set at 20 that I can wear as appearance til I cancel my sub... in WoW you start off looking aweful and pretty much stay that was until you get a match epic set.
When I played sticking to an alt was rough because I just looked so terrible compared to later. Which put a massive spotlight on the low poly pc models that later are buried under nicely detailed armour.
This was supposed to be the new 'spectral tiger'. It was supposed to be added in the TCG. But they didn't continue the TCG with the companey who produces the cards. The mount was already made, so its my guess that blizz wants to stab their eyes out for braking the contract.
Monthly subs AND cash shops, and you people compliment it.
Next will be play time costs on top of monthly fees and cash shops, or maybe they will add a tax or some sort, or maybe pay for the LAUNCHER! Yea charge for the Launcher!. Maybe they can start charging for quests! (o wait they do), hmm what else can they scam out of us?
Meh corporations are only doing this because you people let them.
After much deliberation I have decided this is a good thing.
This is the begining of the end for WoW, the money men just will not be able to stop themselves. WoW RIP thank god.
Don't start your victory dance just yet... WoW is going to be around for a long time to come. A handful of hysterics howling like banshees at the moon about some trival items in the shop, are rather unlikely to have much impact at all on one of the most popular games in MMO.
This was supposed to be the new 'spectral tiger'. It was supposed to be added in the TCG. But they didn't continue the TCG with the companey who produces the cards. The mount was already made, so its my guess that blizz wants to stab their eyes out for braking the contract.
That's not true.
They already have a new company for their TCG, so if the Celestial Steed was in fact for the TCG they could've just passed it along to Cryptozoic Entertainment.
Now if you really want to see the new rumored TCG mounts, here they are...
i'm going to develop a game and sell it for 35 bucks.
people can sub and play for 10 bucks a month - bargain!
however, if you don't have time to play the game properly there will be an additional option.
for $1000 I'll ship a game that auto-installs and gives you all the kit, levels and unlocks for the ultimate gaming experience.
you'll have the perfect spec, all the rep you could want, you're the leader of a massive guild, you've downed all the bosses and you've got the best kit imaginable.
soon as you login to the game it auto-uninstalls, to save you having to waste time working out what you've actually just bought.
you can then feel great about yourself for all you've achieved and still have plenty of time to play my next release too...
I'm calling my new sensation 'Virtual Gaming' - it's virtually a game, but without any of the effort.
Aryas
Playing: Ableton Live 8 ~ ragequitcancelsubdeletegamesmashcomputerkillself ~
Like I've said in other threads; I truly believe WOW has already commenced it's descent into the inevitable. I certainly don't agree with Blizzard's latest move, but I'm not surprised they want to snag as much money possible, as WOW slowly sails off into the sunset.
Keep in mind they have a new beautiful MMO baby in the oven to worry about. One that needs as much attention ($) as possible
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
Moving 80,000 units in 4 hours isn't impressive? Sheesh. The 10 million subs they have are not in North America, but combined from around the globe. Getting 80,000 people in North America to participate in microtransactions on a single item (which is entirely fluff and has absolutely no gameplay functionality) at a high cost is impressive in of itself, getting that amount of people to do so within four hours is even more impressive.
That's just my opinion, though.
Really? no function at all in the gameplay. So havibng a faster mount effects nothing in the game against others who do not go and buy this thing? Whatever dream world you are living in. Still seems like paying to win to a certain degree.
Tell us all the things that a faster mount could be used for against someone that has just ta fast mount and doesn't want to spend to keep up? I bet their are a lot of things.
How many delicate flowers have you met in Counterstrike?
I got a case of beer and a chainsaw waiting for me at home after work.
There is nothing wrong morally or legally with what blizzard or any company for that matter that makes a profit for their services.
Wrong, at least as far as universal opinion goes. As it's a matter of opinion whether you feel Blizzard is doing nothing wrong. What the players do is their own business. What a Business does is everyones business, at least anyone who is a possible customer.
We're all possible customers of Blizzards as we're all MMO gamers, at least I would assume we are. Anyone who doesn't like where they are going with their business model should speak up.
Yes what a player does is his own business.
Yes what a company does is everyone's business.
There is still nothing they have done wrong morally or legally with THEIR business....
If you or anyone doesn't like the way a company does business then don't buy their product. IT IS THAT SIMPLE...
I walk into a gas station and pick up my favorite soda...buy it...open it...o my this is terrible...o look they changed their formula...well i guess I won't buy that anymore....wow that was simple.
It was THEIR choice what to do with THEIR company.
If you want to 'speak up' do it with your pocket book not from some absurd attempt at some morallity issue.
It will be interesting to see where Blizzard goes from here. I won't be suprised if one of the primary ways to customize a character will be cash shop fluff items.
MMOs are turing into Airlines - you can get by and grind it out in coach, or spend the big bucks and get the 'first class' experience.
I've spoken to several people today that were thinking of going back for Cataclysm but because of this are having serious doubts with the way the game is heading and fear a true cash shop ( the kind that sells non-vanity items) is just around the corner . Blizzard are making a quick profit yes but at the cost of their integrity as a company which in the long run is worth more .
Like I've said in other threads; I truly believe WOW has already commenced it's descent into the inevitable. I certainly don't agree with Blizzard's latest move, but I'm not surprised they want to snag as much money possible, as WOW slowly sails off into the sunset.
Keep in mind they have a new beautiful MMO baby in the oven to worry about. One that needs as much attention ($) as possible
How many people are they turning off that new game with their behaviour with WoW? I know I was VERY excited about their new project - until these cash shop shenanigans. Now, I have quit WoW and am boycotting Blizzard games.
"" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2
Comments
Don't forget to factor in the subscription itself: $15/month * 12 months = $180/yr. If you have been playing wow like many for many years (I will use 4 years just as an example), $180/yr * 4 yrs = $720. Because of how long I have been playing (over 4 yrs myself), I actually consider this game to be an investment of sorts. That is a bit of money to put to a video game, but heck, I enjoy playing it, and hopefully will continue to do so.
So my two questions are:
1) Is $25 after years of gameplay really that bad?
and
2) Anyone else feel that it is an investment?
Not an investment unless you are selling it later. I like to drive my car but do not concider the constant purchase of gas as an investment.
Personally I think your nuts for buying the mount however... I will defend your right to do so to the bitter end.
I have many friends who collect many different things, one of my friends LOVES hallow ween so much her apartment looks like a freak show year round. She has spent thousands of dollars on dolls and fake skeletons and plastic zombies.
At least this mount doesn't take up space in her apartment and look extremely gawdy when you have friends come over to hang out. There is something to be said for hobbies that don't take up all the room in your house.
Hobbies are hobbies, you spend money on them because its worth it to you. Thats a good thing!
@relliscg
I agree, for $180 a year, you get to enjoy a pretty polished game...For anyone with a decent job, that's pocket change if you consider how much money even a part-time worker makes a year for working minimal hours.
Now people say "why is blizzard charging so much..." So much?! If you factor it down to a denomation per person, it's not "so much" at all. Now if you don't have a source of income and you're sitting on your ass playing games everyday---you need to wake up and be a contributive member of your community/family. If you do have a source of income - things like this aren't so expensive at all.
How much do you normally spend to go out for a night with your friends? How many times have you done the things that you've done with them for that amount of money? Now people are still playing WoW partly (and a big part) because they enjoy the people they play with. So investing $15 a month - or the occasion $25 is not expensive at all. Hell i spend at least $20 whenever I go out with my friends, and we go out on a weekly basis.
Monetary argument is seldom valid in these situation imo - because it's all relative. Personally i think it's not a lot to any person with the average job.
Noobs on fast mounts from a cash shop? Sounds like a competetive edge to me. Killing noobs will never be the same with this.
Because it negatively effects everyone by artificially inflating the price of content. You may not be old enough to remember this, but there was a time when companies would *gasp* release content for "free" via in game events and patches. In fact, mmorpgs use to be 10 dollars a month rather than 15 or 20. Then came along mico transactions... and at 25 dollars a pop we are up to macro transactions. Where do you draw the line? Companies have no motivation to draw that line nor is there any legal obligation or regulation to stop them from exploiting their player base in this fashion.
It's only as fast as what riding skill you have. If you happen to have a 310% speed mount already, it will be that fast as well. There is no competitive edge in getting this other than what you already had.
LOL, nice.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
LOL, I know people who do the same exact thing. True, everyone has a hobby, and so long as it is legal and does not infringe upon anyone else, all power to them. I know a few people who pay ~$150 for golf memberships a month. I think thats is a bit much. I personally stopped going to the movies but once every 4-5 months, because of the costs. The way I see it, I save money by quite a bit by not going out like I use to when I was in my teens, so my paying $12.99 (because I do the 6-month plan) for wow allows me to go and get things like that once in awhile. Heck, I just bought my wife and I two new LCD monitors for "enhanced gameplay", which just arrived today in the mail, and other than bills, my computer is mainly dedicated to playing wow.
So when someone says that they bought something ingame with real money, my sincere response is I hope they enjoy it. Otherwise it is a waste of money at that point.
The whole idea about "buying" things for money in game seems to be pure greed and "how can we make more money" way of thinking. And yes. Blizzard is a company and making money is important for them.
But they are also making a game. And should not the whole idea behind a game to actually achieve and earn stuff through game play?
I mean. How fun would it be if you started a level 1. Bought 80 levels for rl money. And then bought all gear for RL money and then .. whohah.. finished! :P
I know I am stretching it a bit here.
I like the new pet and mount. And I have no problems buying them as I am in a good situation moneywise in RL. But I would never do so. I just cant support a system that will eventually lower the game integrity quite a bit.
And I like to know that stuff I have ingame, is stuff that I worked a little bit for. It does not have to be extremely hard. But just a little questline or simmilar.
I consider buying stuff almost as cheating. Its like getting the cheat code. Get stuff for nothing.
I am a Blizzard fan. But this is on the list of horrible mistakes done by Blizzard and its lowering their reputation in my eyes.
And I remember the days when you had to really work hard to be able to afford an epic mount. Felt like a real achievement and was part of the game. Now you can just go out there and "buy" one for RL money and take it to the Dalaran "fashion Show".. Guess I am getting too old for this
And no in game accomplishments are not meaningful in any way. Its for fun, exploration and because there isn't anything else going on that night =P And as entertainment its by far the least expensive thing going. MMOs cost .50 a day. I spend more for everything else day to day than my MMOs.
Now what WoW does need is appearance slots and then appearance only items on the shop. Because unlike say EQ2 where there is a class set at 20 that I can wear as appearance til I cancel my sub... in WoW you start off looking aweful and pretty much stay that was until you get a match epic set.
When I played sticking to an alt was rough because I just looked so terrible compared to later. Which put a massive spotlight on the low poly pc models that later are buried under nicely detailed armour.
I didn't read all pages but...
This was supposed to be the new 'spectral tiger'. It was supposed to be added in the TCG. But they didn't continue the TCG with the companey who produces the cards. The mount was already made, so its my guess that blizz wants to stab their eyes out for braking the contract.
This is blizz's new plan to make the servers run on pure nerd rage.
Mission accomplished!
Ahh wonderful.
Monthly subs AND cash shops, and you people compliment it.
Next will be play time costs on top of monthly fees and cash shops, or maybe they will add a tax or some sort, or maybe pay for the LAUNCHER! Yea charge for the Launcher!. Maybe they can start charging for quests! (o wait they do), hmm what else can they scam out of us?
Meh corporations are only doing this because you people let them.
Don't start your victory dance just yet... WoW is going to be around for a long time to come. A handful of hysterics howling like banshees at the moon about some trival items in the shop, are rather unlikely to have much impact at all on one of the most popular games in MMO.
That's not true.
They already have a new company for their TCG, so if the Celestial Steed was in fact for the TCG they could've just passed it along to Cryptozoic Entertainment.
Now if you really want to see the new rumored TCG mounts, here they are...
this has really inspired me.
i'm going to develop a game and sell it for 35 bucks.
people can sub and play for 10 bucks a month - bargain!
however, if you don't have time to play the game properly there will be an additional option.
for $1000 I'll ship a game that auto-installs and gives you all the kit, levels and unlocks for the ultimate gaming experience.
you'll have the perfect spec, all the rep you could want, you're the leader of a massive guild, you've downed all the bosses and you've got the best kit imaginable.
soon as you login to the game it auto-uninstalls, to save you having to waste time working out what you've actually just bought.
you can then feel great about yourself for all you've achieved and still have plenty of time to play my next release too...
I'm calling my new sensation 'Virtual Gaming' - it's virtually a game, but without any of the effort.
Aryas
Playing: Ableton Live 8
~ ragequitcancelsubdeletegamesmashcomputerkillself ~
Like I've said in other threads; I truly believe WOW has already commenced it's descent into the inevitable. I certainly don't agree with Blizzard's latest move, but I'm not surprised they want to snag as much money possible, as WOW slowly sails off into the sunset.
Keep in mind they have a new beautiful MMO baby in the oven to worry about. One that needs as much attention ($) as possible
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
Really? no function at all in the gameplay. So havibng a faster mount effects nothing in the game against others who do not go and buy this thing? Whatever dream world you are living in. Still seems like paying to win to a certain degree.
Tell us all the things that a faster mount could be used for against someone that has just ta fast mount and doesn't want to spend to keep up? I bet their are a lot of things.
How many delicate flowers have you met in Counterstrike?
I got a case of beer and a chainsaw waiting for me at home after work.
Wow ,that is impressive! Well, and kind of sad
Its only a matter of time now before they will expand the store to items that wont be seen as fluff.
EDIT: I just realised how ridiculously high the price is for that mount if you for example compare it to an expansion or so.
Yes what a player does is his own business.
Yes what a company does is everyone's business.
There is still nothing they have done wrong morally or legally with THEIR business....
If you or anyone doesn't like the way a company does business then don't buy their product. IT IS THAT SIMPLE...
I walk into a gas station and pick up my favorite soda...buy it...open it...o my this is terrible...o look they changed their formula...well i guess I won't buy that anymore....wow that was simple.
It was THEIR choice what to do with THEIR company.
If you want to 'speak up' do it with your pocket book not from some absurd attempt at some morallity issue.
It will be interesting to see where Blizzard goes from here. I won't be suprised if one of the primary ways to customize a character will be cash shop fluff items.
MMOs are turing into Airlines - you can get by and grind it out in coach, or spend the big bucks and get the 'first class' experience.
I've spoken to several people today that were thinking of going back for Cataclysm but because of this are having serious doubts with the way the game is heading and fear a true cash shop ( the kind that sells non-vanity items) is just around the corner . Blizzard are making a quick profit yes but at the cost of their integrity as a company which in the long run is worth more .
How many people are they turning off that new game with their behaviour with WoW? I know I was VERY excited about their new project - until these cash shop shenanigans. Now, I have quit WoW and am boycotting Blizzard games.
"" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2
... in the first four hours. I'd say it is. That doesnt take into account everyoen else after the four hours.