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Originally posted by MMO_Doubter

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Originally posted by Wraithone
Being a little bit socialist, is like being a little bit pregnant... ^^

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Do you have any children who went to public school? Did you? Well, congrats, you're a little bit socialist.
Police? Firefighting? - socialist constructs.
Ever work a union job? Hire union workers? Guess what?

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The internet he's using to write up his ill-conceived post only exists because of government 'socialism', from the ground up: military funding, university funding, ARPAnet/internet funding, common carrier status, subsidizing telecommunication companies..

There's such huge cognitive dissonance with people like that they don't realize the roads they drive on exist because of evil socialism and that his parents don't bankrupt him because they get Medicare and Social Security, the education he got from kindergarten to college was all funded by the gov't.. yes, there's no way you could afford tuition if your university wasn't subsidized.

Socialism isn't 'evil' and it isn't all or nothing.

Originally posted by suldun

Well, I find most of the arguements here quite funny.  I guess most of you must be to young to remember the out cry about pay to play games.  OMG i have to BUY the game AND pay to play??  thats such BS!!!!!!  LOL

 

Gaming companies have been " double dipping"< for anyone not following allong, buying the game + a monthly fee= DOUBLE DIPPING> but since all the "good Games" were all pay to play, i guess it was ok to ignore that huh?

The only thing you guys are really complaining about is the parent company making farming obsolete.  Instead of all the " cheaters" payin some private company, they can now pay the parent company for the same benefits, you were gonna spend the money anyway riiight? 

 

Dont deny it, money/item/power leveling services have BOOMED over the last 10 years.  Think of all the money these games have been cheated of.    Sit back and look at it for what it is.  They are simply claiming what is theirs by RIGHT.  Every time you log into your game of choice you see a little agreement that most people just click ok and run right into the game.  Everyone who has ever bought ANYTHING from one of those farming companies is in breach of contract.  Half of the USA, Asia and Europe would be sitting in jail right now if it was worth their time to prosecute.  So now instead of people buying stuff from a guy who says "it fell of the truck, i swear", everything will be out in the open and you wont be buying stolen goods anymore.

I think much of the younger generation (and some of the older people too) have little regard for the legal aspect. They don't really care that they signed any agreement, most have never read it, and they have complete confidence that they're illegal actions will not be prosecuted, because so MANY others are doing the same. Time and technology, however, will eventually change that too. :) Sadly, just doing the legal thing, because you have the integrity to hold up to your end of the agreement....that's rather obsolete thinking any more, isn't it?

LOL anyone remember when cable T.V was promotted as comercial free ?  Now the only channels wtihout comercials,...are the ones you have to pay even more money to get.

This is really a deja vu kind of experience here on MMORPG isn't it? lol

Just another milestone of gamer angst that will come and go like the rest. People will either find renewed love for the genre they've played for well more than a decade, they will move on to a different genre, OR....they will at last turn to another hobby, perhaps one that doesn't change so much with the fierce winds of technology, like....I don't know....knitting or....golf?  ;)

Originally posted by Daffid011

Originally posted by Jairoe03 

You merely only present the argument by extrapolating what content is normally defined within the mmo industry into everything in the game. Vanity pets traditionally are not considered content. Game content traditionally defined by the industry tends to be the parts of the game that players can experience. A vanity pet is not an experience in itself, rather just a cheap trick or toy to show off to your buddies. The "wow" factor of it lasts a good 5-10 minutes per person that hasn't seen it before and thats it. It's fairly short lived.

Just because they look for other ways to monetize their game does not mean they don't have a reputation to uphold. They can't just sit there and think about their content and ask themselves, "Oh will this make money?". No, they have to ask themselves, "Will this add enough value to the game to want to draw in more people AND keep the current customers happy enough to stay?" They are primarily sub based and I'm sure it is in their best interest to remain so as long as they have the most subscribers out of any MMO.

The big question for all of the dissenters of the article is: Before the item shop, were you perfectly happy (or even playing) with the game? Can you choose to ignore it and play the game, business as usual, as if the shop doesn't exist? I think we all know the answers to these and I think many of you need to grow up, suck it up and take it like a man if you can't resist the urge to have a cute cuddle panda/lich.

 

Will ignoring this make it go away?  Will ignoring it guarentee that it will not get worse?

 

You draw some very large conclusions yourself in support of your non-argument.  When you rule the industry you don't have to answer to anyone about your reputation.  When other companies cannot even make a game that dents your subscriber base, you can do what you want to.  If you start to make more money from selling cheap to make pets, then the value of non-rmt subscribers diminishes.  Not to mention fluff items are very important to some people.  Do you think everyone would be happy if blizzard said there would never be another non-cash shop pet?

 

I can ignore any problem, but as can be seen in just about every other game with cash shops it will get to a point that I cannot ignore it any longer.  Eventually something I consider important will be held hostage for a additional fee that is dissproportionate to every non cash shop content in the industry.  

 

I wish people could look past the 2 fluff pets for what this really represents.  There is a reason companies hide these activities behind donations to charity.  There is a reason why they start out small.  They depend on players not taking it seriously and telling others to keep quiet.  Just like Jon is doing.

 

If people actually looked at the overall picture and the trends in other games I don't think people would be sitting here telling others they are worrying over nothing.

 

EQ2:  RMT dungeon, quests, game altering items

SWG: RMT has received more "player made" items than players have in four years.

CO: $12.50 for a character respec

DDO: Buy "veteran status" level 4 characters with items.  (semi subscription game)

FreeRealms: cash shop sells the most powerful items in the game (semi-subscription game)

 

 

I am very certain that people who do not trust developers with a cash shop have some very solid foundations to argue against the trends of cash shops in subscription games.  I see no real basis to take the advice of those who preach apathy towards the issue. 

 

 

Yes, as I've said RMT can be used VERY badly. Thats not an issue to me,as I've seen it in games(Perfect World and Free Realms come to mind as just two examples). But on the other hand, it doesn't require the type of over emo reaction we've seen in all too many posts either.  I've never been an advocate of apathy(anything but as a matter of fact). But if you wear yourself out on the trivial(vanity pets) you are going to burn out long before it gets to selling T12 gear in a cash shop(if it ever does). A sense of proportion *as well* as a sense of history is of use in these matters.

Originally posted by Wraithone 

 

Yes, as I've said RMT can be used VERY badly. Thats not an issue to me,as I've seen it in games(Perfect World and Free Realms come to mind as just two examples). But on the other hand, it doesn't require the type of over emo reaction we've seen in all too many posts either.  I've never been an advocate of apathy(anything but as a matter of fact). But if you wear yourself out on the trivial(vanity pets) you are going to burn out long before it gets to selling T12 gear in a cash shop(if it ever does). A sense of proportion *as well* as a sense of history is of use in these matters.

I'm not going to burn out early. - I have quit Blizzard, and not just WoW.

Blizzard has the subscription base and general unilateral attitude do as it pleases despite the protests from it's more hardcore crowd. Casual players will still play even if all you guys stamp off in a fit of rage.  Product of a having one game grow so large, it can choose to ignore the bugs nipping at it's neck. Having a 10 million plus player population does wonders for a company implementing changes, short of something so drastically unpopular like increase in subscription costs, it can implement cash shops at the cost of minimal sub losses. Blizzard would have to lose more than a tenth of it's population to even consider revoking the cash shop. Even then, they probably won't because 9 million is still good profits.

Originally posted by Daffid011

Will ignoring this make it go away?  Will ignoring it guarentee that it will not get worse?

 You draw some very large conclusions yourself in support of your non-argument.  When you rule the industry you don't have to answer to anyone about your reputation.  When other companies cannot even make a game that dents your subscriber base, you can do what you want to.  If you start to make more money from selling cheap to make pets, then the value of non-rmt subscribers diminishes.  Not to mention fluff items are very important to some people.  Do you think everyone would be happy if blizzard said there would never be another non-cash shop pet?

 I can ignore any problem, but as can be seen in just about every other game with cash shops it will get to a point that I cannot ignore it any longer.  Eventually something I consider important will be held hostage for a additional fee that is dissproportionate to every non cash shop content in the industry.  

 I wish people could look past the 2 fluff pets for what this really represents.  There is a reason companies hide these activities behind donations to charity.  There is a reason why they start out small.  They depend on players not taking it seriously and telling others to keep quiet.  Just like Jon is doing.

 If people actually looked at the overall picture and the trends in other games I don't think people would be sitting here telling others they are worrying over nothing.

 EQ2:  RMT dungeon, quests, game altering items

SWG: RMT has received more "player made" items than players have in four years.

CO: $12.50 for a character respec

DDO: Buy "veteran status" level 4 characters with items.  (semi subscription game)

FreeRealms: cash shop sells the most powerful items in the game (semi-subscription game)

 I am very certain that people who do not trust developers with a cash shop have some very solid foundations to argue against the trends of cash shops in subscription games.  I see no real basis to take the advice of those who preach apathy towards the issue.  

First off, if you are going to bash me, at least do it right and include supporting argument to the fact that my whole post was a "non argument", it just makes you look like a hypocrite when you tell somebody that they are lacking when you lack it in your statements as well.

A good company would not try to take the whole pie from WoW but focus on bits and pieces. The industry can thank WoW for bringing the people in and now its time to dissect and specialize these games into their respective niches and there's plenty of ways to break it down. As for the perceived negative impact (by you) of RMT usage by WoW, thats exactly whats going to balance them back out and the reason I been pointing out as to why people shouldn't worry. Despite how important the fluff is to the people, WoW is Blizzard's game and its their choice on what is made available to the customers and based on the reactions, they will react accordingly like any good company and they are a good company (even though I do feel WoW has been falling off on other factors, but thats another topic) to retain subscribers which is where the money is at for sub-based MMO's. Like Jon Wood has said in his follow-up blog, vote with your wallets rather than sit here and make assumptions off your magic 8-ball at home to what the future of RMT is going to lead up to. They haven't made anyone pay for content with cash or super awesome gear so why are we crying now about the 2 pets and assuming thats what they are going to lead up to. For all you know, the item shop could be entirely for donation purposes only and this would be just as likely as any of these other conspiracy theories about Blizzard and corporate greed.

In regards to mentioning of the trends with RMT in sub games, what trends have there been? Its been a couple days and people are assuming the worst on everything even though the customers are the ones that do ultimately make or break any company. Any other trends by other games are just as limited in time (way less than a year) and the vocal minority do not represent the silent majority that possibly could be satisfied with paying $10 for cool pets. By the way, all those mentioned games are currently running and Champions and FreeRealms are too new to even have a set trend. It hasn't even been over 2 months for Champions and last time I checked, FreeRealms was free -_-

Another assumption you made is the fact that people like myself are preaching apathy. What a misperception and don't fault me for being smart enough to evaluate the current situation and not base any of my complaints about a company on assumptions. If Blizzad decided to make content only accessible after I pay $5 for every new dungeon they make, I would be up in arms with the rest of the paranoids out there (since they done did it at that point and the conspiracies are no longer assumptions). Again, you are just making an ass out of you and me and if my arguments seem baseless then I don't want to know what you should consider your own. Apparently, you must think its appropriate to make assumptions and complain about "what could be" rather than "what it is".

People need to quit trying to look into the future and into the minds of the company that manages an MMO giant because it truely is pointless (and I don't need any support for that, thats common sense).

When you make assumptions (like blizzard is smart and will never do something) then you say it is common sense.  When I make speculation you mock it as if I am being some conspiracy freak.

My friend, I showed you evidence of exactly what happens in games with cash shops and RMT on top of subscription fees.  That is not speculation.  Those are facts.  It is also a fact that blizzard is following these models, because they now have a cash shop of their own.   I think you will be hard pressed to find even 1 subscription game with a cash shop that doesn't go over the fluff only line. 

If you wish to remain silent then feel free to, but please stop trying to make people look like they are over reacting to the FACTS of what is going on in the industry.   If you want to wait to complain until after things have gotten out of hand, then that is your choice, but don't expect your voice to be heard once the damage is done and don't think you are being smart for doing so. 

Everything you have said, as well as others preaching silence as a response, has already been said in those other games I mentioned.  The original poster is preaching a worn out message that has already blown up in the face of many people in those other games and the same will most likely happen in wow.  Sitting by idle while a cash shop is implemented opens the door to nothing but loss for players.  I think everyone in this thread has acknowledged that, but they don't seem to care until it affects what they consider to much.  For all the support cash shops are getting I don't see people listing huge benefits they give players.  

In the end you are not getting 100% of the game for your subscription fee and people here seem to think that is something worth defending.  To me it doesn't matter that it is fluff pets now, because it is a loss no matter how you look at it.  If you can make a rational arguement about how all players benefit from cash shops I am all ears, but I know no one can make that defense.

Apathy is a fitting term I think, because  people are displaying a lack of concern until it directly affects you.  Just like it was for people in EQ2, SWG, etc. 

 What is humorous is how you think "if blizzard does X then I will complain" is acting any different than people in this thread who are speaking out.  When it does get to that stage, there will be people who call you names and say things like "its only 1 dungeon and we still get 5 free ones". 

The only thing of merit being argued here is WHEN it is to much, because almost everyone has stated there is a point where it is to much.  Even though people have not stated it, we all agree cash shops are bad.  We all just have different breaking points and yours is not the textbook definition of when they become bad.  The very nature of cash shops is bad and all we are really debating is our level of tolerance for them.  I simply don't like them, because they benefit no one but the developer.

Finally a posy that goes against my thinking without sounding like a child without his favorite toy. thank you for your excellent post Daffid011.

These people claiming they won't buy a blizzard game will secretly be buying their games anyways, just pretending to be all angry and stuff lmao.

I personally won't be touching a Blizzard product ever again, but you can just go ahead and think what you want about that.

Do you really think that you can compare something like a movie theater experience with a computer game that you sit at home and play? How absurd, these arguments are completely void. The boy who cried wolf thing makes absolutely zero sense as well. I found myself laughing through most of this article, try again.

Good for you then, stick up for your beliefs.  I'll be enjoying some Startcraft 2 and Diablo 3 here pretty soon, woot.

i wonder if people are mad at Bioware for charging for Downloadable content, i mean shouldn't it have come with the game, why should we pay for it? sounds like RMT to me.

Guess people are never gonna play a Bioware game again for doing RMT with a single player game eh?

592 posts, most full of spite and self-deluded grandiose false indignation.  Maybe this genre does need to die.  All this what-if how-about-that when-they-do-that, over two little inconsequential pets in a virtual world.  I'd love to see the meltdown that happens when some of you have your favorite TV show preempted, or when a restaurant messes up an order.  Must be utter CHAOS. 

Get some perspective people.

Originally posted by Eben

.... or when a restaurant messes up an order.  Must be utter CHAOS. 

Get some perspective people.

That made me chuckle. I must have seen a mmo player when I ate tonight. Alot of loud talk about a thing not being what is supposed to be. Former wow player was what struck me :)

Why not run around and riot and plant bombs in Blizzard's headquarters if they actually do offer RMT for EXP, stats, items, etc.? Things that affect gameplay? Right now people are screaming and shouting that it's coming, but it's pointless. You're taking a risk here. If you're right, you get to say, "We warned you! We told you so!" But if you're wrong, you look like a bunch of morons trying to destroy the dreaded RMT in any way, shape, or form.

Then again, this kind of drama is why I come to this site, so, on second thought, keep it up.

If it comes to things that affect game play or not, whatever, it doesn't matter at this point. In my opinion, they have already crossed the line.

Love your sig btw.

All the cries of outrage is from people who want one, but dont want to fork up the 10 bucks.

I did not expect an impartial article about this from MMO journalists, point me to the article on this site when they have ever had a go at any decision Blizzard has made?

Putting ‘boy who cried wolf’ in the title sums it up, it was never going to be a balanced article about the pros and cons.

First that ridiculous score for Aion, now this, might as well get back to the player forums where even the fanboys are less rabid in their adoration.

Originally posted by colutr

All the cries of outrage is from people who want one, but dont want to fork up the 10 bucks.

 

I have never, ever, wanted any pet that Blizzard has introduced to the game. Sorry.

Originally posted by Zorndorf .Instead of writing about the revolutionary cross server dungeons and new LFG tools, they shit on Blizzard - like always.

 

Only that can be written about it is that its not revolutionary but a way to hide empty servers.