Blizzard has announced that World of Warcraft is adopting a limited free to play option for players who'd like to 'try before buy'. Players can take advantage of levels 1-20 with some limitations including gold acquisition, guild membership, voice chat, etc. This new program replaces the 10-day free trials previously offered by Blizzard.

The new program is another way Blizzard Entertainment is trying to rope in new players for its popular online game. New players will have to buy all three expansions in addition to the original game if they want to continue playing past the first 20 levels of the game. Blizzard Entertainment recently dropped the price for an original copy of the game and the first expansion to $20, but the other expansions are still priced at around $35.

Read more at Venture Beat.

Well at least the level 19 twinked PVPers should be ecstatic about this.

Originally posted by Tardcore

Well at least the level 19 twinked PVPers should be ecstatic about this.

Nope.   Trial accounts cannot PvP from what I've read.   You also cannot team with other trial players, but a paying account can invite you.    In fact, there are so many limitations on the trial account it's laughable.

Looks like Blizzard is getting antsy about it's subscriber base starting to flop.

Blizzard could afford to make the original game F2P if they wanted to 

i agree. they r slowly losing subs and now u can see it. their own fault really.

I dont see this as a reaction to falling subs (which are over exaggrated btw) but a reaction to the changing market where F2P seems to be the norm and P2P the exception.

As to the trial restrictions as harsh as they are they are there to stop botters, griefers and gold farmers.

"New players will have to buy all three expansions in addition to the original game if they want to continue playing past the first 20 levels of the game"

Interesting.  So if you play free to 20, you cannot just buy WoW, you HAVE to buy WoW, BC, WoTLK, and Cataclysm?  So to actually play WoW past 20 by choosing the free trial route you will spend what... (estimate)...80$ or so?

I am curious if they really mean you HAVE to buy all the expansions.  I still only have BC and that is all I want.  The ability to que for BGs.  No point in doing anything else really.. lol.  My one month sub after 3 years of not playing (more or less) will not be resubbed.

I bet if they made world of warcraft f2p and added a item shop they would get over 12 millon subsribers again

Originally posted by Dragim

"New players will have to buy all three expansions in addition to the original game if they want to continue playing past the first 20 levels of the game"

Interesting.  So if you play free to 20, you cannot just buy WoW, you HAVE to buy WoW, BC, WoTLK, and Cataclysm?  So to actually play WoW past 20 by choosing the free trial route you will spend what... (estimate)...80$ or so?

I am curious if they really mean you HAVE to buy all the expansions.  I still only have BC and that is all I want.  The ability to que for BGs.  No point in doing anything else really.. lol.  My one month sub after 3 years of not playing (more or less) will not be resubbed.

The new trial includes WoW and BC, that is, you can role blood elves and draenai, so I expect that you will be able to upgrade your account to a paying version of just that now that they have those two on sale for $20 or some such. Basically there is no such thing as just buying vanilla anymore. I wonder what that will mean for those who never upgraded an account to BC. Do you get it free now? Probably.

But considering the leveling curve in WoW, 20 levels seems pretty limited. This essentially turns the 10 day trial into a 10 hour trial.

*facepalms*

Originally posted by syrusmag3

I bet if they made world of warcraft f2p and added a item shop they would get over 12 millon subsribers again

 

lol? I'm pretty sure f2p would be zero subs

Anyone think that picture look exactly like the Cornflake Rooster ?

Originally posted by VikingGamer

Originally posted by Dragim

"New players will have to buy all three expansions in addition to the original game if they want to continue playing past the first 20 levels of the game"

Interesting.  So if you play free to 20, you cannot just buy WoW, you HAVE to buy WoW, BC, WoTLK, and Cataclysm?  So to actually play WoW past 20 by choosing the free trial route you will spend what... (estimate)...80$ or so?

I am curious if they really mean you HAVE to buy all the expansions.  I still only have BC and that is all I want.  The ability to que for BGs.  No point in doing anything else really.. lol.  My one month sub after 3 years of not playing (more or less) will not be resubbed.

The new trial includes WoW and BC, that is, you can role blood elves and draenai, so I expect that you will be able to upgrade your account to a paying version of just that now that they have those two on sale for $20 or some such. Basically there is no such thing as just buying vanilla anymore. I wonder what that will mean for those who never upgraded an account to BC. Do you get it free now? Probably.

But considering the leveling curve in WoW, 20 levels seems pretty limited. This essentially turns the 10 day trial into a 10 hour trial.

Even with the 10 day trial, it was capped at lvl 20.

Originally posted by VikingGamer

so I expect that you will be able to upgrade your account to a paying version of just that now that they have those two on sale for $20 or some such.

Basically there is no such thing as just buying vanilla anymore. I wonder what that will mean for those who never upgraded an account to BC. Do you get it free now? Probably.

From what I read:  Yes and Yes.

I still have a Vanilla account left over from multi-boxing back then.  I checked last night and it's now got BC added.

Originally posted by VikingGamer

Originally posted by Dragim

"New players will have to buy all three expansions in addition to the original game if they want to continue playing past the first 20 levels of the game"

Interesting.  So if you play free to 20, you cannot just buy WoW, you HAVE to buy WoW, BC, WoTLK, and Cataclysm?  So to actually play WoW past 20 by choosing the free trial route you will spend what... (estimate)...80$ or so?

I am curious if they really mean you HAVE to buy all the expansions.  I still only have BC and that is all I want.  The ability to que for BGs.  No point in doing anything else really.. lol.  My one month sub after 3 years of not playing (more or less) will not be resubbed.

The new trial includes WoW and BC, that is, you can role blood elves and draenai, so I expect that you will be able to upgrade your account to a paying version of just that now that they have those two on sale for $20 or some such. Basically there is no such thing as just buying vanilla anymore. I wonder what that will mean for those who never upgraded an account to BC. Do you get it free now? Probably.

But considering the leveling curve in WoW, 20 levels seems pretty limited. This essentially turns the 10 day trial into a 10 hour trial.

The old 10 day trial also had tons of limitations - gold cap, no trade, level capped at 20. You couldn't get past level 20 with the old 10 day trial too...

Personally I would not play this game even if it was F2P.

I have never seen such a blatant rip off dumbed down version of EQ with horrid cartoon graphic style. How anyone pays money for this utter shite is beyond me.

12 millions subs? That is sad man, very very sad.

What does it say about MMO gaming ?

Sad.

good decision, now if only all other mmo's could do the same thing. Nothing worse than buying an mmo and realizing you hate it 2 days later. The unlimited time frame for the trial helps people that aren't able to play everyday to have the ability to judge over a longer time period. 

In all honesty though I don't see how it's possible after 6+ years running that there are still people out there that haven't at least tried the game.

PS I love how quick the "haters" jump on any WoW post to give everyone their personal opinion on how it ruined the mmo industry. 

EQ, DAOC, AO and whatever other games you think are better are still up and running... go play them if they're so great!

I'll do it for you Mike O’Brien.

*points and laughes out loud*

Lol, R.I.P. WoW