Paid Customization Coming to World of Warcraft

[DoctorFinger]

http://colonyofgamers.com/images/newsimages/world-of-warcraft-logo.jpg

Another day, another honest comment from a Blizzard exec that's likely to ignite a firestorm amongst the fans. While speaking to a small gathering of the press (http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/conferences/blizzcon_08/5358-Blizzcon-08-WoW-Diablo-3-Press-Conference) at Blizzcon this weekend WoW honcho J. Allen Brack said this of WoW.When asked to expand upon a button found by sifting through the Lich King beta's data files named "Paid Character Customization," [WoW Production Director J. Allen] Brack initially hesitated to give any answer at all. Several questions later, he went back to the matter, saying that he could, in fact, confirm that World of Warcraft would eventually have some form of paid character customization, though they themselves hadn't yet worked out any details.What exactly this entails we don't know. I could be something as inoccous as charging a nominal fee to change your character's base appearance (realize that some of these characters have been running around for 4 years now). It could be something as game changing as pay-for-loot. We just don't know, but it's something that still has to be reported. We'll update this story as more info becomes available.

Sources - Warcry Network (http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/conferences/blizzcon_08/5358-Blizzcon-08-WoW-Diablo-3-Press-Conference); Edge-Online (http://www.edge-online.com/news/paid-customization-planned-wow).

[Crowe]

Will have to wait for details on it, whether it's just physical appearance or whether it goes a lot deeper.

If it's only to change the physical appearance of your toon then I would be a little disappointed, you would think after so many years of success they would offer at least one customisation free.

[Ancalagon]

I guess the question to ask is, "What customization should we be charged for?"

I mean, the way I see it, I can see why character migration would incur a fee, because it involves work, but something like character customization just seems like it should be free.

What they might be hinting at actually, is premium content. Eg I spendz moar money on my toon, my nightelf ears point down instead of up, I r have big e peen. Some may like premium content, I dont.

[SpacemanSpiff757]

I recall that previously, you'd be able to get "haircuts" to change the facial features of your character. I'm guessing this is probably one of the things that falls into that category but it still has me wondering what else.

[Nura]

Woo item mall! Also, there's already the barber shop in the game (well, it's coming with the next patch) so it might be something like "exclusive" haircuts and other fluff like that.

[IIntrude]

I am hoping that it isnt content related and simply related to the look and feel of your toon. Heck I would even be ok with a paid toon race and sex change. There are days when I would love to switch to the Horde, but I am not willing to invest all that time and energy again, nor am I willing to waste all of that time leaving my Alliance 70s to collect dust.

[Matthias]

I have a feeling this will just be new fluff. I could possibly see decorative gear being a part of this, or something like the ability to paint your armor ala Dawn of War or something like that.

[Spacetronaut]

I certainly hope you wont be able to buy loot. I expect it will be a fee to unlock new customization options like adjusting height, build, etc.

[Reverant]

I feel like Blizzard has realized just how much money they can wring out of us.

[Telefrog]

I feel like Blizzard has realized just how much money they can wring out of us.

With this news, the planned "monetization" of Battle.net, and the scheme to split StarCraft II into three products, it's obvious that Blizzard has dropped the "good guy" persona and gone EA in a big way.

[Alkanos]

Maybe Blizzard just isn't making enough money for WoW to be profitable... :D

It starts with decorative fluff stuff, but soon enough they'll be selling the Sword of a Thousand Truths for $100, which will let you solo all raid content in the game. It's a slippery slope...

[Squidbot]

Sounds like Activision have started calling the shots in a big way.

[bean]

I'm reserving judgment until we know more. The idea of allowing players to pay to have an advantage is bothersome, but we don't know that this will be the case. If people want to pay to buy extra cool looking stuff that has no bearing on the game play, then I won't care.

[J Arcane]

With this news, the planned "monetization" of Battle.net, and the scheme to split StarCraft II into three products, it's obvious that Blizzard has dropped the "good guy" persona and gone EA in a big way.
Yup. It's very, very obvious to me that Blizzard's gotten a good long look at the filthy lucre that comes from 150 million dollars in subscriptions a month and decided it wants even more. If that means turning WoW into another Korean MMO, so be it.

Funny thing is, while WoW built it's rep on being casual friendly, I'm finding WAR to be far far more so than WoW ever was. With PQs especially, if I've only got like 15-20 minutes to play even, I can hop on, kill some dorfs, and still be working towards something.

[court12b]

I'm wondering how the ability to buy t6 armor (or whatever) would impact the raiding scene.

I had always revered WoW because in my opinion it was the ultimate playground leveler. How physically healthy, attractive and wealthy you are (theoretically) had no impact on how successful you are and how far you get into the endgame. The game essentially distills a person down to their social skills and their ability to learn and play their class.

In theory. of course :(

EletistJerks.com always says Personality > Skill > Gear

but how much of that is going to change if for $2000 you can buy a set of armor that would let you tank Arthas on day 1 of the expansion?

/sigh

Meh, I'm of the opinion that blizz jumped the shark when they added the warrior's "titan's grip" ability /palmface

you know what I think I'd like? if they added "premium" servers. On these servers you could whip out your
[Plastic Rectangle of Indebtedness] at a pvp reward vendor or walk up to the Black Temple's To Go window get your Twin Blades of Azzinoth and a medium Jamoca Shake for $499.95

of course you wouldn't be able to transfer off of these premium servers, so before long everybody in shattrah is gonna be uber-pimp as well.
hmm

[Kryopsis]

You know, a few years back I was reluctant to start playing MMOs because I didn't feel they warranted the subscription fees. Now I do not mind it so much, as in some cases you can clearly see the benefits of such a system, but isn't the kind of things projected here the reason why people pay 15$/month for a game they already own?

[MagGnome]

Some of you guys would really be okay with Blizzard charging money to "let" you change the appearance of your character? I suppose people would pay for it, but that's just sad. There's very little work involved for Blizzard there. What exactly is that $15 a month for again?

I agree with Squidbot. This and splitting up Starcraft II reeks of Activision and their dozens of Guitar Hero SKUs and "Call of Duty must ship every year" mentality.

[Matthias]

Some of you guys would really be okay with Blizzard charging money to "let" you change the appearance of your character? I suppose people would pay for it, but that's just sad. There's very little work involved for Blizzard there. What exactly is that $15 a month for again?

I agree with Squidbot. This and splitting up Starcraft II reeks of Activision and their dozens of Guitar Hero SKUs and "Call of Duty must ship every year" mentality.

I'm okay with it simply because it doesn't change the gameplay at all for those of us who don't feel like forking out the extra dough. I personally wouldn't pay for premium fluff content, but I won't begrudge someone who does. I would, however, be upset if Blizzard started selling deluxe equipment for real-world cash. If I'm already paying them a subscription fee after paying the same price as a normal retail game, I don't see any reason for them to make me pay even more to remain competitive.

[KingGorilla]

Some of you guys would really be okay with Blizzard charging money to "let" you change the appearance of your character? I suppose people would pay for it, but that's just sad. There's very little work involved for Blizzard there. What exactly is that $15 a month for again?
I agree with Squidbot. This and splitting up Starcraft II reeks of Activision and their dozens of Guitar Hero SKUs and "Call of Duty must ship every year" mentality.

The business of Starcraft is mutually exclusive. And it will be awhile before we see just what they have in Mind. As for Warcraft, I will take the same attitude as most folks have with paying for unlocks on the Xbox; I do not care how dipshits spend their money. Given these economic hardships, dipshits may save the world market.

And for the last fucking time, Vivendi bought a controlling share in Activision. Activision did not buy into anything. Blizzard ran their own ship before the buy-up, and they will keep on running it because they currently are the single most profitable game company in the world. And as much as Bobby Kotik may want to believe, and lead others to believe, Vivendi owns his ass and if anything his side does fucks up Blizzard's money printing machine, adios.

[MagGnome]

Calm down KingGorilla.

I really know how to push your buttons now. :p