The best of WoW.com: November 3-10, 2009
by Mike Schramm 
{ Nov 11th 2009 at 2:31AM }
News
- Blizzard launches real-money in-game pet store
The 800 lb. gorilla of MMOs takes a step into selling fake items for real money. - Roadmap to Cataclysm zone overhauls
A picture from BlizzCon earlier this year shows the way towards what's happening in the next expansion. - Patch 3.3 PTR patch notes updated
New updates for the patch currently being tested by players. - IgroMir 2009: More Cataclysm guild leveling details
A Russian gaming convention offers up more details about guild features in next year's release. - Icecrown raid difficulty to be set on a per-boss basis
Blizzard is trying something a little different with the challenge of the newest raid instance.
Features
- A WoW player's guide to microtransactions
Confused about what the in-game pet store means? We've got the context for you. - Tier 10 armor set gallery
Check out the gear we'll all be drooling over in the next patch. - Incoming newbies, but why?
Blizzard is updating the newbie experience... on a game that's five years old? - The Light and How to Swing It: A little less hybrid
How paladins are trying to deal with their hybrid nature. - WoW Rookie: Addons for rookies
A quick explanation of addons for those of who you haven't dealt with them before.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Marcus @ Nov 11th 2009 3:12AM
This is major B.S.
I think they are going to wind up making people hate the game if they keep doing stuff like this. First of all there are over 75 pets in the game which you need an achievement for. Some pets are in the TCG and people sell them on EBAY for a lot of money. Now that doesn't give a reason for blizzard to start charging for 10 bucks a pet no matter what reason they have unless this was part of the plan all along to get dumb people to spend money on stuff that doesnt help them in the game. That means that they should stop putting pets in the card game if people are capitalizing on it. First they start by charging if you want to change your characters name, next they have an authenticator to prevent people from getting into your account. This one bothers me alot. I mean why do I have to pay 6 bucks on something that they should be responsible in protecting, unless they are the ones who purposely go into your account and hack it so you can buy the authenticator. I mean 6 bucks times how many subscribers. CaCHING. I think all of us who purchased this authenticator should be reimbursed for it. Now they have faction change for 30 bucks and race change for 25 bucks. Whats next 50 bucks for exclusive in game mounts?
Thank you blizzard for taking me one step forward into hating your game. Also might I add with all the money this company has made with this game why they don't send its long time subscribers a free t-shirt or something commemorative like a button.
Phix @ Nov 11th 2009 3:14AM
I think you nailed it.
Purchasable in-game mounts.
You heard it here first, folks.
Husher @ Nov 11th 2009 3:22AM
sold
SaintStryfe @ Nov 11th 2009 3:55AM
I'm a WoW pet collector (107 as of this evening), and for all the collectors I know of, it made no difference. It was a nice bonus if you like it.
The reasoning was simple: There all ready is a big market for pets, via the TCG cards. The thing is Blizz wasn't making much on it. So they decided to get more. So they offered two pets, and offered a pet with a charity donation with an Organization they've worked with before.
Will there be purchasable mounts? Wouldn't be shocked. Tabards? Sure. Noth of those are in the TCG loot cards all ready. Titles? Very possible. All of these things are vanity. Players don't get any bennies using a Spectral Tiger (a CCG pet) over a Swift Brown Horse (an epic mount that costs nearly nothing).
Anything more? No. No XP. No gold. No items with stats. They've been clear and firm on this, and I see no reason not to believe them.
There's no slippery slope, it's just a way for Blizz to cash a bit into people who like non-unique unique items .
The Baron @ Nov 11th 2009 8:40AM
Surely they're already making enough from it anyway..
Phix @ Nov 11th 2009 3:13AM
Gray the fuck out of this comment but seriously why does it seem like every single commenter on WoW.com is a complete moron?
It almost seems like any criticism -justified/constructive- will get you flamed over there. NO ONE MUST SPEAK ILL OF WOW!
And who the hell writes for WoW.com? According to that article a bunch of the "staff members" didn't even know what microtransactions were. Really? REALLY?
If you're going to write for a blog you can at least know a little about the god damn industry that your game inhabits. No, I don't care how popular it is, it doesn't exist in fairly tale land where the developer is infalliable and incapable of making bad decisions.
seems like most of the content I read there is nothing more than a PLUG for their OWN website. geez.
/rant
SaintStryfe @ Nov 11th 2009 3:46AM
Presumably, if one goes to WoW.com, they're a fan and player of WoW... why wouldn't they support them generally?
And if you think it's all slobbering, you didn't pay any attention what so ever. This Pet Store has been massively controversial. So controversial, that one of the WoW devs went on a well-known podcast about the game (The Instance, by the guy who does My Extra Life, Scott Johnson) to defend and explain Blizz' reasoning and tell about where they want it to go.
Husher @ Nov 11th 2009 3:26AM
anyways...
i like the tiny kel thuzad's animation where if a lvl 1 creature gets close he freezes it in a block of ice and kills it.
Lloyd @ Nov 11th 2009 3:49AM
OMFG! VANITY PETS FOR SALE!
OMG! ONE SUPPORTS A CHARITY!
BLIZZARD YOU ARE EBIL EBIL EBIL, DIE IN A FISSURE!
really people? wah wah wah wah wah. the items blizzard is selling have no impact on game performance. it's like microsoft or sony selling premium themes or userpics.
Husher @ Nov 11th 2009 12:39PM
yes. and some of those prem themes are nice.
it all just boils down to people can do what they want with their own money and don't mind putting down 10$ for something just fun.
cptkrush @ Nov 11th 2009 1:15PM
Cause pets make you better right?