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by gamebynight, Level 28
Last updated at November 7, 2009, 6:38 pm

From Eurogamer, yesterday:

 

According to VG247, Blizzard chief Mike Morhaime told the Activision Blizzard investor conference that the company sees micro-transactions as an important part of World of Warcraft’s future.

 

We… expect digital sales to increase in the future, and plan to take advantage of it,” he said. His comment follows the appearance of the pet store earlier this week, offering the first ever sale of in-game items for WOW.

 

Morhaime offered reassurance that any in-game items or services Blizzard sells for the game, on top of the regular subscription, will be inessential.

 

“All value added services are not required, as they are optional only nor will they adversely impact the experience should customers decide not to participate or purchase them,” said the Blizzard boss.

 

I already mentioned how I felt about it. Just thought I’d put this out there for people that didn’t think a cash shop was coming. Can we consider this an example of Blizzard taking the ideas of other games and making them more expensive their own?

     
39 comments
SKNeilyo
SKNeilyo Nov 8, 2009 at 1:08 am
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Thanks Crippler. A lot of people are forgetting there's a ******* company behind the video game. Companies sole purpose is to make a profit. 

Durr Durr
Marus
Marus Nov 8, 2009 at 4:02 am
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"Morhaime offered reassurance that any in-game items or services
Blizzard sells for the game, on top of the regular subscription, will
be inessential."

Yeah right. A guy also said "Nobody wants to built a wall." Few months later there was barbwire everywhere and concrete walls soon after.

And even if he himself keeps his word...who is gonna stop Vivendi from implementing the possibility of buying best in slot items if they think its gonna increase their profit?

WoW really jumped the shark. No progression whatsoever to make arena a meaningfull e-sport, laughable PvE content (toc, wtf? why didnt you just let differently colored version of onyxia spawn in her lair and call them "new bosses"...) and now the cashing in on the last idiots starts. 20 bucks for server changes, available from PvE to PvP too so you don't need to worry about getting ganked 5 hours because youre stupid as ****, 25 for faction change because you hope the fotm racial will bring you 100 more rating, 8 for name change because youre such a complete idiot and ******* that nobody wants to play with you anymore.

They are starting to rip of the last remaining brainless customers and begin to let the game die. Kalgan is a moron but his departure is the last signal that nobody is gonna work seriously on WoW anymore.
gearvOsh
gearvOsh Nov 8, 2009 at 5:15 am
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Anyone who thinks Blizzard wont charge for **** is retarded. Sure they make over a billion a year, but you still have to take into account the amount of money they shell out for payroll and servers.

4000 employees * 75,000 average salary = 300 million / 500 million for higher salaries
+ all the server costs and maintenances
+ the office supplies and building rental
+ all the other ****
= 600 million +

Idiots, they still need to make money somehow.
SKNeilyo
SKNeilyo Nov 8, 2009 at 9:56 am
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gearvOsh said
Anyone who thinks Blizzard wont charge for **** is retarded. Sure they make over a billion a year, but you still have to take into account the amount of money they shell out for payroll and servers.

4000 employees * 75,000 average salary = 300 million / 500 million for higher salaries
+ all the server costs and maintenances
+ the office supplies and building rental
+ all the other ****
= 600 million +

Idiots, they still need to make money somehow.
You're kidding yourself if you think the average salary is 75k. It is much, much lower. Consider the countless GMs, for example. And the customer service.
gearvOsh
gearvOsh Nov 8, 2009 at 3:32 pm
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I work there and know how things work, stop kidding yourself.
SKNeilyo
SKNeilyo Nov 8, 2009 at 3:36 pm
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gearvOsh said
I work there and know how things work, stop kidding yourself.
No, you don't. =(
gearvOsh
gearvOsh Nov 8, 2009 at 4:18 pm
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http://starfeeder.gameriot.com/blogs/The-Starfeed/Blizzard-hires-new-Web-programmer-miles-aka-GearVosh-from-sc2armorycom

They still shell out a ton for salaries a year... Even if CS doesnt make $60k, then high executives probably make double and cover the gap.
SKNeilyo
SKNeilyo Nov 8, 2009 at 4:22 pm
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gearvOsh said
http://starfeeder.gameriot.com/blogs/The-Starfeed/Blizzard-hires-new-Web-programmer-miles-aka-GearVosh-from-sc2armorycom

They still shell out a ton for salaries a year... Even if CS doesnt make $60k, then high executives probably make double and cover the gap.
Of course they do. Like with any company. The customer service and GMs do not make near 70k. I would wager around 30-32k a year maximum, not considering taxes.
gearvOsh
gearvOsh Nov 8, 2009 at 6:00 pm
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Well yeah, hence I said "average" between the highest and lowest salary.
gottodisagree
gottodisagree Nov 8, 2009 at 12:34 pm
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gearvOsh said
Anyone who thinks Blizzard wont charge for **** is retarded. Sure they make over a billion a year, but you still have to take into account the amount of money they shell out for payroll and servers.

4000 employees * 75,000 average salary = 300 million / 500 million for higher salaries
+ all the server costs and maintenances
+ the office supplies and building rental
+ all the other ****
= 600 million +

Idiots, they still need to make money somehow.
very good estimate of what their expenses are = )
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