Fancy Horse Makes Blizzard $2 Million in Four Hours at $25 a pop

[Mr. Pedantic]

As much as I think it's stupid to spend $25 on some sparkley virtual horse in a game world, I don't think we should criticize other people for feeling the same way.

We're criticizing them for not feeling the same way...

After all, how many of us have spent similar amounts to take a few people out to a movie? After the movie is over, what do we have left? A bag of popcorn shells, an empty soda cup, and some memories. If they're willing to pay $25 for something else to add to their memories, more power to them.

But it doesn't add anything to the game. Going with your cinema analogy, it's like going to the cinema and paying an extra $10 to watch the movie in a special room with a different decor.

 

[blurredvision]

But it doesn't add anything to the game. Going with your cinema analogy, it's like going to the cinema and paying an extra $10 to watch the movie in a special room with a different decor.

So who are you to say that watching that movie in a room with a different decor doesn't heighten the experience for them? Maybe they'll get more out of that $10 than you will with the original $25.

Quit judging.

 

[Glitchny]

Who gives a shit what people buy? I love it when you guys judge other people for buying a $25 digital horse. You're in the PC forum, it's quite probable that you've spent more money on digital bits yourself.

And no, I did not buy the thing, it's too damned expensive for what you get. Not only that, but everybody has one. Even on my podunk server, there are 50 of them running around Dalaran.

the only real cool thing about it is that it is Bind on Account so it makes leveling alts a little bit easier. But it's their money they can do whatever they feel like.

Blizzard did do a charity drive a little while ago, was like 50% of pet sales from the online pet store went to a charity, raised over 2 million or so in the limited time they were doing it.

 

[Pia]

I chuckle when I think about how many of those people have bought the horse because they want to be unique and stand out.

(This is not to disparage people who simply think it looks cool and have money to burn. After all, for some people $25 is like what 5c is to me, of no consequence at all.)

 

[Aikouka]

I got one.

 

[Nintendesert]

Because one is tangible and you can touch and feel it and so can others and one is umm fake.

But is the enjoyment someone receives from it any less tangible?


People spend money on watching a movie in a theater, is that someone "fake" compared to someone who buys a baseball card?

The end satisfaction from what you spend your money on is what counts, if buying gay ponies in WoW makes someone happy, who are we to say it's wrong?

 

[Dumac]

I got one.

Took long enough for someone to admit it.

Props.

 

[Dumac]

Who gives a shit what people buy? I love it when you guys judge other people for buying a $25 digital horse. You're in the PC forum, it's quite probable that you've spent more money on digital bits yourself.

And no, I did not buy the thing, it's too damned expensive for what you get. Not only that, but everybody has one. Even on my podunk server, there are 50 of them running around Dalaran.

Cause we do it all the time...

 

[blurredvision]

Cause we do it all the time...

Who said you do it all the time? Happened enough in this thread for me make the observation and share my feelings.

 

[Aikouka]

I also don't believe the queues from Blizzard were any bit accurate. I literally got through a 120,000 person queue in less than an hour when I got mine. I'd have to know how many Blizzard can service at once, but I can't see it all going that quickly .

I wonder if people went just to see how large the queue was and then left... which would explain the quick line (not the 8 hour wait it first told me).

 

[n7]

LoL WoW...

 

[Dumac]

I also don't believe the queues from Blizzard were any bit accurate. I literally got through a 120,000 person queue in less than an hour when I got mine. I'd have to know how many Blizzard can service at once, but I can't see it all going that quickly .

I wonder if people went just to see how large the queue was and then left... which would explain the quick line (not the 8 hour wait it first told me).

Yeah, counting profits based off a queue doesn't seem very accurate.

 

[Dumac]

Who said you do it all the time? Happened enough in this thread for me make the observation and share my feelings.

Usually if somebody says

"I love it when x"

Implies that x happens often enough to refer to it.

For example, "I love it when you guys rage at DRM".

 

[JSt0rm]

hahaha good for them. now where is diablo 3?

 

[shortylickens]

I really, really, really hate the gaming community sometimes.

MMO's are the main reason we cant get quality single player games anymore.
Not that I blame the devs. Who wants to slave away for 4 years only to get a one time payout on their efforts?
An MMO generates monthly income from opening day to eternity. So long as you keep the servers running its basically free money every month.

Actually, for this reason alone I am kind of surprised they made Starcraft 2 instead of World of Starcraft.

 

[pontifex]

Well that's talking about something tangible you can touch to something that's just in a game and adds nothing to your character.

but he just paid $40 for something that will kill him, or at least move him closer to lung cancer, etc.

 

[Nintendesert]

MMO's are the main reason we cant get quality single player games anymore.
Not that I blame the devs. Who wants to slave away for 4 years only to get a one time payout on their efforts?
An MMO generates monthly income from opening day to eternity. So long as you keep the servers running its basically free money every month.

Actually, for this reason alone I am kind of surprised they made Starcraft 2 instead of World of Starcraft.

It makes sense, video gaming is a service. MMOs provide a service, STEAM does, IMPULSE does and Blizzard wants us all buying things from their service and promoting BNet.

The payoffs can be felt down the line when they expand their market base by appealing to many different types of players and have them hooked on the service they provide.

Maybe even rolling up all Blizzard gaming under one banner and one monthly fee to access BNet, WoW or the next games coming down the line.

I'm sure they have a plan to get more pennies from us and not just this one initial purchase cost from us.

 

[soccerballtux]

True enough, but the WoWites could argue they will have their magical steed, even though it's digital, much longer than I'll have my cigar. These days people seem to place more value on digital items than they used to.

KT

what it boils down to is you can experience ownership and satisfaction from personalization of your digital character for much cheaper than you can in real life (for example, clothes are expensive, if you like to shop at places like Guess, like I do).

 

[bunnyfubbles]

its no Robot Unicorn, but that can be had for free

 

[lothar]

Well that's talking about something tangible you can touch to something that's just in a game and adds nothing to your character.

Pay $40 to get lung cancer, or pay $25 to play a virtual game?
I also don't see any reason why you'd compare a $200+ football/baseball jersey to a $25 virtual pet.

Here is how I see it.
Neither offer any beneficial value, but one is a loss of $200+ while the other is only a loss of $25.
Just because it's something you can touch with your hands doesn't mean anything.
The word "tangible" is subjective.

Would I rather spend $25 on a stupid virtual pet or pay $25 for a pack of cigar?
I'll take the virtual pet for $25, Alex. or even better...How about neither!!!

 

[lothar]

LoL WoW...

I see what you did there.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Although everyone has a right to spend money the way they feel is right, I can voice my opinion that these people are short sighted, borelined retarded and will end up paving the way for encouraging this type of behavior from game developers.

I find it absolutely sick that Blizzard is selling these items. Sure, no one is forcing anyone to get the horse, but they know that people out there, mostly those with plenty of disposable income will be purchasing these.

The question is: With much of the US is difficult economic times, many losing their homes, defaulting on loans, etc... Does it really make for a wise decision? Do these people really have the money? Are it is their impulses that cause them to spend money in these ways, that also cause the issues of being unable to pay their mortage, or credit card, thus defaulting and indirectly affecting those who are responsable?

But even taking that part of it away, all this does it pave the way for Blizzard to to release a new horse in 6 months. Are people really this stupid? The horse took some guy getting paid 25 bucks an hour to model and skin it, and was implemented by a programmer with a few lines of a code and bingo 2 million bucks in the bank. They can do this at will, any time they want and can generate this type of revenue... Other companies will follow and pretty soon we see even more degredation of the video game market.

Just my opinion, but this does make me sick...

 

[lothar]

Although everyone has a right to spend money the way they feel is right, I can voice my opinion that these people are short sighted, borelined retarded and will end up paving the way for encouraging this type of behavior from game developers.

I find it absolutely sick that Blizzard is selling these items. Sure, no one is forcing anyone to get the horse, but they know that people out there, mostly those with plenty of disposable income will be purchasing these.

The question is: With much of the US is difficult economic times, many losing their homes, defaulting on loans, etc... Does it really make for a wise decision? Do these people really have the money? Are it is their impulses that cause them to spend money in these ways, that also cause the issues of being unable to pay their mortage, or credit card, thus defaulting and indirectly affecting those who are responsable?

But even taking that part of it away, all this does it pave the way for Blizzard to to release a new horse in 6 months. Are people really this stupid? The horse took some guy getting paid 25 bucks an hour to model and skin it, and was implemented by a programmer with a few lines of a code and bingo 2 million bucks in the bank. They can do this at will, any time they want and can generate this type of revenue... Other companies will follow and pretty soon we see even more degredation of the video game market.

Just my opinion, but this does make me sick...

Does not compute.
If they have enough money to be paying $15/month for a WoW subscription, then they certainly have access to money(or credit whichever you prefer) to pay a one time $25 fee.

As Hacp would say...
If you're poor, you should be eating rice and beans, not wasting $15/month on a WoW subscription.

 

[Nintendesert]

Although everyone has a right to spend money the way they feel is right, I can voice my opinion that these people are short sighted, borelined retarded and will end up paving the way for encouraging this type of behavior from game developers.

I find it absolutely sick that Blizzard is selling these items. Sure, no one is forcing anyone to get the horse, but they know that people out there, mostly those with plenty of disposable income will be purchasing these.

The question is: With much of the US is difficult economic times, many losing their homes, defaulting on loans, etc... Does it really make for a wise decision? Do these people really have the money? Are it is their impulses that cause them to spend money in these ways, that also cause the issues of being unable to pay their mortage, or credit card, thus defaulting and indirectly affecting those who are responsable?

But even taking that part of it away, all this does it pave the way for Blizzard to to release a new horse in 6 months. Are people really this stupid? The horse took some guy getting paid 25 bucks an hour to model and skin it, and was implemented by a programmer with a few lines of a code and bingo 2 million bucks in the bank. They can do this at will, any time they want and can generate this type of revenue... Other companies will follow and pretty soon we see even more degredation of the video game market.

Just my opinion, but this does make me sick...

Blizzard isn't Mommy and Daddy and they aren't Big Brother. They provide a service people are free to use or not use. If someone wants to blow $25 on something Blizzard provides, that's on them.

If they want to let their kids starve so they can ride a flamboyant pony, that's their problem, not Blizzard's.

I'd rather see a PC game industry where extra service is provided at a cost and I can choose what I want as a means of revenue generation vs. the DRM shitfest we get from companies like Ubisoft.

Both with the intention of getting more money out of their product. I'll choose expanded service every time vs. invasive DMR solutions.

 

[nageov3t]

thought about it.

logged on and saw a couple dozen of them running around dalaran.

decided not to join the herd.