Concerned that prestige or "flex" items are being devalued by Blizzard

Community General Discussion
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I’ve been playing since launch. Over the years, I’ve acquired many cool “vanity” or “prestige” items I’m quite proud of. I am concerned that there seems to be a trend of giving some of these rare items away, either for Twitch or Prime or other promotional events, or like the Tyrael’s Charger, are simply going to be thrown on the Cash Shop.

Part of being an MMO is the social aspect. And one of the ways people are social in games, is having “cool stuff to show off”. Things that show “hey, I played at a really high level to get this”, or “I was playing during a particular time”. Things that sort of weave together in a tapestry that tells your story as a player.

Many of players have invested hundreds or even thousands of hours into the game over the years, and it is extremely disconcerting that some of the things acquired at different points, are simply being brought back, without any fanfare, completely devaluing any of the time or effort that went into acquiring them.

It’s worrying that it seems to be becoming a trend, one that completely disregards the most loyal players and fans. I mean, are we going to see an easily attainable Spectral Tiger? Challenge Mode gear? The original Collector’s Edition pets, or even Mini-Tyrael?

At what point are my characters, all my memories, my entire account given a strict monetary value that any new player can simply purchase? Or acquire for watching some marketing streams?

At what point does WoW cease to be a fantasy world worth investing your time in, and simply becomes a business transaction?

It would sure be nice to get some kind of assurances what things are or are not off the table, because right now, it feels like as a player, my time with WoW could be rendered completely meaningless at any moment.

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If an item that holds no value what so ever and you have no true ownership of is something you need to “flex” on others with, you probably should be taking a deep look into your own life bruh.
Pixels arent a flex none of it matters achievement points are meaningless.
And wow has always been a business the long term customers have aged out and the new ones are short term sub and dump.

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I have many removed items

Then being made accessable doesn’t hurt me at all, cuz I got them cuz I wanted them, not for some narcissistic logic to lord them over new players

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Too many people use this game to "flex’ on others and boost their ego.

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That has and will always be a core part of why people play MMO’s.

Hell, even Fortnite has adhered to their promise to never bring skins from old Season Passes. Sure, they’ll recolor them and all, but “prestige items” absolutely exist, and are a huge part of why people even go out of their way to attain them in the first place.

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My flex item is https://www.wowhead.com/item=6766/flayed-demon-skin-old2

Let’s see Blizzard try to sell that in the store for $19.99.

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Agree completely.

First, I want to point out no one at all can purchase your memories. After 18 years of playing WoW, I can fully say my best memories almost always involve interactions with other people in the game. While certain in-game items may or may not be involved, those items are never the center of the memory.

If you are playing WoW for some kind of ownership “investment”, you’re playing for the wrong reasons. The value of time spent in WoW comes from the moment you roll your character and start playing. Doing things. Doing things with other people. WoW is not about possessing the game, it is about journeying through it.

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What a dumb take. OP addressed a fundamental aspect of how people interact with each other, which is incidentally a fundamental aspect of the psychology in marketing. People like to flex exclusivity within their environment. It’s why women flaunt jewelry and men get flashy cars. And why pro athletes get placement medals and trophies. There’s nothing wrong with flaunting goods you were incentivized to get under particular circumstances.

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My original mage still has Hakkars heart

Who wants to buy it

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People can play for any reason they want and, speaking of ego, you’re not an authority on what legitimate reasons to play are.

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yeah and when your long dead and the game is still chuggin along I bet they re release all those prestige items at some point hell even runescape is releasing variations of discontinued items.

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:face_with_raised_eyebrow:

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Got alot to unpack there bub so men dont buy nice cars cause they like nice cars, they buy nice cars cause women like nice cars.
You want to unpack the social psychology of materialism start with this, dave chappell said it best if a man could shag a woman in a cardboard box he wouldnt buy a house.

On that note there is no flex when it comes to pixels you might cause someone to have a short term interest in collecting something right up til they find out its impossible. Then become disheartened and that runs a risk of them loosing interest of continuing playing.

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:face_with_raised_eyebrow:

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This cocky attitude reeks of undeserved smugness, and if the best you got is quoting a comedian, your take is ultimately shallow and valueless. Got any other gems from greater minds than your own you’d like to share, bub?

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Bruh ask any woman if they would date a guy livin with his momma ridin the bus or a guy with his own place and car.
Hunter/gatherer mentality and for a comic dave is generally spot on when it comes to alot of things.
Only one here that smug is you my dude grab a mirror ask yourself is that basement really where you want to be?
This is basic social interactions the vast majority falls under, women acquire a standard of living they wont settle for less.
A man either has to meet that standard or achieve greater, why because all a woman has to do is open her door and theres a guy offering her a shag.
Step out in to the world my dude and observe see for your self.

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You’re a little lost in the woods here, bub. I’m still waiting for those quotes from greater minds. I’ll even take moderately under average minds, at this point.

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I couldn’t even finish reading after I read “I’m quite proud of.”

It’s digital crap. Odin take the wheel.

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Then explain my Ford Fusion

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I’m living for this trend of vicious gnomes

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