Giving beta only to subs makes no sens

[Aryxymaraki-earthen-ring (Aryxymaraki)]

I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but it’s wrong.

It is, in fact, new and unique for this test. No other beta test has ever required a sub. (The closest Blizzard has ever come to this was the year-sub for beta access to Diablo 3, which was a bonus and not a requirement.)

That is coming from direct copy/pastes from my invitations for those betas. It is what Blizzard sent out. Unless you’re saying my e-mails on Gmail have been hacked and edited by somebody else?

I’ve already copied it twice into this forum in the past day, I can copy paste again if you want?

Edit: Why not do so a third time?

*snipped*

I don’t remember my emails ever saying that, but it is still a different thing from this requirement.

Those emails say “You have been invited! If your sub is inactive, you will need to activate it to play.” That’s fine and I would have no complaint if it were happening. But that is NOT what is happening here!

What is happening this time is “You must have a sub to even be considered.” It’s a very different thing and the result is vastly more exploitative. It’s saying “Hey, pay us 15-45 bucks just to have a tiny chance at even being invited to beta. You might end up paying us for absolutely nothing. Enjoy your time with Blizzard!”

You do realize I hope that most of the players who play Classic will be players coming from Retail. Retail players are already subbed so get Classic for free. There will be lots and lots of players from Retail in Classic.

I expect initially 95% of Classic players will be Retail players. So perhaps it makes sense that those who are committed to Blizzard and paying for a sub get access to the beta.

That said, after the first month or so I expect the % of Retail players in Classic to drop through the floor. After briefly touring Classic, most Retail players will be disgusted with the simplistic gameplay, slow grindy leveling, lack of options, or crappy graphics. They will likely all quit Classic to return to Retail.

If they are going to play for less than a month, in what sense are they the majority of players? In what way are they even real and meaningful players? (In the context of Classic, specifically; obviously they’re real WoW and real Retail players.)

They are tourists. Yes, tourists are going to temporarily outnumber actual players, no one has an argument about that. But there is no reason to cater to such people.