The times they are a changin...regarding Duel Tournaments for cash prizes in WoW

[Prufinnor-wyrmrest-accord]

streamer groupie

That is an apt label. Groupies.

[anon4417179]

Blizzard is in the news again right now with more higher ups quitting. They recently did a cover up about abuse from higher ups, so they released same day soldier 76 was gay. Color my shock about streamer privilege and them counting on classic to be successful.

[Wiggin-kelthuzad (Wiggin)]

Esports weren’t around then. Are you 12? Gaming has changed, you’d know that if you played Vanilla in 2005.

[Theloras-llane (Theloras)]

why do you even care???

honestly, it’s because I care that I write posts like this

adding cash money rewards like this is bad juju compared to the spirit of the way Vanilla WoW was

Blizzard was right to strictly prohibit actions/events such as this back in the day but this is merely yet another example of how the company and the game lost its way…

I mean, unless you prefer playing BFA?

[Traydrenna-wyrmrest-accord]

I’m firmly in the camp that if players want to organize and host a tournament like this and pay cash prizes that is none of Blizzard’s business.

I take issue with streamers monetizing their beta access with these stunts. How much did they rake in as “donations” as it was ongoing?

Probably about the same they’d rake in doing anything else on the Beta. If we’re gonna go down this road you should just say you want streamers banned.

[Theloras-llane (Theloras)]

I take issue with streamers monetizing their beta access with these stunts. How much did they rake in as “donations” as it was ongoing?

ding ding ding

Esports weren’t around then. Are you 12? Gaming has changed, you’d know that if you played Vanilla in 2005.

First subbed in April 2005 broheim and esports are part of the reason why retail WoW is in the lulz state its in…

Probably about the same they’d rake in doing anything else on the Beta. If we’re gonna go down this road you should just say you want streamers banned.

some of us aren’t in it for the money - which is what Blizzard’s original ToS represented

and look how far they as a company and retail WoW as a beloved game for all time has fallen…

[Slowbop-silver-hand (Slowbop)]

The tos is meant to, at least in part, create a good and safe gaming environment. Dueling for a prize pool is akin to gambling, and that can be addictive for some people.

Blizzard has a duty to care about the outcomes of using their game as a platform for anything. Lawsuits are expensive.

[Mergons-terenas]

This is the BETA, has nothing to do with live wow.

[Ashryn-altar-of-storms]

It was the look on his face when he was asked about it is what made me curious. Not the actual words, but his expression and hesitation.

Who brought up soliciting?

If the money came from a sponsor to show an add during the tournament,wouldn’t that be soliciting?

I’m guessing not since it was streamed on Twitch and not a Blizzard platform?

[Theloras-llane (Theloras)]

Who brought up soliciting?

If the money came from a sponsor to show an add during the tournament,wouldn’t that be soliciting?

I’m guessing not since it was streamed on Twitch and not a Blizzard platform?

this is what the license says:

• Advertisements and Sponsorships.
  • Gambling, including raffles and fantasy sports betting, cannot be associated with the competition in any manner.
  • The competition cannot be sponsored by any companies that sell or promote any of the following products:
    • Pornography (or extremely mature materials);
    • Alcohol;
    • Tobacco or cigarettes;
    • Firearms;
    • Gambling websites; or
    • Any company that is detrimental to Blizzard’s business (hacking, gold services, account selling, key sellers)

https://communitytournaments.blizzardesports.com/en-us/create/community/preview/8907ac11-fe00-45ef-8970-33d7ea8a934d

Call me crazy but adding money into the equation like Blizzard allowing this to go down quite literally goes against the spirit and theme that was Vanilla. I mean every single private wow server strictly prohibits this kind of activity which means that they are actually adhering more to the original ToS than Blizzard is…

Compensation.

• The value of the total compensation including prizes, prize money, salaries, travel and accommodation stipends or reimbursements, and appearance fees paid by organizers and sponsors to the players, teams and team owners, for participating in the competition (“Compensation”), must:
  • not exceed Ten Thousand US Dollars ($10,000 USD) or the equivalent for a single competition; and
  • not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000 USD) or the equivalent for all of the events organized or hosted by you during the last 12 months pursuant to this Community Competition License;

Broadcasting.

• You may broadcast your competition online, and may stream on whichever online platform you like;
• However, you may receive only up to a maximum of $100,000 in compensation from any online broadcast or streaming platform (e.g., Twitch, YouTube, Hitbox, Azubu, Facebook, etc.) in conjunction with the broadcast of your competition (whether that compensation be paid in the form of sponsorship, broadcast fees, in-kind promotion, or other form of payment);

[Ashryn-altar-of-storms]

Nice.

Blizzard and these streamers seem to have really made out well with the whole thing then.

The only thing I question is

Gambling, including raffles and fantasy sports betting, cannot be associated with the competition in any manner.

and if Blizzard could in any way be associated and its surprising they haven’t really come out and said anything about it.

Blizzard seems to be the sponsor and the beta is seemingly like a raffle. Is that why is was closed off to streamers only for participants since they were hand selected and weren’t part of beta lottery like the rest of us?

[Brockthorn-malygos (Brockthorn)]

Actually you had to pay $15 to buy that lottery ticket.
That was a first for any Blizzard beta.

[Theloras-llane (Theloras)]

Blizzard and these streamers seem to have really made out well with the whole thing then.

that’s quite literally the nail on the head I’m afraid…whereas the average player who wanted to ACTUALLY TEST THE BETA and who may have been an original sub back in dec 2004 or jan 2005 and still has an active retail sub is left hanging…

Actually you had to pay $15 to buy that lottery ticket.
That was a first for any Blizzard beta.

yep - this is the first time they did that and it’s ticked off many potential loyal players

[Brockthorn-malygos (Brockthorn)]

And there’s even more to come.
Pay $15 and you get to create 3 characters weeks before the game launches.

So a beta for 4 months of sub time and then get your name for $15 is $$$. $60/player hoping to get beta and $15 for those that come back in Aug to get their names.

3Q numbers are going to soar.

[Theloras-llane (Theloras)]

And there’s even more to come.
Pay $15 and you get to create 3 characters weeks before the game launches.

So a beta for 4 months of sub time and then get your name for $15 is $$$. $60/player hoping to get beta and $15 for those that come back in Aug to get their names.

3Q numbers are going to soar.

heh pretty sure my chances on being able to name my Paladin “Theloras” on August 27th on any server are lower than absolute zero…

[Brockthorn-malygos (Brockthorn)]

Yeah Theloras…your name has traveled the circles in wow.

[Theloras-llane (Theloras)]

Yeah Theloras…your name has traveled the circles in wow.

hence once Nostalrius launched, I had to change my Paladin’s name to THEOLORAS

[Badkittyy-blackrock]

I think you are just jealous, the fact that people want to engage in competitive play and make it more interesting. No Pandas were Harmed. You can move on now.

[Hanners-emerald-dream]

Feel free to not subscribe until Classic launches.

[Theloras-llane (Theloras)]

I think you are just jealous, the fact that people want to engage in competitive play and make it more interesting. No Pandas were Harmed. You can move on now.

retail WoW ended up being the ultimate WoW killer because it was death by 1000 cuts over time from LFD/LFR, gearscore, gutting/pruning of class/spec abilities over each xpac, to things like cash prize tournaments being added to the game

Nevalistis
Community Manager
6534 posts
Dec 10, 2010
Such a situation would be considered the exchange of in-game services for out of game currency or goods, Averybighug. That would fall under a policy we have a pretty clear “no” on.

if people want to have a duel tournament for ingame currency (ie: everyone puts in 50g or 100g w/e) that’s totally fine and follows the original ToS and spirit of competition for the game

but once you add money to the equation, things can get ugly fast - do you not find it ironic that every single private server strictly prohibits this type of activity?