Not so fast. Bliz has legal obligations to it’s customers:
Customer expectations represent the set of criteria that customers use to evaluate and judge their interactions with a business. These criteria encompass various dimensions: product performance, service reliability, ease of use, value for money, and emotional connection and delivery of goods including digital goods.
In this case, the company and customers have committed to the purchase of the original game and expansions. And a monthly subscription rate. The customers (the Wow players) have the express expectations that the provider (Bliz) will supply said digital goods for the agreed on price.
Bliz is trying to operate outside of that contract by trying to sell digital goods to the customer at a premium outside of the parameters of the original contract.
They can raise the price on anything they want.
Their game, their service their call.
Nothing you can do about it (short of leaving).
They signed nothing that says they won’t or can’t.
The contract is always in the favor of them, not you.
I can assure you there is a clause that says they can change their terms and conditions at any time and you agree to it.
Next month it is fully legal to raise the sub fee to 30.00 a month (I mean they won’t) and there is nothing you can do. Once your sub runs out, you’d be obligated to pay 30.00 a month (or equivalent gold) to continue to play
Wrong. That is exactly the problem here. The players don’t realize how they are being taken advantage of. And most will just sit there and take it. But legally speaking what all these game companies who have embarked on this type of business model are actually operating as shady practices.
You say the the Wow players must take it. Well I say I would love to see legal action taken by the Wow community to have Bliz served with a A cease and desist order.
A formal written notice that demands an individual or entity stop an activity that is alleged to be illegal or harmful. That would start the ball rolling.
The mount is an optional purchase that you’re under zero obligation to buy in order to play the game. You can do quests and earn rewards, complete raids/dungeons, do pvp, and go through every part of the game without ever having to purchase said mount. The mount is there for people who want to support the game while also giving them some convenience. The thing you should be asking yourself is do you feel that mount’s convenience of always having access to a mailbox and auction house is worth the $90. If the answer is yes, then you should consider buying the mount. If you don’t then don’t do it. Convenience wise is it a good thing, yes. Is it $90 worth of convenience, for me I may buy it yet and I may not.
half of GD: “this mount is a complete waste. why would you ever spend money to have an AH and mailbox on a mount? they’re everywhere!!”
the other half of GD: “this mount is essential content. anybody who doesn’t have it is at such an extreme disadvantage that they might as well quit playing!!”
The mount is In-Game digital goods. Players have the expectation to receive any digital goods supplied by the company as part of their monthly subscription fee. In the form of a quest/achievement/loot-drop reward. Not a $90.00 real world cash premium.
This has got to be one of the most ignorant and moronic things I’ve read on these forums in some time. What on earth are you going to potentially sue them for? What’s your cause of action and injury that would give you grounds for a suit even if you did want to file one? There’s nothing illegal about them having a $90 optional mount purchase. You either buy it or you don’t. If enough people would grow enough of a spine and enough self-control to say “you know what nah I’m not buying at $90” and actually not buy said microtransactions, these companies would stop this. However you see microtransactions because people buy them. I may buy the mount at some point for the convenience of it, which is purely my decision if I do. No one is forcing me to do it if I do. If I as a consenting adult want to hand them the money for the mount, who the heck are you or anyone else to say I shouldn’t be able to?
Now would I like it to be say $20, absolutely I would. You have to determine if you think there’s $90 of value there. Clearly you don’t, so I would say not to buy it, or for you to farm out tokens and get it that way. The only way you would even remotely have a cause for action is if you paid the $90 and they never gave you the mount but told you take a hike instead. Then you would have a cause of action, but right now it’s just you being big mad over not liking a mount.
Where does it say anywhere in the ToS or contracts people signed you’re entitled to have that mount just because it exists? Where does it specifically say your subscription entitles you to it? Please quote the relevant portions. Don’t worry I’ll wait.
Point blank you have no cause of action as you’re not entitled to the mount just because you want it and it exists. It’s just like people who whine about opening trading card packs and saying “but muh gambling”. Setting aside trading cards aren’t gambling for other reasons, you get what you pay for. If I go into a shop and I pay $4 for a pack of magic the gathering cards, I’m paying $4 for 15 random cards which includes one rare in the pack. Now I could get lucky and get a bonus foil 16th card or a card worth alot on the secondary market, or I could get bat guano not even worth the $4 I paid for the pack. Point being I paid $4 for 15 cards and got 15 cards. It may not be 15 cards I liked or wanted, but I did get what I paid for. I am not entitled to the so called money card or foil card just because it exists.
In this instance the $90 mount is a separate purchase. If you want it then earn it by farming wow tokens or cough up the cash. Those are your options.
Nothing shady about it.
You don’t like you are not in control of it… They will look at that as a you problem.
They are doing nothing illegal. You may not like the price or the policies but a video game (and everything that comes with it) is 100% optional in life.
I never said anyone must take it. I said there is nothing you can do about it short of leaving the game.
Exactly what do you want them to cease and desist? Seems like you’ve been watching too much CSI or Law and Order shows. I suggest you don’t get your law degree/experience from drama tv.
I am amazed that so many people don’t even realize that the gaming companies are using these underhanded business models to cheat them out of their had earned money. So at this point I am hoping that the players that do realize what the game industry is trying to do to them. Use the one option that works. Vote with you wallet and don’t buy any of these ludicrous money grabs.
I never said anyone was an idiot. My point was that people sometimes don’t realize that some businesses cheat the customers. Like people going to a casino thinking that they are going to get a fair shot, not knowing that all the machines and dealer run tables are rigged against them. Same with used care dealerships that turn back the mileage meter and tell the customer that the car was only driven by a little old lady. Many people are not aware of these bad business practices. That’s all it is.
In the end. People are gonna make their own decisions.
"Video game companies are often accused of “cheating” players through various practices, such as:
Pay-to-Win Mechanics: Introducing game elements that give paying players significant advantages over non-paying ones, making it difficult for free players to compete.
Loot Boxes: Randomized rewards that can feel like gambling, often leading to players spending large amounts of money for a chance at rare items.
Microtransactions: Encouraging players to spend real money on in-game currency or items, sometimes creating a sense of pressure to keep up with other players.
DLC and Season Passes: Releasing additional content that some players feel should have been included in the base game, leading to accusations of incomplete games being sold at full price.
Buggy Releases: Releasing games with significant bugs or issues that require players to purchase additional content or services to fix them."
It is directly connected: Bliz is taking the existing base model of an in-game Brutosaur. Changing the geometry slightly. Adding a new texture to it. Then selling it for $90.00 real world cash. That by itself is ludicrous. That’s the price of two full expansions plus! Then they say it’s only available for a limited time, creating pressure, making it seem as this is a ounce in a lifetime deal. This is ridiculous.
I would suggest, if you want, please read all the other posts and my previous posts if you haven’t yet. Also there are other threads regarding this topic. Which may help you understand my and other players opinions on the topic.
i’ve read them. you’ve decided that since you think X is a bad deal, it’s objectively deceptive or unfair in some way, and anybody who chooses to purchase it in spite of your (obviously correct) opinions is oblivious, ignorant, or has been deceived in some way. right?
Wrong! This is a Wow General Discussion Forum. I am a Wow player and I am giving my personal opinion about a topic concerning the game. I understand that people have their own opinions. That is what the forum is here for.
I also understand that some people will buy the mount for reasons known only by them. I also understand that some people will not buy the mount for reason only known by them.
I am just presenting my reason why I won’t buy the mount. People can agree, disagree, or not care one way or the other.
