Comments on: It’s All We Have

By: Ravious

Ravious — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:13:32 +0000

@Tesh who said “I do not exist in their calculations precisely because I have not given them money.”

I don’t think that’s entirely accurate. You are part of some marketing number in Blizzard’s megacorp. However, current customers and recent customers are going to seriously trump over the untouched, available market you stand in.

Your “market power” definitely increases a little by buying into games with business models you want to participate in, but your market power in Blizzard’s eye was small to begin with.

By: Tesh

Tesh — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:55:44 +0000

There’s not much that those of us who never bought in can do. It’s like not voting; how can the number monkeys discern between a protest vote, ignorance, or simple laziness?

I have “voted” with my wallet to stay out of WoW, despite loving the ten day trial. I have taken a principled stand, but to Blizzard, I’m no different than a non-customer. I do not exist in their calculations precisely because I have not given them money.

What recourse is there for those like me who would jump into the game wholeheartedly if it had a Guild Wars business model? I bought GW, but even that’s fairly irrelevant to Blizzard.

Are paying customers the only ones with a say? What about $100 or so that Blizzard could easily make from me if they went with the GW model? I’d love to support the devs for their efforts, but I do not find sufficient value in the subscription model for me to participate.

If they made the business changes I want, I’d send them the $100 at the drop of a hat. Until then, what?

By: Ravious

Ravious — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:12:31 +0000

One of my favorite experiences was where money talks, was cancelling my account in A Tale in the Desert. One of the devs gives you his direct number to chat him up with why you left. Better than WoW’s guilt page.

By: Openedge1

Openedge1 — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:05:13 +0000

Put my money where my mouth is…

Did it to LOTRO, Vanguard, EQ2, Age of Conan.

But, I am willing to go back if they fix my issues…

EQ2 has just recently made strides to fix their performance issues (my main gripe)…they deserve me trying again.
Age of Conan – Performance fixed and new content added….went back..
LOTRO – UI and Characters ugly as all get up…STILL not fixed…refuse to pay…deleted.
Vanguard…STILL a mess overall…deleted.

I agree…people need to follow suit.
Have an issue? Cancel until they either fix it or move on.

By: Afterhour

Afterhour — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:22:09 +0000

“Shut up and pay me your $10 a month, little man. My Porsche needs some performance upgrades.”

-Milo D. Cooper, Verant employee

By: SD

SD — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:07:26 +0000

$15? Perhaps you were thinking of a certain movie ditty. (Of course, the Car Talk guys would just say that “someone needs to make a new boat payment.”)

If there’s any reason people get caught up with posturing, it’s out of a sense of immediacy. Even if their expectations aren’t being met with a new MMO, they resignedly consider the title to be an unfinished masterpiece, or a grudging work in progress. The urge to be stimulated online isn’t different from ordering fast food: you can go elsewhere, and ever get better for less, but by staying, you’re giving in to impulse.