Blizzard and World of Warcraft Gold Sellers
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Computers Technology -> subcategory Games.
Blizzard and the World of Warcraft Gold Market
Why Blizzard Opposes Selling WoW Gold
Summary: Delve into Blizzard's perspective on the World of Warcraft secondary market and why they firmly oppose the sale of in-game gold.
Many players of World of Warcraft (WoW) are drawn to buying gold, items, accounts, and power-leveling services. However, Blizzard and a number of players view this as unfair play. While spending real money can enhance a character’s level or improve in-game items, this practice creates an uneven playing field for those who either can’t afford or choose not to spend extra money.
When GameShark came out for Nintendo games, Nintendo didn't take action against it. However, those who used cheats didn't necessarily impact others who preferred playing honestly. This difference partly explains why both Blizzard and players disapprove of buying and selling gold.
The Impact of Gold Farming
One major issue is the disruption caused by gold farmers, who have made farming increasingly difficult. If real money couldn’t be exchanged for gold, the prevalence of farmers might dwindle, allowing players to enjoy the game more fully. While Blizzard isn't a governing body, they still face challenges similar to rule enforcement.
Economic Disruption
The secondary market also affects in-game economics. Excessive gold supply can lead to inflation, reducing gold’s value and driving up in-game item prices. This means players must farm more gold or resort to purchasing it?"a cycle that Blizzard aims to manage.
Blizzard's Approach
Despite the challenges, Blizzard hasn’t eliminated gold selling entirely, possibly because farmers account for about 30% of the player base. This reflects a balancing act; banning every account could result in financial loss. Instead, Blizzard opts to selectively ban accounts, generating additional revenue from new game purchases by banned users. There's little evidence of buyers being banned, though this could change with evolving policies.
Alternative Models
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), with titles like EverQuest and Star Wars Galaxies, introduced the Sony Exchange?"a secure marketplace for players to auction virtual goods for real money, from which SOE earns a fee. They've also explored selling in-game assets directly. This model deviates from traditional views on fair play but shows a potential path others might follow.
Given SOE’s foray into the secondary market, it’s possible that Blizzard might consider a similar approach. With a larger subscriber base, entering this market could be lucrative. However, Blizzard’s future intentions remain unclear.
In conclusion, while Blizzard’s stance on WoW gold remains firm, the evolving landscape of online gaming may lead to new approaches. It’s essential to remember that any views expressed here reflect personal opinions and should not be taken as guidance for purchasing gold.
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