I’ll also second Dblade with the Pokemon rumination. It seems a hoarding gene is pretty common in humans, and Pokemon scratched that itch nicely. It’s natural that would carry over into MMOs.

Collector is a different style. I used to collect useless NM drops in FFXI just out of boredom, despite being able to buy a better item for 20k at the AH.

Most cars are sold with a radio. No one claims GM or Tata is in the radio business. There is a real distinction between something that’s sold as a package or a bundle (like a CE edition or the TCG) and something that is sold direct. This is the first time Blizzard has ever sold pets directly.

Now, some people might not find the switch from direct to indirect troubling. But that’s different than claiming that there has been no switch.

I play WAR and there are a few pets — gettable via special offers and events. I have one that spawns a pet wolf. The collectible things in WAR are titles, achievements, tactics, and pocket items. There’s a bunch. The other big thing is Tome Unlocks within the Tome of Knowledge.

Reading this article now explains why many in WAR who play/played WoW talk about pets. I always thought they were referencing classes that have pets they control and can use to attack (i.e., White Lions, Squig Herders).

From an outsider’s perspective, if I’m reading folks correctly, there are only two pets available for purchase this way? Are these pets gettable in game via some quest or as a rare drop? If this is the only way to get them I don’t see the problem. If they want them and they are not available in any other way … they should save their pennies.

Might lessen the stigma a bit.

They change a lot more.

Naxx 60 needed way more tanks / raid members then todays instances, IIRC.

They removed things like.
* Hybrids need to heal.
* Mages are considered the best DD and have to outdamage other classes. (yes, that was a lvl 60 goal)
* Only warriors are viable tanks.

These 3 things had probably a much bigger influence on raids then the size.

They added batch gear which had a huge impact. It removed the leetnes from epics.

They greatly increased the amount of items that drop in raids.

2 T2 head from Ony for 40 people.
2 T2 lookalike head from Ony for 10 people.

But that’s fighting over details. I agree that BoJ had a bigger impact on the game than $10 pets

The tournament realm, didn’t you also get the chance to win IRL money? I was under the impression that this fee is used to pay the prize.

And yes, comparing the $30 you pay for WotLK with $10 for just one pet is not really favouring the pet. :-p

And really, changing the raid size probably affected at least as many players as charging for virtual pets. So in terms of disturbing people’s play I think it’s comparable. (Non raiders think raids are irrelevant, non pet collections think pets are just fluff.) It is interesting that they don’t plan to charge for content, but I don’t think you could get away with that in a subscription game.

I know what you mean, and I think charging for armour designs would be quite popular. I also think that selling a real cuddly toy alongside the virtual pet would generate an avalanche of sales (I think they even mentioned that they were thinking about that).

I didn’t like the CE pets and I hated the idea of TCG mounts and pets.

But then, I also hate the idea of removing rewards or titels. Like the Naxx dragons. That just forces you to play the game in the speed they tell you which removes an important part of the “WORLD” of warcraft.

In my opinion, the game should allow you at any time to do anything and restrict nothing just because you prefer to take a break or play more slowly or not spend RL money.