During BlizzCon, World of Warcraft Production Director J. Allen Brack, confirmed suspicions that a form of micro-transactions for character customizations is in the works. No other details were divulged. Character gender and race alternatives are likely candidates. Classes that were created and pigeon-holed to a certain race based on racial skills that were later removed opened a demand for change.

Many MMOG players view the standard subscription as a bastion against alternative revenue models that offer in-game incentives or alterations in exchange for real money. Many thought Blizzard Entertainment was on their side. Not anymore, the titan is becoming more blatant about adopting their own alternative revenue systems, but the truth is World of Warcraft’s own anti-RMT (real money trade) stance became a sham long ago and the following two examples prove it.

Read full article by Matt Warner

I'm curious how far they can push their historically stellar reputation before they become the next EA.

I really really liked Blizzard up until the Advent of WoW. As far as I'm concerned they haven't done a good game for the last 5 years.

Interesting to note that since they did WoW, their releases of games has dried up considerably, with at most a gap of 2 years before something else is released.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_entertainment

You think morals have a place in modern business? And you think Blizzard is somehow unique in this?

Honestly all the blizzard offers are cosmetic changes and very trivial things. Personally I have never considered recruiting a friend for a zebra mount or buying booster packs for pointless pets and I don't really see what you are so upset about.

Welcome to capitalism I hope you enjoy your stay, when you are ready for something else talk about that but giving things away for free? You must be kidding this isn't communism my friend.

tell that to Valve

Well if it's only for cosmetic things that have no effect on game balance, then power to Blizzard. Honestly, if somebody is willing to fork out cash to make their character/equipment look a little prettier, then I say go Blizzard for allowing them to part with their hard earned cash.

It's obviously not for everybody, but I'd guess at least a few people might be enticed by it.

Lol. Sorry but this is as an example of media sensationalism at it's most uninformed. The reason RMT is 'wrong' or unfair is because it gives people who are willing to spend 'real life' money($) on a game an unfair advantage over those who don't. The reason the RMT practices in WoW do not fit this bill is because you can't gain an unfair advantage by using them! All they do is swap your models. Swapping your horse model for a tiger or your pony tail for a afro in no way gives you an unfair advantage over those people that don't, it just shows your vanity and your disposable income.

If you want an example of a shameless cash grabbing RMT scheme look at Hellgate: London. If Blizzard this greedy tyrant everyone is making them out to be, they would adopt the same model for Diablo 3. Unlike Hellgate: L, D3 would actually sell huge amounts regardless of the subscription model because it will be a decent game.

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I somehow doubt how good Diablo 3 will be. There was another version of it which was put into BETA a few years ago, however it was canned for WoW

Well said. This article was pretty crap and biased against Blizzard. I admit that I am a pretty big fan of most things Blizzard but am in no way a fanboi, but this article tried to make it sound as if a CCG that gives you the opportunity to get a mount that is in no way faster then any other mount of that type, or an item that is totally cosmetic such as the Weather Machine is the same thing as a company saying spend $50 and we'll make you max level!

What Blizz said is right. I made my Dwarf Priest because back then it was the class to be because of Fear Ward. Now I love him as a Dorf so I won't change him, but I know that people chose a race for their toon solely based on its race so since racial skills/spells are pretty much gone (And I am talking about spells like Fear Ward that promoted choosing a specific race for your chosen class) it would be nice if there was a way to be able to change another cosmetic thing in the game.

For the OP, they aren't giving you gold or powerleveling professions or levels, it is all cosmetic.

less opinions, more news tia