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Report: Blizzard Looking At Paid Character Customization For WoW

Although it's long been viewed as a bastion of safety for MMO enthusiasts worried at emerging business models like microtransactions, Blizzard has confirmed that World of Warcraft will eventually incorporate some form of paid character customizatio

Leigh Alexander, Contributor

October 13, 2008

1 Min Read
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Emerging business models for online games like microtransactions and tiered subscriptions have long met with skepticism from the average MMO enthusiast, who's viewed Blizzard and its standard subscription model for World of Warcraft as a bastion against new monetization strategies. But it seems possible that Blizzard might soon explore the pay-for-goods arena after a press conference at its BlizzCon event -- though specifics are still being ironed out. According to coverage from MMO news site WarCry, WoW production director J. Allen Brack was asked about a button found in the Wrath of the Lich King beta's data files called "Paid Character Customization." The report says Brack first balked at addressing the question, and then ultimately confirmed that WoW would eventually incorporate some form of paid character customization, though the company is apparently still working details out. Blizzard is also reportedly exploring ways to monetize multiplayer games on its Battle.net service for the upcoming Diablo III; while the details of that monetization strategy are also apparently still being worked out, Brack did confirm that it doesn't involve subscription fees.

About the Author

Leigh Alexander

Contributor

Leigh Alexander is Editor At Large for Gamasutra and the site's former News Director. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Variety, Slate, Paste, Kill Screen, GamePro and numerous other publications. She also blogs regularly about gaming and internet culture at her Sexy Videogameland site. [NOTE: Edited 10/02/2014, this feature-linked bio was outdated.]

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