Posted by iTZKooPA on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 - 15 Comments
Tags: blizzard store, digital download is sold out, microtransactions, non-combat pet, oxymoron, pandaren monk, pandaren monk sold out
Pandaren Monk Endangered Even In Azeroth
Really Blizzard? Really? You’ve sold out of an item that doesn’t even exist? One that doesn’t need to be manufactured, doesn’t require materials or any labor to reproduce? Folks, as of press time the charity helping Pandaren Monk is officially “Sold Out” on North American shores. The paradox of selling out of a virtual item kind of boggles the mind doesn’t it? He’s been on sale only a week!
Okay, deep breath. Perhaps Blizzard meant the Panda to be some sort of limited pet. Only 10,000 copies were to be sold on a first come, first served basis. To bad the company failed to inform anyone, including the web team. Players who were on the fence about the purchase have had the decision made for them, at least temporarily. For the moment, they are no longer stuck between their need to own all pets, and the shroud of fel energy that could consume their very soul should they be tempted by the darkside a microtransaction.
If the monk is truly limited, not some sort of database error or mix up, then it’ll go down in microtransaction history. The Champions Online limited 6-month/lifetime subscription package “shortage” will go out the window. The new winner of the “Most Boneheaded Move” in the short AAA MMORPG microtransaction era will go to Blizzard and its disappearing monk.
/me cleans the anger spittle from his keyboard
I have no problem with microtransactions, especially aesthetic ones, in a subscription-based game - I am so tempted to drop $20 - but I do have a problem with misinformation, and false advertising.
In the spirit of Helen Lovejoy, “Will someone please think of the children?” I wonder, does Make A Wish keep track of the donations made to them? Could we get dig through the information to see how much Blizzard donated to calculate how many pandas were created?
I’m also curious as to who’s buying the pets and why. Are you a pet collector, or did the extra animations and interactivity sell you on these pets? Did you grab just one, or both?
Related Posts: Aggro, PTR 3.3: Patch Notes Updated 11/09, Tom Chilton On Blizzard’s Microtransactions, Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems: Maximizing Quest Reward Income, PvE,
By Random_Tangent on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
It was a website error, and it’s already been corrected. <_<
By Heartbourne on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
really.
By Kobi on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Yes, they are purchasable now.
By Mifflepim on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
To answer the asked question: I purchased the monk specifically because of the donation to Make-A-Wish. I purchased Lil’ K’T because really, who wouldn’t want a mini lich following you around?
By Daemonbane on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
that funny!
By Nextgener on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
HAHA, Look At All The Rage!
But seriously, it would suck if they did something like that. I got both pet’s for mainly the Panda animation, and hell, it’s LITTLE KT!!
If that doesn’t sell, I don’t know What will.
(the evil little laugh was just a bonus).
By Rogue4Life on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 12:58 am
that is the funniest and most ridiculous thing i have heard. I love your rant and have to agree how the hell do you run out or limit the number you sell. With a charity involved you are opening a lot of doors, even from those that don’t play.
/fail if Blizz really planned on limiting the number of pets to be sold.
By Innosinned on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Maybe all items in the store need to have a quantity “in stock” set, or the Pandaren was given a quantity “in stock” by accident.
By Snaggly on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Its crazy to think by just selling 10,000 of these virtual pets blizzard made 100,000 real dollars
By Starets Sayas on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I can see your point that the limited nature should have been stated ahead of time, but other than that, I kind of applaud the move. Its good to make something like these non-combat pets somewhat limited. Its more fun to see unique pets out and about than everyone having one.
By Draco Bahamut on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I bought both. Because they are cool. Already lost a couple hours just looking at the pandaren monk doing his kata. It was worth for me.
By Togarox on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I bought a Panderan because I’ve wanted one since WC3. I fell in love with the brewmaster in Footman wars =P.
By davie261 on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
It seems that I can no longer get fuel for the Mountain Dew pet either, kinda sucks..
By Zreena on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 1:08 am
I’m officially in love with you Koopa! Finally, a maniac collector like myself! Your rage was amusing and fully justified, if you are super insane like me.
My BF bought them both for me, since I had joygasm upon first hearing about the Pandaren Monk.
I’m a pet maniac/collector. I’m sitting at 102 pets.
By Hatell on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
By Mifflepim: To answer the asked question: I purchased the monk specifically because of the donation to Make-A-Wish. I purchased Lil’ K’T because really, who wouldn’t want a mini lich following you around?
Exactly my same reason. Panda for Make-a-Wish and lil KT cuz… seriously! I’ve been telling people it would be cool if KT dropped a KT pet.
Still waiting on the Onyxia welp. >.>