So to clarify I'm not trying to get into the beta and don't have an active sub. I don't watch a lot of classic wow content on twitch or youtube, maybe an hour or so in the evening.
*Disclaimer* This is just my personal opinion and probably isn't true, however this is a reasonable conclusion I came to after seeing the insane number of memes and posts about streamers getting beta keys.
The quick and dirty is Blizz is giving out additional keys to a broad range of content creators so that the players who watch them will sign up for a monthly subscription, expecting that they too will get an invite to the beta. Please remember that Blizz is publicly traded company.
This may not have been their intention in the beginning however it seems to be the recent trend.
To be honest, I think the conspiracy theories go a bit too far sometimes. How many subs will they really catch with the streamer advertisements? I would think that the majority of the people that watch WoW Classic streams were vanilla players that are currently not subbed, and don't intend to sub before classic is released.
@Candletaker holy shit long time no see! 
Yeah, probably the case that subs for a chance of a beta invite was a financial move for them. However I imagine it was both a case of 'lets make some money from this' but also a very reliable way for them to gauge how much interest there is in the game beyond the data offered by their web analytics etc. Sales numbers for subs that were directly proportionate to that announcement of beta access requirements will have given them something to work from internally for the final release of the game.
Let's be fair, they could've not done the announcement, that beta invites are basically done with.
Instead, they told us so people would stop subscribing just for the chance at beta. Which I think was a fair move.
Can you link blue post plz?
It's not an unpopular opinion, everyone that was paying attention when they announced it knew that.
https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t ... -22/179883
I think they were just acknowledging that people would complain if preference wasn't given to them, the paying customers.
I don't think they intended for anyone to resub, just to reward those who were currently subbed.
Or maybe they didn't want excessive private server reports and would rather recruit people from retail who have no idea what they're doing.
EDIT: I don't intend to apologize for them, but you have to realize people would complain either way with such a tiny beta. They just had to choose which group was going to get upset.
I know blizz is a small indie company but how naive do you think they are?
Sounds like they just excused themselves to continue business as usual.Blizzard Entertainment
That said, the amount of closed beta invites that we’re sending out is rapidly decreasing as we have met our current population needs for testing. We’ll regularly reevaluate the need for additional invites as we go through the testing process.
Blizzard is a company. Companies need to make money, and in this case it's your money they make if you decide to give it to them.
Why is this so hard to understand? If you believe it's ethically incorrect to pay for a chance at beta access, I have just the solution for you; don't pay. Your opinion is not at all unpopular, but -let's be honest- it's very entitled.
You're not baited into paying, you're gambling and as the adult you are you have all the rights in the world to do so. It just so happens as it is with gambling that some win and some don't.
They said, clear as day, they'll be extremely selective in beta invites. They also only said a sub is required. If you're too poor to not be able to afford a skipped meal at McDonalds for a sub, then you shouldn't be subscribing anyway. They didnt force you to pay either. You chose to. There is no baiting, everything was CLEARLY laid out.
This is absolutely what is happening. Blizzard and the streamers that were invited to the "Media Summit" are working together. The streamers will get a hilarious amount of views/donations/subs because they alone have access to classic and everyone wants to know what's up. This makes it unbearable for us classic fans so we re-sub with no chance of getting in until whenever the Content Creators and Blizzard decide they can't milk views anymore.
Are you truly that fucking delusional?
It's not unexpected and is an added benefit for blizzard but is not a main reason (Obligatory "in my opinion").
It doesn't make much sense that someone who isn't subscribed to the game should get an invite to the beta because it's unlikely that a person who isn't subscribed already isn't very much interested in the game in the first place or would play it for very long. The people who already play the game are more likely to give better feedback or be more engaged in it than those who aren't. It might be reasonable for those who signed up for the beta that aren't subscribed to the game already to be invited as they clearly have an interest in it but I don't believe they should get priority over those who are actually subscribed for obvious reasons.
Sounds like a smart business move to me. Free money. They aren't really obligated to give people beta access... If you WANT to subscribe for a CHANCE to be enrolled in the beta, you should. For the hardcore fans, this is a small price to pay for a chance at beta access. Are they exploiting that loyalty? Maybe. Are they also ensuring that rewards will be given to paying supporters? Definitely. I'm glad most streamers got beta access! It allows their entire audience to experience the beta regardless if they themselves gained beta access. I don't really watch streamers (other than the odd highlight video) and I didn't sign up for the beta. I'm content to play the full game on private servers until launch. Beta is less of a treat for me than it is a responsibility. I'm glad that people like @teebling got access who are legitimately testing the game. If you are desperate to experience Classic and have an itch to play, just do it on private! It's free.
2000 IQg0bledyg00k wrote: ↑5 years agoNever making a single investment again until I 100% know it pays off.
i mean come on they made us only pay once to play both, they could have charged 13€ a moth for Classic and Retail and most of us would have paid it (fuck i would have bought the core game again if it would have needed).
Manofwar
Kampfzwerg
Mojo
Imagine not giving incentives for you to sub to them amiright?
I think people need to stop being such...
Just stop
Likes: 35
You're kidding, right? Smart basic marketing is now a "conspiracy theory"?Derek wrote: ↑5 years agoTo be honest, I think the conspiracy theories go a bit too far sometimes. How many subs will they really catch with the streamer advertisements? I would think that the majority of the people that watch WoW Classic streams were vanilla players that are currently not subbed, and don't intend to sub before classic is released.
Pretty much agree with this. Is a subscription that big deal still? Its 2019 and I thought everyone has seen the effects of a F2P game, how much of a money drain that is.IronBrutzler wrote: ↑5 years agoi mean come on they made us only pay once to play both, they could have charged 13€ a moth for Classic and Retail and most of us would have paid it (fuck i would have bought the core game again if it would have needed).
Do some research on why a subscription is good for the game. Its simple really, but maybe some people need more advantages being straight up pointed out to be convinced? Pay subscription and get content.
