Time Techland Article About Level 90 Boost

[Barkloud]

That Instant World of Warcraft Level 90 Boost Might Set You Back $60

http://techland.time.com/2014/02/19/...t-you-back-60/
How’s the refrain to that Eagles song go? I’ll let you figure out the one I’m thinking of while I tell you about a little World of Warcraft wrinkle that’ll send you soaring to the game’s loftiest heights, level 90 — the limit until the forthcoming Warlords of Draenor expansion gets here and knocks it up to 100 — without slaying a single grub worm, steam frog or bloodpetal lasher.

Blizzard announced the insta-level 90 perk back in January in a Warlords of Draenor news update, revealing the boost would be granted for one character per account to anyone buying the expansion. The company then added, in a clever marketing ploy, that pre-orders for the expansion would gain access to the optional boost at time of pre-purchase (though the pre-purchase program isn’t live yet).

But what about players who might want the option to boost more than one character to level 90? What about those who don’t plan to pick up the expansion straightaway? Blizzard said it was “evaluating ways to make that possible,” and that it was “testing out a feature that gives you the option to purchase a character upgrade directly.” How much that might cost was anyone’s guess — until now.

If this screenshot, noticed by WoW Insider, is bona fide, it sounds like you’re going to have to fork over what you’d pay to play through any other triple-A game these days: $60. The screen indicating as much was reportedly snapped by a WoW player while Blizzard was performing maintenance on its U.S. servers Tuesday morning, between server restarts, then linked through MMO-Champion. The presumption, and I can’t personally verify this because I don’t have the game installed, is that it vanished once maintenance concluded. Consider it a glimpse of what the feature could look like if it does go live.

Before you kvetch about forking over $60 for what in processing time amounts to someone flipping a switch, it could be worse. Consider how long it takes the average player to approach the halfway mark in an MMO like WoW. I spent a year — granted playing willy-nilly, but for probably somewhere in the vicinity of 100 hours — just getting to level 80.

Then there’s the risk-reward argument: If you’re going to let people bypass most of the journey, shouldn’t you make the cost sufficiently prohibitive to make that 1-through-90 expedition worthwhile?

I’m not into skips (I tend to have the opposite problem, where I can’t allow myself to move forward if I haven’t done and seen and touched everything), but I get why players who’ve already seen the sights might be so inclined. And I understand that for some, WoW doesn’t get interesting until you’re deep into the max-level endgame content. It’s a shame there’s no way to glean intentions — to identify and then encourage first-timers to run that 1-90 gauntlet on its own merits. I guess this is the compromise: the going rate for a “play-experience,” what we pay nowadays for games, solo or multiplayer, where playability ranges from six or seven to dozens of hours.



Read more: That Instant World of Warcraft Level 90 Boost Might Set You Back $60 | TIME.com http://techland.time.com/2014/02/19/...#ixzz2togNQBym

[coldrain]

Matt Peckham what is your mmo-champion username, it's ok you can tell us

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Always have to start drama, don't you Barkloud?

[Barkloud]

Always have to start drama, don't you Barkloud?

Its a good article. I think it is a testament to the game that it can get an article in a national mainstream publication in a little over 24 hours.

[SLG]

I spent a year — granted playing willy-nilly, but for probably somewhere in the vicinity of 100 hours — just getting to level 80.

That line made me chuckle.

[diddle]

"Before you kvetch about forking over $60 for what in processing time amounts to someone flipping a switch, it could be worse. Consider how long it takes the average player to approach the halfway mark in an MMO like WoW. I spent a year — granted playing willy-nilly, but for probably somewhere in the vicinity of 100 hours — just getting to level 80."

That's a damn long time to get to 80.

[Ishayu]

The amount of bad press Blizzard will get for this "feature"... oh lords... The backlash will be astronomical now that it's making it to big newspapers as well.

Brace yourself!
A shitstorm is coming.

[Barkloud]

That's a damn long time to get to 80.

I think he was fibbing. Probably took him two weeks and does not want anyone to know.

[Darsithis]

I think he was fibbing. Probably took him two weeks and does not want anyone to know.

You'd be surprised. I have 9 level 90's and a bunch of alts that I take forever to level on because I am too bored to level them.

[Sam the Wiser]

100 hours to get to 80....Oh shit nigga, what are you doing!?

[coldrain]

100 hours to get to 80....Oh shit nigga, what are you doing!?

sounds like no guild perks, no heirlooms, solo leveling in an mmo

[Nize]

Is he trying to bash Blizzard or sell buying a 90? Bypass a whole year and 100+ worth of hours for a mere 60 bucks? Yes, plz. I'll join.

[NewportsDentarg]

Sixty dollars is a deal.

[Prag]

You'd be surprised. I have 9 level 90's and a bunch of alts that I take forever to level on because I am too bored to level them.

And this is where I take issue with the service. Not the cost (which is exorbitant, but subjective), but rather the ability to not care enough to level.

Not to venture too far off-topic, that line about 100 hours to get to 80 made me question the integrity of the article. I mean, really?

[PureLife]

100 hours to get to 80....Oh shit nigga, what are you doing!?

Sounds like he got no friends. A nerd trying to socialise outside, but ultimately not making any.

[Defengar]

sounds like no guild perks, no heirlooms, solo leveling in an mmo

Also starting towards the end of Burning Crusade, back when there were actually challenging quests in the leveling zones (if you were appropriate level), the leveling dungeons were not completely tank and spank, and there were legitimately threatening elites wandering around the Azeroth.

[Darsithis]

And this is where I take issue with the service. Not the cost (which is exorbitant, but subjective), but rather the ability to not care enough to level.

Not to venture too far off-topic, that line about 100 hours to get to 80 made me question the integrity of the article. I mean, really?

Well come on, after 9 level 90's, wouldn't you take a break from it and use a boost? No one can claim I haven't put my fair share of time into the game.

[coldrain]

Also starting towards the end of Burning Crusade, back when there were actually challenging quests in the leveling zones (if you were appropriate level), the leveling dungeons were not completely tank and spank, and there were legitimately threatening elites wandering around the Azeroth.

people don't know how spoiled they are by faster flight path speed and 15 minute hearthstones until they play without them again

[Deleted]

Is he trying to bash Blizzard or sell buying a 90? Bypass a whole year and 100+ worth of hours for a mere 60 bucks? Yes, plz. I'll join.

He seems to be taking a rather unbiased standpoint, not praising or bashing it. He brings up some common arguments for either side.

It's journalism, after all. News where one does not have a dead-set black and white standpoint to defend are still news worthy of reporting.

[Mascotte]

You'd be surprised. I have 9 level 90's and a bunch of alts that I take forever to level on because I am too bored to level them.

Thats due to repetition and should hardly be an argument for a first time leveler tbh.

people don't know how spoiled they are by faster flight path speed and 15 minute hearthstones until they play without them again

True perhaps but try creating a new character on any given realm.
You'll have 5 lvl25 guild invites by the time you reach level 10.