Blue Help!! Expansions, family plays..

We're always looking for ways to make World of Warcraft as affordable and worth every dollar possible for players, particularly as it will soon require purchasing one game and three expansions just to receive access to all of the latest content. This is why we have offered boxed sets and discounted prices on the original game and The Burning Crusade. You can expect similar discounts going further as the life of this game moves on. Of course, this type of marketing is more to benefit those just getting started who are interested in experiencing more than just the 1-60 game.

We also know a lot of couples and families set out to purchase multiply copies of each expansion released in order to play together. It can understandably be much more of an investment in such cases. I don't have any direct plans to share with you at this time with regard to potential package deals for buying multiple copies of Cataclysm, but it's always something to consider. We do what we can when marketing any Blizzard product to players -- whether it be games or in-game pets for sale -- to be as accommodating as possible, letting customers decide what is valuable to them. :)

Q u o t e:
How about the "sideways" expansion idea? Expansions that add content to a degree where buying every other previous expansion is not required... I can't think of a reason why this couldn't be done...

thoughts?

In some ways, you could consider the pre-expansion patches -- or even some of our bigger content patches -- to be along this vein. Sometimes there are quite significant changes made to the game that do not require purchasing a new expansion to access. For example, Cataclysm will significantly change Azeroth for everyone. A player without the new expansion can roll a fresh character and experience all of the revamped zones. They just won't get things like the new zones, new races, etc.

The expansions primarily allow players access to new zones, continents, races, professions, and classes, as well as provide players with the ability to gain new levels. Aside from that, many of the changes to the game itself have been made in content patches free for every subscribed World of Waracraft license holder.

Q u o t e:
Are there any plans to "rerelease" World of Warcraft with all expansions included for 1 price? Perhaps have this side by side with cataclysm? That way new players have easier time (especially on the wallet) getting through the game, while maybe veteran players would only need to purchase a standalone cataclysm to upgrade.

Q u o t e:


as Zarhym you can get a WoW battlechest that contains the origional wow and BC and will likely contain WotlK once Cata comes out

http://us.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=110000044


So when they update it with WotLK when Cata comes it, while it won't include Cataclysm it will include everything to get you ready for cataclysm if you haven't played WoW before.

This. I'm sure you can expect to see a Battlechest with Wrath of the Lich King included at some point, I just don't have any details on when that will be. The original poster's point was more about being able to buy multiple copies of the same game/expansion and receive a discount for it. It's not entirely out of the realm of possibility, but it isn't a very common marketing scheme in most entertainment industries.

Q u o t e:

Although on the topic of buying expansions I was curious how you guys were going to deny access to the new zones to people that dont buy cata? I plan to get it myself and will probably preorder but I got to wondering about this. the past 2 expansions required load screens to move into the new areas. Assuming the new zones are integrated how are you going to block people out particularly with flight available in azeroth?

Load screens?
flight only access and no azeroth flight to non cata buyers?
the WG already full solution (aka get a 10s CD to leave the area or be ported out if they cross the boundry.)

There are several ways to go about this. We'll provide more details as we get closer to solidifying the updates to Azeroth.. Our primary focus right now is to continue developing Cataclysm content and fleshing out the art for all of the old zones receiving major revamps, as well as the new zones, dungeons and raids. Meanwhile, game systems development continues on things like class ability and talent changes, guild talents, stat updates, etc. It's really quite an exciting time here to see everyone really crunching out some incredible new stuff to bring more to the World of Warcraft. We're equally excited as well to give you all a glimpse of some of this stuff soon. :)