FIRST MONTH OF PLAY INCLUDED - yeah right

[Dauragon]

I currently hold the game box in my hands. As stated in the title, it's clearly printed on the back that the "FIRST MONTH OF PLAY (is) INCLUDED". I was under the assumption that, considering the billing info Blizzard had released, I could pay for the montly fees using "Pre-Paid Game Cards".

However, when I try to create an account on their site, I am required to have a Pre-Paid Game Card code. Since I highly doubt that I was unlucky enough to be the only person who didn't have his Game Card included in the game box, I have to think that the first month IS NOT FREE and that I am obligated to buy a Pre-Paid Game Card to play my so called free "FIRST MONTH OF PLAY INCLUDED".

A whole lot of fun to be PLAYING *cough*.

[Cursive]

You must be doing something wrong.

[Taajstein]

Huh? Are you that ******ed?

[Sarnath]

I suspect that the first month is indeed free, but you have to give them billing information to activate the account anyway. I know that's the way that SOE handles their games, for example.

[ShadowAngel]

I currently hold the game box in my hands. As stated in the title, it's clearly printed on the back that the "FIRST MONTH OF PLAY (is) INCLUDED". I was under the assumption that, considering the billing info Blizzard had released, I could pay for the montly fees using "Pre-Paid Game Cards".

However, when I try to create an account on their site, I am required to have a Pre-Paid Game Card code. Since I highly doubt that I was unlucky enough to be the only person who didn't have his Game Card included in the game box, I have to think that the first month IS NOT FREE and that I am obligated to buy a Pre-Paid Game Card to play my so called free "FIRST MONTH OF PLAY INCLUDED".

A whole lot of fun to be PLAYING *cough*.

Read a bit better. The first month is free. but you have to provide billing info for your next month at the start, so they can bill you after your trial period is up. IE, you enter your info now..you have a free month, then they bill for the upcoming month. very simple. Very standard for any MMORPG.

[Netherscourge]

You wont get billed until AFTER the first free month.

BTW - were you planning on just playing for 1 month and that's it?

Of course not...

[Dauragon]

https://signup.worldofwarcraft.com/paymentmethod.html

Choose from the payment methods below. You must select a payment method to create a World of Warcraft "Guest Pass" account. Should you decide to upgrade your account from "Guest Pass" status to retail status, the payment method you select will automatically be initiated to ensure a seamless World of Warcraft play experience. Details on how to upgrade your "Guest Pass" account will be provided at the end of the Account Creation process. If you experience any problems or have questions/concerns about this page, please contact our billing and account services by email (billing@blizzard.com) or via phone (1-800-59-BLIZZARD).

You then have 4 payment options (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express) and you have the Game Card Option, which is the one I want.



When I press continue I'm brought to this page.

https://signup.worldofwarcraft.com/gamecard.html

The World of Warcraft 60 Day Pre-Paid Game Card is a convenient payment option for those who prefer to pay cash for their World of Warcraft subscription and is available at most stores where computer games are sold. The other option to enter the World of Warcraft without a credit card is Paypal, which is accepted directly by Blizzard.

IMPORTANT - Before you scratch off your Game Card please read the following:

As soon as you scratch off the grey strip on the back of your Pre-Paid Game Card, the card is considered "spent." While your card will not be activated until you input the code into the field below, the card cannot be returned after it has been scratched. With the other payment methods, you have the option of canceling your World of Warcraft account before your first free month of game time is up. You are thus under no obligation with the other payment methods to pay for a second month of World of Warcraft. However, please note that this is not the case if you select a Pre-Paid Game Card as your payment method.When you purchase a Pre-Paid Game Card, you are paying upfront for an additional preset amount of game time beyond your first free month. Although you can cancel your account before your free month is up, you will not be entitled to a refund for the Pre-Paid Game Card. If you experience any problems or have questions/concerns about this page, please contact our billing and account services by email (billing@blizzard.com) or via phone (1-800-59-BLIZZARD).


Which then requires me to supply them with an existing Pre-Paid Game Card code. Which of course I don't have right now since the "FIRST MONTH OF PLAY (is) INCLUDED".

[ShadowAngel]

Which then requires me to supply them with an existing Pre-Paid Game Card code. Which of course I don't have right now since the "FIRST MONTH OF PLAY (is) INCLUDED".

Not to be mean, bit I'mwilling to bet under the "first month included!" on the box, there's an asterisk, and somewhere else on the box it explains you need a payment method set up upon registration.

[Pai Mai]

I would think that by now people would have learned that what you see is never what you get with Blizzard..they only give just enough info so that they can't be called "liars", but not enough to actually figure out exactly what is intended.

[Thorongil]

Yeh but he needs to give them the card code to activate an account... and to do that he still needs to buy the card NOW.... meaning that even though the credit on that card will not be used until next month, he still has to dish out that extra money NOW... so the game is actually costing him $50 + $(whatever the card costs)... that's how i understood it anyway.

Plus apparently cards don't come out for another few days... so people are saying.

[ShadowAngel]

It's not misrepresentation. You do get the first month free.

[Dauragon]

You wont get billed until AFTER the first free month.

BTW - were you planning on just playing for 1 month and that's it?

Of course not...

No I'm planning on buying those nifty Pre-Paid Game Cards.

[Shen]

First month of play included?

Then when I log in I should already see my druid at level 40 with a mount, about 20 gold, uber gear and dire form trained. Oh and at least a several in-game player enemies which I've ticked along the way, a few good friends who are now in my guild wearing our tabard proudly and big dark circles around my eyes from lots of sleepless nights.

And if I don't see that when I log in then I'm returning my box! :rant:

[ShadowAngel]

mind you.. I do think they should have released the cards the same time as the game.that's just silly. as is, only people with a ccard can play i'm guessing.

[Ulkieab]

Yeah but then he's getting 3 months and not 2 months with just the game card, so he still gets a free month.

[Dauragon]

Yeah but then he's getting 3 months and not 2 months with just the game card, so he still gets a free month.

At the store where I purchased the game (Future Shop), they told me that they didn't have game cards yet, that they'd receive them in early December. From what I understand of the situation is that I get a free month of play (from nov.23 to dec.23) and that if I buy those cards I can get myself 2 extra months each time. At the risk of sounding like a self-righteous dumbass like Shen up there, I do believe that this is how it's intended to work.

[Netherscourge]

Here's a question - do you need a Credit Card or Game Card to create an account to play using the "free" 10-day pass?

[ShadowAngel]

At the store where I purchased the game (Future Shop), they told me that they didn't have game cards yet, that they'd receive them in early December. From what I understand of the situation is that I get a free month of play (from nov.23 to dec.23) and that if I buy those cards I can get myself 2 extra months each time. At the risk of sounding like a self-righteous dumbass like Shen up there, I do believe that this is how it's intended to work.

You misunderstood man. Every MMO on the market works this way..you have to have a payment method set up in advance. If you cancel before the rebilling date, it doesn't charge your card. If you don't, it does. you end up getting the 30 free days either way.

[Thorongil]

Yeah but then he's getting 3 months and not 2 months with just the game card, so he still gets a free month.

Even if the card was just for one month and not two he'd still be getting a free month, that's not the point...

The point is he requires a greater initial outlay of money than CC holders, which is unfair, especially given the fact that if he chooses to close the account before the end of the first month he can't get that extra money(used to physically purchase the card) back!

It's all a bit silly the way they've gone about things but what can u do...

5 more hours to go!!!! (Stupid Australian stores are sticking to the Australian relase date of the 24th)

[Dauragon]

You misunderstood man. Every MMO on the market works this way..you have to have a payment method set up in advance. If you cancel before the rebilling date, it doesn't charge your card. If you don't, it does. you end up getting the 30 free days either way.


If you can find an official Blizzard page with that info, I'd be glad to be able to read it all.

[ShadowAngel]

If you can find an official Blizzard page with that info, I'd be glad to be able to read it all.

Willing to bet it's on the box in small print, in the manual, or in the area where you sign up. I won't get my copy for about 6 hours, so i'll letcha know then.

edit: Try calling blizz's support line.

[ShadowAngel]

The point is he requires a greater initial outlay of money than CC holders, which is unfair, especially given the fact that if he chooses to close the account before the end of the first month he can't get that extra money(used to physically purchase the card) back!


They surely prefer credit cards. Less expensive for them in processing the cards, the payments, ect ect. If you're on a ccard..they take your info once...one administrative cost, then they bill it each month. a game card, at minimum, needs to be renewed every couple of months. This adds costs. Yes, the card does requite additional money at that start. No company *likes* using those gamecards. They only have them for people that can't have or won't get a credit card.

[M-Krait]

It wasn't on the box or in the manual, and one of the devs posted you wouldn't need a credit card to log in before the boards closed, he was wrong. It's sort of a problem with the non-availabilty of game cards. Only people holding CE or credit cards can log in at this point.

[Ruarc Lionheart]

It is a bit tricky though. I remember on the City of Heroes box it stated on the back that a Credit Card or Gametime card was required to receive the free month. Maybe Blizz left that out as an oversight.

In any case, it's completely standard practice for an MMO to require your billing/payment details before you can activate your account. But just as they said, with the time cards you're not really getting your first month free. Since you can't cancel it, what you're getting is 3 months for the price of 2. Subtle difference, but a difference all the same.

Whereas with a CC, you can sign up and then quit (although why would you?) after the first month and not be billed at all. So in that case the first month really is free.

[Netherscourge]

The problem here is that in order to get the "Free" month, you have to provide a POTENTIAL payment option.

To compound this problem, people who can only use game cards are completely SCREWED until the game cards start selling. THey might as well not even have bought the game yet.

You can't just buy WoW and start playing unless you have a Game Card, or a Credit Card.

Blizzard/Vivendi is 100% at fault for this. They should have provided Game Cards at or even before the game's launch. It absolutely screws over customers - especially the Pre-Order people who were planning on using Game Cards.

Blizzard should have made a much more assertive effort to let people know two things:

A. That game cards would not be ready until X days after the game's release.

and

B. You can't play the game AT ALL unless you have an existing Credit Card account or a Game Card.

It's bad business and will tick off alot of non-CC users.

[bobxii]

AOL "free" trial is a good example of another form of this billing style.

[Hydro]

I have been behind Blizzard for a lot of things, but this is seriously ********.
Don't make excuses about it, it is straight up lying ********.

[Netherscourge]

AOL "free" trial is a good example of another form of this billing style.

Not really - because the AOL client is 100% free - the WoW client is $49.99. You don't feel ripped off picking up a Free AOL CD, as opposed to paying $50 for a WoW CD.

[ShadowAngel]

I feel bad for the people using gamecards that can't log in. =/ they timed that badly. makes me happy I use a credit card, though.

[Dauragon]

Not really - because the AOL client is 100% free - the WoW client is $49.99. You don't feel ripped off picking up a Free AOL CD, as opposed to paying $50 for a WoW CD.

I live in Canada. The "client" is nearly 70$ with taxes.

[Netherscourge]

I live in Canada. The "client" is nearly 70$ with taxes.

Ouch - what does the CE cost in Canada?

[ShadowAngel]

I have been behind Blizzard for a lot of things, but this is seriously ********.
Don't make excuses about it, it is straight up lying ********.

It's not lying.. you get a free month. you just have to provide billing info first. Might not be worded well, but it's far from a lie.

[Dauragon]

Ouch - what does the CE cost in Canada?

I didn't see it at the store. I suspect nearly 100$, or 90$ at best.

[bdawgydawg]

Go Canada!!
I'm picking up the Collector's Ed. in a couple hours here, but I'm not installing it until I'm done with finals. I had the same problem with COH when it came out in terms of the whole need a gamecard or CC to play your free month, and I do agree with the people who think Blizzard f*cked this one up. I hope the game cards will be out by the time I'm done my exams, but at least I'll have the art book to tie me over... the CE is 99.99 plus tax

[Hydro]

It's not lying.. you get a free month. you just have to provide billing info first. Might not be worded well, but it's far from a lie.

If you don't have a credit card, you can't get in, and that's ********.
No arguing that point.

[Malinda]

B. To register an Account to play World of Warcraft, you will be required to provide Blizzard Entertainment with: (i) your name, address and phone number; (ii) the "Authentication Key" from the World of Warcraft Software product that you have purchased that includes the World of Warcraft software; (iii) accurate, complete, and updated billing information for payment of the Service subscription fee, including a valid credit card number, or other 'direct billing' information depending upon the method of payment you choose for the Account's access to the Service. Failure to comply with the foregoing or to update the foregoing if your contact information or billing information changes shall constitute a breach of this Agreement, which may result in the immediate termination of your right to use your Account to access the Service. This information is used to identify you as a "unique user" of World of Warcraft, and to ensure your payment of your Account. As such, it is imperative that you provide Blizzard Entertainment with accurate, up to date information. In the event that Blizzard Entertainment learns that you have provided false or misleading registration information, Blizzard Entertainment reserves the right to immediately terminate your Account.


Its not hidden, It took like 2 clicks on the blizzard page to find that. Not to mention that its how any MMORPG ive _ever_ played handled the situation. Seriously, this is not a big deal, i'm sorry you were surprised by this.

Edit: I do agree having to "buy" the second month on a Gamecard first sucks if thats the method your using.

[Netherscourge]

It's not lying.. you get a free month. you just have to provide billing info first. Might not be worded well, but it's far from a lie.

It's deceptive advertising - if the box says "Free Month Included", then the customer should not have to pay or provide anything to get the free month of gaming. It's suposed to be 100% covered by the price you paid for the retail client!

The Better Business Bureau would probably say the same thing about it.

It's cheesy on Blizzard's part. And not providing Game Cards at release is just making this 100 times WORSE.

[Hydro]

B. To register an Account to play World of Warcraft, you will be required to provide Blizzard Entertainment with: (i) your name, address and phone number; (ii) the "Authentication Key" from the World of Warcraft Software product that you have purchased that includes the World of Warcraft software; (iii) accurate, complete, and updated billing information for payment of the Service subscription fee, including a valid credit card number, or other 'direct billing' information depending upon the method of payment you choose for the Account's access to the Service. Failure to comply with the foregoing or to update the foregoing if your contact information or billing information changes shall constitute a breach of this Agreement, which may result in the immediate termination of your right to use your Account to access the Service. This information is used to identify you as a "unique user" of World of Warcraft, and to ensure your payment of your Account. As such, it is imperative that you provide Blizzard Entertainment with accurate, up to date information. In the event that Blizzard Entertainment learns that you have provided false or misleading registration information, Blizzard Entertainment reserves the right to immediately terminate your Account.

And this makes it less *** how?

[Xinhuan]

I think we all agree the issue here is that, you have to puchase your 2nd month (Gamecard), before you can even activate your account's first free month, assuming you do not own a credit card.

That, IMO, seems to be a bad business strategy.

[Netherscourge]

B. To register an Account to play World of Warcraft, you will be required to provide Blizzard Entertainment with: (i) your name, address and phone number; (ii) the "Authentication Key" from the World of Warcraft Software product that you have purchased that includes the World of Warcraft software; (iii) accurate, complete, and updated billing information for payment of the Service subscription fee, including a valid credit card number, or other 'direct billing' information depending upon the method of payment you choose for the Account's access to the Service. Failure to comply with the foregoing or to update the foregoing if your contact information or billing information changes shall constitute a breach of this Agreement, which may result in the immediate termination of your right to use your Account to access the Service. This information is used to identify you as a "unique user" of World of Warcraft, and to ensure your payment of your Account. As such, it is imperative that you provide Blizzard Entertainment with accurate, up to date information. In the event that Blizzard Entertainment learns that you have provided false or misleading registration information, Blizzard Entertainment reserves the right to immediately terminate your Account.

Is this listed on the outside of the box where anyone can read it? Or does it require you to BUY the box first, open it up and then install it?

[ShadowAngel]

No, the BBB wouldn't. Because they state in the fine print Malinda listed above what is required. They can't force you to read. That's your responsibility. And as I said before I agree that it was a mistake to not provide the gamecards at the same time as the game. How on earth are all of you in the dark about this? Have you never played an MMO, or had friends or family that have? This is nothing new, by any means.

[bdawgydawg]

I think that it is a good business strategy by Blizzard/Vevindi, they are getting a large amount of people to immediatly purchase game cards, or use CC. I think they are confident that not many people are going to go an return their copy of the game over this whole thing. I know I'm not, I'll probably just get my mom's CC number if game cards aren't out soon. This is going to make me abandon WoW, and a couple months from now no one will even care anymore.

[muteownz]

ok. so it seems i gotta buy a game card now? so if i put in my CC info and then in a few weeks buy a game card can i just cancel out the CC payment plan and use my gamecard instead? i dont wana get billed on my CC if i'm using a gamecard as well.

[Majicou]

I shelled out nearly 80 for a collector's edition I intended to play today.

Alas, the Eb didn't have any game cards, and I don't have a credit card.

Can't even use the ten day trial pass to start up, because that requires billing information too.

[Dravym]

I suppose they could always just drop the prepaid gamecard form of payment and REQUIRE you to use a credit card. Would that make you feel better? Its no different from a month-to-month cell phone plan.

I mean really, you will still get a month free because a one month game card will last you 2 months, so its hardly false advertising. I could be wrong, but they didn't necessarily say your month free would necessarily be your FIRST month, did they? The problem is your choice of billing method.

[ShadowAngel]

ok. so it seems i gotta buy a game card now? so if i put in my CC info and then in a few weeks buy a game card can i just cancel out the CC payment plan and use my gamecard instead? i dont wana get billed on my CC if i'm using a gamecard as well.

that should work, yes. no promises, but i've knwon folks who have done that in the past on similar subscription methods.

[Aljahbar]

I would think that by now people would have learned that what you see is never what you get with Blizzard..they only give just enough info so that they can't be called "liars", but not enough to actually figure out exactly what is intended.


OH please stop your whining and play the game...but to do that you have to have varifiable account billing ...that is why you use credit cards, pay pal accounts and the game cards...the problem with a game card is you have to purchase it first in order to have the account infomation to put it into the Blizzard account info site. It isn't a rip off or Lieing at all. It is a a standard procedure for billing purposes.

/nuffsaid

[Peonlust]

The World of Warcraft 60 Day Pre-Paid Game Card is a convenient payment option for those who prefer to pay cash for their World of Warcraft subscription and is available at most stores where computer games are sold. <b>The other option to enter the World of Warcraft without a credit card is Paypal, which is accepted directly by Blizzard.</b>



Dauragon, is it possible for you to choose PayPal instead of a credit card or game card?

[Dauragon]

No, I've never played a MMO before because quite frankly, they all looked rather bad from my POV. And since Blizzard hadn't stated that if I didn't have a game card when I bought the game (a game card which I can't buy right now), it's really obvious that I'm "in the dark" right now. And quite pissed off, too.

[Majicou]

Nope, despite the fact they said paypal was an available option. It is not showing up as a billing method.

[lex]

Guys, please don't be so ignorant. There are people out there that *do not* have access to a credit card. Either because they are too young, because they do not want to pass on their cc information via the web, or because they live outside the US and therefor only have a non-US credit card (like myself).

Now if there were game cards available, it would be ok - but now, with no game cards we can just stare at the box for another 2 weeks. Even if the box says that the first month is included.

[Dauragon]

Dauragon, is it possible for you to choose PayPal instead of a credit card or game card?

I'd have to set-up an account first which would be a royal pain in the ***. And as far as I've seen in the account creation process, PayPal isn't a viable option to play right now.

[ShadowAngel]

Have any of you tried calling blizzard?

[Netherscourge]

No, the BBB wouldn't. Because they state in the fine print Malinda listed above what is required. They can't force you to read. That's your responsibility. And as I said before I agree that it was a mistake to not provide the gamecards at the same time as the game. How on earth are all of you in the dark about this? Have you never played an MMO, or had friends or family that have? This is nothing new, by any means.


If that FINE PRINT is not listed on the outside of the Product Box, then it's decpetive advertising to put "Free Month Included" on the box without it.

[Dauragon]

And pay even more money through long distance call? Not really in the mood to pay for a "Please Stand by, all our employees are currently busy, thank you for waiting". I live on the other side of the continent...

[ShadowAngel]

If that FINE PRINT is not listed on the outside of the Product Box, then it's decpetive advertising to put "Free Month Included" on the box without it.

I don't have the game yet. But I can pretty much guarantee there is an asterisk on the box somewhere regarding that free month. they stuck it on their "free access to battle.net!" on every game they've released.

[Netherscourge]

Well, apparently that Asterisk hasn't done much for their business reputation in the past:

http://www.labbb.org/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/C%3A/Inetpub/wwwroot/SouthlandReport/default.htm?hCompID=13050668&hAKAID=2&hAddrID=3

[ShadowAngel]

Well, apparently that Asterisk hasn't done much for their business reputation in the past:

http://www.labbb.org/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/C%3A/Inetpub/wwwroot/SouthlandReport/default.htm?hCompID=13050668&hAKAID=2&hAddrID=3

Blizzard isn't responsible for someone's reading comprehension skills. If you buy an online game and expect to pay it free online, but don't have an ISP, that's your own fault. Especially if you're too dumb to read the box that plainly states as much. I also noticed a good deal of the complaints were regarding the people getting banned for using hacks. Suprise suprise. No, they wouldn't have a grudge or anything against Blizz...Course not..

[Netherscourge]

Blizzard isn't responsible for someone's reading comprehension skills. If you buy an online game and expect to pay it free online, but don't have an ISP, that's your own fault. Especially if you're too dumb to read the box that plainly states as much. I also noticed a good dela of the complaints were regarding the people getting banned for using hacks. Suprise suprise. No, thwey wouldn't have a grudge or anything against Blizz...Course not..



Actually - I think the BBB only shows the most recent complaints for free. In order to see Blizzard's full history, you have to buy a detailed report from the BBB.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the majority of complaints are from the minoirty of gamers.

However, to not specify the need for a potential billing method just to play the game for the Free Month is deceptive, asterisk or not. And not providing the Game Cards at the time of release is down right awful.

[Pallum]

It's called Marketing. Any business does it. They need to make sure they have a solid customer capable of playing for months to come.

All MMO's do it. No reason to cry over it. Just cough up a CC. These days.. CC security is rather high. You should have no worries. (unless you have some paranoia about the government and such, but then I think you have more important issues then giving up your CC)

Beg your parents if your youngins (which is a majority of those buying game cards since they don't have CC). Ask a friend for the CC..

Some of you yanks are not trusting enough, heh. :)

Overall: Nothing you cna do about it now.. find an alternative, chances are good Blizz won't change much, other things are more important to them at this point. No point *****ing since it won't go no where and acomplish anything, instead, think about alternatives to this issue, since it can't exactly be solved.

[Netherscourge]

It's called Marketing. Any business does it. They need to make sure they have a solid customer capable of playing for months to come.

All MMO's do it. No reason to cry over it. Just cough up a CC. These days.. CC security is rather high. You should have no worries. (unless you have some paranoia about the government and such, but then I think you have more important issues then giving up your CC)

Beg your parents if your youngins (which is a majority of those buying game cards since they don't have CC). Ask a friend for the CC..

Some of you yanks are not trusting enough, heh. :)

Overall: Nothing you cna do about it now.. find an alternative, chances are good Blizz won't change much, other things are more important to them at this point. No point *****ing since it won't go no where and acomplish anything, instead, think about alternatives to this issue, since it can't exactly be solved.


Why do people continue to ignore the fact that you have to be atleast 18-years-old to have a Credit Card and that a HUGE number of WoW fans are under 18? For many, Game Cards are their only option.

[ShadowAngel]

Why do people continue to ignore the fact that you have to be atleast 18-years-old to have a Credit Card and that a HUGE number of WoW fans are under 18? For many, Game Cards are their only option.

Then they can wait 2 weeks for the gamecards. I know it sucks. Believe me. But there's no point freaking out over it at this point.

[Lorrigan]

Oo, a stunning denouncement...

Anyway, it says right there you have to give billing information and oh!, you don't have your gamecard? You have to -sniff- wait a few weeks to play this game? Woe is the world for this calamity! This cacaphonous event that has befallen you truly will sunder your lives!

It's just a video game.

Aside from that, if you can set up a PayPal account, so what if it is a pain in the butt? It'll save you two weeks of moaning and whining here, so go for it. Or better yet, find someone with a credit card, put it as the billing address, and then in a few weeks change the billing option to your gamecard. How hard is that? Really, all this whining serves little purpose.

So the gamecards aren't released today. Is that bad business? Meh, it could be better. But Blizzard will still have scores of thousands playing between now and the time they are made available, and many thousands more may have the game but have to wait. And it's not like you are getting your "one month free" (which really, it isn't, since you paid for the game: figure, $35 for the disks and $15 for the game, but anyway) cut in half or anything; it starts when you complete your account process and ends exactly one month later. At any time in between, you can change your info or cancel your account - no big deal.

Why, I might only play for the first month to start with and cancel my subscription in a week to rein in my spending on this money pit. And you know what? I'll still have that month free, no strings attached. That's the great deal about this. I'm trying to remember, but I don't think with any recently purchased Blizzard game I have seriously played beyond the first month. You can beat all their stuff in that time easily.

What'd be nice would be an offline WoW component (if there is, I haven't heard of it) so you can do all the quests and nonsense included in the game and non-online patches. Then you'd really be getting your money's worth.

But all this whining because either you have to wait or you have to do a teensy bit of work to set up your account? C'mon! There is more to life than moaning over pixels on a screen. I mean, if you're a Democrat, you should still be in post-election shock and this shouldn't even register. :lol:

[Netherscourge]

If Blizzard suddenly pulled the Credit Card Option and forced people to used Game Cards Only, you people who think it's no big deal would be lined up in front of Blizzard headquarters with Pitchforks and Torches.

That's what has happened to alot of Game Card users. They spent $50 or $80 dollars on a game that they assumed they could play immediately because of the "free month" and are now looking at the Account Creation Screen through the hole in their wallet.

Of course you guys don't care - you got Credit Cards. You could care less about OTHER people's problems. If the tables were turned, you'd be filling up these fourms with inflammatory posts about Blizzard yourselves.

[Kupotek]

i dont expect my cd will arrive before the new year, even though i preordered november 10th to arrive today from Walmart. Even paid $11 shipping for overnight delivery... check the account tracking today and it stated processing... so I called up Walmart support, and they're on backorder.

Just more bad Blizzard planning. I mean I preordered 2 weeks ago!

Now I have to wait a few weeks to get in there with my guild, Which means it will be that much harder for me to catch up, considering we planned to level together somewhat. Sigh.

[Anaram]

Congratulations Lorrigan for managing to ignore most of the complaints presented in this thread, as well as providing solutions that do not exist.

In any matter, I find this kind of marketing questionable, and it is quite possible that it wouldn't even be allowed here in EU, or at least not in many countries. I guess you should try to get your government to pass some better laws. In any matter thumbs up to you who are trying to get to play without a credit card, hopefully you'll get to play soon.

[Pallum]

If Blizzard suddenly pulled the Credit Card Option and forced people to used Game Cards Only, you people who think it's no big deal would be lined up in front of Blizzard headquarters with Pitchforks and Torches.

That's what has happened to alot of Game Card users. They spent $50 or $80 dollars on a game that they assumed they could play immediately because of the "free month" and are now looking at the Account Creation Screen through the hole in their wallet.

Of course you guys don't care - you got Credit Cards. You could care less about OTHER people's problems. If the tables were turned, you'd be filling up these fourms with inflammatory posts about Blizzard yourselves.
Actually, if gamecards were the only way to play, then they would have been released by now, so I could have used my credit card to purchase a game card and use it. Why would I complain?

[ShadowAngel]

Just more bad Blizzard planning. I mean I preordered 2 weeks ago!
.

That's..not very much advance notice, actually. Maybe you should have shown better planning?

[BattleCrow]

all an all, when u buy a game it would be nice to play it that day. not have to wait.

IMO

[Dravym]

If Blizzard suddenly pulled the Credit Card Option and forced people to used Game Cards Only, you people who think it's no big deal would be lined up in front of Blizzard headquarters with Pitchforks and Torches.

That's quite an assumption. I was personally prepared to wait till february or march for gameplay, given the CB comments that the game needed more testing time.

That's what has happened to alot of Game Card users. They spent $50 or $80 dollars on a game that they assumed they could play immediately because of the "free month" and are now looking at the Account Creation Screen through the hole in their wallet.

Once again, you don't know you'll be gypped out of a free month. You're just pre-paying your second month.

Of course you guys don't care - you got Credit Cards. You could care less about OTHER people's problems. If the tables were turned, you'd be filling up these fourms with inflammatory posts about Blizzard yourselves.

If I knew you well enough to trust you, I'd put my CC in for billing to help you out. For those who can't because they're too young to have a CC, is it really that hard to explain things to your parents so they'll pull out the CC?

For those leery of sending billing info across the web, the weak points in an SSL connection are the origination and destination points. Blizzard has pretty good security, so the real weak point is going to be your machine, which is your responsibility.

As far as I can tell, the only ones getting really screwed are the non-US folks, and for that I truly feel bad, though moreso for the europeans and koreans (especially the UK folks, who aren't being delayed for localization issues).

[archpsi]

in short,
- ppl with CC get free month and can leave beforehand.
- ppl without CC have to spend 15$ and cannot get it back, and that itself is the way that blizz misleads customers to get more cash.

never thought that I would be forced into getting CC, since Iv always used bank cards and the like here in australia, and knowing australia it could be well over a month before we get gamecards..

also I feel sorry for all these ppl who pre-ordered months ago, so they could play withint the first week.

[Netherscourge]

That's quite an assumption. I was personally prepared to wait till february or march for gameplay, given the CB comments that the game needed more testing time.



Once again, you don't know you'll be gypped out of a free month. You're just pre-paying your second month.



If I knew you well enough to trust you, I'd put my CC in for billing to help you out. For those who can't because they're too young to have a CC, is it really that hard to explain things to your parents so they'll pull out the CC?

For those leery of sending billing info across the web, the weak points in an SSL connection are the origination and destination points. Blizzard has pretty good security, so the real weak point is going to be your machine, which is your responsibility.

As far as I can tell, the only ones getting really screwed are the non-US folks, and for that I truly feel bad, though moreso for the europeans and koreans (especially the UK folks, who aren't being delayed for localization issues).


I live in the US and I have a credit card. This has no effect on me at all, except my view of Blizzard as a good business. I call it as I see it. I'm just standing up as a CC user for the people who don't have a CC and who got screwed.

*shrugs shoulders*

I guess I'll just leave it at that.

:)

[El3ssar]

READ once and for all:

Everyone saying "oh whawha it says on the terms of use" or "oh wha wha its the same in every MMORPG" or even "oh whawha its cleary specified inside the box"-----------> shut up!

Because it does NOT say anywhere that before you buy this game you have to:
1- Played MMORPGs until your eyes bleed
2- Be affiliated with every WoW fan site you can find
3- Rip through the contents of the box just to look inside a manual

This has to be put on a normal customer point of view. He doesnt have to know anything beyond whats written on the box until he buys the produtc.

At the moment if a customer buys the game he does NOT know that he will need a Credit card to be able to play now OR wait weeks until he can play!

That is the point. Customers that went all the trouble to Pre-order a Pre-order of a collectors edition by calling , go to the shops, waiting times expecting the day that they receive the copy and now find out that they cant play = BIG BIG disapointment. And Blizzard i'll bet that in a Worldwide perspective there will be more customer with game cards accounts than with CC accounts, so show some respect for them.

P.S. I found a workaround through this so im not whining because i cant play. I just understand the frustration

[archpsi]

is there a workaround that doesnt invovle using some1 elses cc?

[d00dz]

That's..not very much advance notice, actually. Maybe you should have shown better planning?

I ordered on Nov 18 and Amazon shipped my copy on the 21st :)

[Dauragon]

The worst part about all of this is that my friends are all currently playing and that I'm stuck here *****ing about the damn thing.

[Seppukku]

its ********. straight up.

[Pallum]

The worst part about all of this is that my friends are all currently playing and that I'm stuck here *****ing about the damn thing.
If they are playing, I would assume they have CC's, in which case if they were friends, I'm sure one of them would eb willing to helps you out till you get your game card.

Just stating a possible solution to your issue at hand.
Better then me anyhow, I'm still waiting at my door to get my bloody package.

[Lorrigan]

That's what has happened to alot of Game Card users. They spent $50 or $80 dollars on a game that they assumed they could play immediately because of the "free month" and are now looking at the Account Creation Screen through the hole in their wallet.

Who said that just because of "free month included" you get to play immediately? It simply means the first month is free, or included in the game price if you will. It doesn't mean - or entitle you to - immediate gameplay upon installation of the product. You still need billing information, people. Of course you will need this.

Anaram, nothing I said is impossible. In fact, using someone else's credit card has been suggested numerous times, and switching to a gamecard mid-month is feasible.

People are going to disappointed if they purchase it yet have no access to a credit card or the ability to create a PayPal account. They'll unfortunately have to wait for a gamecard, but it's not the end of the world. It isn't, and so many are making it seem as though it is.

How many people want to play this game but cannot even afford the regular version to start out with? How many kids don't have computers to even play a game or money for these sort of luxury goods? Really, having to wait a few weeks? A small price to pay for such a luxury of selfishness.

I'll say it again: it's just a game. It'll still be here two weeks from now, two months from now, two years from now. No need to get so bent out of shape about this.

[Grumpy Joe]

Game cards are arriving on the 30th in most stores here in Manhattan. I just checked the box (store display one) and was surprised to see that the standard CC requirement wasn't listed. First mmorpg I've seen that didn't specifically list it.

[Dauragon]

See most of my friends are in the US which kinda screws up with the "if you can't break the legs of the people to whom you lend money, you shouldn't lend them money". Maybe if I'm lucky one of my friends who lives in the area will be willing to help out, but doesn't change the fact that Blizzard is making a real *** out of itself through this whole thing.

Oh yeah I tried calling the billing number (1-800-59-BLIZZARD) and after being put on hold for 10 minutes I just hung up. One thing I did learn from periodic recorded messages is that "they are no longer accepting PayPal as a payment option". Would be real nice if they updated their main site with actual news though.

[Anaram]

Anaram, nothing I said is impossible. In fact, using someone else's credit card has been suggested numerous times, and switching to a gamecard mid-month is feasible.

Using paypal is not a solution though, which is what I was referring to. For some people using someone else's CC surely is a solution.

[Netherscourge]

See most of my friends are in the US which kinda screws up with the "if you can't break the legs of the people to whom you lend money, you shouldn't lend them money". Maybe if I'm lucky one of my friends who lives in the area will be willing to help out, but doesn't change the fact that Blizzard is making a real *** out of itself through this whole thing.

Oh yeah I tried calling the billing number (1-800-59-BLIZZARD) and after being put on hold for 10 minutes I just hung up. One thing I did learn from periodic recorded messages is that "they are no longer accepting PayPal as a payment option". Would be real nice if they updated their main site with actual news though.


Where did you find that out? That's HUGE news dude!

[Dauragon]

As I said, I called them up and while I was waiting they had those "messages", every minute or so. One of them was about not accepting PayPal anymore and that people should call in a few days to know what's going on with PayPal.

[Mark of Mayhem]

is there a workaround that doesnt invovle using some1 elses cc?

YES! Get your own VISA. It doesn't have to be a credit card, it can be a MAC-VISA. Vendors do not bill differently between MAC-VISA's and VISA credit cards.

Call around to your local banks. Tell them your under 18 and want to open an account that includes a MAC-VISA. Some will charge, find the bank that will charge the least amount. You may need your parent's signature, it depends on the bank. But, you do NOT have to be 18 to get one. It's not a credit card, it's a debit card, but to the vendor (in this case, Blizzard) it's a VISA, period.

Bring it home, type it in, play away.

[Orcruin]

Well i'm in the sameboat here, though i've yet to actualy pickup my CE. It is a bit dissapointing that the Game Cards could not have been released before or even at the time of launch, but there is an up side to this.

Right now the servers have queues going from overcrowded noob areas and are even lagging pretty bad in some places. If you can get through the next 2 weeks, or however long it takes to get a game card, you'll have a much more enjoyable experience upon entering the world.

It does however really suck if you just ordered the SE version since you don't have any goodies to tide you over :hanky:

[ShadowAngel]

Bring it home, type it in, play away.

you don't get those immediately. they usually mail them to you.

[archpsi]

YES! Get your own VISA. It doesn't have to be a credit card, it can be a MAC-VISA. Vendors do not bill differently between MAC-VISA's and VISA credit cards.

Call around to your local banks. Tell them your under 18 and want to open an account that includes a MAC-VISA. Some will charge, find the bank that will charge the least amount. You may need your parent's signature, it depends on the bank. But, you do NOT have to be 18 to get one. It's not a credit card, it's a debit card, but to the vendor (in this case, Blizzard) it's a VISA, period.

Bring it home, type it in, play away.

theres a reason I asked for a workaround, its since I live in australia and have never seen that MAC-VISA, im also a student with no income from eployees and banks require you to have annual income from a job or casual job, even when applying for a students visa, which is wierd.

in other words it will be difficult for me to get a visa, just becuase Im studying at the moment and dont have an annual income.

pls be aware that no1 every1
1-is in america
2-we cant all get CC's as easily as you might be able to.

also I checked and even if I apply now for a CC I wont get it for 6-7 days at least(via mail), so the only thing I can do is find some1 else with a CC.

[Auron Lightbringer]

This absolutely infuriates me. I turned down the 20% off on the game so I could get it TODAY, and now I can't even play it for who knows when. I could have saved money by waiting a few more days. Blizzard, you owe me 20 dollars.

[ShadowAngel]

Blizzard, you owe me 20 dollars.


:lol: Yeah...you go collect on that. they weren't offering you the 20 percent off, were they?

[Auron Lightbringer]

:lol: Yeah...you go collect on that. they weren't offering you the 20 percent off, were they?


That line was meant to be sarcastic. They did not prepare well for the launch and I'm afraid you will have to agree with me on that. It was not made clear about purchasing the GC or having a CC in order to play right away. And don't give me this "All MMO's do that", because this is my first MMO and I do not know how they work along with tens of thousand others.

[ShadowAngel]

I agree. They should have made it more clear, or at the minimum, had the gamecards available when the game released.

[Teh Kurb]

the culling of the B.net kiddies begins ! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Netherscourge]

the culling of the B.net kiddies begins ! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

So anyone who doesn't have credit card access is a Bnet Kiddie?

pffffffft

[Majicou]

I second that pffft.

[Thorin]

I just wish they would have made it like DAOC you buy the game then install and play for a month after which, your account is put on hold till you pay for more.

[kongzer]

I found the paypal payment method page...its all there in working condition, its just not hotlinked on general payment method page...

But heres the catch:

You cannot pay with funds you might already have on paypal...you can only pay using a credit card which you have attached through payal...which is sort of worthless to them to be using paypal as an option in the first place, when you can just pay with your CC directly to blizzard.

makes me sad because now i have to wait until monday for gamecards.. i thought that the 20$ i had on paypal was going to save me from having to wait.. but NOooooooooo

[plastiqe]

Holding the box in my hands, it says:

"FIRST MONTH OF PLAY INCLUDED"
"INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED"
"ADDITIONAL ONLINE FEES APPLY"

This is printed on the front, back and both sides of the box. I take this to mean that by buying the game, I can play for a month right out of the box, and then I will have to pay after that.

At the top, in tiny writing is:

"...Requires supscription to play. Internet connection required. Additional online fees and subscription fees may apply, and player is responsible for all applicable internet and subscription fees."

Here it says they may apply, so once again it leads me to believe that you should be able to play, without paying, right out of the box.

I'm going to use a friends credit card to get in, but this is very dissapointing.

[sandmanfvr]

Oh good God people. It IS FREE TO PLAY. You put you card info in, they verify you are legit and have something to charge to after the first month, THEN you play for a month free. After that, auto charge to card. Simple. Sorry, it is not hard to understand.

[Ejosotoc2]

Have any of you tried calling blizzard?


Glass half full = Blizzard customer service reps are having a worse day than all those who cannot play. :thumbsup:

Glass half empty = Blizzard customer service reps are being paid and maybe even get a discount to buy the game. :grrr:


I currently like the glass half full approach, but realize once I pick up the game after work and wait in a queue for an hour to play I will revert to half empty lenses.

Long = short, I empathize with all of you without a CC.

[Lupe]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!READ THIS VERY CAREFULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!


MAYBE, just MAYBE;

MAYBE none of you remember the 20 page thread on wow forums 2 days before they shut down beta. Maybe you dont REMEMBER?

Maybe you dont remember the part where the blizzard REPRESENTATIVE posted that credit cards would be required.

KEEP READING!

MAYBE you dont remember how 200 people flamed because blizz said we would NOT need credit cards.

THERES MORE!

MAYBE! MAYBE you dont remember the part where the BLIZZARD REPRESENTATIVE made a NEW thread CORRECTING HIMSELF concerning credit cards and WoW, and he SPECIFICLY STATED: YOU WILL NOT NEED A CREDIT CARD TO PLAY WORLD OF WARCRAFT, YOU CAN USE GAME CARDS OR PAYPAL.

REMEMBER? Now: CALL BLIZZ! Right now! A pre-recorded voice will tell you "we are no longer accepting paypal as an accepted payment method"

Some of you need to get your facts straight before you flame, but w/e

Typical gamer forum, what should i expect, right?

[lex]

Lupe, even though I dislike the high number of exclamation marks in your posting, you're correct. Tyren posted exactly that information, not more than 5 days ago.

[Lupe]

I dont like em either, but i know too many people jsut usualy skim the first line of a post and hit reply. I wanted to be sure it was read. Thanks for reading, this is something that is being missunderstood on every forum i've visited today :/

[Dain-Bramaged]

Ya this is a bunch of ********, Damn Blizzard, but I guess everythign they do is kind of overrated anyways. I feel really bad for the suckers that spent 10-20$ to revserve the game when they will have to wait a while to play anyways. And plus I didn't even have to pay I just picked it up at the local Wal-Mart, But jeez does that acc billing inof tick me off, I don't have a credit card, I don't intend to get one and the game cards will be just like starcraft ghost...

[chronotc]

theres a reason I asked for a workaround, its since I live in australia and have never seen that MAC-VISA, im also a student with no income from eployees and banks require you to have annual income from a job or casual job, even when applying for a students visa, which is wierd.

in other words it will be difficult for me to get a visa, just becuase Im studying at the moment and dont have an annual income.

pls be aware that no1 every1
1-is in america
2-we cant all get CC's as easily as you might be able to.

also I checked and even if I apply now for a CC I wont get it for 6-7 days at least(via mail), so the only thing I can do is find some1 else with a CC.

here in aus we have this thing called multiaccess card (debit card/visa). i got mine a while ago...(couple years back) at st. george. I'm not exactly sure if they still offer them or not but i just got mine renewed a couple weeks back. u could prolly try checking. i think their the only bank in aus that offer it.

[Sandor_Clegane]

It sucks that people who only plan on playing with game cards have to wait for the cards to become available, since blizz said they are having a delay with them. At the same time, and I hate saying it because it is selfish, it is kind of nice. It will help thin out the crowds a bit at the beginning while the low level areas clear out.

[Iron-Head]

what totaly sucks is us people who dont live with our parents, and dont have a credit card.

[Ergos]

They have updated the paypal story, saying that blizzard and paypal are going to work together to get the connection going for wow, shud be done by mid december.

Here's my story, I got the cc I got the CE, I installled the ce, made the acct. Logged on, took day of work, dl'ed the new patch and the blizzard updater craps out after opening of 30-40 files, have been receeiving emails from blizzard and emailing back, trying to resolve the issue, my point is dont whine until u hear something worst !!

[Cursive]

They have updated the paypal story, saying that blizzard and paypal are going to work together to get the connection going for wow, shud be done by mid december.

Here's my story, I got the cc I got the CE, I installled the ce, made the acct. Logged on, took day of work, dl'ed the new patch and the blizzard updater craps out after opening of 30-40 files, have been receeiving emails from blizzard and emailing back, trying to resolve the issue, my point is dont whine until u hear something worst !!
Referring to your title: Well, this thread was created many hours before Blizz or WWN put that on their front pages.... so, blah!

[TROGDOR_the_BURNINATOR]

So the only payment options are credit card and game card? There's no way to just send them a check for X amount?

[Cursive]

So the only payment options are credit card and game card? There's no way to just send them a check for X amount?
Aparently not for now.

[Anaram]

That mid-december part surely is not any official information? Nobody can say they work diligently and take 2.5 weeks just to get that working, especially since paypal should already have alla the essentials ready...

[Whiskey]

I agree that this was complete ******** on blizzards part. I have never played an MMORPG before, and when I preordered my CE on 10/26 I asummed I would be playing the night I received my game. I dont spend a lot of time on gaming forums, this one or blizzards. So, when I read 1 free month of play included, I like many other people didnt expect to have to provide a credit card during my initial account creation.
I have spent the last three hours trying to come up with the best answer to step four of the account creation process. Instead of playing the game.
I am now done and am downloading the patch. I am very dissapointed and hurt. Yes, this is just a game. But I had planned to spend my time this evening playing it, instead of trying to over come a problem that no one knew about until they installed the game, and went to create an account. It is dissapointing and bad business.
But, what else should we expect from Blizz at this point?
Gaming companies dont like dealing with gamecards? **** them. Blizzard has a HUGE, loyal following all begging them to let us pay to play this game. And at every turn is dissapointment.
Yes, I am purely whining. But I am done now.

[parlanor]

funny how you cant post a complaint without having a full account and not just use cd key. well my 4 days off are going to be boring...

[Shug_Ninx]

what totaly sucks is us people who dont live with our parents, and dont have a credit card.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v63/Infernal_Lawyer/doglaugh.gif

Um... how do you survive in this so-called real world?

[Beerswiller]

(Stupid Australian stores are sticking to the Australian relase date of the 24th)
Don't even start me on that. I pre ordered on-line so I'dhave it as soon as it came out (and to make sure I got a CE) and the fskers didn't even send them until last night (23rd)!!!!! What are they thinking! Did they think they'd be breaking a release guidline by posting it so I might actually receive it on the right day - I mean c'mon, how stupid is that?!?!?!?

[LittleKing007]

This sucks for all of us, but it is good marketing for Blizzard because they first day gaming cards come out everyone will rush out and get one.

[parlanor]

better go reserve a gamecard ill get my free month by paying 29.99 plus tax if i have to game cards should say the "free month is on here for new subscribers"

[WoWrocks]

dauragan your dumb as **** theres a CODE on the freakin' box that you input then yiou need ur credit card info incase you want to resubscibe moron

[Aerath]

Wowrocks, this is your one and only warning.

1) Digging up an old thread like this for no good reason is really not needed
2) Particularly not when all you intend to do is insult someone.

I catch you doing something of this ilk again, I boot you out of the forum.

Thread locked