Are prices dropping?

[elsegundo]

Checked out amazon and it shows the Battlechest is priced at $29.99, the same as The Burning Crusade expansion itself. I know amazon is good at cutting prices, but perhaps this is a sign that prices for the game will slowly drop. it could also mean that blizzard would like everyone who buys the games to buy them together. Other places, however, are still selling it for $39.99. I also see some stores now selling preorders for Wrath of the Lich King at $39.99, so a price drop would make sense. this is all speculation, btw. i wonder if others have any thoughts on this.

[clevins]

It could just be Amazon reducing inventory since they know that WotLK is upcoming. After all, few people will buy the Battlechest then the WotLK expansion once Lich King is out.

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

It could just be Amazon reducing inventory since they know that WotLK is upcoming. After all, few people will buy the Battlechest then the WotLK expansion once Lich King is out.

Except for those who never played WoW before, and want everything... and don't want to fork over money for the original box, TBC, and WotLK.

[clevins]

Hmm.. interesting point. I'd assume that Blizz would have an all in one SKU so that someone new to the game could buy one thing and have everything they need.

Here's a thought - the WotLK expansion will include Death Knights... who need to level from 55 through 70 to get to Northrend (ok, maybe 68 or something). That implies that they need to spend time in Outland... so will the WotLK expansion include TBC? If not, I can see some confusion for people who bought WoW, but not TBC (admittedly a small segment).

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

Hmm.. interesting point. I'd assume that Blizz would have an all in one SKU so that someone new to the game could buy one thing and have everything they need.

I'd assume that will eventually happen.

Here's a thought - the WotLK expansion will include Death Knights... who need to level from 55 through 70 to get to Northrend (ok, maybe 68 or something). That implies that they need to spend time in Outland... so will the WotLK expansion include TBC? If not, I can see some confusion for people who bought WoW, but not TBC (admittedly a small segment).

I'd expect that WotLK will show that requirements include both WoW and TBC. But WotLK will not include TBC itself -- this is pretty common for MMOs, or really any game with multiple expansions.

[elsegundo]

Maybe they can have two versions of WotLK... one that's an upgrade from TBC, and one that's a standalone all-in-one. who knows... that might get messy.

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

Maybe they can have two versions of WotLK... one that's an upgrade from TBC, and one that's a standalone all-in-one. who knows... that might get messy.

Nah, one WotLK, and then a new Battle Chest that has WoW, TBC, and WotLK in a single install.

[fallenxangel]

Yes, I agree that it's going to be confusing for people that haven't played WoW yet when WotLK comes out, but isn't that what Blizzard wants? I mean, if someone goes into a store and sees WotLK and thinks it looks like a pretty cool game, so they but it, but when they get home they notice that they have to have World of Warcraft. So they go and buy that in order to play WotLk, then they find out they have to buy BC. All in all, they spent a lot of money buying several games increasing Blizzards income just because they didn't know that they had to buy the other two first. Also, I believe that WoW and BC prices are dropping because of WotLK is coming out (even though the time cards are the same). I pre-ordered two WotLK last October and just found out that the prices are dropping on pre-sells (which did tick me off a little). I did see the Battlechest for really cheap at a store not too long ago (about a week ago). So I don't think it's just Amazon or Ebay.

[clevins]

Yes, I agree that it's going to be confusing for people that haven't played WoW yet when WotLK comes out, but isn't that what Blizzard wants?

Actually, no, it's not. There's a risk that the person will be pissed off and return the WotLK box, not activate it ("I'll do that when I get back there next week...") etc.

Far better for Blizzard will be to have 2 things that the customer needs to do - buy WoW, buy WotLK. If people have to buy WoW... then the TBC expansion pack... then the WotLK pack... a couple of things will happen. First, the risk of not getting everything they need. And second, some people won't bother - $30 here, $30 there... and you're talking about $100 or more. That's an impediment and Blizzard wants people to get WoW so they can make there month on the subscriptions. IN fact, it would be even better for Blizz to have one SKU... a DVD that contains WoW, TBC and WotLK that you buy. You could even unlock the expansions as you decided you need them (after all, you don't need TBC or WotLK from 1-60 if you don't care about Draenei, BEs or jewelcrafting (or DKs and Inscription for WotLK)

[Pharoahe]

Hmmm eventually I think TBC / Vanilla will not be available stand alone, and will be in one box.

[Janfader]

Hmmm eventually I think TBC / Vanilla will not be available stand alone, and will be in one box.

No way in hell. Why would Blizzard take off all those boxed games in all those millions of stores around the world? Cost them too much money.

IMO: Blizzard should have a red flag on the front cover of the WotLK box with MUST have WoW and TBC installed before this expansion takes place/works.

[Pharoahe]

No way in hell. Why would Blizzard take off all those boxed games in all those millions of stores around the world? Cost them too much money.

IMO: Blizzard should have a red flag on the front cover of the WotLK box with MUST have WoW and TBC installed before this expansion takes place/works.

Notice the word "eventually". What the hell has this got to do with the stock right now?

You do realise at some point they may have 5 expansions, and they will start having to give the old ones away for free (in a bundle).
Most Everquest games now come bundled with all the expansions for example.

And there are not "millions" of unsold WoW boxes lying around stores, no sane company has "millions" of extras lying around. Most games selling retailers where I'm from have maybe 2-3 copys of WoW/TBC on the shelves and order them when they sell. Sure they have a few hundred thousand in stores, but they sell out and they make new ones...Just like how WoW was originally on 5CDs and TBC on 4 (when I bought them) and now when I bought them for a 2nd account; 1 DVD each. Things change.

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

There already is the combined battle chest, Blizzard just stops making the individual boxes for WoW & TBC, only makes the existing battle chest, and then WotLK. Eventually they release a Battle Chest II -- which contains the first Battle Chest (WoW & TBC) as well as WotLK.

[Pharoahe]

There already is the combined battle chest, Blizzard just stops making the individual boxes for WoW & TBC, only makes the existing battle chest, and then WotLK. Eventually they release a Battle Chest II -- which contains the first Battle Chest (WoW & TBC) as well as WotLK.

Yeah I can see this happening. At some point selling TBC/WoW stand alone will become a bad thing, and eventually the same with WotLK

[elsegundo]

So maybe, just maybe the prices are dropping so that they can move the merchandise along, so eventually it will be replaced with something else (perhaps a single install of WoW and TBC all in one). I can see this happening when buying the battlechest. But this will be eventual. They will certainly release WotLK separate from the orginal and tbc because they can charge a premium for it initially. Just like how tbc first came out, i expect that WotLK will not be bundled with everything else for at least six months. it makes sense moneywise.

as for the current price dropping now, i also thought that maybe it is due to new "rival" games coming out. but then i thought dropping the price on the boxed set would only entice new players to try the game instead of enticing old players to switch back.

[TPMdm]

I'm pretty sure I can go to Best Buy right now and find a new copy of Diablo 2 without X-pac. That game is getting pretty long in the tooth right now.