So I got to thinking late one night (not always a good thing) that Blizzard could use their beta for a bit of good publicity AND help out some of the unfortunates starving overseas.
By putting a single beta invite up for auction with the proceeds going to charity they could accomplish this and it really wouldn't cost them a dime.
Not sure how much it would raise but I'm betting it'd reach pretty high esp if it was one of the early invites.
What do you guys think?
(If you think this is a good idea feel free to post it on the diablo boards... I can't post there as I don't own SC2 and am not resubscribing to WOW just to post this)
I like the thinking, but I don't think one beta invite is going to really do much. It might get a few hundred dollars at most or maybe one very enthusiastic individual might pay as much as $1000, but for a multi-million dollar gaming company like Blizzard, it's almost an insulting donation. Now if they gave 10% of the proceeds of Diablo 3 to a charitable cause, that might be something. Another idea is instead of pocketing the money that they get in fees from the RMAH, they put it toward a charitable cause.
I like the thinking, but I don't think one beta invite is going to really do much. It might get a few hundred dollars at most or maybe one very enthusiastic individual might pay as much as $1000, but for a multi-million dollar gaming company like Blizzard, it's almost an insulting donation. Now if they gave 10% of the proceeds of Diablo 3 to a charitable cause, that might be something. Another idea is instead of pocketing the money that they get in fees from the RMAH, they put it toward a charitable cause.
Nice gesture but I disagree with it .... this could manifest all kinds of arguments.
Percentage of game sales to charity
Collectors Edition (% charity)
Sales Tax % - charity
Auction House Sale % charity
People would then bicker over where charities should go.
International players may recent the idea of charities going outside their country
etc, etc
I think each to his own on this one,..... that is MO.
I hate to be hard-hearted and practical here, but why waste money trying to send food to Africa? A better idea would be to send birth control. Maybe if they would quit having more children they can't feed they might just get ahead of the starvation curve... Oh sorry thats not politically correct; forget I said anything...
ok I love the idea nice gesture but....imho theres ALOT of suffering here in the states....as selfish as it sounds...(im not selfish at all just making a point plus i kno that people in africa are suffering)....but here in the states millions of little kids go hungry every day....why i say this is because if we cant even in the USA solve hunger in our own country how can we save millions if not billions starving around the world? (my point is if we cant start some where small and stop it wut makes u think we can stop it globaly?) basicly sometimes u gotta crawl before u walk(evn tho i strongly believe in running before u crawl)
Blizzard already do a lot of charity work via their sales of in-game mini pets for WoW. I think a similar model would work for D3 as well and make a lot more sense. While I guess it wouldn't hurt to use your idea I think having an item that anyone who wants to support the cause can buy is more preferable in the end. That way anyone can support with what little they have and receive a small token as a "reward".
Also, beta keys are not really something that should be sold imho. Betas exist for testing purposes.
I think this is a grand idea in general. However the sad truth of it.. is what the 2nd or 3rd poster said. Even in wow, when they sold the pets, you had posts popping up left and right basically trying to make people who bough these pets for charity, to feel bad because they didnt just donate right to the charity. The truth of the matter is, you're going to have these kind of trolls no matter what. The key is to NOT let them stop something good from happening. This wouldn't be my first pick to what the money would go to, but the thing is, that dosnt matter. Blizzard selling a beta key or a few (I would sell about 10 or so) does not hurt me in any shape or form. It does not hurt "you" in any shape or form. So when it comes down to it... its a grand idea.
Next a lot of people seem to like to point out "$100 isnt much" or "$1000 isnt much" you're oh so wrong. Every dime that goes to these groups helps massively. If someone walks up to you and give you a $5 bill to help you out, are you going to look at them and go "Sorry I dont take help that small". Trust me, these charity groups don't do that either.
What I'd find interesting would be a practical approach to "we've not added RMAH to make money, but because players wanted it". Something among the lines "Every profit made from the RMAH will be given to charity (be it in the States or in countries where people actually starve) because we didn't add that feature to make more money."
Not likely, but it would be commendable nonetheless.
What I'd find interesting would be a practical approach to "we've not added RMAH to make money, but because players wanted it". Something among the lines "Every profit made from the RMAH will be given to charity (be it in the States or in countries where people actually starve) because we didn't add that feature to make more money."
Not likely, but it would be commendable nonetheless.
Yeah I doubt that'll happen. I think the whole "we didn't add the RMAH to make money" is semi-true. Sure making money is surely not the reason for adding it but I bet my ass they hope/think it'll be profitable. They are a company after all so I don't blame em :).
What I'd find interesting would be a practical approach to "we've not added RMAH to make money, but because players wanted it". Something among the lines "Every profit made from the RMAH will be given to charity (be it in the States or in countries where people actually starve) because we didn't add that feature to make more money."
Not likely, but it would be commendable nonetheless.
Definately will not happen, I'm still extremely curious to find out what the nominal price will be. I'm assuming most of the money will be put into the system then traded around with the free postings.
As far as a donation a % of initial box sales would probably be more practical. IE: Box sales from Release -> 2 months after release. Or if a 5$ donation was made by blizzard for every box sold.
Thanks for the positive responses. Restores some of the faith in humanity that I have lost throughout the years.
Really like the RMAH idea and the up to x beta invites. Can't see the RMAH idea happening sadly (that would have been amazing PR) but maybe the beta invites auctioin would happen. Any chance someone would post this idea on the D3 official forums (no access here).
As far as not getting too much money - sure it may only raise $1000 but its $1000 more than they had before and it may even set a precedent. Eg the first box of cherries gets auctioned here in Oz every year... usually get about 20-30k for it these days... but I'm guessing it started out small and built up perhaps this could be a similar thing.
I just have to point out, giving money to charity, and not even knowing which one, is a moral 'car wash'. I mean, you don't even know what charity it goes to (when you say you want something that makes money to give it away). seriously do some research, and try to find where money goes in A LOT of the highest grossing ones. You CAN'T find where it goes, because, and it's not hyperbole, MANY are fraudulent. Check out the charity that former president Bush started with ( i think it was Clinton?) for 9/11 victims, and also the charity started for victims of Katrina. They eventually went on TV to admit they had NO IDEA where ANY of the money went, and that is how a lot of these things operate. I dare someone to instead of just giving money to something, try to track it, ask questions as to exactly what this money is going to buy. How long have charities been around? Can you prove me to one thing they have actually helped? Now of course that is an overstatement, there are a couple that have helped people, such as the Japan relief, and the ones I can think of are actually pretty small, and more based on the surrounding community.
What I'm trying to say is charities are good, in theory. But just giving away money to make yourself feel better is worse; It could be going towards something the opposite of what you intended.
I just have to point out, giving money to charity, and not even knowing which one, is a moral 'car wash'. I mean, you don't even know what charity it goes to (when you say you want something that makes money to give it away). seriously do some research, and try to find where money goes in A LOT of the highest grossing ones. You CAN'T find where it goes, because, and it's not hyperbole, MANY are fraudulent. Check out the charity that former president Bush started with ( i think it was Clinton?) for 9/11 victims, and also the charity started for victims of Katrina. They eventually went on TV to admit they had NO IDEA where ANY of the money went, and that is how a lot of these things operate. I dare someone to instead of just giving money to something, try to track it, ask questions as to exactly what this money is going to buy. How long have charities been around? Can you prove me to one thing they have actually helped? Now of course that is an overstatement, there are a couple that have helped people, such as the Japan relief, and the ones I can think of are actually pretty small, and more based on the surrounding community.
What I'm trying to say is charities are good, in theory. But just giving away money to make yourself feel better is worse; It could be going towards something the opposite of what you intended.
Sorry just my rant on shit like this.
Hehe I hear you and 99% of the time I would be behind you 100%. I am a huge fan of debunking so called green alternative companies that aren't and fairtrade companies that aren't really. I would hope that if this idea were taken up that they (Blizzard) would give it to a charity that could use the money wisely and effectively because as you said there is no point giving money away if you can't be sure it won't get to where it is supposed to - the people in need.
I hate to be a dick, but those people need to die or move.
Our giving them just pathetic miniscule amounts of food is doing nothing but torturing them. If not for our aid, biological imperatives would have made them migrate to places with more fertile land.
All we do is prolong their misery and act like we do good.
I like the idea, but dont really know how i'd feel about it only being a beta invite. What i'd suggest would be auctioning out a signed collectors edition with early access beta as a bonus now that would bring in some serious money!
I have only recently started caring about international affairs, but I am pretty sure that the cause of large group starvation, in any region on Earth, is due to that specific area being militarily controlled by corrupt government officials / evil dictators (an exception being in the wake of a natural disaster).
Unless that money is being spent on bullets and missiles, I am not sure how it is going to help.
Well, someone sells the weapons those dictators are buying
Anyway, "good" charity would simply use up the money for supplies (food/fresh water/blankets etc) and then ship them there.
By putting a single beta invite up for auction with the proceeds going to charity they could accomplish this and it really wouldn't cost them a dime.
Not sure how much it would raise but I'm betting it'd reach pretty high esp if it was one of the early invites.
What do you guys think?
(If you think this is a good idea feel free to post it on the diablo boards... I can't post there as I don't own SC2 and am not resubscribing to WOW just to post this)
Nice gesture but I disagree with it .... this could manifest all kinds of arguments.
But again NICE GESTURE
Maybe we should just send them all some...
www.nerdyblog.com - Great website and great Diablo III streams and Skype chat!
Also, beta keys are not really something that should be sold imho. Betas exist for testing purposes.
Next a lot of people seem to like to point out "$100 isnt much" or "$1000 isnt much" you're oh so wrong. Every dime that goes to these groups helps massively. If someone walks up to you and give you a $5 bill to help you out, are you going to look at them and go "Sorry I dont take help that small". Trust me, these charity groups don't do that either.
Very nice idea OP
Not likely, but it would be commendable nonetheless.
Yeah I doubt that'll happen. I think the whole "we didn't add the RMAH to make money" is semi-true. Sure making money is surely not the reason for adding it but I bet my ass they hope/think it'll be profitable. They are a company after all so I don't blame em :).
Definately will not happen, I'm still extremely curious to find out what the nominal price will be. I'm assuming most of the money will be put into the system then traded around with the free postings.
As far as a donation a % of initial box sales would probably be more practical. IE: Box sales from Release -> 2 months after release. Or if a 5$ donation was made by blizzard for every box sold.
From Your Lips To Gods Ear's
Really like the RMAH idea and the up to x beta invites. Can't see the RMAH idea happening sadly (that would have been amazing PR) but maybe the beta invites auctioin would happen. Any chance someone would post this idea on the D3 official forums (no access here).
As far as not getting too much money - sure it may only raise $1000 but its $1000 more than they had before and it may even set a precedent. Eg the first box of cherries gets auctioned here in Oz every year... usually get about 20-30k for it these days... but I'm guessing it started out small and built up perhaps this could be a similar thing.
Any more ideas post away
Cheers,
Maela
What I'm trying to say is charities are good, in theory. But just giving away money to make yourself feel better is worse; It could be going towards something the opposite of what you intended.
Sorry just my rant on shit like this.
Hehe I hear you and 99% of the time I would be behind you 100%. I am a huge fan of debunking so called green alternative companies that aren't and fairtrade companies that aren't really. I would hope that if this idea were taken up that they (Blizzard) would give it to a charity that could use the money wisely and effectively because as you said there is no point giving money away if you can't be sure it won't get to where it is supposed to - the people in need.
Our giving them just pathetic miniscule amounts of food is doing nothing but torturing them. If not for our aid, biological imperatives would have made them migrate to places with more fertile land.
All we do is prolong their misery and act like we do good.
Well, someone sells the weapons those dictators are buying
Anyway, "good" charity would simply use up the money for supplies (food/fresh water/blankets etc) and then ship them there.