ActivisionBlizzard WebCast Analyst Day
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11:15 - Mike Morhaime said that Diablo 3 would be heading into Beta "later this month," with the slide showing "Beta in Sept '11). Other than that, they talked a little bit about the Auction House plans, SC2 (Blizz DotA will be a new game mode!), and Cataclysm. They also showed a Demon Hunter teaser video to the viewers physically there.
11:20 - Rob Pardo talks about the Battle.net progression (from D1 -> D3) and the Auction House. This is the same presentation we saw at the Press Event in July.
11:30 - Pardo confirms that they will have a mobile/web interface for the AH post-release, as well as the ability to buy/sell characters.
11:45 - Pardo hands it off and Blizzard is done speaking.
11:55 - Thomas Tippl (COO and CFO of ActiBlizz) confirms that there will be a D3 Expansion within 3 years after the release of D3 itself, two SC2 expansions (which we already knew), and two more WoW expansions.
The "September '11 beta" graphic was new, in that it didn't have a 'targeting' qualifier, so sort of puts them on the spot with investors. That surprised me, though it could have been a slip-up.
Tippler was more Ahnietastic than ever. But that isn't really new.
Of course, effectively the 3rd party site will be getting their fee aswell, because once your money is there, it's a matter of time before you withdraw/use it and they get their fee than. So they don't take a fee from the deposit after the RMAH sale, but they effectively earn the future fee from cashing out of their site.
Also, from hearing pardo in the video it sounds to me that he does in fact mean the % fee will go to blizzard.
Btw, all that is said just to clarify things as I understand them, and not to go against or criticize blizzard. As a matter of fact I don't have a problem with them taking this fee, it's the logical move for a business company to make and I agree with them for doing it.
Wait till they officially announce it, I say.
There's a large group of people really not happy about money getting involved in Blizz games (after the initial purchase or subscription). But to me, it's Blizz staying in the 'game' and pleasing investors while still being very good to its fan base (WE can make money on the RMAH and WE can make money on the map marketplace).
"if Blizzard doesn’t provide it someone else will."
Start at 2:00. "We don't take a percentage of the cut." Period.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtYtqjoT6ys
Edit: The one Doom just post
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What I want to know though, is can you buy/sell hardcore characters? There was something else but I forgot what it was... ><
Rob goes over this from about 10:00 on in doom's post above.
They're not just going to suddenly after Gamescom do a complete 180 on the matter. That is not the way Blizzard does business.
NOT OK AT ALL. THIS IS PURE SHIT.
(I guess I'm not done)
Official Blizzard Quote:
A nominal fixed transaction fee will be deducted from the seller for each item listed in the auction house. This fee consists of a fixed charge to list the item, which is assessed whether or not the item is successfully sold, and an additional fixed charge that is assessed only if the item is sold. Because the listing portion of the fee is charged even if the item doesn't sell, it will be in the seller's interest to list items he or she believes other players will be interested in, and to do so at a competitive price. Specific details related to the transaction fee for the currency-based auction house will vary by region and will be announced at a later date.
Source: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/services/auction-house/info#q4
They want you to keep your 'money' in the system. Or so they say at this point - they may find out that the cashout rake makes more money than the flat posting fee when the rubber hits the road.
Your missnig the key in here, thats for listing and selling, NOT for cashing out.
There will be a % for chashing out... if thats from blizzard, or from the third party, it does not matter, but there will be.
What you're saying is about selling for e-currency.
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/services/auction-house/info#q7
That's for the cash-out option. And it pretty much says we'll be learning more later. Which is now.
"than it goes against what they've said earlier"
Congrats, doom, you're starting to see the bigger picture. Run with it.