Topic: Blizzard Entertainment & Bitcoins - page 4. (Read 11669 times)
I wish you luck in braving the blizzard, OP. You may reach times of struggle, with cold snow blasting in your face, but remember: You have bitcoins on you`re side. When your cold and freezing, just think of the bitcoins. Think of the boiling hot mining rigs. Think of the flames that burn down houses. If you do, you won't feel the cold anymore! You'll be reinvigorated!
As someone more familiar with Blizzard, let me tell you that your message about Bitcoins would NOT have been passed up. Communication between Austin, Texas and Irvine, California is pretty bad. If you want to see this go anywhere, post it on their forums and hope that some CMs see it.
That being said, I bet if I asked, many of my contacts there will have at least heard of Bitcoin.
That being said, I bet if I asked, many of my contacts there will have at least heard of Bitcoin.
Actually given how kids are shut out of a lot of net commerce due to not being able to get a credit card and such, but may just have a decent graphics card for games and time and knowledge to figure things out, I bet the number that would do this is far more then you would suspect. It also is smart marketing to get kids used to bitcoins and the idea they have value.
Agreed. And bitcoins are a boon to anyone wanting to hide financial transactions - and for those reasons cannot use conventional payments online.
I think it is a marvelous idea and Blizzard probably will also. Credit card fees suck and add up to incredible amounts of money. The cards that are sold in stores one month cards two month cards or whatever, blizzard is lucky to see half of their value. Especially if they are being sold at walmart. Kudos to OP and be persistent. To the naysayers I say open your minds just little bit put down your hotpockets and red bull long enough to think about things. By your way of thinking i could say the following: why would anyone make friends online and talk to them everyday when they could go out into the real world and talk to real people. I guess there are 750 million retards on facebook then. Perhaps i could have been a bit more articulate but hopefully you get the point.
Fine. Spend your time calling their CS reps in Indonesia, hoping that someone will pass on your brilliant idea. Attend Blizzcon wearing your "Who is John Galt?" shirt and fedora. Just please update us on your progress as you do these things.
lol, now I see why you think it is a stupid idea, because in your head it certainly is. No one said anything about John Galt shirts or fedora. You are right, given your thought process and view of it, for you it would be a waste of time. Don't worry we aren't asking you to be the one to do it, as we already know you would fail at it.
Now let's compare that to buying a prepaid timecard in a physical supermarket. Pretend you're the CFO going to pitch the adoption of a timecard system.
Everyone knows what a timecard is. No one knows what a bitcoin is. See the difference?
Timecard? Never heard of that.
A timecard is something that some hourly workers had to stick in a calibrated clock at the start of end of their shifts to get paid.
Now let's compare that to buying a prepaid timecard in a physical supermarket. Pretend you're the CFO going to pitch the adoption of a timecard system.
Heh, thanks, now I don't have to make a similar list
I was going to include writing a CV, getting a job, going through the hassle of getting IDd/rejected/reapplying for a bank account, waiting for your first paycheck etc. - since Jalum conveniently ignores the fact that US Dollars do not magically fall out of the air either.You only need many of the steps once, and some of them are nonsense to begin with (9. waiting for confirmation over the weekend, huh? It's seconds for reception, minutes for confirmation - half an hour if you're extremely unlucky). Also, similar to USD, once you have Bitcoins you can use them for other things as well, which inevitably will follow if/when Blizzard starts supporting them.
Cool about Wuala, LaCie is a big brand.
BTW, I don't personally think Blizzard will jump into this soon, they will probably want to wait it out regarding legal status and the biggest issue is that their competing payment providers will undoubtedly have something to say about this.
I've been considering asking them to add a "donation" address that is publicly viewed in order for them to gauge the accumulation so that they may have a better idea of the number of users that may be interested in this. Obviously, the number of users supporting this payment option would grow as time goes on, saving them money in the end. I think this may be a good idea if they open an address that we are able to donate even the slightest amount (0.00001 for example) to push them to get on-board.
What helps them, helps bitcoin and vica-verca.
I will add this to my discussions with the link that I've reached so far if it sounds like a good idea to the general bitcoin community. I don't want to speak for the entire bitcoin community, which is why I have created this topic in the first place.
What helps them, helps bitcoin and vica-verca.
I will add this to my discussions with the link that I've reached so far if it sounds like a good idea to the general bitcoin community. I don't want to speak for the entire bitcoin community, which is why I have created this topic in the first place.
They wont. First, btc is not stable enough price wise. Second, it would take them ages to cashout at $1k per day limits. Third, it would increase their costs to handle btc.
It would be much wiser to get people in the SL community to accept btc. If you have the skills to write code in SL scripting language you should start there.
Why do people not think things through? Youth?
It would be much wiser to get people in the SL community to accept btc. If you have the skills to write code in SL scripting language you should start there.
Why do people not think things through? Youth?
Well it is my understanding that arrangements can be made with the exchange operator to have a higher withdrawal limit.
Stability in the market, yeah I agree with you there.
No, the cost increase to handle BTC would be offset by eliminating CC fees (Of course there will be exchange fees, but that is no where near what they pay in CC fees).
He might not have thought every thing through, but we need more people/company's accepting BTC or we will never have a higher demand which will stabilize the price a bit. IMO his mindset is right on.
I was not aiming for World of Warcraft specifically when I talked to them. I was talking more about any payment options they have because generally they use the same payment methods throughout.
Also, blizzard would most likely completely disregard the conversation if I was talking about bitcoins for gold/items.
Also, blizzard would most likely completely disregard the conversation if I was talking about bitcoins for gold/items.
The smarter approach here would be to get Blizzard to accept bitcoins in exchange for in-game items or gold rather than their service charge, perhaps by making a small section on their store webpage that lists in-game items and mounts available for purchase with bitcoins. If you could buy a unique mount, weapons, armor or gold with bitcoins it would certainly get a lot of people using them without being a losing proposition for Blizzard business-wise.
Finally, Blizzard could safely allow players into the game even after a 0 confirmation payment, since in the rare case of a double spend they can simply kick the player back out.
heh, now this I hadn't realized before.
Image following scene: insanely smart geek wanders into starbucks, buys a coffe for 0.1 mBTC (starbucks accepts 0 confirmation payments), sits down and fiddles with his handheld. He manages to facilitate a double-spend of the 0.1 mBTC. Something beeps. Clerk from behind counter wanders to geek's table, takes geek's coffe and gives it to next customer, points to following sign: "How would you like us double-selling your coffee?"
This would be a frustrating scenario. The way I see it, if people do start accepting bitcoins as mentioned in this quote, 1 confirmation (in my experience) usually takes no longer than a fast-food order or similar. Regardless, I wouldn't mind waiting if I was able to pay in Bitcoins and save myself a whopping $1.50 transaction fee everytime I use my debit card.
Finally, Blizzard could safely allow players into the game even after a 0 confirmation payment, since in the rare case of a double spend they can simply kick the player back out.
heh, now this I hadn't realized before.
Image following scene: insanely smart geek wanders into starbucks, buys a coffe for 0.1 mBTC (starbucks accepts 0 confirmation payments), sits down and fiddles with his handheld. He manages to facilitate a double-spend of the 0.1 mBTC. Something beeps. Clerk from behind counter wanders to geek's table, takes geek's coffe and gives it to next customer, points to following sign: "How would you like us double-selling your coffee?"
Fine. Spend your time calling their CS reps in Indonesia, hoping that someone will pass on your brilliant idea. Attend Blizzcon wearing your "Who is John Galt?" shirt and fedora. Just please update us on your progress as you do these things.
Blizzard in Indonesia ? really ? I didn't know that
I will. Spend your time complaining about people's attempts to broaden Bitcoins and look like a jackass on *the* bitcoin forum. Just keep that to yourself.
Just do it Smokes, ignore the naysayers
Oh, so much misinformation in this thread.
First, any $1k withdrawal limit applies only to parties who haven't identified themselves to comply with government anti-money-laundering regulations. Presumably Blizzard Entertainment would do this and thus not be subject to such limits.
Second, even with volatility, Bitcoin offers a company like Blizzard some significant advantages. Not having to pay credit card transaction fees is just the start. Not having to pay to manufacture, distribute and validate all those top-up cards is another. The expense of those alone is likely far more than the volatility of Bitcoin.
Finally, Blizzard could safely allow players into the game even after a 0 confirmation payment, since in the rare case of a double spend they can simply kick the player back out.
First, any $1k withdrawal limit applies only to parties who haven't identified themselves to comply with government anti-money-laundering regulations. Presumably Blizzard Entertainment would do this and thus not be subject to such limits.
Second, even with volatility, Bitcoin offers a company like Blizzard some significant advantages. Not having to pay credit card transaction fees is just the start. Not having to pay to manufacture, distribute and validate all those top-up cards is another. The expense of those alone is likely far more than the volatility of Bitcoin.
Finally, Blizzard could safely allow players into the game even after a 0 confirmation payment, since in the rare case of a double spend they can simply kick the player back out.
Anyone think of the policy effect this would have on World of Warcraft?
In the Terms of Service for WoW, it states selling/buying Gold (currency used in the game, for those who are not familiar) is not allowed. Basically, trading their virtual currency for government-backed money is not allowed.
What effect would accepting a virtual currency, bitcoin, to buy game time and other services have? It'd be such a double standard. They ban people for trading Gold, but on the other hand, accept Bitcoin to pay for services. It's not like WoW players are a small and quite community either, you'd never hear the end of it.
In the Terms of Service for WoW, it states selling/buying Gold (currency used in the game, for those who are not familiar) is not allowed. Basically, trading their virtual currency for government-backed money is not allowed.
What effect would accepting a virtual currency, bitcoin, to buy game time and other services have? It'd be such a double standard. They ban people for trading Gold, but on the other hand, accept Bitcoin to pay for services. It's not like WoW players are a small and quite community either, you'd never hear the end of it.
the price just isnt stable enough for them to accept it.
I will. Spend your time complaining about people's attempts to broaden Bitcoins and look like a jackass on *the* bitcoin forum. Just keep that to yourself.
I only have to save one bitcoiner for it all to be worthwhile. Are you brave enough to back away from this terrible idea?
Fine. Spend your time calling their CS reps in Indonesia, hoping that someone will pass on your brilliant idea. Attend Blizzcon wearing your "Who is John Galt?" shirt and fedora. Just please update us on your progress as you do these things.
I will. Spend your time complaining about people's attempts to broaden Bitcoins and look like a jackass on *the* bitcoin forum. Just keep that to yourself.
Now let's compare that to buying a prepaid timecard in a physical supermarket. Pretend you're the CFO going to pitch the adoption of a timecard system.
Everyone knows what a timecard is. No one knows what a bitcoin is. See the difference?
not being funny but I honestly don't know what a timecard is. Never heard of it. But I do know what a bitcoin is
As I and other posters have mentioned it doesn't matter that most of Blizzard customers don't know what a bitcoin is as long as bitcoins are not the only payment option. I often go to sites that have multiple payment options. Do I know what they all are? No. Do I care? No. I just use the one that suits me. If I go to a site and it accepts bitcoin as a payment method I'm actually more likely to buy something from that site.
The questions for the merchant should be:
If we add bitcoin as a payment method in addition to our current methods is it going to turn away our current customer base?
Is the cost of implementing a bitcoin payment solution more than additional profit/cost savings we'd generate from bitcoin paying customers?
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