World Of Warcraft Power Leveling Infiltrates Local Paper
So, I was reading my local alt.weekly paper for San Jose, the Metro Silicon Valley, after picking it up at the train station last night. As you can see, this latest issue has an interesting cover story on the San Jose mayoral elections, and various other restaurant and movie reviews, as always.
But then I turned to the contents page, and I was somewhat surprised to see, alongside an advert for the 'farm fresh' downtown San Jose Farmer's Market, and right next to a typical local paper ad for 'Smilesavers Dental', well - you probably can't see so well in the second picture, so let's zoom in further, and check out just who's advertising.
Yes, unbelievably, World Of Warcraft gold-sellers and power levellers (in this case, the Fremont-based Dr-Hu.com) have started advertising in local papers.
The company's site explains delightedly: "We've leveled over 3500 different WOW accounts since November, 2004. Over 99% of our customers come back for additional services. Let us serve you. You'll love what we can offer."
Now admittedly, you're likely to draw a geekier crowd with a Bay Area newspaper, but even so - it's truly bizarre to see, next to a 'ready for an extreme smile makeover?' ad and a clinical hypotherapy school advert, the text: "We use real players, not macro or bots that could harm your account", and, indeed: "Mention you saw this ad in Metro & receive 10% bonus 1st power leveling"!
Luckily, the Silicon Valley Metro has a special MetroPDF.com website, so anyone who's interested can check out the issue in question - it's in the front section (27mb PDF) of the latest April 19 - 25 issue, on Page 5.
We're happy to concede that Silicon Valley is one of the locales with a greatly clustered conglomeration of WoW nerds, so this probably makes some sense, but the newspaper doesn't even have a video game column. Now some PC game magazines have driven gold sellers and their ilk out, where are we going to see ads next? Billboards on Times Square for 'phat lewt'? Be prepared for anything.
Comments
Nice article.
Yes, this is a huge market.
Analysts estimate the 2005 marketplace for virtual assets in MMORPGs is approaching $900 million. Some experts believe that the market for virtual assets will overcome the primary market—projected to reach $7 billion by 2009—within the next few years.
There is also a growing demand for in-game services that will more tightly integrate the secondary market to the games themselves, giving game players even more game play flexibility and enjoyment. It is the continual infusion of new game play opportunities in the secondary market that intrigues new gamers and enlivens game experts.
Indeed, the vanguard of MMORPG players can be found in the secondary market—www.dr-hu.com was founded by American Borch Finance and Technology Group, Inc., a California State registered corporation, and we have one of the largest MMORPG Service Centers in California, USA.
We understood that facilitating the trading, buying and selling of virtual assets is a valuable service in itself for the MMORPG community.
Posted by: ken | April 20, 2006 3:31 PM
Oh, uhh, hi, people from Dr-Hu.com. This wasn't really meant to be an advert for you, but you're welcome to come and comment verbosely anyhow!
Posted by: simonc | April 20, 2006 3:33 PM
Quick, delete this article to maintain the stereotype that all gold-farmers are in China! Quickly! God bless America!
Posted by: lol | April 21, 2006 6:43 AM
this is America.
We should let ppl express themselves freely.
Posted by: ken | April 21, 2006 11:41 AM
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltair.
Posted by: ken | April 21, 2006 12:20 PM
I should've made a startup five-ten years ago and recruited world-wide farmers.
Still, think of the possibilities.
You play a game, the enemy are a bunch of high-end ganging lamers.
You are outnumbered, outpowered, outmatched.
What do you do?
You phone in (or go on a secure chat?) to some "facilitator", hire their services, within minutes they log in with several "big guns" and help you execute revenge.
Freelance wingmen for hire. :)
Too bad Maximum Exposure went off air.
This could so be a show for them.
Well, at least if they ever thought of looking at the weird extreme world of nerds (like korean gangsters beating each other IRL because the other team looted their drops lol).
Posted by: Ori Klein | April 22, 2006 5:41 AM
hello i was wondering if i could trade my alt account that has a 49 druid and a 35 mage on it for a power level on my main account from like 1-50 so iwouldnt have to pay for 2 accounts.the alt account i would trade for the power level has the expansion.
Posted by: ricky winters | March 3, 2007 2:23 PM