A Pilgrim’s Digression

Recently, I noticed that alongside my email exchanges with a friend and fellow World of Warcraft player, gmail has been displaying some enticing ads for websites promising “World of Warcraft gold” and a “free epic mount for you.” No, the former is not some specially packaged “gold” edition of the game. And the “epic mount” referred to is not pornographic in nature.

Apparently, there are sites out there that sell cheats for World of Warcraft. I clicked a few of the links, and it is really quite amazing what a big business this is. I was expecting something amateur-ish, even shady looking, considering that Blizzard tries to stamp out this kind of cheating.

Instead, apparently these sites even have in-game customer service reps who deliver your items to you directly, or via the game’s mail system. One site I checked out, MOGmasters.com (I am not going to promote this crap by providing a link) sells ‘virtual currency,’ presumably for real dollars. You can buy 100 gold for about twenty-six U.S. dollars. What guarantee you have is not clear, but MOGmasters says that no refunds are given except for services not rendered.

I am 100% certain it is almost impossible to prove that services were not rendered, and since Paypal is the only accepted payment method, that makes it ten times more difficult to get your money back. Anyone who has ever attempted to obtain a refund through eBay/Paypal knows what a pain in the ass that is.

MOGmasters and other sites, such as brogame.com, also offer more than just gold. Pay them enough and they will give you a twink: a pre-made character, level 60, decked out with the best armor and weapons and even an “epic mount” (a rare or especially powerful mount, such as a horse, kodo, ram, etc.).

Following is a quote from the MOGmasters site: “Conquer, dominate and own other players in your favorite battleground with a twink. Our gamers in WoW know what you need to create a strong, decked out character to send your enemy to the graveyard time after time. Our gamers will tailor your toon to a lethal and effective BG machine. Other players will just cry unfair! Let your faction mates drool in envy and the opposing faction run in fear with a powerful customized twink.”

Reading this stuff really gets under my skin. First of all, it is absolutely insane to pay real money for ‘virtual’ currency. First you pay 20 or 30 dollars for the game, then 14.99 per month in subscription fees, and then you’re going to pay more money in order to cheat? Fools! Play the game! That’s all you have to do to earn virtual currency or advance your character.

I mean, that’s the point, is it not? Playing the game? Having fun building your character? Feeling that sense of achievement at having leveled on your own?

Reading about this crap, it is going to make me look askance the next time I see some Level 60 Paladin strutting around Ironforge on his magnificent epic warhorse. And that’s unfortunate, because if I ever reach level 60 I don’t want people thinking I cheated to get there.