I suppose it's better than getting them off ebay, where the rare ones go for anywhere from $50 all the way up to $1500.

$10 is still very expensive for an entirely cosmetic, in-game pet. Especially when many players already have tens of them and you can only display one at a time. I don't see what makes these any more valuable than the multitude of unique and interesting pets already available for free in game.

@ Ben

I don't know why people by the comestic crap but they do. I was amazed at all the avtar add ons my friends have purchased for the 360. It's like the fashion mall rats who buy the latest jeans just because they are new.

Having the charity benefit will also drive sales.

And thus WoW becomes less virtual, more real world. The rich thrive, the poor can piss off.

It REALLY does raise the whole question of what is "game" when apparently all it takes is enough money and you win. Buy plat/gold for $$: buy gear on the AH, now buy the l33t pets from Blizzard. Tada, I win. You suck.

/shakes head.

Seriously; how is it a game if the in game rules are constantly changed merely by adding money to the equation. That's more a SIMULATION of the U.S. Congress than it is a role playing GAME.

I like playing WoW but more and more I cant help but notice the lack of effort that goes into the game. Take in-game gear for example, many of the new stuff is simply re-textured models from the original game.

This is a sad move from Blizzard because it just highlights their "money grabbing" nature. I would be more impressed to see all of the money go to charity, lets be honest it wouldn't have cost Blizzard much to introduce this.

$10 is not exactly micro.

"$10 is not exactly micro."

point.

Lame. Hopefuly this WON'T set a new precident for paid subscription PLUS microtransactions.

@Tom Newman
You bet it will set precedent and you can see that it's a new trend coming from Activision/Blizzard to try and set new higher standard prices. CoD : Modern Warfare is +10$ on the PC and now this. The boss said this industry is about making money, nothing else.

well before everyone gets too puffy about things.. remember this is for charity. it's very unlikely that blizzard is going to make anything more than vanity items. pets play no role in the game mechanics and it's no different than any other social networking game. if people find value in it they will pay and help a good cause.

Now if blizzard sold epic items for $ then i could see that being something more questionable unless they moved to a free to play model which would be a little different.