For Pony?

[Aelflaed]

Guess it's not a drop after all: http://us.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=1100000942

[Denne]

Lame. Very lame.

[Chelody]

I'm torn. On the one hand "Hey, this is something cool I would actually be able to get!" on the other hand "T.T This seems to cool for blizzard to be selling." I'm just a little concerned about the implications of further micro transactions. Pets is one thing, in a way, mounts don't matter either. I'm worried about armor and weapons but I think someone might have once told me that blizzard swore they'd never sell those kinds of things. I'd love to get that awesome looking horsie, but it feels like buying that advertises being some kind of wealthy douchebag and would make me embarrassed to ride it.

[Chrystenise]

I'm not too keen on it either. Not that I care if they want to sell items, but to me, the point of playing the game is to have fun and unlock/find cool things. Nothing I can do in game will find this item, so why is it even part of the game?

[Kost]

NNNNnnnnnnnnNNNNGH- No. I will not spend my commish funds on a pretty pony.
No matter how sparkily, and shiny... and... and... no. No Micer. No. -_-
At least they're not pulling lottery tactics (buy these items and have a chance (odds of a snowball in hell) to win X-prize - oh could you imagine the levels of rage that would bring about?) like they generally do in other games - but a part of me is kinda fearful that someday, Blizz might sink to that level.

Doubt they would, but cash-shops bring about some funny business.

[Lansiron]

I only wish I could think of an in-character reason that a character of mine would own something like this. >_>

I'm less bothered by it altogether, as it remains something completely cosmetic. We associate prestigious mounts with great skill, luck, and/or patience, but the mounts rewarded by those things remain extremely distinct; the celestial steed is flashy, but someone on a frostwyrm or Invincible still stands apart.

I'm trusting 'em not to start selling stuff that actually is something from the game that requires real effort to get, and the closest they'll ever come to selling equipment will most likely just be tabards or novelty-trinkets with no real strategic value.

[Bellesta]

I actually am a supporter of the Microtransactions so long as they remain cosmetic only. It's quick, easy revenue for the company that doesn't hurt my game experience.

An old addage that was used repeatedly in my old Neverwinter server was 'if everyone gets it, it's not special!' Cosmetic things such as dyes or special armor pieces added in patches were HUGE points of contention among the DMs. Things that were limited were gifted to special players or insanely hard to obtain. The argument on the other end was;

"If it's open to everyone, then the people who deserve it will get it. If it's open to a limited number, a lot of people who deserve it will never see it."

While I don't think this is entirely applicable here, I still sort of look at it from the same point. I'm not hurt by hundreds of people having the same special mount, nor will it cheapen the stories I write with it. (Yeah, I did get myself a new horsie as a 'going away gift' to myself for my move Plus since seeing it I've really wanted it for Adel as sort of a product of all the RP around Algalon I did with Tif)

[Shaila]

I wish there was a reason one of my characters would have this, as that is a really cool mount.

[Bellesta]

Does this mean you'll be introducing more services like this in the future? Will you be introducing the ability to buy epic weapons/etc. in the future, for example?
As with the pets, mounts, and other items players can obtain through Loot cards from the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, Pet Store pets are purely cosmetic and just for fun. Like other paid services we offer, such as Paid Name Changes, Race Changes, and Character Re-Customizations, the Pet Store service is entirely optional and intended to provide players another means to enjoy World of Warcraft in a way that isn't detrimental to the game and that doesn't detract from the gameplay experience for players who choose not to use the service.

From here.

[Dravir]

At the end of the day, Blizz is a business, and I hear they're about making the money. This is one of those smart business ventures that enables them to let us keep playing the game, and maybe keeps some people interested for longer than they thought they'd last.

Who needs IC reasons to have fun toys?