Recently I have been looking at getting back into playing World of Warcraft (WoW). Alright, have you stopped chuckling now? Yes I play and I quite enjoy playing the game occasionally when I have some free time. I’m not a hard-core gamer, nor would I ever call in sick to play a game such as Warcraft but it is nice way to relax with after working on programming problems.
Recently with the release of the newest expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, Blizzard sent out free 10-day trial invites and I thought I would try it out and see what it was like. I activated the trial on my account and logged in. I felt like an eBay’d player, a player who has a high level character but has no idea what to do. A couple of buddies of mine were online and told me that I would probably get back into it pretty quick and I did.
After playing for a couple of hours I got back into the groove and thought that perhaps it would be good to continue my account but instead of using my credit card for the monthly payment, I would go and buy a 60-day game card.
When I arrived at EBGames and asked for a WoW Game card they handed me a box. My first thought was like, wow (no pun intended) that is an awfully large box for such a small item.
Does anyone see anything wrong with the packaging that Blizzard has gone with in regards to these 60-day game cards? It’s the same “DVD” boxes that games come in nowadays but all it holds is a small plastic card. The same size as a gift card or credit card.
Could Blizzard not set up a re-loadable card system like various retailers have now? When my 60-day time is up I would have to go back in and buy yet another box with a small plastic card inside. Sure I can recycle the cardboard box and plastic card but why would I have to go out and buy yet another cardboard box and plastic card? Wouldn’t Blizzard also save money on their packaging costs if they went with a refillable card?
Kids could go to their local EBGame store and use cash to top up their card like people do with Starbucks cards.
Yes I probably could alleviate my issue of having to keep buying these cards and their packaging by using my credit card but I have decide to stop using my credit card for anything other than travel reservations and/or emergency uses. I could look at using a pre-paid Visa card too I suppose, but shouldn’t Blizzard look at options for reducing the amount of packaging for their items such as these game cards?
What do you buy that the packaging is oversized and really pointless?
Cam TardiFeb 06, 2009 at 12:10:27
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I am not a fan of over packing. I suppose one thing you could do to get around this is to use a pre-paid credit card for your online needs…
Cam TardiFeb 06, 2009 at 12:12:00
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P.S. To answer your question, almost everything! The worst I have bought lately is a micro-sd card. The ratio of product to packaging is rediculous!
Bob BuskirkFeb 07, 2009 at 19:27:07
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yeah it’s so you can see the cards of the shelf. But it’s all around with many products
james tanasiukFeb 08, 2009 at 05:29:21
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Strange thing is, with the global recession and focus on environmental issues, you’d tink Blizz would cut back on the fluff. Make them cards smaller and sell them at checkouts like 7-11, Gamestop, Fry’s, whatever. They’d likely sell a lot more while needing to spend far less.
Tyler Ingram February 8th, 2009 at 20:07:55[Link]
@Bob the the cards were behind the and underneath the counter. I couldn’t see them, I had to ask for it.
@james I agree, let me pick it up at 711 instead of wasting gas to drive to the other side of the world to get one
ZebraliciousFeb 12, 2009 at 16:02:18
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That’s really odd for EBGames to do that. The store @ Lougheed Mall keeps the cards in a locked drawer and an empty box on the shelf for the 60 day game cards. I’ve never been given a box when I asked for a game card.
But now I just pay by credit card and save myself from accumulating those cards, which keep turning up even when I thought I got rid of the last one.
gibraelFeb 19, 2009 at 19:47:43
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Hello James, was ur dad Dr.Jim Tanasiuk?