Runescape Offering "Vanity Items"

These "vanity items" can be obtained by purchasing a three month game time card at Gamestop in the US. Didn't Jagex say they would never offer microtransactions?
http://www.runescape.com/kbase/guid/voucher_payment_promo_items
http://www.runescape.com/kbase/guid/voucher_payment_promo_items_tables

Jagex should stop now before they do any serious damage.

We discussed this on one of the recent shows. I'll summarize my thoughts though.

Items that you get through redeeming a code like last years RuneFest banner are fine. Micro-transactions like these through the game card are fine. Micro-transactions in the game itself are fine to a point.

Before I say why I like the idea of micro-transactions I want to establish the limit that I would deem acceptable. Items that offer no bonuses and are purely cosmetic are great. Items that offer boosting stats should only be allowed to be sold if they're available in the game through some other method.

Two examples that I have seen and tell me that these types are fine come from Star Trek Online. I am an avid Star Trek fan as you probably know. I bought a couple of uniform sets using Atari points. These are nothing but clothes my character can wear. I love it. I love Star Trek. It makes me enjoy the game more when I play because it makes me feel as though I am apart of that universe. The other example comes from buyable ships. These ships are high level (Admiral+) and are enhanced versions of their lower level counter parts. An Admiral level player gets to choose one of these ships when they get promoted but they can only pick one. By buying a ship it allows you to have more than one of the "retrofit" ships. They can also be bought in game by using mission reward emblems.

Where Jagex should draw the line is outright selling of gold and items that increase experience rates (buffs as Lion mentions).

Now as to why I like micro-transactions:
- Plain and simple, another revenue stream for Jagex.
- In regard to the game card, yes some may already have membership but people might go out and buy the card just to get the item if they are already a member. This is a player supporting Jagex and they will get something to show for it.
- Selling non-boosting items shows that you support the company and are an avid player.
- It's your money, shouldn't you be able to put it where you want it? People donate to political parties and animal shelters why not give a little extra to Jagex? If you're from somewhere that has universal healthcare, isn't giving more money to Jagex like buying an auxiliary health plan (something you don't necessarily need but enhances quality of life/play)?
- As another revenue stream it would allow Jagex to be more agressive with bans and not have to worry about losing paying subscribers that may not start another account or pay the fee to get unbanned.

So what's the issue if they're just cosmetic or you can get them elsewhere in the game if they're boosting?

I would agree with Shane's view, that for purely cosmetic items, it may be acceptable. But for anything that offer's buff's, it would take the game down a dreary path.

As I stated before, their game "war of legends" has gone down that path from the start. I played that game for several months, and observed that if you had the cash to put into it, you could become a high level player fast. I don't know if the game has changed since I stopped playing it, but that factor led to me quitting. I simply didn't have the money to invest in micro-transactions, and there's no way I could compete in the game with those that did. It was quite frustrating.

So, basically, micro-transactions can create an unfair environment for those who aren't as fortunate financially, not to mention it basically give's "the finger" to anyone who works hard and get's their levels without the extra help. I'm all for Jagex finding new way's to bring in cash, but I hope they really think thing's through before they go further down that road.

Ok, i've put my extra 2 cent's in and then some.

I'm fine with micro-transactions as long as the rewards remain cosmetic. I highly doubt Jagex will ever open an online store where you can buy godwars armor, dragon bones, GP, etc. If a player wants to spend money on cool-looking items that give them no advantage over other players, I have no problem with that. And as Shane said, it's just more money for Jagex, which is also fine in my eyes.

I still think that micro-transactions are bad, and shouldn't be implemented unless either (though preferably both) a) the items are purely cosmetic or b) you can still get them some other way, though in a difficult and time-consuming way in comparison to paying money.

though noting that it's a freakin' KATANA, maybe this means that we'll have a new world expansion sometime soon that would be an "eastern lands". that would be awesome.....

This is such a low item, it won't benefit to get membership for it.

As long as the items are that crappy I see no problem.

Still isn't too great of an advantage. These vanity items won't do any significant damage to the economy or pvp, at least

People talk of bots belittling their achievements, ability to buy items (even cosmetic) is the exact same thing.