I wouldn't have minded so much if they didn't add it to the launcher as if you have been given free access. If you wanted to go to your account and buy fine, but the throwing it in front of you as if it was free trick rather bothersome.
Jesus the overreaction in this thread is bordering on absurd.
The game is FTP (or will be on release) but like every FTP game, you have the choice of unlocking content over time through playing in game or just buying it outright with real money.
Blizzards way of monetizing this game is by selling heroes, skins, and custom mounts. All heroes are required to be bought (and all can be bought with gold earned in game), but they do provide a selection of heroes that anyone can play that rotates every week. Initially there are only 4 free heroes, but as you level up it increases to a total of 6 free heroes every week. Within a week or two of playing you should accumulate enough gold to buy at least 4-5 more heroes (if you go for the cheaper ones).
Anyway, they aren't
selling beta access. They are selling 3 heroes (permanently unlocked for you), 3 hero skins (1 for each of the heroes you bought), and a custom mount (which as of this time isn't even for sale individually). The price of these items individually (excluding the mount, which of course I can't see a price for since its not available in the store) comes to $48.44 (without tax). Mounts currently in the store range from $7.50 - $20.00. So even assuming the lowest price, thats a roughly $56 value in game, PLUS you get beta access. For the price of $40.
I wouldn't have minded so much if they didn't add it to the launcher as if you have been given free access. If you wanted to go to your account and buy fine, but the throwing it in front of you as if it was free trick rather bothersome.
There is nothing devious or misleading about it. The announcement in the bnet launcher reads "FOUNDERS PACK NOW AVAILABLE - Unlock 3 heroes, 3 bonus skins, beta access, and more". This is
clearly an indication that there is a purchase-able content pack available now which grants beta access. Nothing at all about that announcement suggest you've been granted beta access.
And this is why invite keys are so hard to come by. Really lame, especially for a mediocre version of LoL/DotA.
Invite keys have been hard to come by because until a few weeks ago they were still in
technical alpha. For Blizzard in particular, opening alpha testing to the general public is pretty rare (and by general public, I mean anyone outside of their internal testing teams or contracted testing teams). Heroes of the Storm went into CLOSED BETA on 1/13/2015, and this founders pack only became available three days ago.
So, can we please keep the nonsensical, unfounded whining at a minimum?
Lets discuss the real issue here - the prices for buying heroes/skins/mounts with real money is absurd in my opinion. All heroes can be bought with gold, but some of them cost a LOT of gold and there are very few ways to earn gold at this time (maybe that will change in the future). On top of that, skins can't be bought with in game gold - only real money (though every hero has a few alternate skins that unlock as you level them up as well, but I believe these are different than the skins offered in the shop).
I'm looking at the shop right now - they have a bundle deal for 68% off (normal price is $126.86, sale price is $40). This bundle includes 8 heroes, 4 skins, and 2 mounts. This isn't even a fraction of the total number of heroes, skins, and mounts available, and I've heard rumors (supposedly a statement from Blizzard, but the person who gave me this info never provided a source) that Blizz is planning to have roughly 200 heroes in the game by official launch. At these rates, we're talking literally THOUSANDS of dollars to purchase every piece of content with real money
even if you buy it all at massive discounts.