Does WoW have 8 Million NOW!!?

Brainy

I was reading this article http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=14745

And Rob Pardo (VP at Blizzard) Says:  "We thought we were reaching for the stars by hoping we'd hit a million subscribers... We've clearly gone way beyond that now with almost eight million worldwide."

Anyone else seen anything confirming this info?  I read another article a month ago saying WoW had 7.5 million.  Does that mean its increasing in Subs?

Or are they talking about total people who purchased the game?  It said subscriptions thou?

 

Taram

dunno about you but to me 7.5 million and "almost 8 million" sounds about the same.  Seriously.. in other games 500k subs is a lot... in WoW it's a drop in the bucket.

HeLL_SNX

Yeh..8 million sheep...

seriously tho..large numbers don't mean or equal a quality product.

MW2K

Sheep, my ass. Heaven forbid if anyone has fun doing what millions of others are doing identically.

Brainy

Yah, I am not talking about the quality of the product.  Just that alot of people on these boards have been saying that WoW is losing subscriptions by the millions.  This information seems to contradict those theories?

PwndStar

I haven't been able to find any information on 8 million subscribers but I did find information for 7.5 million. Probably the same thing you found...

More info: http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?comments=44615

"In other World of Warcraft news, Blizzard announced that its subscriber base for the game has reached a staggering 7.5 million worldwide. The company was sure to note that this figure does not include cancelled or expired subscriptions, or expired pre-paid cards. It includes current subscribers as well as users who have logged into the game from internet cafes within the past 30 days."

retrospectic

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Originally posted by HeLL_SNX
Yeh..8 million sheep...

seriously tho..large numbers don't mean or equal a quality product.

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I would hate to disagree with WoW hate since it is so popular, but no other MMO has had the success or stability WoW maintains.  I am not sure what you think of a "quality".  I guess playing a racing game with sixteen other subscribers one three servers is it?

Also, have you played multiple MMORPGs?  If you haven't dealt with them, please try out EQ, AO, DAoC, EQ2, SW:G and the one hundred bajillion Japanese MMORPGs that was campy and poorly translated.  When you come back after server instability, bad nerfs, poor patching, whole days of work lost, random power outages, NGEs, horrible franchises, and poorly executed graphics, then you can come talk to me about "quality" product.  Please show me what makes WoW "poor quality".

retrospectic

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Originally posted by Brainy
Yah, I am not talking about the quality of the product.  Just that alot of people on these boards have been saying that WoW is losing subscriptions by the millions.  This information seems to contradict those theories?

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You have to distinguish articles vs. propaganda.  People who are angry because their level 49 warrior isn't getting as much rage as before are likely to lie about the number of subscriptions being lost by WoW.  The only mass amounts of accounts that I have heard about being "lost" are when WoW bans dupers, hackers, scammers, sploiters, and gold farmers.  The information, unless backed up by some research, is mostly propaganda from consumers who found their experience in WoW to be non-satisfactory.

Signe

I didn't care much for WoW and quit after only a few months.  I
have to agree with Retrospectic, however.  WoW has certainly
proven itself to be a phenomenon.  It seems more people appreciate
the quality of WoW than any other existing MMORPG.  I always fail
to see the point of insulting people for enjoying a game, even if you
don't enjoy it yourself.  It makes no sense to me at all.

Danhilderman

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Originally posted by Signe
I didn't care much for WoW and quit after only a few months.  I have to agree with Retrospectic, however.  WoW has certainly proven itself to be a phenomenon.  It seems more people appreciate the quality of WoW than any other existing MMORPG.  I always fail to see the point of insulting people for enjoying a game, even if you don't enjoy it yourself.  It makes no sense to me at all.

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Perhaps.  I still believe that the majority of WoW players have NEVER played another mmorpg for any length of time (at least 2 weeks).
When you look at the satisfaction rates of people who have played other mmo's and those who haven't, it seems first timers are much more satisified.

I could be wrong though.  It's obviously done some things which attract millions of subscribers.

Wraith0

I play WoW, and have played many other MMO's, when I ask people in WoW if they played anything else almost all of em say, No.

nomadian

what I want to know is how many "sales" they have had, so how big a population pool does WoW have a potential subscriber base from.

nomadian

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When you come back after server instability, bad nerfs, poor patching, whole days of work lost, random power outages, NGEs, horrible franchises, and poorly executed graphics, then you can come talk to me about "quality" product. Please show me what makes WoW "poor quality".

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server instabilities and random power outages, WoW has had them. Not so long ago a major router went down causing loads of problems for WoW, and it has had massive downtimes, 36 hours
I remember one occasion. It also had a few problems on launch as they didn't expect so many people. If we're talking bugs and patches, then WoW is probably in that regard as it takes time on each, though it should be noted it has also had to do a patch straight after on a few occasions.

retrospectic

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Originally posted by Danhilderman

Perhaps.  I still believe that the majority of WoW players have NEVER played another mmorpg for any length of time (at least 2 weeks).
When you look at the satisfaction rates of people who have played other mmo's and those who haven't, it seems first timers are much more satisified.

I could be wrong though.  It's obviously done some things which attract millions of subscribers.

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I would have to be part of the minority.  I've played MMOs in the past and dealt with situations I don't feel should be experienced by any consumer. 

The reason I favor WoW is not only their management, but also their ability to keep a sound business running.  Compare, for example, their website.  Of all the MMOs I've played, WoW has the most understandable and user-friendly website.  If you would like to compare it to the Flash trash heep that is the EQ website, go ahead. 

I could go on, but I'll digress.  I am one previous MMO player would found WoW to be worthwhile.

I would also like to offer this.  When you frequent any forum you are destined to hear more squeaky wheels than finely tuned ones.  People who enjoy WoW are too busy enjoying WoW to come on a website and write threads like "I love my class, please keep things just like this, please!!!!lol".

Tonkatsu

Personally, numbers aren't an indication of quality, but in WoW's case I believe it has a very strong core element (graphics, controls, UI, quest system) that's appealing and easy for people to get into. That said, I think that many of the changes introduced since launch (after some of the original programmers moved on) have made the game far less fun, and seeing that it was never too deep, that's caused a lot of people to leave. I'm sure it's lost a few million players in fact, but due to the "Warcraft" franchise's drawing power, it's managed to replace them with new people just now getting into MMOs, or leaving their old ones and giving the biggest one on the market a try...this drawing power won't last forever if they don't fix certain elements of the game...but it'll do for now.

retrospectic

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Originally posted by nomadian





When you come back after server instability, bad nerfs, poor patching, whole days of work lost, random power outages, NGEs, horrible franchises, and poorly executed graphics, then you can come talk to me about "quality" product. Please show me what makes WoW "poor quality".

server instabilities and random power outages, WoW has had them. Not so long ago a major router went down causing loads of problems for WoW, and it has had massive downtimes, 36 hours
I remember one occasion. It also had a few problems on launch as they didn't expect so many people. If we're talking bugs and patches, then WoW is probably in that regard as it takes time on each, though it should be noted it has also had to do a patch straight after on a few occasions.

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Emergency patches are going to happen.  Random powe outages are going to happen.  WoW deals with them in the most professional way I've seen.  If you've played EQ or UO you'll know the pain of real "emergency" patches.  Ever lost a day and a half of grinding?

nomadian

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Emergency patches are going to happen. Random powe outages are going to happen. WoW deals with them in the most professional way I've seen. If you've played EQ or UO you'll know the pain of real "emergency" patches. Ever lost a day and a half of grinding?

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Never played UO, but while WoW does notably have less emergency patches, it does have it's downtime. For example, 36 hours downtime? Or it's maintenance times? And how about when those maintenance times are extended overnight? I think I had about 4 free days added to my WoW account through this and that.

fisherc

WoW is a great game in it's own right.

There is no such thing as the "PERFECT" product.  MMO's are no exception.

You'll always find something wrong.

Forgefeu

I play wow since retail, haven't stoped once since and played most others mmorpg, most notable being Everquest and uo were i spent 3 to 4 years on each. I play with my bro to wow also who played EQ and UO as well, and half our guild started playing with either everquest or Daoc and most others already had experience be it with EQ2 or whatever.

retrospectic

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Originally posted by Tonkatsu

Personally, numbers aren't an indication of quality, but in WoW's case I believe it has a very strong core element (graphics, controls, UI, quest system) that's appealing and easy for people to get into. That said, I think that many of the changes introduced since launch (after some of the original programmers moved on) have made the game far less fun, and seeing that it was never too deep, that's caused a lot of people to leave. I'm sure it's lost a few million players in fact, but due to the "Warcraft" franchise's drawing power, it's managed to replace them with new people just now getting into MMOs, or leaving their old ones and giving the biggest one on the market a try...this drawing power won't last forever if they don't fix certain elements of the game...but it'll do for now.

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Personally, I am waiting on Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.  I have no desire to extend my WoW subscription past a certain point.  If WAR is anything like the hype I will be totally engaged in it.  But, I have been fooled before (see: Anarchy Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Shadowbane).

Gameloading

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Originally posted by retrospectic

Also,
have you played multiple MMORPGs?  If you haven't dealt with them,
please try out EQ, AO, DAoC, EQ2, SW:G and the one hundred bajillion
Japanese MMORPGs that was campy and poorly translated.  When you come
back after server instability, bad nerfs, poor patching, whole days of
work lost, random power outages, NGEs, horrible franchises, and poorly
executed graphics, then you can come talk to me about "quality"
product.  Please show me what makes WoW "poor quality".

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What in heavens name are you talking about? There are very few japanese MMORPG's, Japan isn't really an MMORPG country.

orion2355

I wonder if the flood of trial cds located on almost every retail check-out counter and piled up in every electronics section of major retail outlets had anything to do with the large number of subscribers. The article never really fleshed that out and the cds hit the shelves a couple months back, hmmmm.

All in all though, no MMO is perfect and if you're paying for a game you like regardless of what the majority says about it then everyone should just remain happy. I did my stint on WOW and it was a fun run but with a truckload of new games coming down the street and new consoles hitting the pavement I have to be fair and try them all.

Brainy

WoW is really turning the MMO industry upside down.  There were sooo many of the famous MMO devs saying that the MMORPG industry was tapped out and would be cannilbalizing soon.  Even Sir Bruce at MMORPGCHART.com was saying it for years.  Then along comes WoW and totally trashes that theory.

If wow had 7.5 mil subscribers before xmas season even started.  There is absolutely no way they will lose subs during xmas season.  Their game is a top seller at the major retail chains and really nothing else has come out to make people quit.  I wouldnt be surprised to see thier subs grow over 8.5 mil or even 9mil after xmas.

WoW will grow more then all the western MMO's subscribers put together.  That is absolutely insane.  Is this a monopoly?  How can they be allowed to get away with this?

kordrial

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Originally posted by Ulujain

Sheep, my ass. Heaven forbid if anyone has fun doing what millions of others are doing identically.

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you hit the nail on the head, imho you prooved his point

btw, sheep can have fun too, don't mean they're wolves or.. people.. or.. you know.. the opposite of sheep -.-

Gameloading

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Originally posted by orion2355
I wonder if the flood of trial cds located on almost every retail check-out counter and piled up in every electronics section of major retail outlets had anything to do with the large number of subscribers. The article never really fleshed that out and the cds hit the shelves a couple months back, hmmmm.All in all though, no MMO is perfect and if you're paying for a game you like regardless of what the majority says about it then everyone should just remain happy. I did my stint on WOW and it was a fun run but with a truckload of new games coming down the street and new consoles hitting the pavement I have to be fair and try them all.

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Blizzard has always excluded all trial accounts when they gave out details of current subscribers base, you can find that in every press released made by Blizzard about subscribtion numbers.

kordrial

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Originally posted by Brainy
Yah, I am not talking about the quality of the product.  Just that alot of people on these boards have been saying that WoW is losing subscriptions by the millions.  This information seems to contradict those theories?

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even though i don't like WoW, i can clearly and safely say that those people are full of shit, regardless of this new information, WoW is not loosing people by the millions.

to get millions of people to do something, there needs to be a pretty large change to 'herd them sheep' >_>

WoW is only going forward and upward, kudos.