I posted this in the other thread but since we are talking about it here now This is too funny. At this stage of the game WOW's only marketability is making the numbers larger than they really seem. What is interesting though is this... According to the Blizzard website, on July 24th,2007 they announce more than 9 million subscribers from WOW. www.blizzard.com/press/070724.shtml Which is also the 3rd quarter Now yesterday Vivendi comes out with a report stating they have 9.3 million subscribers. www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php 3rd quarter results So if you look at both statements carefully since July 24th, 2007 from today, which is almost 4 months, they have had no increase of subscribers whatsoever which also may conclude that the 19 percent sales increase is false because more subs = more money per month. So in that 4 month span who did they sell their boxes to to get such a 19 percent sale increase ? I do think WOW, the game itself, is a nice game to play but creating bogus numbers is such a huge turn off. Nice scheme don't you think ? Sorry but i'm not buying this sales pitch.
I wouldnt get too hung up on making sense of the numbers unless you are familiar with accounting principles; they can play around them to a degree and it is still considered kosher. Maybe its: new box sales + merchandise + new subs - cancelled subs = +19%.
Regardless, there shouldnt be much concern about threat from competitors.
I can understand merchandise being sold to create a 19% sales increase but saying you have 9.3 mill subs is pretty bogus especially since they claim in July they had over 9 mill then again claim 9.3 mill in November ? Nahh doesn't add up obviously.
ive played wow for awhile and quite bored of iti find myself logging in out of routine rather then actually to have fun currently looking for a mmorpg gonna try out tabula rasa im sure anything better then spamming heal buttons for hours while watching tv
Did you actually read the article at all? The 19% sales increase is for whole Vivendi Games, not for WoW alone.
OT: my 100th post on these forums /OT
The 19% sales thing is fine but how do you explain the so called ' sub increase" when in July they announced over 9 million and now they are pretty much repeating themselves saying we have 9.3 mill at the end of the 3rd quarter. So in 4 months they according to their announcements from july-nov they didn't increase subs one bit. I am sure someone will say yeah they have 9.1 mil in July and increased to 9.3 mil in the end of the quarter just so they cover themselves to look good. No WOW hater here. I think it's a nice game but clearly the makers and publishers of this game sure like to make things out much bigger than what they probably are.
I posted this in the other thread but since we are talking about it here now This is too funny. At this stage of the game WOW's only marketability is making the numbers larger than they really seem. What is interesting though is this... According to the Blizzard website, on July 24th,2007 they announce more than 9 million subscribers from WOW. www.blizzard.com/press/070724.shtml Which is also the 3rd quarter Now yesterday Vivendi comes out with a report stating they have 9.3 million subscribers. www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php 3rd quarter results So if you look at both statements carefully since July 24th, 2007 from today, which is almost 4 months, they have had no increase of subscribers whatsoever which also may conclude that the 19 percent sales increase is false because more subs = more money per month. So in that 4 month span who did they sell their boxes to to get such a 19 percent sale increase ? I do think WOW, the game itself, is a nice game to play but creating bogus numbers is such a huge turn off. Nice scheme don't you think ? Sorry but i'm not buying this sales pitch.
I wouldnt get too hung up on making sense of the numbers unless you are familiar with accounting principles; they can play around them to a degree and it is still considered kosher. Maybe its: new box sales + merchandise + new subs - cancelled subs = +19%.
Regardless, there shouldnt be much concern about threat from competitors.
The 19% increase is from the same quarter last year. I.E. VUGames (Not Blizzard) took in 19% more in Q3 this year then they did in Q3 last year.
& how many of that 9.3 million are actually in the US?
I think that is the question. All that I know is that when I returned, I constantly ran into Thai, Korean, and Chinese players. [I also regularly ran into "bots."] Now, before some naive child says that is racist, please note that one of my best friends is Korean and currently lives in South Korea.
[The problem is that I do not speak Thai or Chinese, and when someone says WoW has 10,000,000 subscribers, I am not impressed because I play for 1) world immersion, 2) character customization, 3) fun and interesting content, and 4) community.
It is hard to have a community when you cannot communicate. I do not speak Thai, Chinese, Korean, or bot.]
[Please note: I am a huge fan of Warcraft III: Frozen Throne. I enjoyed Diablo and Starcraft. I also respect and even admire Blizzard as a company. I think WoW is also a good game. Not worth paying for, though.]
----- WoW and fast food = commercial successes. I neither play WoW nor eat fast food.
"...please note that one of my best friends is Korean and currently lives in South Korea."
Please note, why does that even matter?
It matters to preempt a charge of racist or xenophobe. The issue is that 10,000,000 million "accounts" of Thais, Chinese, Koreans, and bots creates a language barrier.
If you do not speak Thai, Chinese, Korean, or bot... you might not have much of a community.
[I know when I played WoW I had two accounts: 1) my main: hunter; and 2) a dwarf priest to server as my Guild's bank and help with raids.]
----- WoW and fast food = commercial successes. I neither play WoW nor eat fast food.
Most people own 2 or 3 accounts so it's actually closer to 3 million.
No they don't. You can have what? 9 characters on one server. Of course some people 2-box it, but it's absolutely absurd to suggest they're a majority.
I do like WoW, but I'll jump ship when an MMO with proper depth comes out...
WoW is ok... but I totally lost 100% of my motivation after being on a private server for about an hour. I: -Flew on a mount -Walked around in the highest tier gear -Learned all the warrior attacks -Finished a talent tree -Slaughtered everyone in Gnomeregan as a capped character for revenge.
I have officially done everything I WAS playing retail WoW to do. No reason to play anymore.
If you are masochistic and somehow like a game who's enjoyment will sharply peak and decline based almost entirely on other people once you cap out (But only until AFTER you've invested countless hours and dollars soloing,playing with the friends you actually like, and partying in PUGs that, unlike endgame, are not mandatory to stay in), go ahead I guess. I'm waiting for WAR, and will celebrate the end of organized raids. (City sacking, can't wait)
-------------------------------- -Been there, done that: Xsyon, WoW, EVE, Maplestory, City of Heroes, Guild Wars, Warhammer Online, FF11, Rift -Currently playing: Not MMOs -Wants to check out: SWTOR, Dark Millennium
If the subscribtion number would be rising, WoW would be opening new servers in EU and US. But they aren't. My guess is that the number of subscribers are going down in US&EU and going up in Asia.
So I am amazed. You guys of MMORPG made me loose an enormous amount of money.... So much hatred against a very good WOW. I can't believe my eyes. I am browsing through these website pages and I wonder: are you all blind ? or is it the "elite" feeling of wanting to be "above the masses" that makes you hate Wow? Ever since I fell in love with this game, I tried other MMO's. Hell my computer has seen more install/uninstall programs then there are weeks in a year. Or I stumbled into very old hat products; or I was bored to death in slooooooowly turning spaceships, sloooowly docking, without a sign of a human around (unless you call the post stamp in the upper left corner a human interface); or I walked into realms where no one was around; or I had lag at 5 frames per second; but most of all I ve seen totally unfinished products and complete rip offs but without the gameplay. What about fighting scenes where you can't even move in some MMO's... I did all those MMO's that you kind of promote here and I only have one word left : pathetic. Wake up guys ! When I see a new MMORPG I tried, that doesn't even have a central marketplace or Auction House (no matter how you call it) and is way behind in about every aspect of current Wow and it's been given 85% !!!!!! I pity you all.
A central marketplace or auction house does not make a game, though I guess in an item intensive game where people quest / raid for loot 24/7 it is certainly a handy addition. I won't knock WoW (Blizzard) because you are right to an extent. The game itself, while not flawless, is more complete than the majority of other MMO's to date (Blizzard had the cash to make sure they released a complete product). The graphics are good, the animations run smoothly on most machines, there are very few bugs, exploits, lag and the game appeals to the very casual gamer who isn't looking for a complex game. If you are looking for a simple, casual friendly PvE style game you can't go wrong with WoW (IMO).
A lot of people on these boards I think are MMO veterans and they are looking for a game that offers a more compelling game play. For some it is a skill system / character customization system that is more complex than what WoW offers. Than you have those that want a game system that really makes you want to play your character beyond the simple leveling / acquiring items..things like a well designed story arc or pvp where your character can really make a difference. This is why people play games like AO, DAoC, Shadowbane & EvE and they are willing to forgo Blizzards "polished" WoW. Very few of those old games are as complete as WoW and I can understand why the casual gamer won't play them with the flaws they usually have.
As to why some people are always ragging on WoW (Blizzard), I guess they are just bitter that they constantly have cash strapped or inept coders making the more complex / involved games that they like. Imagine a company like Blizzard, who has the cash and talent, to really push the MMO genre beyond the simplistic EQ (WoW) games we have now.
I don't see less people playing wow around me but more. btw I live in minnesota/us. I don't think they are loseing subscriptions. You would think where there was a patch that increases exp gain all around and would only think that brings people back or more people to try it.
-- "Any free people have the right to choose how it wants to be govern thats the essence of democracy. It's sad when America has chosen for the stability and consistency of a dictatorship and doing it democratically" -utnow
Geez they had a patch that increases exp? from what I hear from players and peps on the board it is very eary to lvl a charactor in WoW. And I do agree, I don't think there is any drop in players in WoW
Comments
Regardless, there shouldnt be much concern about threat from competitors.
I can understand merchandise being sold to create a 19% sales increase but saying you have 9.3 mill subs is pretty bogus especially since they claim in July they had over 9 mill then again claim 9.3 mill in November ? Nahh doesn't add up obviously.
Do gold farmers count as part of the total? I'm pretty sure they do.
OT: my 100th post on these forums
I Am Good I Am Evil
I am.... Zerofreeze
That's in the WoW section, I assumed people who don't visit every section might be interested as well, considering it's a new milestone for mmorpg's.
Those of us who dont visit the WoW section dont for a reason.And no, most of us dont care about WoWs new milestone.
WoW=McDonalds 9 million served but still gives you a belly ache, and the runs.
That's in the WoW section, I assumed people who don't visit every section might be interested as well, considering it's a new milestone for mmorpg's.
Those of us who dont visit the WoW section dont for a reason.And no, most of us dont care about WoWs new milestone.
WoW=McDonalds 9 million served but still gives you a belly ache, and the runs.
1) This forum is full of old school mmo gamers/WOW haters who think their first mmo is/was the best.2) McDonalds is cheap, when WOW isn't compared to other games.
3) I suppose all those 9 million people would have quit already if Blizzard didn't have a gun against players heads.
Regardless, there shouldnt be much concern about threat from competitors.
The 19% increase is from the same quarter last year. I.E. VUGames (Not Blizzard) took in 19% more in Q3 this year then they did in Q3 last year.
I think that is the question. All that I know is that when I returned, I constantly ran into Thai, Korean, and Chinese players. [I also regularly ran into "bots."] Now, before some naive child says that is racist, please note that one of my best friends is Korean and currently lives in South Korea.
[The problem is that I do not speak Thai or Chinese, and when someone says WoW has 10,000,000 subscribers, I am not impressed because I play for 1) world immersion, 2) character customization, 3) fun and interesting content, and 4) community.
It is hard to have a community when you cannot communicate. I do not speak Thai, Chinese, Korean, or bot.]
[Please note: I am a huge fan of Warcraft III: Frozen Throne. I enjoyed Diablo and Starcraft. I also respect and even admire Blizzard as a company. I think WoW is also a good game. Not worth paying for, though.]
-----
WoW and fast food = commercial successes.
I neither play WoW nor eat fast food.
Most people own 2 or 3 accounts so it's actually closer to 3 million.
"Don't hold breath about another KOTOR game coming from Bioware" - Chris Preistly
"Bioware is more intrested in pursueing development of it's own Intellectual properties"
- James Henly
"...please note that one of my best friends is Korean and currently lives in South Korea."
Please note, why does that even matter?
That Guild Wars 2 login screen knocked up my wife. Must be the second coming!
It matters to preempt a charge of racist or xenophobe. The issue is that 10,000,000 million "accounts" of Thais, Chinese, Koreans, and bots creates a language barrier.
If you do not speak Thai, Chinese, Korean, or bot... you might not have much of a community.
[I know when I played WoW I had two accounts: 1) my main: hunter; and 2) a dwarf priest to server as my Guild's bank and help with raids.]
-----
WoW and fast food = commercial successes.
I neither play WoW nor eat fast food.
No they don't. You can have what? 9 characters on one server. Of course some people 2-box it, but it's absolutely absurd to suggest they're a majority.
I do like WoW, but I'll jump ship when an MMO with proper depth comes out...
WoW is ok... but I totally lost 100% of my motivation after being on a private server for about an hour. I:
-Flew on a mount
-Walked around in the highest tier gear
-Learned all the warrior attacks
-Finished a talent tree
-Slaughtered everyone in Gnomeregan as a capped character for revenge.
I have officially done everything I WAS playing retail WoW to do. No reason to play anymore.
If you are masochistic and somehow like a game who's enjoyment will sharply peak and decline based almost entirely on other people once you cap out (But only until AFTER you've invested countless hours and dollars soloing,playing with the friends you actually like, and partying in PUGs that, unlike endgame, are not mandatory to stay in), go ahead I guess. I'm waiting for WAR, and will celebrate the end of organized raids. (City sacking, can't wait)
--------------------------------
-Been there, done that: Xsyon, WoW, EVE, Maplestory, City of Heroes, Guild Wars, Warhammer Online, FF11, Rift
-Currently playing: Not MMOs
-Wants to check out: SWTOR, Dark Millennium
That's why it's here, right, to show off infront of other folk, and kill other folk and do stuff with other folk, not alone...
Its "almost" at 10m when its at 9.3m?
If the subscribtion number would be rising, WoW would be opening new servers in EU and US. But they aren't. My guess is that the number of subscribers are going down in US&EU and going up in Asia.
REALITY CHECK
If subscription numbers were going down as many like to pretend they do, Blizz would also close or merge servers.
The only way to know for sure is to see when or if Blzzard announces new subscription numbers.
They used to be more frequent, so we know that the growth rate has slowed. We just don't know if their subscription numbers are falling.
I've played about 25 MMOs, but never got around to trying WOW.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
I've played about 25 MMOs, but never got around to trying WOW.
Which proves that ....? You're "more" then the 9.300.000 subscribers of Wow in playing worse games ?
Em yes I think it actually does prove that.
REALITY CHECK
I've played about 25 MMOs, but never got around to trying WOW.
Which proves that ....? You're "more" then the 9.300.000 subscribers of Wow in playing worse games ?
No, it just proves that he's not the only one who hasn't tried WoW. I was just conversing, not trying to make any sort of point.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
A central marketplace or auction house does not make a game, though I guess in an item intensive game where people quest / raid for loot 24/7 it is certainly a handy addition. I won't knock WoW (Blizzard) because you are right to an extent. The game itself, while not flawless, is more complete than the majority of other MMO's to date (Blizzard had the cash to make sure they released a complete product). The graphics are good, the animations run smoothly on most machines, there are very few bugs, exploits, lag and the game appeals to the very casual gamer who isn't looking for a complex game. If you are looking for a simple, casual friendly PvE style game you can't go wrong with WoW (IMO).
A lot of people on these boards I think are MMO veterans and they are looking for a game that offers a more compelling game play. For some it is a skill system / character customization system that is more complex than what WoW offers. Than you have those that want a game system that really makes you want to play your character beyond the simple leveling / acquiring items..things like a well designed story arc or pvp where your character can really make a difference. This is why people play games like AO, DAoC, Shadowbane & EvE and they are willing to forgo Blizzards "polished" WoW. Very few of those old games are as complete as WoW and I can understand why the casual gamer won't play them with the flaws they usually have.
As to why some people are always ragging on WoW (Blizzard), I guess they are just bitter that they constantly have cash strapped or inept coders making the more complex / involved games that they like. Imagine a company like Blizzard, who has the cash and talent, to really push the MMO genre beyond the simplistic EQ (WoW) games we have now.
I don't see less people playing wow around me but more. btw I live in minnesota/us. I don't think they are loseing subscriptions. You would think where there was a patch that increases exp gain all around and would only think that brings people back or more people to try it.
--
"Any free people have the right to choose how it wants to be govern thats the essence of democracy. It's sad when America has chosen for the stability and consistency of a dictatorship and doing it democratically" -utnow
Geez they had a patch that increases exp? from what I hear from players and peps on the board it is very eary to lvl a charactor in WoW. And I do agree, I don't think there is any drop in players in WoW