World of Warcraft is a PC that appeals to casuals. They have set the standard (just like Everquest did God knows how long ago) and in order for another MMO to beat that they have to do exactly what WoW did:
Compile a bunch of popular MMO features and slam them together to appeal to the majority.
This, right now, is not currently possible because the only MMO developer with the money to actually expirement and not go bankrupt is...well, Blizzard.
Lets look at a few features that Blizzard introduced that have now been copied because they were successful:
Battlegrounds (One could argue this was made from FPS games, and I'd agree. If some moron comes in here and screams DAoC, I'll say go back to that game since it's so successful w/ it's piss poor graphics)
Group queues: Yes, FFXI had a fairly well done grouping system, however casuals could not for their life get into it. You need to play the game for maybe 2 weeks before you realize the "social standards" of using it. Blind flagging yourself vs. saying what +stats you had was a huge difference to whether or not you would be invited...especially if you were a DPS class. WoW stepped this up and just automatically did it w/ an internal gear score system. Granted, GS =/= skill, but there is no current way for a computer to analyze skill unless Blizzard decides DPS/HPS/TPS = skill (which then, we may have people statpad)
Arenas: Love it or hate it, and I personally would rather go play an FPS/RTS, or hell, LoL/DOTA, this is one feature that no MMO had (Guild Wars had it at launch) and if another MMO did, I didn't know about it and neither do the other 7 million players so we don't care.
Casual appeal: Before WoW came into play, every MMO I know required you to be unemployed, in high school, a school drop out, or anything that you could define as "failure in life". There is the exception of the 30 year old who knew how to invest properly and didn't have to work anymore. WoW changed this, they tapped into the market that every other developer thought "lol, they'll only play for 1 month and not sub anymore". Well, sure, those moron devs designed the game that way. Blizzard first made the game to balance towards both casual and hardcore, but as they realized that the majority of their sub payers were casuals....well, out came easy mode and the reason why everyone who doesn't have a life (most people who hate WoW) cry.
Most importantly, all of the above can be done on a shitbox that's 5 years old. You wanna run FFXIV on a 5 year old system?
In short, this topic is a joke, it's not gonna happen. I firmly believe that they only way WoW will die is if WoW kills itself...however, seeing as how Diablo 2 is still one of the most played games.........that ain't happening. Diablo 3 might create internal competition but as of right now:
Blizzard = RTS, RPG players on PC
Valve = Almost all FPS players on PC
I didn't even get into the fact that FFXIV has a garbage interface + control system that no casual player is going to like adjusting to. The only players who could stand it are players like myself, who played FFXI...but I still haven't purchased the game simply because Square-Enix cannot code for their life (lol patcher).
Eh, SupCom has my RTS talons dug deep within it, as Turbine/Bethesda does with RPGs. Valve still has yet to shake me though.
Though I agree this topic is foolish. Square enix is asian, and as such they program tedious, trite, and meaningless player punishments instead of legitimate difficulty, as they are wont to do. Other than the people that want to like it, it won't gain a large player base. Not to mention the fact that it hasn't even hit with the AH decimation/racist japanese community that was prevalent in every facet of FFXI. I would say that people will get sick of the awful, counterproductive UI, copy/pasted yawnfest that are the zones, boredom that is the combat, and being funneled into group only on the entire basis that all SE does is type a drastically higher number for the hp of their mobs if it weren't for the fact that some still play FFXI for whatever reason. (epeen mostly I've found. That and a misunderstanding that senseless grindfest somehow equates oldschool) The only thing this game has going for it are graphics, which are ruined by the generic and repetitive art design.
World of Warcraft is a PC that appeals to casuals. They have set the standard (just like Everquest did God knows how long ago) and in order for another MMO to beat that they have to do exactly what WoW did:
Compile a bunch of popular MMO features and slam them together to appeal to the majority.
This, right now, is not currently possible because the only MMO developer with the money to actually expirement and not go bankrupt is...well, Blizzard.
Lets look at a few features that Blizzard introduced that have now been copied because they were successful:
Battlegrounds (One could argue this was made from FPS games, and I'd agree. If some moron comes in here and screams DAoC, I'll say go back to that game since it's so successful w/ it's piss poor graphics)
Group queues: Yes, FFXI had a fairly well done grouping system, however casuals could not for their life get into it. You need to play the game for maybe 2 weeks before you realize the "social standards" of using it. Blind flagging yourself vs. saying what +stats you had was a huge difference to whether or not you would be invited...especially if you were a DPS class. WoW stepped this up and just automatically did it w/ an internal gear score system. Granted, GS =/= skill, but there is no current way for a computer to analyze skill unless Blizzard decides DPS/HPS/TPS = skill (which then, we may have people statpad)
Arenas: Love it or hate it, and I personally would rather go play an FPS/RTS, or hell, LoL/DOTA, this is one feature that no MMO had (Guild Wars had it at launch) and if another MMO did, I didn't know about it and neither do the other 7 million players so we don't care.
Casual appeal: Before WoW came into play, every MMO I know required you to be unemployed, in high school, a school drop out, or anything that you could define as "failure in life". There is the exception of the 30 year old who knew how to invest properly and didn't have to work anymore. WoW changed this, they tapped into the market that every other developer thought "lol, they'll only play for 1 month and not sub anymore". Well, sure, those moron devs designed the game that way. Blizzard first made the game to balance towards both casual and hardcore, but as they realized that the majority of their sub payers were casuals....well, out came easy mode and the reason why everyone who doesn't have a life (most people who hate WoW) cry.
Most importantly, all of the above can be done on a shitbox that's 5 years old. You wanna run FFXIV on a 5 year old system?
In short, this topic is a joke, it's not gonna happen. I firmly believe that they only way WoW will die is if WoW kills itself...however, seeing as how Diablo 2 is still one of the most played games.........that ain't happening. Diablo 3 might create internal competition but as of right now:
Blizzard = RTS, RPG players on PC
Valve = Almost all FPS players on PC
I didn't even get into the fact that FFXIV has a garbage interface + control system that no casual player is going to like adjusting to. The only players who could stand it are players like myself, who played FFXI...but I still haven't purchased the game simply because Square-Enix cannot code for their life (lol patcher).
I hope for FF series that you are not playing this game or in the community. You only tend to piss off the haters more causing increase in negative posts. For example, "Before WoW came into play, every MMO I know required you to be unemployed, in high school, a school drop out, or anything that you could define as "failure in life". So you are telling all the old timers they are failures? Man, your ego is way above inflated. If FF community thinks anything like you than I will pass it, as an old mmorpg player ( failure in your eyes) I retired from the military while you were pissin in mama's lap. Son, go back to WoW where such communities would call you elite lmfao
playing any mmo != elite, just means you wasted that much time to get to where you did, hopefully enjoying it
Well, the question is what isn't a waste of time? Working? Drinking? Watching TV? lying on the beach?
It depends on you, even though you can overdo anything and certain people I know who got divorced, fired or have no time for stuff like personal hygiene really should considering "getting a life".
Having fun is not a waste of time but I have hard to see how playing a game 12 hours each day is fun, that is more an addiction than fun, like smoking. 4 hours instead of watching TV can still be fun for me, and a lot more at certain times, like some weekends or when the new expansion hits but every day it just get as boring as work and at least work pays me.
Everything about this game is unnatractive to the western market.
Important facts: 1. Free to Play games are poorly made. 2. Casuals are not all idiots, but idiots call themselves casuals. 3. Great solo and group content are not mutually exclusive, but they suffer when one is shoved into the mold of the other. The same is true of PvP and PvE. 4. Community is more important than you think.
playing any mmo != elite, just means you wasted that much time to get to where you did, hopefully enjoying it
Well, the question is what isn't a waste of time? Working? Drinking? Watching TV? lying on the beach?
It depends on you, even though you can overdo anything and certain people I know who got divorced, fired or have no time for stuff like personal hygiene really should considering "getting a life".
Having fun is not a waste of time but I have hard to see how playing a game 12 hours each day is fun, that is more an addiction than fun, like smoking. 4 hours instead of watching TV can still be fun for me, and a lot more at certain times, like some weekends or when the new expansion hits but every day it just get as boring as work and at least work pays me.
And this, is exactly why I consider all old school MMOs being made to cater towards failures. Lets start w/ examples:
Ragnarok Online: Grind much? I don't need to explain this do I? There was the social aspect in the game, but when your social life goes online you are indeed a damn failure (I would know, used to fat and have a bunch of gfs online...I was 13).
Lineage 2: I had 2 other friends + my brother play this with me. We ALL skipped school and nearly failed our grade. Somehow, playing 6-8 hours a day, someone still managed to hit level 40 way before we did. The scariest part was that there were MANY people leveling at the same rate as us. We met a few who lived near us....guess what? They were in high school too. Level 20 took two weeks of hardcore play, now it takes 3 days (WoW did the world a favour)
Final Fantasy XI: Level 20, once again, took two weeks when the game first came out. After hitting around level 30+ you are REQUIRED (unless you are a WHM, RDM, BLM, or sometimes PLD) at least a 4 hour window from the moment you log on to the moment you log off. If you do not, you will get absolutely no leveling done. Good thing about FFXI was that there was other things to do, but who the hell plays an MMO besides for leveling and competing?
Someone do Everquest, I never played it, but I've heard stories lol
We've also got Legend of MIR, MU Online, Lineage, and other crazy MMOs that took HUGE time investments if you wanted to get anything done.
playing any mmo != elite, just means you wasted that much time to get to where you did, hopefully enjoying it
Only people who code are going to understand what != means, and the poster above is a proud military dumbass. I don't think he codes.
EDIT: Oh, sweet, he's 54 years old. Apparently being older doesn't make you anymore mature!
So much for the WoW's full of kiddies argument; especially due to the arrogant dipshits who are in their 50s
Way to take the high road there. So much for maturity eh?
Well, it's true, idiots always win in arguments because they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. Him, being much older than me, must have more experience being an idiot.
playing any mmo != elite, just means you wasted that much time to get to where you did, hopefully enjoying it
Well, the question is what isn't a waste of time? Working? Drinking? Watching TV? lying on the beach?
It depends on you, even though you can overdo anything and certain people I know who got divorced, fired or have no time for stuff like personal hygiene really should considering "getting a life".
Having fun is not a waste of time but I have hard to see how playing a game 12 hours each day is fun, that is more an addiction than fun, like smoking. 4 hours instead of watching TV can still be fun for me, and a lot more at certain times, like some weekends or when the new expansion hits but every day it just get as boring as work and at least work pays me.
in terms of what is elite and what is not given that the word is used as a definition that the majority agrees to as otherwise it would lose its point and communication would be sacrificed, playing any mmo to the general population would be seen as useless and an entertaining activity. Only those within the game would see others as elite, being those who have wasted more time on progression than them that act as gods. So it comes down to if you're talking about being elite to others in the game who hold the same goals and have the same opinion of worth as you do or if you believe other qualities determine if someone is elite. As for me, I don't believe playing an mmo can be a quality that defines whether or not someone is elite. It could be a waste of time, but, that is not being argued, just that playing a mmo or a specific mmo can be a determining factor as to if someone is elite or not.
playing any mmo != elite, just means you wasted that much time to get to where you did, hopefully enjoying it
Well, the question is what isn't a waste of time? Working? Drinking? Watching TV? lying on the beach?
It depends on you, even though you can overdo anything and certain people I know who got divorced, fired or have no time for stuff like personal hygiene really should considering "getting a life".
Having fun is not a waste of time but I have hard to see how playing a game 12 hours each day is fun, that is more an addiction than fun, like smoking. 4 hours instead of watching TV can still be fun for me, and a lot more at certain times, like some weekends or when the new expansion hits but every day it just get as boring as work and at least work pays me.
And this, is exactly why I consider all old school MMOs being made to cater towards failures. Lets start w/ examples:
Ragnarok Online: Grind much? I don't need to explain this do I? There was the social aspect in the game, but when your social life goes online you are indeed a damn failure (I would know, used to fat and have a bunch of gfs online...I was 13).
Lineage 2: I had 2 other friends + my brother play this with me. We ALL skipped school and nearly failed our grade. Somehow, playing 6-8 hours a day, someone still managed to hit level 40 way before we did. The scariest part was that there were MANY people leveling at the same rate as us. We met a few who lived near us....guess what? They were in high school too. Level 20 took two weeks of hardcore play, now it takes 3 days (WoW did the world a favour)
Final Fantasy XI: Level 20, once again, took two weeks when the game first came out. After hitting around level 30+ you are REQUIRED (unless you are a WHM, RDM, BLM, or sometimes PLD) at least a 4 hour window from the moment you log on to the moment you log off. If you do not, you will get absolutely no leveling done. Good thing about FFXI was that there was other things to do, but who the hell plays an MMO besides for leveling and competing?
Someone do Everquest, I never played it, but I've heard stories lol
We've also got Legend of MIR, MU Online, Lineage, and other crazy MMOs that took HUGE time investments if you wanted to get anything done.
EQ I spent about 2 months gaining one level. I was 13 and not very good at MMOs, plus this was well before PoP when it hit ez moad. Though as it went I could still have a social life outside of a "hardcore" MMO. I did a lot while I played Vanguard and still made it decently high before, again, SOE Hulk Hoganed that sh*t in the face with an American armbar of nerf. I guess my priorities have always been RL>MMO. I tend to find guilds that, while progressed, don't flip when you say "can't make the raid, got drinking(+)/movies/gf/party/work/driveacar/etc. Yes, I was insinuating you can drink with all those activities, because of freedom.
I truly hope everyone understands how awful FF XIV is now that its released. Only the fanboys will play this garbage. How can a company with considerable funding screw a game up sooo badly.
Erm, well, WoW has many subs in China only to farm gold, not for the fun of the game...
Gold Farmers have US/EU accounts, not Chinese accounts. So no, WoW's Chinese subs are not there to farm gold.
Most gold sellers are also based in the US and Europe, because that's where they indeed make their money. Although they do tend to use regions where they don't have to pay people much, to do the actual gold farming.
To pass WoW in actual real subscriptions, they would merely need 3.5 Million non-chinese, maybe a few hundred thousand less. That being said, yes its possible with the game being cross-platform.
Actually closer to 4m china, 3.5m singapore, 3mil Europe+America+Oceanic atm. There hasn't been any word from Activision-Blizzard on sub numbers for well over a year and a half.
Current players can be drawn from warcraft realms, with a margin of error of about 200k either way.
Actually closer to 4m china, 3.5m singapore, 3mil Europe+America+Oceanic atm. There hasn't been any word from Activision-Blizzard on sub numbers for well over a year and a half.
Current players can be drawn from warcraft realms, with a margin of error of about 200k either way.
Keep in mind that Asian WoW accounts work on an hourly payment method, and that they are never closed or considered "not subscribed."
Correct there hasn't, hence why I stated the last reported demographic.
It wouldn't surprise me if EU and US figures have dropped. I've not played WoW for quite some time, but had a friend go back recently who reported the (EU) servers didn't seem as busy. I am however pretty sure there's not a dedicated regional coverage for Singapore. I believe they fall under Oceanic, which in itself falls under the US (business) region.
FF XIV still has zero chance of getting near any of WoW figures. To be honest that isn't a reflection on FF XIV either. WoW's more of an anomaly when it comes to subscriptions.
Actually, I'd say FFXIV has a large chance of hitting 3m in 2 years. I seem to remember WoW being called "trash" furing the first 6 months it existed, too.
Actually, I'd say FFXIV has a large chance of hitting 3m in 2 years. I seem to remember WoW being called "trash" furing the first 6 months it existed, too.
WoW was actually extremely well received, and a lot of MMOs suffered around that time and still do as a result. I'm afraid you aren't remembering correctly.
There has always been some, but the majority of the WoW trashing started sortly after TBC, when they started dumbing down the game with each patch.
FF XI didn't even come close to 1 mil. It stabilised at 500k (world wide), for most of its life, and declined only in the past year to 350k. So the chance for FF XIV, is basically zero. Even if by some miracle it did reach 3mill, its way less than what WoW has.
Comments
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
World of Warcraft is a PC that appeals to casuals. They have set the standard (just like Everquest did God knows how long ago) and in order for another MMO to beat that they have to do exactly what WoW did:
Compile a bunch of popular MMO features and slam them together to appeal to the majority.
This, right now, is not currently possible because the only MMO developer with the money to actually expirement and not go bankrupt is...well, Blizzard.
Lets look at a few features that Blizzard introduced that have now been copied because they were successful:
Battlegrounds (One could argue this was made from FPS games, and I'd agree. If some moron comes in here and screams DAoC, I'll say go back to that game since it's so successful w/ it's piss poor graphics)
Group queues: Yes, FFXI had a fairly well done grouping system, however casuals could not for their life get into it. You need to play the game for maybe 2 weeks before you realize the "social standards" of using it. Blind flagging yourself vs. saying what +stats you had was a huge difference to whether or not you would be invited...especially if you were a DPS class. WoW stepped this up and just automatically did it w/ an internal gear score system. Granted, GS =/= skill, but there is no current way for a computer to analyze skill unless Blizzard decides DPS/HPS/TPS = skill (which then, we may have people statpad)
Arenas: Love it or hate it, and I personally would rather go play an FPS/RTS, or hell, LoL/DOTA, this is one feature that no MMO had (Guild Wars had it at launch) and if another MMO did, I didn't know about it and neither do the other 7 million players so we don't care.
Casual appeal: Before WoW came into play, every MMO I know required you to be unemployed, in high school, a school drop out, or anything that you could define as "failure in life". There is the exception of the 30 year old who knew how to invest properly and didn't have to work anymore. WoW changed this, they tapped into the market that every other developer thought "lol, they'll only play for 1 month and not sub anymore". Well, sure, those moron devs designed the game that way. Blizzard first made the game to balance towards both casual and hardcore, but as they realized that the majority of their sub payers were casuals....well, out came easy mode and the reason why everyone who doesn't have a life (most people who hate WoW) cry.
Most importantly, all of the above can be done on a shitbox that's 5 years old. You wanna run FFXIV on a 5 year old system?
In short, this topic is a joke, it's not gonna happen. I firmly believe that they only way WoW will die is if WoW kills itself...however, seeing as how Diablo 2 is still one of the most played games.........that ain't happening. Diablo 3 might create internal competition but as of right now:
Blizzard = RTS, RPG players on PC
Valve = Almost all FPS players on PC
I didn't even get into the fact that FFXIV has a garbage interface + control system that no casual player is going to like adjusting to. The only players who could stand it are players like myself, who played FFXI...but I still haven't purchased the game simply because Square-Enix cannot code for their life (lol patcher).
It won't.
Looks how other Japanese base MMO failed big time in China, namely Sanguo Online and Nobunaga Online (KOEI).
You do know that FFXI was the one game that never did fail in asia right?
Eh, SupCom has my RTS talons dug deep within it, as Turbine/Bethesda does with RPGs. Valve still has yet to shake me though.
Though I agree this topic is foolish. Square enix is asian, and as such they program tedious, trite, and meaningless player punishments instead of legitimate difficulty, as they are wont to do. Other than the people that want to like it, it won't gain a large player base. Not to mention the fact that it hasn't even hit with the AH decimation/racist japanese community that was prevalent in every facet of FFXI. I would say that people will get sick of the awful, counterproductive UI, copy/pasted yawnfest that are the zones, boredom that is the combat, and being funneled into group only on the entire basis that all SE does is type a drastically higher number for the hp of their mobs if it weren't for the fact that some still play FFXI for whatever reason. (epeen mostly I've found. That and a misunderstanding that senseless grindfest somehow equates oldschool) The only thing this game has going for it are graphics, which are ruined by the generic and repetitive art design.
I hope for FF series that you are not playing this game or in the community. You only tend to piss off the haters more causing increase in negative posts. For example, "Before WoW came into play, every MMO I know required you to be unemployed, in high school, a school drop out, or anything that you could define as "failure in life". So you are telling all the old timers they are failures? Man, your ego is way above inflated. If FF community thinks anything like you than I will pass it, as an old mmorpg player ( failure in your eyes) I retired from the military while you were pissin in mama's lap. Son, go back to WoW where such communities would call you elite lmfao
playing any mmo != elite, just means you wasted that much time to get to where you did, hopefully enjoying it
Only people who code are going to understand what != means, and the poster above is a proud military dumbass. I don't think he codes.
EDIT: Oh, sweet, he's 54 years old. Apparently being older doesn't make you anymore mature!
So much for the WoW's full of kiddies argument; especially due to the arrogant dipshits who are in their 50s
Well, the question is what isn't a waste of time? Working? Drinking? Watching TV? lying on the beach?
It depends on you, even though you can overdo anything and certain people I know who got divorced, fired or have no time for stuff like personal hygiene really should considering "getting a life".
Having fun is not a waste of time but I have hard to see how playing a game 12 hours each day is fun, that is more an addiction than fun, like smoking. 4 hours instead of watching TV can still be fun for me, and a lot more at certain times, like some weekends or when the new expansion hits but every day it just get as boring as work and at least work pays me.
No.
Everything about this game is unnatractive to the western market.
Important facts:
1. Free to Play games are poorly made.
2. Casuals are not all idiots, but idiots call themselves casuals.
3. Great solo and group content are not mutually exclusive, but they suffer when one is shoved into the mold of the other. The same is true of PvP and PvE.
4. Community is more important than you think.
Way to take the high road there. So much for maturity eh?
And this, is exactly why I consider all old school MMOs being made to cater towards failures. Lets start w/ examples:
Ragnarok Online: Grind much? I don't need to explain this do I? There was the social aspect in the game, but when your social life goes online you are indeed a damn failure (I would know, used to fat and have a bunch of gfs online...I was 13).
Lineage 2: I had 2 other friends + my brother play this with me. We ALL skipped school and nearly failed our grade. Somehow, playing 6-8 hours a day, someone still managed to hit level 40 way before we did. The scariest part was that there were MANY people leveling at the same rate as us. We met a few who lived near us....guess what? They were in high school too. Level 20 took two weeks of hardcore play, now it takes 3 days (WoW did the world a favour)
Final Fantasy XI: Level 20, once again, took two weeks when the game first came out. After hitting around level 30+ you are REQUIRED (unless you are a WHM, RDM, BLM, or sometimes PLD) at least a 4 hour window from the moment you log on to the moment you log off. If you do not, you will get absolutely no leveling done. Good thing about FFXI was that there was other things to do, but who the hell plays an MMO besides for leveling and competing?
Someone do Everquest, I never played it, but I've heard stories lol
We've also got Legend of MIR, MU Online, Lineage, and other crazy MMOs that took HUGE time investments if you wanted to get anything done.
Well, it's true, idiots always win in arguments because they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. Him, being much older than me, must have more experience being an idiot.
But that doesn't mean I can't learn =D
in terms of what is elite and what is not given that the word is used as a definition that the majority agrees to as otherwise it would lose its point and communication would be sacrificed, playing any mmo to the general population would be seen as useless and an entertaining activity. Only those within the game would see others as elite, being those who have wasted more time on progression than them that act as gods. So it comes down to if you're talking about being elite to others in the game who hold the same goals and have the same opinion of worth as you do or if you believe other qualities determine if someone is elite. As for me, I don't believe playing an mmo can be a quality that defines whether or not someone is elite. It could be a waste of time, but, that is not being argued, just that playing a mmo or a specific mmo can be a determining factor as to if someone is elite or not.
EQ I spent about 2 months gaining one level. I was 13 and not very good at MMOs, plus this was well before PoP when it hit ez moad. Though as it went I could still have a social life outside of a "hardcore" MMO. I did a lot while I played Vanguard and still made it decently high before, again, SOE Hulk Hoganed that sh*t in the face with an American armbar of nerf. I guess my priorities have always been RL>MMO. I tend to find guilds that, while progressed, don't flip when you say "can't make the raid, got drinking(+)/movies/gf/party/work/driveacar/etc. Yes, I was insinuating you can drink with all those activities, because of freedom.
I truly hope everyone understands how awful FF XIV is now that its released. Only the fanboys will play this garbage. How can a company with considerable funding screw a game up sooo badly.
I doubt this game will surpass FFXI in its current state.
Games I've played/tried out:WAR, LOTRO, Tabula Rasa, AoC, EQ1, EQ2, WoW, Vangaurd, FFXI, D&DO, Lineage 2, Saga Of Ryzom, EvE Online, DAoC, Guild Wars,Star Wars Galaxies, Hell Gate London, Auto Assault, Grando Espada ( AKA SoTNW ), Archlord, CoV/H, Star Trek Online, APB, Champions Online, FFXIV, Rift Online, GW2.
Game(s) I Am Currently Playing:
GW2 (+LoL and BF3)
Gold Farmers have US/EU accounts, not Chinese accounts. So no, WoW's Chinese subs are not there to farm gold.
Alltern8 Blog | Star Wars Space Combat and The Old Republic | Cryptic Studios - A Pre Post-Mortem | Klingon Preview, STO's Monster Play
Most gold sellers are also based in the US and Europe, because that's where they indeed make their money. Although they do tend to use regions where they don't have to pay people much, to do the actual gold farming.
To pass WoW in actual real subscriptions, they would merely need 3.5 Million non-chinese, maybe a few hundred thousand less. That being said, yes its possible with the game being cross-platform.
The last reported demographic for WoW was (approx) :-
1) 4 mill NA server region
2) 4.5 mill EU region
3) 4 mill China.
Based upon FF XI (and that they aren't canning it), FF XIV won't even get to 15% of the China figure that WoW has.
Actually closer to 4m china, 3.5m singapore, 3mil Europe+America+Oceanic atm. There hasn't been any word from Activision-Blizzard on sub numbers for well over a year and a half.
Current players can be drawn from warcraft realms, with a margin of error of about 200k either way.
http://www.warcraftrealms.com/census.php?serverid=-1&factionid=-1&minlevel=80&maxlevel=90&servertypeid=-1
Keep in mind that Asian WoW accounts work on an hourly payment method, and that they are never closed or considered "not subscribed."
No.
Final Fantasy XIV is not that good of a game.
GW2 has a shot.
Correct there hasn't, hence why I stated the last reported demographic.
It wouldn't surprise me if EU and US figures have dropped. I've not played WoW for quite some time, but had a friend go back recently who reported the (EU) servers didn't seem as busy. I am however pretty sure there's not a dedicated regional coverage for Singapore. I believe they fall under Oceanic, which in itself falls under the US (business) region.
FF XIV still has zero chance of getting near any of WoW figures. To be honest that isn't a reflection on FF XIV either. WoW's more of an anomaly when it comes to subscriptions.
Actually, I'd say FFXIV has a large chance of hitting 3m in 2 years. I seem to remember WoW being called "trash" furing the first 6 months it existed, too.
WoW was actually extremely well received, and a lot of MMOs suffered around that time and still do as a result. I'm afraid you aren't remembering correctly.
There has always been some, but the majority of the WoW trashing started sortly after TBC, when they started dumbing down the game with each patch.
FF XI didn't even come close to 1 mil. It stabilised at 500k (world wide), for most of its life, and declined only in the past year to 350k. So the chance for FF XIV, is basically zero. Even if by some miracle it did reach 3mill, its way less than what WoW has.