1 Million Accounts

RiftFan

http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.php?85814-1-MillionTrion-Accounts!

 

This does not mean active and paying, but is a sign of extreme interest in the game by the

MMO community.

 

RIFT™ HEAD START KICKS-OFF TODAY AS TRION ECLIPSES ONE MILLION REGISTERED ACCOUNTS



Names of Rift public servers revealed on the game’s official forums



Trion Worlds announced today that more than one million accounts have been created to date, signaling a high level of interest for the company’s first massively multiplayer online game, Rift™, which is scheduled to launch March 1st in North America and March 4th in Europe. The news hits just as the game’s Head Start period begins, giving pre-order customers advance playtime before servers officially open on launch day.



Launching with 28 Head Start servers, Rift will feature dedicated realms for PvP, PvE, and role-playing players. Servers are live today, coinciding with the game’s Head Start period, which lasts until the game launches on March 1st in North America and March 4th in Europe. Find the official server list on Rift’s official forums at: http://forums.riftgame.com/showthrea...48#post1198848

Sovrath

hmmm...

that's not a number that I would tout if I was a developer. Many of those accounts could be from people who were intrigued only to find out that the game wasn't for them.

EbonHawk

Don't go and get all giddy...

"Registered Accounts" really don't mean all that much.

kirak2009

ahh this should be fun

 

/popcorn

RiftFan

Originally posted by EbonHawk

Don't go and get all giddy...

"Registered Accounts" really don't mean all that much.

I am with you on this. Impressive either way considering most people never heard of Rift less

then a month ago. I believe the actual number of sales is more around 300-400k on the high end.

Miles-Prower

Not the first game to reach a million accounts on day 1, but still, eager to see how this game pans out!

 

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

cybrinsanity

I still think  its pretty neat that a Start up with a new IP has generated those numbers, Grats Trion!!

skeptical

Yeah great so 1 million people made an account to sign up for or try the beta. Warhammer was all excitied about the same thing they said they had 300k pre-orders and all that. Then 3 months later the game was dead and they didn't even sell all the boxes they sent to retail. Let's see how many sub they have in 6 months and then you will know if this game has any chance. They probably need to hold at least 500k to make any money.

Izork

Rift is using a exellent marketing strategy.. They haven't shown any sign of the game untill a month or two ago.. when it's done.

 

Means when it's released and people find out it's a great game - word of mouth boosts the numbers high. 

 

 

I predict 1mil active subs in 4 months.

Locklain

Originally posted by cybrinsanity

I still think  its pretty neat that a Start up with a new IP has generated those numbers, Grats Trion!!

^^This.

 

For a fresh company those numbers are still pretty impressive.  Twist it in whatever direction to make you feel better I guess.  Who knows how many people are still on the fence or waiting on friends.

RiftFan

Originally posted by Izork

Rift is using a exellent marketing strategy.. They haven't shown any sign of the game untill a month or two ago.. when it's done.

 

Means when it's released and people find out it's a great game - word of mouth boosts the numbers high. 

 

 

I predict 1mil active subs in 4 months.

I typically do not get my hopes up either, but they have said they have been working on

post release content for a long time now since the Betas have basically been running

themselves.

Loktofeit

Originally posted by Sovrath

hmmm...

that's not a number that I would tout if I was a developer. Many of those accounts could be from people who were intrigued only to find out that the game wasn't for them.

Evidently there's some data saying it works with some particular audience because it seems to be a common near-release news blast for the newer MMOs.

Paragus1

Originally posted by Izork

I predict 1mil active subs in 4 months.

 

They won't have 1 million boxes sold in 4 months, let alone 1 million actives.   I think that's a very rose-tainted prediction.   The game is polished and that says a tremendous amount in todays age of debacle launch MMOs.   I have no beef against the game, but I'm going to say that this one will go the same way as the last 4 or 5 that followed many of the same design elements, losing 70% of the initial subscribers by 90 days.   I don't really see what this game is doing differently that will make the outcome be any different.   Just my 2 cents.

ThomasN7

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Izork

I predict 1mil active subs in 4 months.

 

They won't have 1 million boxes sold in 4 months, let alone 1 million actives.   I think that's a very rose-tainted prediction.   The game is polished and that says a tremendous amount in todays age of debacle launch MMOs.   I have no beef against the game, but I'm going to say that this one will go the same way as the last 4 or 5 that followed many of the same design elements, losing 70% of the initial subscribers by 90 days.   I don't really see what this game is doing differently that will make the outcome be any different.   Just my 2 cents.

Why wouldn't they. All other mmso pretty much suck right now and are getting older as we speak. If Warhammer Online lasted this long this game will most certainly be around for a long time with people playing it.

thecipher

Originally posted by skeptical

Yeah great so 1 million people made an account to sign up for or try the beta. Warhammer was all excitied about the same thing they said they had 300k pre-orders and all that. Then 3 months later the game was dead and they didn't even sell all the boxes they sent to retail. Let's see how many sub they have in 6 months and then you will know if this game has any chance. They probably need to hold at least 500k to make any money.

Launch isn't that much of an indicator of the game's health, I can agree on that. However, they can probably get along with far less than 500k subs.

 

Trion reportedly raised about 100 million in funding for their 3 games, with Rift being just the first one. Assuming that they wanted to start out with a bang, and that they put 50 million into making it, they'll only need to get and retain around 250k subs to be profitable within a year, if you count the box sales.

 

Box Sales: 250.000 x 50$ = 12½ million

Subs: 250.000 x 15$ x 12months = 45 million

 

That's not counting those who got the CE, or those who get the game and then decide they don't want to play after all, so in reality, they could probably make due with less than 250k. From the sales speeches I've seen the main Trion guys do (they're on the YouTubes), I seem to remember them telling their investors that MMO's were a long-term investment, and that making back the money could take a while, but that it would be profitable after a certain period of time.

 

Cammy

Awesome job by Trion - nice to see a new game like this take off.

Im curious to know how many PREORDERs they have... but regardless, its very safe to say Rift will probably have 500k subs in the next 2-3 months - assuming the developers keep promises and keep the game interesting.

 

LOL at all the people who said they wouldn't even break 100k-200k sub range. Funny how the haters are very quiet right now /flame away

Just goes to show - flaming on the forums only makes you look like a tool (for reference, I've played every MMO since 2004 and NEVER have gone to their forums to trash it)... and no - I didn't 'like them all' either... obviously /rolleyes

Zippy

There is also this:  But 1 million with 29 servers wrong,

 

[quote]

ift Attracts Over 1 Million Subscribers

Posted 24 February 2011 by Rushster

Trion have released details that more than one million accounts have been purchased pre-release signalling a high level of interest for Rift!

A great start for Rift which head start period will be starting shortly.

This is fantastic news for Trion, especially on the back of such a smooth beta we all enjoyed. and this means plenty of ascended to keep Regolus destroying Telara again!

[/quote]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sovrath

Originally posted by Loktofeit

Originally posted by Sovrath

hmmm...

that's not a number that I would tout if I was a developer. Many of those accounts could be from people who were intrigued only to find out that the game wasn't for them.

Evidently there's some data saying it works with some particular audience because it seems to be a common near-release news blast for the newer MMOs.

It just doesn't feel right.

1 million accounts to date include all the people who tried the game and hated it.

1 million pre-orders would be more impressive to me.

It's just a bit slick for my taste.

Robsolf

Yep.  Cryptic used the same nonsense for STO.

Emhster

Number of account created only tells how much users wanted to try it, but it doesn't say if that translates to good sales. Other metrics would be more appropriate.

Robsolf

Originally posted by thecipher

Box Sales: 250.000 x 50$ = 12½ million

Subs: 250.000 x 15$ x 12months = 45 million

 

That's not counting those who got the CE, or those who get the game and then decide they don't want to play after all, so in reality, they could probably make due with less than 250k. From the sales speeches I've seen the main Trion guys do (they're on the YouTubes), I seem to remember them telling their investors that MMO's were a long-term investment, and that making back the money could take a while, but that it would be profitable after a certain period of time.

 

Why can't people pick up even the most basic concept that if a company sells a product for $50, that they don't MAKE ANYWHERE NEAR $50 off of it?

spankybus

I must say, i think anyone who registered for Beta is probably getting included in this number. Technically, they are a registered account even if they did not pre-prder.

 

None-the-less, I believe this game will do well. If nothing else, it is well made and as sad as that sounds, its becoming all-too rare.

Paragus1

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Originally posted by Paragus1

Originally posted by Izork

I predict 1mil active subs in 4 months.

 

They won't have 1 million boxes sold in 4 months, let alone 1 million actives.   I think that's a very rose-tainted prediction.   The game is polished and that says a tremendous amount in todays age of debacle launch MMOs.   I have no beef against the game, but I'm going to say that this one will go the same way as the last 4 or 5 that followed many of the same design elements, losing 70% of the initial subscribers by 90 days.   I don't really see what this game is doing differently that will make the outcome be any different.   Just my 2 cents.

Why wouldn't they. All other mmso pretty much suck right now and are getting older as we speak. If Warhammer Online lasted this long this game will most certainly be around for a long time with people playing it.

Don't get me wrong, I think the game will be profitable.   I'm not saying it will be free to play or anything or shut down, but 1 million subs just doesn't seem realistic in my opinion.  The game is a very polished version of a formula that has consistantly not performed well in the last few years.   The PvE is interesting with the Rift mechanics, but I think that novelty will wear off at max level, which will probably take about 4 weeks to reach for a non-casual gamer.  After that it will be the end-game gear grind in instances etc.    The PvP in my opinion will not have the staying power to keep people subscribed, again this is my opinion.

We saw this same forumla used in Warhammer, Age of Conan, and to an extent in Aion.   All of these games have a lot in common in terms of commerical success.  Usually around 500-700k initial box sales, then a rapid decline by the 60-90 day mark where roughly 70% of the player base has moved on.  I think the industry has proved that MMO players in general are growing very tired of this formula, and regardless of how much money is spent by the developers, the outcome has always been the same.  Warhammer is still running, but there are not many that would call it a good game today.   The drastic number of server merges, consolidations, and free to play promotions for lower levels indicate that I think.

I say this as someone who has guild members planning on starting to play this game today with the head start, and most of them are looking at Rift as a short term filler game.

Sovrath

look, I'm sure that rift will do well. Heck, I preordered. Downloading at home as I write this (I hope).

But my issue is not them claiming 1 million preorders or 1 million subs but 1 million people who 'had" interest in the game.

We all know that there are people who hate the game so of that 1 million accounts 'x' number will not give an endorsement.

I think preorder numbers might have been a bit better.

ScrimMaltese

I have an account and so does my wife, I've actually never played and the wife only played once. I 2 friends who did the same thing as my wife.

Saying, Rift has 1mil Accounts is like saying some random F2P Asian Grinder has 20mil accounts. It doesn't matter who's made an account, if they aren't playing, they aren't paying.

To me, that doesn't really seem like they are trying to make a good first impression. Makes you wonder what kind of company Trion is going to be. 

RiftFan

Math indicaters:



Open Beta had roughly 42 servers world wide. Assuming if 800k of that 1 mil is real people and

not duplicate accounts for whatever reason.



Now you have roughly 30ish servers for head start. I estimate roughly 500-600k actual purchases.