Battle for Azeroth Scores 3.4M Copies Sold for a New Day-One Sales Record - World of Warcraft - MMOR

SBFord · August 2018

Battle for Azeroth Scores 3.4M Copies Sold for a New Day-One Sales Record - World of Warcraft - MMORPG.com

World of Warcraft News - Blizzard Entertainment has announced that the Battle for Azeroth expansion to World of Warcraft has scored a new Day-One sales record by moving 3.4M copies on August 14th. Seemingly, this does not include units pre-ordered prior to launch day. This makes BfA the "fastest-selling WoW expansion ever" and makes it "one of the fastest-selling PC games of all time".

Read the full story here

JeffSpicoli · August 2018

I already see alot of people not connecting with this expansion and calling it quits after a week. My question is, Can WOW sustain itself by breaking records every 2 years while hemorrhaging subs throughout the drought from Xpac to Xpac ? If the answer is YES this is very bad news, As long as Blizzard turns a profit they will have no incentive to change.

For the record I'm kind of 50/50 on BFA at this point, Im liking some things alot and others i find done very poorly.

Celcius · August 2018

Good stuff. They earned it, it has been a fantastic expansion so far. Also, it doesn't matter if they can sustain it as we will never know anyways. The game is constantly changing and evolving, if you don't like it, it is just not changing in the way you like it.

MadFrenchie · August 2018

Content quality is excellent, the leveling curve is atrocious. Even when it's working as intended, it smacks the gamer in the face with a feeling of "spinning their wheels," so to speak.

I'm sure Blizzard will work it out, but it seems like something that should've been fixed during testing. I do remember beta testers posting about an issue with the power curve.

Galadourn · August 2018

Now that the expansion is out, I hope we'll start getting more info on the Classic release

Hariken · August 2018

Long live the King. Wow is more than 10 years old and still on top. What does that say about other game companies that can't seem to get why Wow still is on top. After all this time still no games seems to compete with it. All i see are games that make huge mistakes that take them down.

MadFrenchie · August 2018

Hariken said:

Long live the King. Wow is more than 10 years old and still on top. What does that say about other game companies that can't seem to get why Wow still is on top. After all this time still no games seems to compete with it. All i see are games that make huge mistakes that take them down.

I don't disagree with you, but social proof and bandwagon is with WoW, and has been since the days of Mr. T commercials.

Those two are powerful things. It isn't taking away from Blizzard, I mentioned a few posts up the content is quality. However, they have two very powerful, social motivating factors going for them that new titles won't have. Blizzard can afford to make a few mistakes much better than most.

Celcius · August 2018

MadFrenchie said:

Hariken said:

Long live the King. Wow is more than 10 years old and still on top. What does that say about other game companies that can't seem to get why Wow still is on top. After all this time still no games seems to compete with it. All i see are games that make huge mistakes that take them down.

I don't disagree with you, but social proof and bandwagon is with WoW, and has been since the days of Mr. T commercials.

Those two are powerful things. It isn't taking away from Blizzard, I mentioned a few posts up the content is quality. However, they have two very powerful, social motivating factors going for them that new titles won't have. Blizzard can afford to make a few mistakes much better than most.

This is very true. WoW is a great game, even objectively speaking, it is polished and oozes quality....but....they do make plenty of mistakes. This expansion is no exception. Most companies can't afford to do that and get away with it. The brand loyalty for Blizzard is still insanely high. They have also created a very strong ecosystem within Battle.net as you see your friends playing a thing because you are likely playing a different Battle.net game; then you are like hey...maybe I should play that too! It is pretty much like the "Steam effect". The key difference between Steam and Battle.net is you likely have a much stronger sense of community on Battle.net.

Gnog · August 2018

What other MMO company has players who will say, “I’m bored, I might as well throw $40 to see how Blizzard’s latest is.”

JeffSpicoli · August 2018

Gnog said:

What other MMO company has players who will say, “I’m bored, I might as well throw $40 to see how Blizzard’s latest is.”

More like 65 with sub... But yeah you are right, that is me every expansion.

SBFord · August 2018

thunderC said:

For the record I'm kind of 50/50 on BFA at this point, Im liking some things alot and others i find done very poorly.

I LOVE being in the world -- it's so gorgeously designed, is SO different than the rest of Azeroth and, best of all, there's no fel green! I love touring around and looking at all of the little touches and the inspiring level design. It's amazing for a 14-year-old game.

However, the gameplay is clunky (GCD needs to be the same length across the board and have the length reduced) and the grind is horrific and uninspiring. As Bill said in his article yesterday, the progression problem is huge and will ultimately, I believe, hurt BfA unless they address it somehow.

Horusra · August 2018

MadFrenchie said:

Content quality is excellent, the leveling curve is atrocious. Even when it's working as intended, it smacks the gamer in the face with a feeling of "spinning their wheels," so to speak.

I'm sure Blizzard will work it out, but it seems like something that should've been fixed during testing. I do remember beta testers posting about an issue with the power curve.

I think "leveling" is done. The new game for expansions is a couple of fast levels then tiered top level content with new goodies. Like Legion was.

TheDarkrayne · August 2018

Same day global release was obviously going to result in the highest sales figures.

Horusra · August 2018

MadFrenchie said:

Hariken said:

Long live the King. Wow is more than 10 years old and still on top. What does that say about other game companies that can't seem to get why Wow still is on top. After all this time still no games seems to compete with it. All i see are games that make huge mistakes that take them down.

I don't disagree with you, but social proof and bandwagon is with WoW, and has been since the days of Mr. T commercials.

Those two are powerful things. It isn't taking away from Blizzard, I mentioned a few posts up the content is quality. However, they have two very powerful, social motivating factors going for them that new titles won't have. Blizzard can afford to make a few mistakes much better than most.

Much like their games that is something they built.

MadFrenchie · August 2018

Horusra said:

MadFrenchie said:

Hariken said:

Long live the King. Wow is more than 10 years old and still on top. What does that say about other game companies that can't seem to get why Wow still is on top. After all this time still no games seems to compete with it. All i see are games that make huge mistakes that take them down.

I don't disagree with you, but social proof and bandwagon is with WoW, and has been since the days of Mr. T commercials.

Those two are powerful things. It isn't taking away from Blizzard, I mentioned a few posts up the content is quality. However, they have two very powerful, social motivating factors going for them that new titles won't have. Blizzard can afford to make a few mistakes much better than most.

Much like their games that is something they built.

They did, but it doesn't change that Blizzard gets a pass where unknown/new studios would get destroyed or pushed aside.

They also continue to deliver quality content and, while there are some bugs, the vast majority of the expansion is bug-free. If they fix the power curve quickly, most of us will have largely forgotten the issue by the time talk of a new expansion comes around. It'll be mentioned only as a tongue-in-cheek "remember this happened?" kind of post.

MadFrenchie · August 2018

Torval said:

SBFord said:

thunderC said:

For the record I'm kind of 50/50 on BFA at this point, Im liking some things alot and others i find done very poorly.

I LOVE being in the world -- it's so gorgeously designed, is SO different than the rest of Azeroth and, best of all, there's no fel green! I love touring around and looking at all of the little touches and the inspiring level design. It's amazing for a 14-year-old game.

However, the gameplay is clunky (GCD needs to be the same length across the board and have the length reduced) and the grind is horrific and uninspiring. As Bill said in his article yesterday, the progression problem is huge and will ultimately, I believe, hurt BfA unless they address it somehow.

Or at least stop calling it the GCD because when it's not global anymore.... Yeah, they need to fix some things. Content design team and systems/mechanics aren't working well together (my opinion).

I'm really unhappy with them and the xpac at the moment which is why I'm not even playing it yet. I'm hoping they get it sorted out by holiday.

From what I understood, the GCD is affected by Haste. So even driving consistency across classes, players would enjoy different GCDs.

Btw, that's a huge problem in and of itself: pretty much every build now, the stat priority goes:

1. Primary stat (e.g. strength, intelligence)

2. Haste

3. Who gives a fuck?

That's not good design.

EDIT- Grammar R gud!

Albatroes · August 2018

Lets be honest though, this means less than WoD and has the same meaning as Legion mainly because people who played through legion honestly had nothing else to spend blizzard balance on. Legion and WoD sold 3.3M on 'day-one' yet WoD is dubbed the worst expansion by many and Legion the best by meaning.

kitarad · August 2018

Pretty amazing for a 14 year old game.

SBFord · August 2018

MadFrenchie said:

Torval said:

SBFord said:

thunderC said:

For the record I'm kind of 50/50 on BFA at this point, Im liking some things alot and others i find done very poorly.

I LOVE being in the world -- it's so gorgeously designed, is SO different than the rest of Azeroth and, best of all, there's no fel green! I love touring around and looking at all of the little touches and the inspiring level design. It's amazing for a 14-year-old game.

However, the gameplay is clunky (GCD needs to be the same length across the board and have the length reduced) and the grind is horrific and uninspiring. As Bill said in his article yesterday, the progression problem is huge and will ultimately, I believe, hurt BfA unless they address it somehow.

Or at least stop calling it the GCD because when it's not global anymore.... Yeah, they need to fix some things. Content design team and systems/mechanics aren't working well together (my opinion).

I'm really unhappy with them and the xpac at the moment which is why I'm not even playing it yet. I'm hoping they get it sorted out by holiday.

From what I understood, the GCD is affected by Haste. So even driving consistency across classes, players would enjoy different GCDs.

Btw, that's a huge problem in and of itself: pretty much every build now, the stat priority goes:

1. Primary stat (e.g. strength, intelligence)

2. Haste

3. Who gives a fuck?

That's not good design.

EDIT- Grammar R gud!

When Legion ended, my Blood DK had 33% Haste. Once I hit 120 and equipped the highest Haste gear I could find or craft....it's 10% and I struggle to keep it at 10%. It has had a terribly negative impact on tanking effectively and staying alive. When combined with the reduction in aggro efficacy, BDK tanking is in a painful spot.

KalebGrayson · August 2018

It's so incredibly sad that there is no competition. There are other games out there, but nothing else even comes close to WoW. Remember when WoW would announce/drop a patch on anther games expansion or launch date. They used to kinda worry back then. Now they don't even do that. Think about it guys/gals, we're playing a 14 year old game. Ugh. They have no competition and only improve when enough people complain about something. Are we still going to be playing this Wow in 10 years? In 20?

MadFrenchie · August 2018

SBFord said:

MadFrenchie said:

Torval said:

SBFord said:

thunderC said:

For the record I'm kind of 50/50 on BFA at this point, Im liking some things alot and others i find done very poorly.

I LOVE being in the world -- it's so gorgeously designed, is SO different than the rest of Azeroth and, best of all, there's no fel green! I love touring around and looking at all of the little touches and the inspiring level design. It's amazing for a 14-year-old game.

However, the gameplay is clunky (GCD needs to be the same length across the board and have the length reduced) and the grind is horrific and uninspiring. As Bill said in his article yesterday, the progression problem is huge and will ultimately, I believe, hurt BfA unless they address it somehow.

Or at least stop calling it the GCD because when it's not global anymore.... Yeah, they need to fix some things. Content design team and systems/mechanics aren't working well together (my opinion).

I'm really unhappy with them and the xpac at the moment which is why I'm not even playing it yet. I'm hoping they get it sorted out by holiday.

From what I understood, the GCD is affected by Haste. So even driving consistency across classes, players would enjoy different GCDs.

Btw, that's a huge problem in and of itself: pretty much every build now, the stat priority goes:

1. Primary stat (e.g. strength, intelligence)

2. Haste

3. Who gives a fuck?

That's not good design.

EDIT- Grammar R gud!

When Legion ended, my Blood DK had 33% Haste. Once I hit 120 and equipped the highest Haste gear I could find or craft....it's 10% and I struggle to keep it at 10%. It has had a terribly negative impact on tanking effectively and staying alive. When combined with the reduction in aggro efficacy, BDK tanking is in a painful spot.

Yea, seeing those secondary stats drop like rocks each time I dinged feels like I'm headed the wrong direction.

I'd like Blizzard to take a good, hard look at secondary stats in general. They (more specifically, Haste) have become the holy Grail of gear building. It could be done a lot better imo.

My suggestion would be to revamp talents to include builds that create mechanics that can forego Haste or, at least, focus on another stat as the primary secondary stat to pursue.

MadFrenchie · August 2018

When I first saw the secondary stats, I literally thought it was merely a UI upgrade that showed players in real-time how their primary stats affected things like cast speed, crit chance, etc..

I think, at this point, it would've been a better idea to have them do just that.

Albatroes · August 2018

SedrynTyros said:

Q&A is up in a little over an hour. I'm curious to see what Ion has to say about the monsters-scaling-with-ilevel situation.

How did gearing/stats get to this point? The game started out with your typical Dungeons & Dragons type stat system. Strength, Agility, Intellect, Stamina, Spirit, were all stats that affected all classes in one way or another. Granted, some were obviously more important than others to specific classes, but what was wrong with that system? Was it really too much to ask from players to actually have to make decisions about which gear to use? To have to decide whether their Warrior should have more Strength or more Agility? To actually have to think about what they're doing when they equip gear?!!!

In Warlords of Draenor, the developers decided no that's just two complicated so let's move towards a system where each class only has two primary stats. At this point, why even bother calling them Strength, Agility, Intellect? Seriously? Those stats could all be called "Primary Stat" now; they've lost their original meaning anyway. Gear always includes the two stats appropriate for any class that can use it; their "Primary" and Stamina (which is Primary for every class). Gear "diversity" exists only in what secondary stats are present. What a boring, dreary downgrade from what we used to have.

So Blizzard decides they need to dumb down gearing to the point where the only thing that supposed to matter is item level. They wanted to completely remove any interesting diversity in gearing or require the player to think more than two seconds about which item they want to equip. And yet as simple as that should be ... they can't even fucking get that right, lol. What happened to these guys?

Unfortunately it wont matter what they have to say about the new secondary system because its too late to change it. Even if they reverted numbers back to old values they would have to adjust every spec's numbers at the very least to compensate, which is highly unlikely, so we're stuck with this system until the next expansion. Going back to what I've been saying in a few threads, these numbers and the potential fall out were known since alpha but blizzard in their infinite wisdom assured people it would be 'alright' since classes were still being adjusted to reflect the new secondary changes, yet here we are. They focused too much time plugging this expansion instead of actually paying attention to people that were actively doing the math over alpha/beta. Thus is why every streamer got alpha access (with a large percentage of them obviously not going past heroic raiding). But lets be honest, these numbers really only affect those doing high tier keys or mythic raiding. Heroic raiding wont really care even if they do notice it since its not going to impact their clear rates by anything. Thus is why the loot changes were made as well or even being unable to gear swap during m+. Too many 'casual' changes to the game to make 'endgame' seem more inviting to guildless casuals.

rush1984 · August 2018

current wow is for kiddies , hurry up with classic

rush1984 · August 2018

classic wow will break that record

Celcius · August 2018

rush1984 said:

classic wow will break that record

Lol. Riiiiiiiiiiight. Also, current WoW is objectively more difficult then vanilla WoW. The hardest thing about classic was getting 40 people together for a raid who weren't total idiots. It was also hard only due to lack of information available at the time. The actual gameplay was not difficult at all. Hate to tell you, but classic WoW is very easy when you have all the things you have now. Which you will, because, you know, the things that provide that information very easily and accessibly exist now. If you are looking to experience that same nostalgia you had in vanilla, you are going to be really disappointed.

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