1 million of you are keeping Blizzard in money hats.

[Shockeye]

WORLD OF WARCRAFT® SURPASSES 1 MILLION CUSTOMER MILESTONE IN NORTH AMERICA

Total worldwide population for Blizzard Entertainment®'s massively multiplayer online game now more than 4 million players

IRVINE, California - August 29, 2005 - Blizzard Entertainment®, Inc. today announced that World of Warcraft®, its subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), has reached more than one million paying customers in North America. This brings the total population for Blizzard's critically acclaimed game, the largest MMORPG in the world, to more than four million paying customers.

"It's very rewarding to see so many new and returning players logging in to play World of Warcraft daily," said Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "With the continued support of our retail partners, World of Warcraft has reached more than one million paying customers in North America well before its one-year anniversary in November. We would like to express our appreciation to both the players and our retail and license partners for helping us make World of Warcraft one of the most popular online games in the world."

To support World of Warcraft's expanding population, Blizzard Entertainment continues to release content updates on a regular basis. These updates continually evolve the game, rewarding subscribers with new experiences and enticing prospective players to join in on an ever-growing number of adventures.

World of Warcraft has been the #1-selling MMORPG in North America since it launched in November 2004. Reaching the one million customer milestone in North America further solidifies World of Warcraft's position as the biggest and most popular online RPG by far in the region.

Since its North America debut, World of Warcraft has steadily grown in popularity around the world. Following launches in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and Europe, World of Warcraft recently released in China on June 7, 2005 and quickly garnered over 1.5 million paying customers in its first month. Shortly after the China launch, World of Warcraft made its debut in Singapore. The game is currently scheduled to launch in the region of Taiwan later this year.

For more information on World of Warcraft, please visit the game's official website at www.worldofwarcraft.com.

World of Warcraft's Paying Customer Definition
World of Warcraft customers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or purchased a prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the installation box bundled with one free month access. Internet Game Room players having accessed the game over the last seven days are also counted as customers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or canceled subscriptions, and expired pre-paid cards. Customers in licensees' territories are defined along the same rules.

About Blizzard Entertainment®, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® series, Blizzard Entertainment® Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Vivendi Universal Games, is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard's track record includes nine #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company's free Internet gaming service, Battle.net , reigns as the largest in the world, with millions of active users.

The lesson for today is: Doesn't matter if you can keep servers up or not, people will still pay and pay happily.

[Rasix]

The lesson for today is: Doesn't matter if you can keep servers up or not, people will still pay and pay happily.

>< You've been talking to schild too much.

Good for them, even if I haven't logged in for a solid week due to Resident Evil 4 and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory kicking far too much ass.

[Strazos]

WORLD OF WARCRAFT® SURPASSES 1 MILLION CUSTOMER MILESTONE IN NORTH AMERICA
To support World of Warcraft's expanding population, Blizzard Entertainment continues to release content updates on a regular basis. These updates continually evolve the game, rewarding subscribers with new experiences and enticing prospective players to join in on an ever-growing number of adventures.

Apparently, they are using "regular basis" to mean "every 4 months or so", at best.

What a crock.

[shiznitz]

So what are the lessons other devs should be taking away from WoW?

1) Grinds suck?
2) Proprietary IP rocks?
3) "teh b3st gfx evar" aren't needed?

[stray]

So what are the lessons other devs should be taking away from WoW?

1) Grinds suck?
2) Proprietary IP rocks?
3) "teh b3st gfx evar" aren't needed?

4) PvP isn't necessarily the mother of all evil?

[Xilren's Twin]

So what are the lessons other devs should be taking away from WoW?

1) Grinds suck?
2) Proprietary IP rocks?
3) "teh b3st gfx evar" aren't needed?

4) PvP isn't necessarily the mother of all evil?

Casual gamers have disposable cash too?

Xilren

[Merusk]

Apparently, they are using "regular basis" to mean "every 4 months or so", at best.

What a crock.

It's a regular basis.  Just because it doesn't meet some hardcore mandate of "OMG GIMME NEW CONTANT EVRY 1 MO OR I WALK!" doesn't mean it's not regular.   4 mil other people aren't assed about it.

[Threash]

Apparently, they are using "regular basis" to mean "every 4 months or so", at best.

What a crock.

It's a regular basis.  Just because it doesn't meet some hardcore mandate of "OMG GIMME NEW CONTANT EVRY 1 MO OR I WALK!" doesn't mean it's not regular.   4 mil other people aren't assed about it.

And its actually every couple months tops, and most servers are up most of the time, but god forbid actual facts get in the way of the bitching.

[Llava]

WoW's a good game.  Servers went down, but most days they were up and things were fine (like, 97% of the time my server was up).

I don't know, but at 41 I just completely lost interest, gave away all my gold, and quit.  <shrug>  Maybe it was the money farming for mounts that did it.

[Strazos]

2) Proprietary IP rocks?

I'd have to disagree with this. There are plenty of new ideas out there, but they don't get a chance because are scared to try something they're not intimately familiar with.

Also, I wouldn't say the world of Warcraft (no pun intended) is anything more than lackluster.

[Shockeye]

Also, I wouldn't say the world of Warcraft (no pun intended) is anything more than lackluster.

Aren't most games that reach a certain level of market penetration pretty much lackluster? I mean, lowest common denominator seems to rule the roost when it comes to PC games.

Deer Hunter, anyone?

[Strazos]

Deer Hunter, anyone?

Why would you lay such a monumental shit on your own boards, honestly?

[Rasix]

Also, I wouldn't say the world of Warcraft (no pun intended) is anything more than lackluster.

Aren't most games that reach a certain level of market penetration pretty much lackluster? I mean, lowest common denominator seems to rule the roost when it comes to PC games.

Deer Hunter, anyone?

I think you're somewhat off base here.  It's that theses games are lackluster (that's a perception thing, if you think WoW's lack luster, good luck in this genre), it's that they're aiming for a broad audience to which similar style games have not reached before.  And they hit it.  Deer Hunter absolutely struck gold with Joe Walmart and WoW managed to draw in a really wide ranging gamer base.  Hell, the most telling thing would be that two of the most recognizable web comic sites are STILL talking about the game.

I could list all WoW's done right in this matter but it's pointless.  It'd all point to the same conclusion: WoW has the greatest name recognition (both in license and company), appeals to widest range of gamers imaginable, and is the most accessable. Add that up and you've just got a subscription grabbing machine when combined with their overal level of quality in many different facets of the game. 

Note: This is not defending Deer Hunter. I've got no clue how big of a steaming pile that game is or isn't.  While Deer Hunter aimed squarely for the lcd, I don't consider that the case with WoW.  I'm sure it's debatable though, or this site wouldn't exist.

[Llava]

easiliest

[Rasix]

This is where Cameron goes nuts. (the quote may be off, I apologize ahead of time)

IS THAT TYPE OF POST REALLY FUCKING NECESSARY?

Just for that I'm going back to scary James Van Der Beek.

[Calantus]

easiliest

I laughed, I cried. 5 stars.

[schild]

easiliest is a great word. I wonder if you can have a raging case of easiliest.

[Merusk]

Deer Hunter is easily explained if you're not an elitist fucknut who thinks they're better than everyone else.  Of course that explains why 9/10 of the internet doesn't get it, because the internet is just one big e-peen contest when it's not about porn.

There's a HUGE segment of the population that enjoys hunting.  However, you can only do it for a number of weeks out of the year.  Turn a popular "sport" into a video game, and voila, moneyhats. Or did the whole Madden thing escape you all, too?

[Strazos]

I've played the game before...it sucks. Not only is it nothing like actual hunting, the aiming blows ass.

Lets not even get into the production values.

[Shockeye]

easiliest

Ok, I know I'm guilty of stupid replies, but can we all cut down on this type of stuff? Rasix posted a good follow-up to an over-arching generalization I made and to see something like this as the first reply is sad.

[stray]

I've played the game before...it sucks. Not only is it nothing like actual hunting, the aiming blows ass.

Lets not even get into the production values.

It's like hunting in as much as the many, for example, WWII shooters are like "being in the actual war". Which is to say: Not much. If that's the main reason why you hate the Deer Hunter series, then you ought to criticize other games as well. None of them accurately simulate what they're trying to do. It's just the general idea that appeals to people...Be it SWAT, Medal of Honor, or a game where you crawl around in the grass and shoot deer. That was the only point why it got a mentioned in the first place. Not whether it was an accurate hunting game or not. 

Besides, what the hell does some reclusive kid from "New Joysey" know about hunting?  :-D

[edit] Supposedly, the series has crawled out of it's sub-mediocre state and isn't half bad these days. Maybe they fixed the "aiming"?

[Strazos]

Hi, I also use to live in California, my father is/was a hunter, and I've been hunting before (as much as I loathe to admit it).

Thanks for stopping by, but please take your gross assumptions with you.

Also, I don't posses a "Joysey" accent, kthx.

[stray]

Hi, I also use to live in California, my father is/was a hunter, and I've been hunting before (as much as I loathe to admit it).

Thanks for stopping by, but please take your gross assumptions with you.

Also, I don't posses a "Joysey" accent, kthx.

Hi. It was a joke.

[Strazos]

Sorry, your bad...You didn't color-code you text correctly, according to the generally accepted board standards.

[stray]

My bad it is then. But Green doesn't have quite the same effect it should, don't you think? It's kind of pandering to the sandy vagina inherent in all of us. Sarcasm should provoke...Just a little bit. 

[edit] My apology though.

[Llava]

easiliest

Ok, I know I'm guilty of stupid replies, but can we all cut down on this type of stuff? Rasix posted a good follow-up to an over-arching generalization I made and to see something like this as the first reply is sad.

Bah, I just thought it was a funny word and didn't want it to be lost.  I could've said that in the initial post, but that wouldn't have been nearly as funny as just leaving it there.

But fine, I'll be good.

Sorry if you were offended, Rasix.  Didn't mean anything by it- we all make those sorts of mistakes and they're just funny to catch.

Sincerity rules.

[Sky]

WoW is a pretty good game, for the current implementation of mmogs (ie: EQ). Crushed by the "endgame" crap, but for me the real killer is the EQ-ish gameplay. Bring back early UO, bitches. I'll be waiting, because I have no interest in this other crap.

I'd like to thank the mmog industry in general for sucking so badly, it's really helping me find time to practice guitar!

[Numtini]

I think WOW's success is half the hype of being a Blizzard game which gave them a lot of momentum and half that they have produced a game that has removed almost all the demotivators that are common to MMPORPGs. It's not that it's really all that good at game as much as it never makes you scream in rage and frustration. Nor for the most part does the company. About the only two issues I see are the servers are down more than average (otoh there's a lot more and they are very crowded) and the queue for the battlegrounds--which would be and probably will be solved by giving the horde an attractive evil elf race in the first expansion.

I think WOW is one of the least exciting games I've ever played, but I've never once felt so frustrated or angry at the game that I didn't want to play. And I think especially for casual gamers, getting rid of all the reasons not to play has turned out to be a lot better commercial decision than giving people reason to play.

[Soln]

I like WoW.  I like its designers didn't approach is as a "social experiment" (ie. SWG).  I like that I can play casually and feel rewarded/entertained.  I don't aim to "finish" a game quickly, or eat my desert in one mouthful.  Clearly, there are many more lame-o's like me with $.  

It's not a deep game, but it's a coherent, complete (for itself) and consistent game, who's only major flaws seem to be 1) network or login lag, 2) slow content additions.  1) is from unexpected popularity and 2) is probably from it still having been out for less than a year.  Both are solvable.  Having to redo your entire combat system like SWG, however, is not solvable.  So WoW will be around I predict for a loooong time, longer than probably EQ# overall.

Edit:

I'd like to thank the mmog industry in general for sucking so badly, it's really helping me find time to practice guitar!

I think you've nailed it Sir.

[Nebu]

Slap the right brand name on a mediocre game that panders to the lowest common demoninator = profit.

WoW is too linear, too easy, has pathetic pvp, has an even worse endgame, and the stylized graphics make me stabby.  One million subs is what CoH deserves for taking risks and making a fun game.  WoW, not so much. 

Why does it piss me off so much to see this title do well?  I'm not sure I can even articulate it.  I just don't like the direction things are going.   

[Nija]

I'm not sure about Deer Hunter, but Cabela's Big Game Hunter is awesome.

You can even play multiplayer. You ride around on four wheelers/pickup trucks/snow mobiles out into the woods and setup shop. Whoever gets the most/biggest wins.

ANYWAYS...

edit: haha, Nebu you're talking about wow being too linear and easy, with lousy pvp and a shitty endgame?

THEN YOU PRAISE COH, how is that fucking possible? CoH is the same exact shit, on even simpler terms.

[Nebu]

edit: haha, Nebu you're talking about wow being too linear and easy, with lousy pvp and a shitty endgame?

THEN YOU PRAISE COH, how is that fucking possible? CoH is the same exact shit, on even simpler terms.

I was attempting to illustrate that if someone should be rewarded for their efforts, I'd prefer it was the group that actually made an attempt at innovating.   You're absolutely right about the rest.   

[Bunk]

Slap the right brand name on a mediocre game that panders to the lowest common demoninator = profit.

WoW is too linear, too easy, has pathetic pvp, has an even worse endgame, and the stylized graphics make me stabby.  One million subs is what CoH deserves for taking risks and making a fun game.  WoW, not so much. 

Why does it piss me off so much to see this title do well?  I'm not sure I can even articulate it.  I just don't like the direction things are going.   

Personally, I just don't get all the love for CoH and the resultant comparisons to WoW. I played CoH for three months - character design was the best ever done and combat was fun. Beyond that - nothing else to do beyond a mindnumbing grind. WoW's far from perfect, but it's kept my interest much longer than CoH just because there are so many more options of what to do and how to play. Could they add more options and improve things? Of course, but as is, its still a pretty damn good game.

[Cheddar]

I am sick and tired of level based games.  I wish that one would come out that was skill based, a la Ultima Online (before the equipment expansion).  I understand there is a need to generate money in these games, but is there not a smart enough company to go a different route?  

One thing that I hate about level based is it can be hard to play with friends, even with the ability to equalize levels (such as with a mentoring system).  I tried to get a couple friends to play EQ2, and they do not want to because I am ahead in levels.  And I understand their reasonings.  At least with skill based gaming you can still play together in a social enviorn; I remember the days of UO when we would get together and do a dungeon crawl, even with weaker friends.  I dunno, just the entire level thing seems flawed unless you are a powergamer or unless you and your buddies all purposely level together. 



edit. Added more stuffs.

[Yegolev]

So what are the lessons other devs should be taking away from WoW?

1) Grinds suck?
2) Proprietary IP rocks?
3) "teh b3st gfx evar" aren't needed?

4) PvP isn't necessarily the mother of all evil?

4a) PVP can be tacked on at the last minute?