Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Vivendi still trying to sell Activision-Blizzard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/vivendi-still-trying-to-sell-activision-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/vivendi-still-trying-to-sell-activision-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/vivendi-still-trying-to-sell-activision-blizzard/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Acti-Blizz logo
French telecom company Vivendi is still looking to sell off gaming giant Activision-Blizzard, according to the Wall Street Journal. Vivendi announced its quarterly results yesterday and also said that Acti-Blizz's board of directors is still weighing multiple sale options for a company that's been up for grabs since the summer of 2012.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that Activision-Blizzard was worth more than $8 billion when it was put on the open market.

MassivelyVivendi still trying to sell Activision-Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardactivision-blizzard-for-saleblizzardbusinessgame-industrymmo-industryvivendiWed, 15 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should World of Warcraft go free-to-play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
There's only one Western subscription MMO that can stand to lose 1.3 million subs in three months and shrug it off: World of Warcraft. But shrug it off doesn't appear to what Activision-Blizzard is doing. During the investor call that revealed the heavy sub losses, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick acknowledged the changing market and his plans to adapt with speedier content. "It's important to note that the nature of online games has changed," he said, "and [that] the environment [is] becoming far more competitive, especially with free-to-play games." And Blizzard president Mike Morhaime suggested the company is "studying" the comings and goings of players and how to entice former players to return.

Well, we don't have to look much further than Star Wars: The Old Republic's recent rejuvenation to figure out that free-to-play is one of the better ways to entice gamers to return (and open their wallets). Surely, Blizzard has to be wondering whether F2P might be a huge boost to the game as it's approaching its ninth birthday later this year. What do you think -- will World of Warcraft eventually go free-to-play, and more importantly, should it?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should World of Warcraft go free-to-play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbobby-kotickbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playinvestor-callMike-Morhaimeopinionreturning-playersstar-wars-the-old-republicsub-lossessubscriptionswtortdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft loses over a million subs since February, now down to 8.3 million]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft's Algalon
The world's most popular MMO has gotten a bit less popular in the last few months, it would seem. During today's quarterly investor call, Activision-Blizzard announced that World of Warcraft's subscriber numbers are down to 8.3 million. While that's still nothing to thumb your nose at, it does represent a significant decline from the 9.6 million subscribers the game was reported to have last February.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft loses over a million subs since February, now down to 8.3 million originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The representatives will file on, stand there for half an hour, then file off without having said or done anything.
Blizzard Entertainment sort of does its own thing these days. The company has the clout to ignore most gatherings outside of the obvious BlizzCon when you consider the sheer size of World of Warcraft and other properties. But it looks as if this year things will be just a little bit different. Blizzard has stated that representatives will be attending this year's PAX East to show something off. And to compound the bafflement, it's not what you'd expect.

Whatever the company is showing off isn't a sequel, expansion, or the obliquely referenced Titan. So what in the world could it be? The Diablo III console port? Something entirely new? A mobile game in which you follow along behind World of Warcraft NPCs and nod enthusiastically? Snakes? Whatever it is, we'll find out at the end of March when the company rolls into Boston with the rest of the PAX East crew. (We're betting on snakes.)

MassivelyBlizzard to attend PAX East originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentconventionnewspax-eastpax-east-2013previewTue, 26 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard 'actively working' on All-Stars MOBA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/blizzard-all-stars-moba-reappears-on-radar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/blizzard-all-stars-moba-reappears-on-radar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/blizzard-all-stars-moba-reappears-on-radar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Blizzard AllStars MOBA reappears on radar
Last spring there was a brouhaha over the name DotA that was ultimately settled with Valve keeping the four-letter moniker and Blizzard changing its upcoming MOBA to Blizzard All-Stars. But after that, the newly rechristened game seemingly fell off the radar. Even the official website only offers the tease "coming soonish." Despite the lack of information, however, the game is still being developed.

A recent statement by StarCraft II's production director Chris Sigaty notes that the studio hasn't forgotten about Blizzard All-Stars, but is focusing on its free-to-play business model. "We're actively working on it," Sigaty said. "That I can confirm. A lot of the stuff that's remaining right now that we need to focus on are the systems necessary to pull off a game with a different business model than StarCraft II."

MassivelyBlizzard 'actively working' on All-Stars MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardBlizzardBlizzard-All_starsBlizzard-DotAbusiness-modelsChris-Sigatyf2pfree-to-playfreemiummicrotransactionmicrotransactionspayment-modelpayment-modelspremiumstarcraft-iiWed, 23 Jan 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Blizzard's Titan is not a new IP and could be heading to consoles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/rumor-blizzards-titan-is-not-a-new-ip-and-could-be-heading-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/rumor-blizzards-titan-is-not-a-new-ip-and-could-be-heading-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/rumor-blizzards-titan-is-not-a-new-ip-and-could-be-heading-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dare we dream?
What is Titan? All we know about it right now for sure is that it's being developed by Blizzard, and we've been told on occasion that the game is not a new installment of one of Blizzard's existing franchises. But that may not be the case. According to rumors collected by the fans over at Titan Focus, Titan may indeed be a spinoff of an existing IP and might even be aimed at the console market.

The hints have been coming from a fan known in the community for being fairly reliable in his rumors, lending this some credibility, but it's still just a rumor at this point. If it's true, then we can expect the game to be tied to one of the existing Blizzard franchises, albeit not as a direct sequel. Considering how quiet the studio has been on the project for some time, we can only hope that the surfacing rumors are a sign we're getting closer to some hard information.

MassivelyRumor: Blizzard's Titan is not a new IP and could be heading to consoles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbackstorybig-rumorsblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdiabloiploreno-really-this-is-a-rumorproject-titanrumorssettingspeculationstarcraftthis-is-a-rumortitanwelcome-to-rumorvilleTue, 01 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard facing class-action lawsuit over Battle.net authenticators]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/blizzard-facing-class-action-lawsuit-over-battle-net-authenticat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/blizzard-facing-class-action-lawsuit-over-battle-net-authenticat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/blizzard-facing-class-action-lawsuit-over-battle-net-authenticat/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Battle.net Authenticator
World of Warcraft creator Blizzard Entertainment is on the receiving end of a class-action lawsuit filed this morning by players who allege that the company is unfairly forcing players to purchase Battle.net authenticators in order to keep their accounts secure.

The two plaintiffs claim that in lieu of providing account security to Battle.net players, Blizzard puts the burden of protection in the hands of the subscriber and encourages the purchasing of authenticators. The suit alleges that the sale of authenticators has earned Blizzard $26 million and that Blizzard is profiting "unjustly" from players looking to secure their accounts.

The suit mentions several examples of Battle.net accounts being compromised, specifically noting the hack of Battle.net that occurred in August and Blizzard's confirmation of a rise in compromises in May. It also notes that the free authenticators for smartphones were compromised, which the plaintiffs say makes buying a physical authenticator the only true way to protect an account from theft.

Activision Blizzard hasn't offered a response as of yet. The two plaintiffs seek damages and an injunction that would prevent Blizzard from adding what the suit describes as "undisclosed fees" to ensure the security of Battle.net accounts (in other words, no more selling of authenticators).

We'll keep you updated as we hear more.

MassivelyBlizzard facing class-action lawsuit over Battle.net authenticators originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardauthenticatorBattle.netBlizzardblizzard-authenticatorBlizzard-Entertainmentclass-actionFinancelawsuitlegalWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 09 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes: Activision's dependence on declining WoW subs 'potential for a catastrophic situation']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/forbes-activisions-dependence-on-declining-wow-subs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/forbes-activisions-dependence-on-declining-wow-subs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/forbes-activisions-dependence-on-declining-wow-subs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Logos
With the recent news of World of Warcraft's struggling subscription numbers fresh on our minds, Forbes investigated WoW's primary shareholder and predicted trouble on the horizon for investors.

"After looking into Activision Blizzard, Inc., we discovered an amazing looking company that is unfortunately almost completely sustained by the revenue it reaps from one game, World of Warcraft," the authors notes. "When considering that the same company has a 60% majority shareholder (Vivendi) looking to sell its shares in the company you get the potential for a catastrophic situation."

Because Vivendi is having difficulty unloading Activision, Forbes says that any sharp decline in World of Warcraft's revenue will drag down Vivendi's stock severely. The authors also note that the company will suffer from the launch of Guild Wars 2: "The bottom line here is that gamers like to start on level playing fields. Gamers love to save money. Gamers are always in a frantic rush to play superior games. These three factors are the main reasons why Guild Wars 2 will win over market share from WoW."

[Thanks to Mike for the tip!]

MassivelyForbes: Activision's dependence on declining WoW subs 'potential for a catastrophic situation' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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League of Legends - more popular than WoW, sort of
Well, it's official (sort of). The World of Warcraft-killer has been named, and they're calling it League of Legends.

A research firm known as DFC Intelligence has released a report claiming that Riot's MOBA was the most popular PC game in North America and Europe last year in terms of hours played. The title took home the top spot with 1.3 billion hours of activity, while WoW dropped to second place with 622.4 million user hours.

The numbers purportedly represent "a list prepared by extrapolating from actual usage data from more than 21 million Xfire members." The top 10 list also includes MOBAs and MMOs like Heroes of Newerth, Diablo III, MapleStory, and World of Tanks.

MassivelyResearch firm says League of Legends tops WoW as most-played PC game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdotae-sportesportf2pfantasyfree-to-playjean-bernard-levyleagueleague-of-legendslolmobariotriot-gamesvivendiwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 11 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Vivendi looking to sell Activision-Blizzard stake]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/30/rumor-vivendi-looking-to-sell-activision-blizzard-stake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/30/rumor-vivendi-looking-to-sell-activision-blizzard-stake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/30/rumor-vivendi-looking-to-sell-activision-blizzard-stake/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Activision-Blizzard logo
Rumors are swirling about the possible sale of Activision-Blizzard after the departure of Vivendi CEO Jean-Bernard Levy this week. Vivendi owns 61% of Acti-Blizz, and Levy reportedly walked over a disagreement about splitting up the French holding company.

How this affects Activision-Blizzard remains to be seen, but Bloomberg says that Vivendi is looking to sell its entire stake, according to "a person with knowledge of the situation." The Wall Street Journal says that Vivendi's board of directors is mulling whether or not to split the company, which could potentially affect Blizzard and its World of Warcraft and Diablo III titles.

MassivelyRumor: Vivendi looking to sell Activision-Blizzard stake originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionactivision-blizzardbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasyjean-bernard-levymultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgrumorrumorsvivendivivendi-rumorwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 30 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard renames Blizzard DotA to Blizzard All-Stars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/blizzard-renames-blizzard-dota-to-blizzard-all-stars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/blizzard-renames-blizzard-dota-to-blizzard-all-stars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/blizzard-renames-blizzard-dota-to-blizzard-all-stars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's better than the original plan to name it Blizzard Dot-A.
What's in a name? Quite a lot, as it turns out. A name alone was enough to send Blizzard and Valve to man the lawyer cannons over two upcoming games, DOTA 2 from Valve and Blizzard DOTA from Blizzard. The companies have reached an agreement, however, which includes Blizzard renaming its game to Blizzard All-Stars while retaining use of the "dota" name for noncommercial use in the fan community. Valve retains the commercial use of the name.

It sounds like a little matter until you remember that Warcraft III was the source of the map that spawned this game type, leading to both companies developing competing versions of a sequel. Blizzard All-Stars currently has no release date, while DOTA 2 is due out sometime next year and is currently in beta testing. Luckily, the terminology is only being changed on the corporate side, meaning players are free to continue discussing the games as they would have anyway.

MassivelyBlizzard renames Blizzard DotA to Blizzard All-Stars originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardagreementblizzardblizzard-all-starsblizzard-dotablizzard-entertainmentcorporate-agreementdefense-of-the-ancientsdotadota-2legallegal-battlenamessteamvalveFri, 11 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard announces layoffs of 600 employees worldwide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-announces-layoffs-of-600-employees-worldwide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-announces-layoffs-of-600-employees-worldwide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/blizzard-announces-layoffs-of-600-employees-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Blizzard Entertainment logo
Blizzard Entertainment, creator of the perennially popular World of Warcraft, announced today that it would be laying off 600 of its employees worldwide. While Blizzard takes care to note that WoW's development won't be impacted by the layoffs, we find it a bit difficult to take solace in that fact when hundreds of people are losing their jobs.

Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime commented on the layoffs, stating that "Constant evaluation of teams and processes is necessary for the long-term health of any business. Over the last several years, we've grown our organization tremendously and made large investments in our infrastructure in order to better serve our global community. However, as Blizzard and the industry have evolved we've also had to make some difficult decisions in order to address the changing needs of our company." Understandable, perhaps, considering the fluctuating nature of the industry, but we still wish those Blizzard employees hit by the layoffs the very best in their future endeavors. Good luck, folks.

MassivelyBlizzard announces layoffs of 600 employees worldwide originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdownsizingindustrylayofflayoffsmike-morhaimemmo-industryworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 29 Feb 2012 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard clarifies Bashiok's statements about Diablo III and hints at release announcement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/blizzard-clarifies-bashioks-statements-about-diablo-iii-and-hin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When I said 'you will not pass,' that was really more of a strongly worded suggestion.
The most recent tempest in a Diablo III-shaped teapot has been community manager Bashiok making a statement to fans urging them to lower their expectations for the game. Director Jay Wilson decided that this was worth a direct reply and stated in a recent open letter to the community that Bashiok's statements were "obviously sarcastic" and that the team does want fan expectations to remain high. The letter stresses that the development staff is quite happy with the game as it continues development and the current internally tested build in a better state than the beta.

Wilson goes on to claim that fans can expect a release date announcement in the near future, avoiding the dreaded Blizzard incarnation of "soon." Given his appraisal of the beta state, we suspect that the game will be heading for a retail edition before too long, at which point players will be able to decide for themselves whether or not their expectations were met.

MassivelyBlizzard clarifies Bashiok's statements about Diablo III and hints at release announcement originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbashiokbetabetasblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcommunitycultured3developmentdiablo-3diablo-iiidiiiexpectationsjay-wilsonlaunchnewswhat-is-this-i-cant-evenFri, 24 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard tells Diablo III fans to lower their expectations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/blizzard-tells-diablo-iii-fans-to-lower-their-expectations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/blizzard-tells-diablo-iii-fans-to-lower-their-expectations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/blizzard-tells-diablo-iii-fans-to-lower-their-expectations/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you expect people with swords and the color brown, your expectations are definitely going to be met.
Are you eagerly awaiting Diablo III's eventual release? Well, perhaps you shouldn't be quite that eager. Community manager Bashiok recently made some comments in a thread on the official forums expressing some concern that players are getting too excited about the potential of the game and that players should instead lower their overall expectations of Diablo III. He closes by saying that fans should at the same time still purchase the game but perhaps lower the threshold of awesome it has to clear.

It's possible to read this as an attempt to control the game's hype before release, and it's possible to read this as a roundabout statement of overall quality. Either way, it's an odd statement coming from Blizzard's public relations team, since very few developers have historically told their fans to be a little less excited for release. Of course, with that having been said, it's unlikely that the level of excitement will go down at all. (Bashiok's full quote is just past the cut.)

Continue reading Blizzard tells Diablo III fans to lower their expectations

MassivelyBlizzard tells Diablo III fans to lower their expectations originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanticipationblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcommunitycommunity-managementcultured3diablodiablo-3diablo-iiidiiiexpectationsWed, 22 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard readying WoW Monopoly boardgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/blizzard-readying-wow-monopoly-boardgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/blizzard-readying-wow-monopoly-boardgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/blizzard-readying-wow-monopoly-boardgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft Monopoly cover image
If you've ever wanted to own the Twilight Highlands or the Swamp of Sorrows, Blizzard's new foray in boardgaming is for you. The gaming giant is partnering with Hasbro and Parker Brothers to bring you a World of Warcraft-style Monopoly title. The unholy hybrid will be available this May for $39.95.

Blizzard is also allowing fans to vote on game pieces via its Facebook page, and the choices include the doomhammer, crafting anvil, hearthstone, and spellbook. Blizzard is also trying its hand at a RISK tie-in with RISK: StarCraft, which is slated to debut later this summer.

MassivelyBlizzard readying WoW Monopoly boardgame originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentboard-gamesfantasymonopolyWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-monopolyTue, 14 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard admits to 'grossly underestimating demand' for World of Warcraft in 2004]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/blizzard-admits-to-grossly-underestimating-demand-for-world-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/blizzard-admits-to-grossly-underestimating-demand-for-world-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/blizzard-admits-to-grossly-underestimating-demand-for-world-of/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WoW
If World of Warcraft is credited with a smooth initial launch, that's only because time tends to smooth over the growing pains that come with every MMO. Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce was quite up-front with the studio's stumbles in 2004 as WoW launched to unprecedented demand; he's admitted that Blizzard execs "grossly underestimated" how many people wanted to play the game, forcing the company to cease shipping boxes to stores while tech was improved to deal with the influx.

"I don't think we had any idea what we were getting ourselves into," Pearce said at the recent DICE executive summit. The studio quickly ramped up from its 500-employee taskforce to 4,700 people in 11 cities across the world.

Pearce also addressed the issue of addiction in MMOs, saying that Blizzard "think[s] about it all of the time. If there's something that you're really passionate about, whether it's video games, a book, a TV series [or something else]... we have to consume it in moderation."

MassivelyBlizzard admits to 'grossly underestimating demand' for World of Warcraft in 2004 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardaddictionblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentdemanddicedice-2012Frank-Pearcegame-addictionlaunchmmo-addictionworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 12 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III sort of confirmed for Q2 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-sort-of-confirmed-for-q2-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-sort-of-confirmed-for-q2-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-sort-of-confirmed-for-q2-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Diablo III - blasted landscape
Looking for a definitive release date for Diablo III? So are we, and unfortunately Blizzard isn't cooperating. The best the company can come up with is Q2 2012, according to Rock, Paper Shotgun.

The site reports on Blizzard's recent investors call, during which Mike Morhaime stated the obvious before alluding to the launch window. "Given the popularity of the action RPG genre, and the keen interest in Diablo III, we expect this launch to be a big opportunity for Blizzard. We can also confirm that we are targeting a Q2 launch for Diablo III. We expect to announce more details about the release schedule in the coming weeks," he said.

But hey, at least he didn't say "when it's ready."

[Source: Activision investor call]

MassivelyDiablo III sort of confirmed for Q2 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-investors-calldiablo-3diablo-iiifantasymike-morhaimerelease-datewhen-its-readyFri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW loses another 100,000 subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/wow-loses-another-100-000-subscribers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft
Thanks to our sister blog WoW Insider, we've got the scoop on today's Activision-Blizzard investor call. The results? Turns out World of Warcraft isn't dying, but it's certainly seen better days in its record-breaking run. Blizzard's flagship MMO now boasts "only" 10.2 million subscribers worldwide (10.3 million were reported during the call in November). The company believes the success of the 4.3 patch contributed to subscriber retention, as did the success of the annual pass; in fact, a million players took Blizzard up on a deal to purchase a year's worth of WoW in return for a free copy of Diablo III.

Blizzard also confirmed plans to launch at least two titles this year, including Diablo III in Q2. Mists of Pandaria, WoW's much-maligned upcoming expansion, might be the other, though Titan, Blizzard DOTA, and a new StarCraft II campaign are also in the works. The company's expected revenue for 2012 is $4.5 billion US.

MassivelyWoW loses another 100,000 subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyinvestor-callsubscriberswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderThu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Runes of Magic
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012

MassivelyMV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardall-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameall-points-bulletin-reloadedanetapbapb-eaapb-gameapb-reloadedarenanetarenanet-guild-warsatomic-bluebiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorblizzardccpccp-eveccp-gamesd3dc-universe-onlinedcuodiablo-3diablo-iiidiiieaelectronic-artseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefrogsterfrogster-runes-of-magicglitchglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezguild-warsguildwarsgwhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosjagexliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslivestreamlivestreaminglucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmv-guidemv-tvncsoftplaneshiftromrunes-of-magicrunescaperyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictiny-specktiny-speck-glitchvirtual-worldMon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/blizzard-continuing-to-make-big-mechanical-changes-to-diablo-iii/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In the next patch, perhaps these will all be bunnies.
While there's still no release date set for Diablo III, it seems the release may be further off than some players were guessing, judging by the latest round of sweeping system overhauls. A new post by game director Jay Wilson goes over several major changes being made to the game, starting with the fact that Scrolls of Identify are gone. You have a short casting time to identify and item and that's it, with no need to carry around a separate item.

The latest changes also remove the Mystic artisan, the Cauldron of Jordan, and the Nephalem Cube. The latter two were removed due to the inclusion of a Town Portal button, making trips back and forth far easier, while the Mystic artisan lacked a sufficiently defined role amidst other item modifications. There's also a major stat overhaul, which reduces the core attributes to Strength, Dexterity, Intellect, and Vitality. They're far-reaching changes, and only time will tell how much their impact might slow the game's release as the team tests the altered systems.

MassivelyBlizzard continuing to make big mechanical changes to Diablo III originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiigame-testinggame-updatesjay-wilsonnewssystem-changessystem-overhaulssystemstestingThu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's patch 4.3 to be last major update until Mists of Pandaria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria
World of Warcraft's lead quest designer, Dave Kosak, let slip in an interview today that the recently released patch 4.3 will be the final major content update to hit Azeroth until Mists of Pandaria goes live. This is obviously a notable discovery, since it either means that Mists of Pandaria will be coming out soon, or WoW players are gonna be waiting a long time for the next patch. When asked if he believes that there's enough content in patch 4.3 to keep users sated until MoP comes out, Kosak replied that "between the three excellent dungeons [the game has], the new raid, and Raid Finder that should give people something to sink their teeth into for a few months." For the full interview, including a look back at the good and bad of WoW's patch 4.3, click on through the link below.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's patch 4.3 to be last major update until Mists of Pandaria originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.4activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmdave-kosakmists-of-pandariapatchpatch-3.4patchesupdateupdatesworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 17 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard seems to think that Cataclysm was too linear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Yeah, that guy seems to have the right idea, let's go that way.
Designing MMOs is often the art of shepherding players in a given direction while at the same time giving them a sense of freedom. Even in a themepark environment, players want to be invested in areas, to have reasons to come back and explore and go off of the rails should they want to. World of Warcraft's most recent expansion, Cataclysm, has frequently been accused of giving players nowhere to go but a series of rails, and according to a recent response from a community manager, Blizzard agrees.

A very long thread on the official forums has spawned some interesting discussions about the game's overall endgame philosophy, with community manager Draxxari stating that Cataclysm's tightly linear design was an "error" on the design level. He goes on to state that Mists of Pandaria is meant to give players more reason to venture out and explore the world, although players will have to wait to see whether that promise holds true or not.

[Thanks to SgtBaker for the tip!]

MassivelyBlizzard seems to think that Cataclysm was too linear originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmcommunityculturedesigndraxxarifreeformlinearmists-of-pandariamopopinionthemeparkworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmzone-designSat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Of course, if you're playing WoW and don't have the expansions, something seriously weird is going on, but whatever.
Reports of the demise of World of Warcraft have been greatly exaggerated, but the price of the game is falling. This isn't entirely unexpected, but the game's two more recent expansions have just seen a significant drop in their EU prices, with Wrath of the Lich King dropping to €19.99 and Cataclysm dropping to €29.99. If you've been playing the game in Europe but have yet to pick up the later expansions, this might be your incentive.

While some retailers have instituted their own price cuts in the time since the release of these expansions, these latest price drops come from the upper management at the company rather than being a limited-time sale or a reduction of overstock. The price move seems to be a result of the newly free-to-play nature of the early game and the upcoming Mists of Pandaria. No word yet on whether or not a similar official price drop will be mirrored in the US.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsmists-of-pandariamopnewspriceprice-dropsprice-reductionpricesworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online
The winter holiday season is well underway, both in and out of game. Many schools, businesses, and communities are preparing to take a little time off to enjoy the holidays, and here at Massively, we want to make sure you don't miss a single in-game party.

We've been rounding up all the details on celebrations happening in our favorite MMOs, combining them into a handy guide. Follow along after the jump for your map to all of the can't-miss MMO winter holiday events for 2011!

Continue reading Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup

MassivelyMassively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardage-of-conanaikaaionanarchy-onlineanetaocarenanetblizzardcastle-empirechampions-onlinechristmascity-of-heroesclone-wars-adventurescohcovcoxdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkedendarkeden-onlinedc-universe-onlinedcuodigimon-masters-onlinedragon-nestelswordeqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playfrogsterfuncomgpotatoguild-warsgwhellgatehellgate-globalholiday-2011holiday-roundupholidays-2011jagged-alliancekingsisleleague-of-legendslolncsoftnexonperfect-world-entertainmentpweriftriot-gamesromrosh-onlinerunes-of-magicshsosoesony-online-entertainmentsquaresquare-enixstar-trek-onlinestosuper-hero-squad-onlinet3funtrionw101warhammer-onlinewindslayer-2wizard101world-of-warcraftwowWed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Oh no, color! Destroying the ambiance!
Diablo III is not an MMO by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly has some strong online elements like previous installments. It also has a lot of expectations to live up to, several of which are discussed in a recent PC Gamer interview with Wyatt Cheng and Andrew Chambers. Both designers discuss the challenge level of the new Inferno difficulty, which is aimed at max-level characters in good gear who have already completed the Hell difficulty level. They confirm that while it's meant to be brutal, it can be played and beaten solo -- although having a friend won't hurt.

And speaking of getting by with a bit of help from one's friends, Cheng and Chambers both agree that twinking out new characters is a time-honored part of the game's tradition; their job as designers requires them to find ways to ensure that twinking is a fun process for players. It's the sort of interview that can leave fans wanting more of the game before it's released -- which ties in nicely to the fact that you can pre-order the Book of Cain (a collection of in-universe lore and artwork) on Amazon right now. And you can even take a look past the break to see what the book looks like.

Continue reading Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking

MassivelyDiablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardandrew-chambersartifactsbackstoryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchallenged3designdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiidiablo-iii-betadifficultydiiiinterviewsloremultiplayernewsupdatesvideowyatt-chengMon, 05 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kotick questions how SWTOR will benefit EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/kotick-questions-how-swtor-will-benefit-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/kotick-questions-how-swtor-will-benefit-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/kotick-questions-how-swtor-will-benefit-ea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick and... a flashlight?
Count Activision CEO Bobby Kotick among the doubters when it comes to the financial viability of Star Wars: The Old Republic. The controversial executive mentioned the upcoming MMO in a speech at yesterday's Reuters Media Summit talk, during which he said he's unclear what publisher Electronic Arts stands to gain from the game.

"Lucas is going to be the principal beneficiary of the success of Star Wars," Kotick posited. "We've been in business with Lucas for a long time and the economics will always accrue to the benefit of Lucas, so I don't really understand how the economics work for Electronic Arts."

Kotick went on to say that the odds are stacked against new investors in the massively multiplayer market. "If you look at the history of the people investing in an MMO and achieving success, it's a small number," he said.

MassivelyKotick questions how SWTOR will benefit EA originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardbobby-kotickbusiness-modelsmmo-industrysci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicTue, 29 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Year of the Dragon Who Perches On Stuff While Dripping Lava.
It's been a big year for World of Warcraft, especially considering that the MMO behemoth is currently hitting its seventh year of operation. Considering its nigh-ubiquitous nature in the MMO sphere, it's hard to imagine that there was a time without it. And this past year of the game almost perfectly synchronizes with the latest expansion, Cataclysm, an expansion that was bound and determined to head back to the old and re-work everything up to new standards.

So how did that work out? What's been happening with the game over the past year? Let's pick up in December because that's when the story really begins, a story that involves a dragon smashing huge chunks of both continents to pieces. The result was a complete revamp of the game's lower-level areas, the addition of several new high-level areas, and a redesign of the way the game handled progression. It kicked off a war against primal forces and Old Gods for players, and that's without even getting in to the mechanical shifts.

Continue reading A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft

MassivelyA look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanniversaryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsfeaturedmists-of-pandariamopopinionretrospectivetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-cataclysmwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingWed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst downgrades Blizzard stock in anticipation of SWTOR launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/analyst-downgrades-blizzard-stock-in-anticipation-of-swtor-launc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/analyst-downgrades-blizzard-stock-in-anticipation-of-swtor-launc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/analyst-downgrades-blizzard-stock-in-anticipation-of-swtor-launc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Sad WoW panda is worried about SWTOR (but he shouldn't be)
Zomg, the sky is falling in Azeroth! OK, not really, but World of Warcraft is heading for troubled waters if you believe an analyst at Lazard Capital Markets. According to a report at Gamespot, Atul Bagga downgraded Activision-Blizzard's stock from "buy" to "neutral" due to the results of a recent online survey that pointed to restlessness among a certain subset of WoW players.

Whether the perceived wanderlust has to do with the game's age (it turns seven this month) or the deafening hype bandwagon that is gathering steam due to next month's Star Wars: The Old Republic debut, the numbers indicated a possible loss of between 900,000 and 1.6 million WoW players following TOR's launch.

MassivelyAnalyst downgrades Blizzard stock in anticipation of SWTOR launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanalyst-predictionsbiowareblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbusiness-modelseaea-biowareelectronic-artslazardlazard-capital-marketsmmo-industrypredictionsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 21 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is doing quite well in China, thank you very much]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/world-of-warcraft-is-doing-quite-well-in-china-thank-you-very-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WoW
Earlier this month we heard the news that World of Warcraft's subscriber base took yet another substantial hit, although Blizzard was quick to say that most of these losses were coming from eastern countries like China. It's odd then that we've just received word that World of Warcraft is on the rise in China following an extremely profitable third quarter.

NetEase, which operates World of Warcraft in the region, announced that its Q3 earnings were actually up over the same time last year. Both revenues and profits for WoW in China are on the upswing, marking a 39.8% increase year-over-year. NetEase said that it pulled in $308.3 million in revenues, out of which $128.2 million is pure profit.

Subscriber hit or no, WoW continues to be a major force in the Asian market, and with numbers like these it's hard to imagine it going away any time soon.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is doing quite well in China, thank you very much originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardchinafinancial-reportlossesneteaseprofitq3revenuesubscribersworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 17 Nov 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/the-soapbox-defining-the-wow-killer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Dwarf looking at a musket
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I haven't written much about World of Warcraft. There are many reasons for this. For one, Massively rarely pays WoW more than the bare minimum lip service (due to the game's being fairly exclusive to our WoW Insider sister site). For another, I don't look at Blizzard's behemoth all that fondly, and the sum total of my time in Azeroth amounts to about 20 hours spread over six weeks.

As it does for everyone else who makes a living off of MMORPGs, though, WoW looms over my shoulder like a billowing dust cloud after a titanic explosion, reaching relentlessly for the heavens and effectively blotting out the sun. There's really no way to measure how influential this one game has been on not just MMORPGs but gaming in general. There are the population numbers, of course, and even though WoW has been shedding subs in bushels of late, it could continue to do so for the better part of a year and still dwarf the second largest subscription title by a considerable margin.

That kind of success cannot be planned, nor do I believe that it will be replicated. WoW was a happy accident for Blizzard, a perfect storm of polish and timing the likes of which the MMO industry will not see again.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Defining the WoW-killer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardarenanetbiowareblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblizzard-titanea-biowaref2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-wars-2gw2opinionsci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-soapboxthere-will-never-be-another-wowtitantitan-blizzardtorworld-of-warcraftwowwow-killerTue, 15 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Blizzard loses 1.1 million WoW players since May, triples profits]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/activision-blizzard-loses-1-1-million-wow-players-triples-profi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/activision-blizzard-loses-1-1-million-wow-players-triples-profi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/activision-blizzard-loses-1-1-million-wow-players-triples-profi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Activision Blizzard
Today's investor call with Activision Blizzard was a rollercoaster of news for MMO fans, with both good and bad news coming forth.

Starting with the bad -- everyone asks to start with the bad news, don't they? -- World of Warcraft's subscriber numbers are much lower than they were this past May. The company reports that subscriptions have dropped from 11.4 million in May to 11.1 million in June to 10.3 million, representing a loss of 10% of the playerbase. These numbers represent the total worldwide, and Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime said that most of the losses were suffered in the eastern market. No matter where the losses come from, this continues the downward trend of the title during the past year. Blizzard declined to provide a subscriber forecast for the next quarter.

The good news is that the company has whooped expectations by nearly tripling its profit for the quarter over this time last year. During this past quarter, Activision Blizzard raked in $627 million worth of sales, of which $148 million is pure profit. A majority of the revenue -- 62% -- comes from its digital sales.

The company expects 2012 to be even better, with titles like Diablo III and another Call of Duty in the works. CEO Bobby Kotick is nothing if not confident in the company's future: "I believe our unyielding commitment to excellence and our creative talent around the globe will continue to position Activision Blizzard as the leader in interactive entertainment."

MassivelyActivision Blizzard loses 1.1 million WoW players since May, triples profits originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentBobby-Kotickcall-of-dutydiablo-3diablo-iiiinvesters-calllossesMike MorhaimeMikeMorhaimeprofitq3subscriptionworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 08 Nov 2011 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA['Quality concerns' keep user-created content out of World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pictured: quality.
User-created content can be a real hornet's nest in any game. When the user-created content systems are done correctly, you get a lot of new and imaginative content in the game straight from the players. But it's the question of what happens when it goes wrong that keeps user-created content out of World of Warcraft, according to Chris Metzen. As Metzen put it in a recent GDC online panel, while he loves the idea and the team does bring it up from time to time, there's a concern about whether or not the regular level of content would meet the standards of quality the team expects for game content.

Metzen also discussed some of the pressures the Blizzard staff faces with Titan's design, since the game is explicitly not set in one of the company's existing and long-running franchises. While he doesn't reveal any major details regarding the upcoming game, if you're eager for every scrap of information about the secretive project, it's well worth taking a look.

Massively'Quality concerns' keep user-created content out of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-metzengdc-onlinegdc-online-2011titanuser-contentuser-created-contentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 11 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[So long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We bid a final farewell to One Shots yesterday, but we couldn't let almost four years and 1,500 reader-submitted screenshots go without a little nod to some of our favorites.

First up, of course, is the first-ever One Shots entry. Liz Harper had this to say about the image:
I wanted to start our daily screenshot feature on Massively off with something, well, massive. A memorable, recognizable, and important scene from MMO history... and while you may all argue with me about what makes this particular shot important, it was the first thing that came to mind. Here we see a group of City of Heroes players gathering at City Hall in Atlas Park to "salute the memory and inspiration that is Christopher Reeve on the 2nd anniversary of his death." It's rare to see an in-game event that brings players together for a cause other than slaying dragons and similar.
Ready for more? Follow along after the jump for more of the best of One Shots!

Continue reading So long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites

MassivelySo long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardanetarenanetaventurinebest-of-one-shotsblizzardchronicles-of-spellborncity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdarkfallgalleriesgalleryguild-warsgwlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftone-shotsplaydomscreenshotscreenshotsthe-chronicles-of-spellbornturbineworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 01 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Come up, enjoy the view!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/one-shots-come-up-enjoy-the-view/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/one-shots-come-up-enjoy-the-view/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/one-shots-come-up-enjoy-the-view/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft screenshot
We've got another World of Warcraft screenshot on today's One Shots, thanks to Massively reader Tim:
Back in the days of The Burning Crusade, when I still played, I caught myself looking at an amazing scene while flying around to turn in some reputation quests. Aldor Rise looked like a scene from a painting, and my screenshot button agreed.
We've got a little surprise for you -- this is One Shots' final week. Friday will be the last edition of this feature, but don't fret. One Shots is stepping aside to make room for something new here at Massively, and we think you're going to love it. Watch the site beginning Monday, October 3rd to see what's new!

For now, if you want to make one final contribution to One Shots, you've still got a few days left. Grab your favorite screenshot, add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Come up, enjoy the view! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentgalleriesgalleryone-shotsraidscreenshotscreenshotstbcthe-burning-crusadeWorld-of-WarcraftwowWed, 28 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Readying the troops]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/one-shots-readying-the-troops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/one-shots-readying-the-troops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/one-shots-readying-the-troops/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WoW screenshot
Today's One Shots image comes to us from a Massively reader and World of Warcraft player:
This is my guild, Chaos Factors, buffing up for the Golemagg pull in Molten Core. I can name a dozen people in this pic -- for instance, the raid lead Gnome Mage who obsessed over his "Mage camp," the Night Elf Hunter for whom the Feign Death cooldown was tragically too long, and the Hunter off in the distance who is my roommate!
We're leaving the One Shots theme up to you this week! There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Readying the troops originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardblizzardgalleriesgalleryone-shotsraidscreenshotscreenshotsWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic is keeping a close eye on World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-is-keeping-a-close-eye-on-world-of-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aside from the guns, it almost looks like a telescope. If you squint a bunch.
From the interface to the design, many people have commented that there's a certain degree of similarity between Star Wars: The Old Republic and World of Warcraft. So it probably comes as no real surprise to learn that Electronic Arts is studying WoW when it comes to SWtOR's upcoming launch -- but not in the way you might think. The company isn't concerned as much with the mechanical side of the equation, but with the question of what happens post-launch and how to increase player retention.

This might not seem like terribly relevant information, but a lot of attention is being paid to the game's content release schedule, the speed at which experienced players will go through new content, and the game's post-launch foci. It also extends to an emphasis on smooth networking code to ensure that players can log in and experience the game quickly rather than having to fight off latency. It's no secret that WoW is influencing other games, but SWtOR seems to be designed with an eye toward more than just gameplay.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic is keeping a close eye on World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowarebioware-austinblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcontent-updatesea-biowarelaunchmmo-industrynewspost-launchstar-wars-the-old-republicstudyingswtorupdate-schedulewatchingworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 07 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's guide to Gamescom 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/massivelys-guide-to-gamescom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/massivelys-guide-to-gamescom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/massivelys-guide-to-gamescom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gamescom 2011
If you've never been to Gamescom before, let's simply put it this way: It's big. Really, really big. Forget most any convention you've attended; this is likely to be even bigger. Billing itself as the world's largest games event, Gamescom sees well over a quarter-million fans, journalists and exhibitors crowd into the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany to check out hundreds of games and companies.

Due to its size and worldwide prominence, Gamescom is a significant event for anyone following the MMO genre (and video games in general). There are plenty of MMO studios gearing up to share first looks, exclusive reveals, detailed Q&A sessions, and exciting hands-on demos for attendees.

Naturally, Massively will be paying close attention to all of the news coming out of Gamescom this week. For those attending the convention or merely looking to keep abreast of all of the games, studios, and information forthcoming, we've compiled a guide to the hottest tickets at Gamescom as well as a comprehensive exhibitor list of MMO studios after the break.

Continue reading Massively's guide to Gamescom 2011

MassivelyMassively's guide to Gamescom 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardage-of-wulinalderaananetapbapb-reloadedarenanetastabiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcarbine-studiosconventionconvention-guidecryengine-3defiancedota-2eaea-biowareelectronic-artsend-of-nationsfeaturedfirefallfor-the-love-of-god-not-gamesconfrogsterfuncomgamersfirstgamescomgamescom-2011gamigoglobal-agendagpotatogrimlandsguideguild-wars-2gw2hi-rezhi-rez-studiosjagged-alliance-onlinejeremy-gaffneylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromassively-guidenexonnhnred-5-studiosriftrise-of-isengardsmitestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorsylvari-weekthe-old-republicthe-secret-worldtortribes-ascendtriontrion-worldsturbineufo-onlinevalvevindictuswargaming.networld-of-tanksworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warplaneswowTue, 16 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft subscriptions continue a downward trend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"No king rules forever, my son." Those words were a big part of the capstone event for World of Warcraft's last expansion, but they may be equally appropriate for the game itself. According to reports from the company, WoW's subscription numbers have continued to drop in the quarter ending June 30th, with the game now holding approximately 11 million subscribers worldwide. It's a slower rate than the game had been bleeding players, but it's still a definite decrease.

According to president Mike Morhaime, the reason for the drop can be traced back to the time since the last expansion release, but even Morhaime admits that this is the fastest drop the game has seen during its run. There are obviously rumors that the next expansion is not so far away, but as it stands, WoW's longstanding grip on the MMO market is no longer quite as strong as it once was.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft subscriptions continue a downward trend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusinessindustrymike-morhaimemmo-industrysubscriber-numberssubscribersworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 03 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: World of Warcraft's next expansion has been named]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

First there was The Burning Crusade, then Wrath of the Lich King, and, most recently, Cataclysm. World of Warcraft's expansions have been the lifeblood of literally millions of gamers' playtime, which is why many fans are anxiously awaiting word of the fourth expansion pack to the hit MMO.

Today we may know the name of the expansion: Mists of Pandaria. According to MMO Champion, Blizzard filed a trademark with this title on July 28th, which is exactly in line with how the company has procured titles for the previous expansions. The trademark specifies that this is for "computer game software."

The Pandarens are one of the more light-hearted races in the Warcraft franchise, with kung fu panda bears from a secret empire somewhere in Azeroth. Despite being fan favorites, the Pandarens have been rarely seen in WoW, while Blizzard has used them in a couple different April Fool's jokes in the past.

We'll be keeping our eyes on Blizzard for any official confirmation.

MassivelyRumor: World of Warcraft's next expansion has been named originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardapril-foolsazerothblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionexpansionskung-fu-pandamists-of-pandariapandarenpandarenspandariarumorthe-burning-crusadetrademarkwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft coming to Brazil]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A fully localized World of Warcraft is on its way to Brazil, complete with a Portuguese client and customer service platform. This marks Blizzard's ninth officially supported language according to a press blurb on the company's website, and the third supported language in Latin America (following the English and Spanish versions).

Blizzard is providing a full suite of payment options for Brazilian customers, with the base game (plus the Burning Crusade expansion) available for BRL 29.90, while Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm will retail for BRL 99.90 each. If retail boxes aren't your thing, the Brazilian version of WoW will also be available through Battle.net.

Finally, subscription plans come in 30-day, 90-day, and 180-day flavors, and 60-day time cards will be available in retail stores. North American players who wish to play on the dedicated Brazilian realms may install a language pack or purchase the Portuguese client, and Blizzard says that "additional pricing details and an official release date [...] will be announced closer to launch."

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft coming to Brazil originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbrazilburning-crusadebusiness-modelscataclysmfantasylatin-americammo-industryportugueseportuguese-clientworld-of-warcraftwowwow-brasilWrath-of-the-Lich-KingFri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST