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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Pando Networks studies growth of F2P MMOs, makes infographic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/pando-networks-studies-growth-of-f2p-mmos-makes-infographic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/pando-networks-studies-growth-of-f2p-mmos-makes-infographic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/pando-networks-studies-growth-of-f2p-mmos-makes-infographic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pando chart
Pando Networks, creator of the ubiquitous Pando Media Booster, has done a study on the growth of the F2P MMO industry. The data, which can be viewed in a handy infographic after the cut, shows that the number of people downloading free-to-play online games grew by 450% between 2009 and 2011. According to the study, the increase in players has come from a number of large titles -- such as Lord of the Rings Online -- making the switch to a F2P model. Also mentioned is the ever-popular MOBA, League of Legends.

The study also notes that this huge growth isn't just happening in the United States or Europe; it's a worldwide phenomenon. In Latin America, the number of people downloading F2P titles rose by 595%, while the number of people downloading free-to-play titles in Japan and Australia rose by 392% and 234%, respectively. For the full infographic, just click on past the cut and have a look.

[Source: Pando Networks press release]

Continue reading Pando Networks studies growth of F2P MMOs, makes infographic

MassivelyPando Networks studies growth of F2P MMOs, makes infographic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pf2p-growthfree-to-playgaming-industrygrowthindustryinfographicleague-of-legendslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropandopando-networksstudiesstudyThu, 15 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online boasts 1000% playerbase growth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/dc-universe-online-boasts-1000-playerbase-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/dc-universe-online-boasts-1000-playerbase-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/dc-universe-online-boasts-1000-playerbase-growth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- DC Universe Online
DC Universe Online has been free-to-play for just under a week now, but SOE is already reporting huge spikes in player population. SOE president John Smedley has been tweeting constantly since the transition, with the most recent tweet announcing that population is up 1000% from its pre-F2P numbers.

It's not all sunshine and butterflies over in DCUO-land, however. Players have been experiencing a number of issues with the F2P transition, such as astoundingly long server queues, endless loading screens, and other gameplay-inhibiting problems. Smedley says that the team is "on it," though.

If you want to be part of the game's booming playerbase, just head on over to the game's official site (or download the game on Steam) and jump on in.

MassivelyDC Universe Online boasts 1000% playerbase growth originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boostdc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfree-to-playgrowthjohn-smedleyplayer-baseplayerspopulationpopulation-growthsoesony-online-entertainmenttransitionMon, 07 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Elsword adopts cute, cuddly, ferocious pets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/elsword-adopts-cute-cuddly-ferocious-pets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/elsword-adopts-cute-cuddly-ferocious-pets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/elsword-adopts-cute-cuddly-ferocious-pets/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Elsword Online
Pet lovers, rejoice: Elsword Online is adding a brand-new pet system to the game. Pet haters, rejoice: Elsword is allowing you to torment furry balls of cuteness in order to turn them into killing machines.

Once players hit level 10, they can select a pet to help them in their journeys. Right now there are only two types of pets in the game -- Pocket Phoru and Ancient Phoru -- although Kill3rCombo promises that more are coming soon. A pet can be trained as it grows through multiple stages of life, changing based on how the player treats it. Pets aid their masters with different types of attacks and buffs.

Kill3rCombo's Ben Colayco sees the pet system as keeping in line with the overall tone of the game: "Introducing pets to Elsword adds another dimension to the game and allows players to become fully immersed in the comic book style world. By echoing character evolution and growth within the pet system, we wanted to reinforce that Elsword offers a unique and dynamic environment to players, while at the same time maintaining the key differentiators that set us apart, such as maturation of characters."

[Source: Kill3rCombo press release]

MassivelyElsword adopts cute, cuddly, ferocious pets originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ben-Colaycoelswordelsword-onlineevolutionf2pfree-to-playgrowthkill3r-combokill3rcombomaturationpetpet-systempetsstarve-pikachuWed, 05 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft increases profits, maintains revenues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/ncsoft-increases-profits-maintains-revenues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/ncsoft-increases-profits-maintains-revenues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/ncsoft-increases-profits-maintains-revenues/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's a banner year over at the NCsoft household, as the company is showing a strong rise in net profits for the first quarter this year. Even though NCsoft's revenues have held relatively steady during Q1 2011, profits are up by 30% for a total of $37.5 million due to recent promotions in Lineage and Aion.

The vast majority of NCsoft's money comes from Korea, with Chinese and Western markets trailing behind. According to Gamesindustry.biz, Aion is making the most bank for the company (accounting for 44% of revenues), followed by Lineage (28%) and Lineage 2 (22%).

NCsoft's Sara Rogers sees nothing but good news in these numbers: "NCsoft consistently delivers strong figures in a way that most other games publishers can only dream of. These results prove that we have the MMO brands that people want to play and that we're able to grow and maintain customer loyalty, which is crucial in successful MMO publishing. This year, Gamescom will be very significant for us. We'll have a major presence and maybe even steal a headline or two."

MassivelyNCsoft increases profits, maintains revenues originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionchinagamescomgamesindustry.bizgrowthkorealineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftnet-profitprofitprofitspromotionsrevenuesSara-RogersTue, 17 May 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Elsword hacks and slashes into open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/elsword-hacks-and-slashes-into-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/elsword-hacks-and-slashes-into-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/elsword-hacks-and-slashes-into-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever wanted to star in your own comic book? Well now you can get a feel for what it would be like to hop through lovingly inked panels by jumping into the colorful world of Elsword. The manga-flavored MMO enters open beta today, offering a unique Otaku experience for those who aren't afraid of a little over-the-top action.

Elsword is a side-scrolling MMO that eschews subtle combat for frantic button-mashing. As you level up, your character will not only grow in abilities, but actually have their look and voice change as well. The game offers solo adventures, co-op dungeon runs, and PvP battles.

Elsword's open beta will continue through May 4th. You can get in on the action by signing up on the official website, and don't forget to check out the first look at Elsword we did earlier this month!

Gallery: Elsword Online

MassivelyElsword hacks and slashes into open beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabutton-mashingcharacter-growthcomic-bookelswordgrowthkill3rcombomangaopen-betaotakupvpWed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wizard101 has a banner year amidst chat issues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/wizard101-has-a-banner-year-amidst-chat-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/wizard101-has-a-banner-year-amidst-chat-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/wizard101-has-a-banner-year-amidst-chat-issues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wizard101 isn't at the top of everyone's list for free-to-play games, but that seems to be an odd oversight. Sure, the game isn't going to appeal to everyone with its highly stylized and kid-friendly atmosphere, but 2010 has apparently turned out to be a high-water mark for the title. According to an official release from KingsIsle Entertainment, the site's visitors were high enough to rank it at number eight out of the top 250 sites gaining in visitors over December, and the US registrations alone soared to over 15 million players (not counting European registrations). And let's not forget that the game was voted as the best family game of the decade by our readers.

The success isn't without the occasional misstep, however, with the game's recent 18+ chat troubles as a prime example. Several players mature enough to take part in unfiltered chat found themselves locked out of the chat by an unannounced change to the way chat systems work, one that filtered out players who had stopped paying a monthly subscription. A full rundown of the situation has been posted by company representatives, with the announcement that accounts verified as being eligible for chat will be allowed to chat once again. Wizard101 players who've moved to a free-to-play account should be happy -- as should anyone cheering for the game's success moving into 2011.

MassivelyWizard101 has a banner year amidst chat issues originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-statusageage-verificationchatchat-systemchat-updatesf2pfamilyfamily-gamesfree-to-playgrowinggrowthkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentw101wizard101Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Market research firm predicts population explosion for virtual worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/16/market-research-firm-predicts-population-explosion-for-virtual-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/16/market-research-firm-predicts-population-explosion-for-virtual-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/16/market-research-firm-predicts-population-explosion-for-virtual-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We all sort of knew that virtual worlds usage would continue to grow over the years, but a new report put out by Strategy Anayltics has given us some numbers to think about -- and they're pretty darn big. They've predicted that by 2015, the overall population of virtual worlds will go from what it is now at 186 million people all the way up to 640 million, or more than triple today's userbase. Here's the firm's breakdown of the populations today and in the future:



"Kids" in this case refers to those aged 5 to 9, and as can be seen in the above table, this group is predicted to grow the most over the years. As for how companies will cash in on all this growth, subscriptions are still listed as one of the key drivers of revenue, but 86% of revenue in 2015 will come from microtransactions -- this equates to a growth from 2008's microtransaction figure of roughly $1 billion, to $17.3 billion in six years time.

[Via Virtual Worlds News]

MassivelyMarket research firm predicts population explosion for virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>growthkidsmarket-researchmicrotransactionsmmo-industrypopulationreportstrategy-analyticssubscriptionsvirtual-worldsTue, 16 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyzing WoW's growth by the numbers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/analyzing-wows-growth-by-the-numbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/analyzing-wows-growth-by-the-numbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/analyzing-wows-growth-by-the-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


When you get down to the nitty gritty numbers, World of Warcraft's growth has stayed fairly consistent over the last three years or so. This of course is after the initial boom in 2005, and thanks mostly to a continued schedule of expansions the last two years. But where will it go from here?

Over at WorldIV, they take a very detailed look at the statistics that may effect WoW's future, based on its past. Will it reach 13 million subscribers by the end of 2009? That's the big question, as the two authors of this article dissect the factors that will affect that possibility. Even if you're just curious about the growth patterns that WoW has enjoyed since it's release, this article will educate you on any curiosities you may have.

MassivelyAnalyzing WoW's growth by the numbers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardgrowthnumbersstatisticsstatssubscriptionsworld-of-warcraftworldivwowFri, 09 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft can outgrow profit loss, exec says]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/ncsoft-can-outgrow-profit-loss-exec-says/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/ncsoft-can-outgrow-profit-loss-exec-says/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/ncsoft-can-outgrow-profit-loss-exec-says/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been tough times recently for NCsoft. Sales of their big-budget sci-fi MMO Tabula Rasa have been less than spectacular and their numbers for the first fiscal quarter of 2008 were disappointing, to say the least. In a recent report by GI.biz however, NCsoft CEO Geoff Heath expressed optimism about his company's prospects for the remainder of the year. Despite having no new titles in the cooker (Aion is still beyond the horizon at this point), Heath is of the belief that his company's portfolio is strong enough to simply grow their way back to profitability, saying, "This is a pretty robust business - if you get it right - you've only got to look at World of Warcraft."

Far be it from us to doubt the sincerity of Heath's statements, but that's a heavier dose of optimism than we're accustomed to seeing from an executive. To be sure, NCsoft's portfolio of games is probably the most robust that exists within a single company, and if Lineage II continues growing as strongly in Korea as it as has been, his comments may very well come to fruition. One simply wonders if their aging stable of games is going to continue to see growth in a marketplace that grows more crowded by the day. To be put it nicely, we're less confident than Heath.

MassivelyNCsoft can outgrow profit loss, exec says originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbreakingbusinessgeoff-heathgrowthlineage-2mad-moneyncsofttabula-rasaWed, 28 May 2008 19:00:00 EST