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[Activision Blizzard: RIFT players will come back to WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/activision-blizzard-rift-players-will-come-back-to-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/activision-blizzard-rift-players-will-come-back-to-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/activision-blizzard-rift-players-will-come-back-to-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

During yesterday's Activision Blizzard conference call announcing the company's first quarter results, the massive publisher announced record profits. This was achieved despite a small decline in World of Warcraft subscriptions from the previous record of 12 million to March's 11.4 million players, a number that has barely changed since 2008. The call included not only discussions on the financial state of Activision Blizzard but also plans for Blizzard's ongoing MMO development. During the call, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment Michael Morhaime confidently answered questions from participants on what the future holds for its industry-dominating title.

As the financial details and subscription numbers presented in the call were collected in March, the question of how RIFT's launch in early March had affected WoW's playerbase inevitably came up. Morhaime was quick to point out that while a percentage of players have historically left WoW to try out each new game released in the MMO market, a healthy proportion of them tend to return. Blizzard expects the same to occur with RIFT, pushing players to take a break from WoW but ultimately keeping them as long-term customers.

"We knew that this year was going to be a year where we faced new competitors; this isn't the first time, though, that we've had strong competitors enter the MMO market. What we have seen in the past is we tend to see our players leave for some period of time, try out the new MMOs, and then a good percentage of them historically have come back to World of Warcraft. So far, I haven't seen anything to indicate this will be different."

MassivelyActivision Blizzard: RIFT players will come back to WoW originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 May 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentironhammersmichael-morhaimemmo-burnoutmmo-industrymorhaimequitreturning-playersriftrift-planes-of-telaraworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 10 May 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[That's it, I'm quitting MMOs forever!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/thats-it-im-quitting-mmos-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/thats-it-im-quitting-mmos-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/thats-it-im-quitting-mmos-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


MMO burnout is an interesting creature. Rarely do people who quit MMOs do it quietly; it's usually crowned by a forum or blog post addressing the fact that this person has now "found a life" and are going outside more. In the process of burning bridges, these posts usually make two distinctively recycled points: All MMO players are overweight, and they never leave the house.

Such is a recent post at MMOCrunch regarding a player who has quit MMOs forever. Burnout is certainly understandable, especially in today's oversaturated market, but it's the method of the quitting that's always interesting to us. What does this say about MMOs and their impact on us, as players? Do people quit scrapbooking by burning their fancy paper and glue-on letters?

Continue reading That's it, I'm quitting MMOs forever!

MassivelyThat's it, I'm quitting MMOs forever! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutmmo-burnoutmmocrunchquittingThu, 16 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: When will the players leave WoW?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/player-vs-everything-when-will-the-players-leave-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/player-vs-everything-when-will-the-players-leave-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/player-vs-everything-when-will-the-players-leave-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


I always think it's interesting when I hear developers talk about how World of Warcraft opened up the MMOG market for new entrants. We have all these new and exciting games coming out: Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, The Chronicles of Spellborn, and plenty more. However, the overwhelming response that I get from WoW players when I talk about these games is a blank stare and something along the lines of, "Okay, that sounds all right... but why would I ever want to leave WoW?" I think that developers tend to underestimate how attached people get to their MMOG of choice. There are now over 10 million World of Warcraft players. The question is, do they even want something different?

I've read a number of bloggers in the past few months and talked to a number of players who claim that they're only playing WoW right now because "it's the best thing out there." They're yearning for something else. Not something totally different, mind you, since they obviously have a blast in Azeroth. But something fresh enough to be new and exciting without bastardizing the game style they know and love. However, I've noticed something interesting. This breed of player tends to overwhelmingly be comprised of people for whom World of Warcraft was not their first MMOG. Otherwise, people just want WoW to put more content in and are willing to make do with what they have until then. I think there's an intriguing bit of psychology there that's worth examining.

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: When will the players leave WoW?

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: When will the players leave WoW? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentboredboredomburnoutcompetitiondikumudeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedfree-trialgame-developmentjoystiqfeaturesmmo-burnoutplayer-vs-everythingsoesony-online-entertai...vanguardworld-of-warcraftThu, 17 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST