Topic: Blizzard sells 600,000 copies of World of Warcraft

[F9thDigi]

I can only think of one word for this...WOW!

Game developer Blizzard said that it has sold more than 600,000 copies of its game of World of Warcraft to customers in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The company also said that it has achieved over over 200,000 simultaneous players during the holiday period - the same figure however also is reported by Valve for its game Half-Life 2.

 
According to Blizzard, World of warcraft sold out across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Apparently taken by surprise, the company said that it "will be bringing several new servers online to accommodate the increasing number of players". Additional copies of the game are planned to be released to stores after "a short and successful testing period to ensure server stability", Blizzard said. (THG)

[Grim]

They better establish a playerbase quick, i was beta testing that Guild Wars beta weekend the other day and i have to say i'm impressed.

Plus it will be a free MMO just buy a copy and play with thousands no need for monthly fees.

[Dash Jones]

is that all.  That's pretty poor.  Diablo II sold 2 million before it was released even.

Warcraft 3 broke that record by 2x...selling I believe 4 million before it was released.

So on release, saying that each game was 50 dollars a piece...

They need to keep their gamers that bought it pre-release (though I suspect the number was actually more like 500,000 for pre-release and 100,000 or more have sold since then) Over a year paying the Monthly fees to match Diablo 2...and ALMOST 3 YEARS to match Warcraft 3!

And that's just for pre-release sales of those games without going into numbers sold afterwards!  Which we aren't counting on WoW either.

Big game...but not as big it seems as their other games...perhaps it won't be the money maker of the others as well...probably because it IS a MMORPG I'd imagine.

[toasty0]

That's a lot of WoW!

[Sirgod]

It's Pretty fun If you guys get the Chance to Play It.

Come and Look for Hearth on the Earthring RP server.

Stephen

[F9thDigi]

My Star Wars Galaxies contract is nearly up for renewal.  I'm certinaly considering moving to another MMO very soon.

 - Earthring Server......I'll remember that if I make the change Stephen.

Grim - You got anymore info on the Guild Wars MMO you were talking about?

[Sirgod]

you'ld be more then welcome There Digi.

I do hope you consider It.  I need to check out that Guild wars game myself. Is It still under Beta Grim?

Stephen

[Age]

There is Anarchy on line as well and I believe it is has no monthly fees .I would choose Guild Wars over WoW for that reason.

[Dash Jones]

Guild Wars thus far is actually pretty good, it's not quite like Diablo with the feel however, in fact I think Dungeon Siege feels more like Diablo overall.  However, Guild Wars thus far is looking to be pretty darn solid, I've had characters in most of their betas thus far, and at first I was pretty interested due to it being an MMORPG but without the monthly fees.  However, overall, MMORPGs I've learned, no matter how well the are made, just aren't for me overall.  I think I must be more of a lone computer gamer rather than the group...OR if there are others...I just want to kill them (aka...OP...and other games of the like).  However, I'm not a PK'er either.  So kind of a wierd little thing.

Guild Wars however, has excellent graphics (though WoW might beat it), seems very stable, and has that item collecting, skills collecting type thing which many people love.  In addition the quest leading the story is a good thing too.  For an MMORPG it seems like it will be very good...I'm just not a MMORPG'er.

[Grim]

well the site is www.guildwars.com some info on there on the professions etc and game info.

I hadnt even heard of the game until a friend of mine said go to fileplanet and get a key/download the client to try this game.

From what i saw it was pretty good, a kind of vast fantasy world where you create a charcter that uses a combination of a primary and seconday class such as monk, warrior, elementalist etc. In terms of the beta my character was a warrior/Monk so i could have good melee abilities and using the monk as a seconday class i could using healing and ressurection spells. So there are plenty of clases to choose from each having their own skills and roles.

As dash said the graphics are pretty good, the world is huge plenty of choices you can craft by salvaging parts from weapons dropped by monsters and from them create stuff such as weapons etc. Or you can explore the world and take part in the quest based storyline  where you carry out missions either on your own, with other people or yourself and some npcs.

When you gain a certain amount of exp you level up, which lets you focus in attributes that are key to your class, there are plenty of attributes to choose from that can focus in different areas. Also in cities you can buy spells that can be added to your arsenal.

You can even form your own guilds which other people can join and you can fight for battles in areas etc. The key to the game is its a vast fantasy/rp potential world where they focus on teamwork to complete quests etc.

In terms of the beta well every month they usually have a beta weekend in which the game is open to the public to particpate in. Though i have heard the rumours that the game will be out for purchase in the coming months. A lot of people say the game is diabloesque whether that is true i dont know but i'm a fan of rpg's and i have to say this is a pretty good one.

Another key thing is the game will be free to play, all you do is purchase a copy and then join the thousands playing online no monthly costs whatsoever. However they have mentioned there may be expansion packs say that will offer new things as they go along so thats probably why the game can be free to play online.

[Age]

However, I'm not a PK'er either.  So kind of a wierd little thing.

    Dash,What does this mean ?Thanks.

[SlimDuce]

I went straight out and bought SWG when it was released and I can honestly say that is has scared me away from MMORG style games. That games has got to be the most mind numbing thing I have ever laid witness to.   

[Dash Jones]

However, I'm not a PK'er either. So kind of a wierd little thing.

 Dash,What does this mean ?Thanks.

A Pk'er is short for a term called Player Killer.  It's when people create characters made specifically to fight or kill other characters.  In MMORPGs and RPG's that are online, people either are Pk'ers in which they fight each other...or those who hate Pk'ers.

Normally people hate PK'ers because they might be on a quest or about to get something really nice to add to their inventory, when the PK'er thinking they are all that stabs them in the back and grabs all the loot.  Over half the PK'ers are dishonest SoB's to put it lightly who you wouldn't want to trust in your party even IF your character's life depended on it...as it's better to be fighting a hopeless battle, than be fighting a hopeless battle with someone who's probably going to stab you in the back.

Pk'ers develop and make their characters typically to kill other players characters.

[Whoo]

Dont have to worry about that on WoW, just hit a PVE server or RP server.
You can only get ganked if you activate PVP there.

[RazalYllib]

kinda OT...kinda

my buddy picked a slot in WoW beta, and bought it.  abandoning the other mmorpg CoH in the process... he is slowly migrateing back due to "community" issues in general back to CoH.  He stated it was more fun, yet undefined.  I think it might have to do with the Psyche of the Players, in most RPG, its a non-altruistic enviroment, but super heroes...kinda force you to be "good"...

[Iceman]

By the way, 600,000 copies for an MMORPG is a good number. Especially considering they have ~200,000 online at some points.

And I don't think any 'new' (non-sequel) game has ever sold one million units on launch.  There might be a few exceptions, but not many. 

[Whoo]

kinda OT...kinda

my buddy picked a slot in WoW beta, and bought it.  abandoning the other mmorpg CoH in the process... he is slowly migrateing back due to "community" issues in general back to CoH.  He stated it was more fun, yet undefined.  I think it might have to do with the Psyche of the Players, in most RPG, its a non-altruistic enviroment, but super heroes...kinda force you to be "good"...

I have done both (CoH and Wow) and the only reason I would possibly migrate back would be soley based upon teaming.

CoH IMO has a better teaming system, however late in the game (I had a 36 and a 34 defender) that goes out the window.  From levels 24-35 you're almost forced into solo play, unless you have a good SG to join.
In WoW, you can at least jump on a quest bandwagon and hit a group that way, but like most MMO's if your not a priest/warrior/pally/shaman you may find it rather hard to get on a team unless you form one yourself.
I feel your friends pain, at lvl 26 my hunter had to form his own team and my lvl 18 warlock is 99% solo atm.

[Dash Jones]

WoW is a sequel in many ways...or at least has the Warcraft seal of approval type thing.  In that light, it's doing far worse than any blizzard game has for almost a decade, if what I've heard on this thread is correct concerning sales.

[Abfalter]

is that all.  That's pretty poor.  Diablo II sold 2 million before it was released even.

Warcraft 3 broke that record by 2x...selling I believe 4 million before it was released.

So on release, saying that each game was 50 dollars a piece...

They need to keep their gamers that bought it pre-release (though I suspect the number was actually more like 500,000 for pre-release and 100,000 or more have sold since then) Over a year paying the Monthly fees to match Diablo 2...and ALMOST 3 YEARS to match Warcraft 3!

And that's just for pre-release sales of those games without going into numbers sold afterwards!  Which we aren't counting on WoW either.

Big game...but not as big it seems as their other games...perhaps it won't be the money maker of the others as well...probably because it IS a MMORPG I'd imagine.

Dash,

You are wrong in your figures.  World of Warcraft had the biggest amount of pre-order and first day sales of any PC game in history.   This is from Blizzard's own press release (and I would imagine they know how much their other games sold...)

[Dash Jones]

It has to be well in excess of 600,000 then.  Warcraft 3 had 4 million and Diablo 2 had at leat 1 to 2 million (depending on your source, Blizzard or Video game vendors).

Even Starcraft had more than 600,000 if I recall.

Only their Warcraft 2, Diablo (original) and Warcraft had less for PC games.

I'm not certain on their stats for Blackthorne or the Lost Vikings however.