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World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft 

General Discussion  » Is wow fibbing about real sub numbers?

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94 posts found
  User Deleted
 
10/30/09 1:24:30 PM#1

I posted this in another thread but I'd like your idea. Is wow flim flamming (or any other company really) about their subs to keep folks interested that don't know that they have pricing differences? Is it a big marketing plot lol

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/press/pressreleases.html?081121
"World of Warcraft's Subscriber Definition
World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee
or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft,..."

http://eu.blizzard.com/en-gb/company/press/pressreleases.html?080122

"WORLD OF WARCRAFT® REACHES NEW MILESTONE: 10 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS
Subscriber base for Blizzard Entertainment®'s massively multiplayer online role-playing game now exceeds 2.5 million in North America, while Europe passes the 2 million mark "

For this working example I'll be using 5 million subscribers.


Consumer cost:

```````````````````````````````````````````
European Purchase
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Warcraft-Pre-paid-Game-Card/dp/B000BPCILI/
15.99 pound sterling = 26.35 USD 60 day card
= 13.18 USD month
Counts as 1 sub

```````````````````````````````````````````

North American Purchase
http://www.amazon.com/World-Warcraft-Pre-Paid-Time-Card-Pc/dp/B00063BLG8
29.99 USD 60 day card
= 14.99 USD month
Counts as 1 sub

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

China Purchase
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2011918
http://wowcard.163.com/#

Visit in Firefox
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://item.eachnet.com/prd/1221321600380069_prd.html&ei=vhvrSs-iLtDllAfw5qz_BA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3D300%25E7%2582%25B9%2B15.00%25E5%2585%2583%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DXJv%26sa%3DG

38 renminbi/yuan = 5.57 USD for 48 hours/600 points = *3
= 16.71 USD for 144 hours average of 5 hrs a day play time
Counts as 3 subs

38 renminbi/yuan = 5.57 USD for 48 hours/600 points = *6
= 33.42 USD for 288 hours average of 10 hrs a day play time
Counts as 6 subs

`````````````````````````````````````````````

5 million subs / 3 = 1,666,667 million subs

5 million subs / 6 = 833,334 thousand subs

`````````````````````````````````````````````

I think in this case they are displaying 3 or more times the numbers by the way they sell their
cards. For sure it's got to be twice the numbers (i.e. 2 game cards) - who could play 24 hours a month and stay competitive?

The method of time distribution via a points system allows them to inflate the
number of active users while the consumer would still pay a similar cost. We've seen tho that
the consumer is paying but the profits are being trickled to the distributor in the other discussion of The9 and NetEase where this post started in.

For this matter - are any of the game companies doing this with their game card differences? I know AION uses cards but have not researched if they are monthly.

Is this foul reporting to count and triple count or just good marketing? Whether it's working or not isn't in question lol

 

  zymurgeist

Elite Member

Joined: 12/24/04
Posts: 4073

10/30/09 1:27:46 PM#2

No they're not. Anything else ridiculous you'd like to throw out there to be ridiculed?

"Any sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice." ~Greys Law

  User Deleted
10/30/09 1:30:48 PM#3

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently being used on that subscription.

 

If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.

  User Deleted
 
10/30/09 1:32:09 PM#4
Originally posted by zymurgeist

No they're not. Anything else ridiculous you'd like to throw out there to be ridiculed?

 

That's amazing, you checked all my resource links in 3 minutes and re-checked my math.

Ok, I'll bite, does my butt look fat in this?

  Kyleran

Elite Member

Joined: 9/13/06
Posts: 14599

A simple truth-"What people want and what is good for an mmo is not always the same thing"-mrw0lf

10/30/09 1:32:31 PM#5

WOW is as big as Blizzard says they are.

But you'll notice, Blizzard hasn't been saying very much about subs recently.

I'm just saying.......

"Just because you aren't paying doesn't mean it's not PTW." - Amaranthar
Bitter Vet ™ since 2006
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon

  User Deleted
 
10/30/09 1:32:58 PM#6
Originally posted by colddog

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently be used on that subscription.

 

If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.

 

From their text an "active prepaid card" counts as a sub.

  -aLpHa-

Novice Member

Joined: 12/27/03
Posts: 621

10/30/09 1:33:33 PM#7

They can't lie about their financial status, their shareholders would run them over. You can read up their yearly income at the Vivendi website.

  User Deleted
10/30/09 1:34:27 PM#8
Originally posted by a_name
Originally posted by colddog

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently be used on that subscription.

 

If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.

 

Ernt. From their text the game card counts as a sub.

World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee
or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft...

 

Those are the words from your post. The card must be active.

 

  Kilmar

Novice Member

Joined: 8/13/07
Posts: 799

10/30/09 1:37:27 PM#9
Originally posted by a_name

 


European Purchase
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Warcraft-Pre-paid-Game-Card/dp/B000BPCILI/
15.99 pound sterling = 26.35 USD 60 day card

 


 

Hey, biggest part of Europe is using € as currency *mumble mumble* :)

Everyone not playing wow is a wow hater! :P

  User Deleted
 
10/30/09 1:38:05 PM#10
Originally posted by colddog
Originally posted by a_name
Originally posted by colddog

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently be used on that subscription.

 

If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.

 

Ernt. From their text the game card counts as a sub.

World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee
or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft...

 

Those are the words from your post. The card must be active.

 

Aye, you can activate multiple cards because they aren't monthly they are hourly, well point driven that converts to hourly, now you are onto the tricky part.

  drajaic

Novice Member

Joined: 5/14/07
Posts: 55

10/30/09 1:39:23 PM#11
Originally posted by colddog

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do.

This. The articles the OP linked were just to how much time cards cost. What the hell does that have to do with how many subscriptions a game has?

  User Deleted
10/30/09 1:40:12 PM#12

Here is their full definition...

 

World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees’ territories are defined along the same rules.

 

I'm not sure why you think their number is off. Even if an account could have more than one gamecard applied to an account at a time, it would still count as 1 subscription.

  -aLpHa-

Novice Member

Joined: 12/27/03
Posts: 621

10/30/09 1:41:12 PM#13


Originally posted by Kilmar

Originally posted by a_name


 

European Purchase
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Warcraft-Pre-paid-Game-Card/dp/B000BPCILI/
15.99 pound sterling = 26.35 USD 60 day card

 


 
Hey, biggest part of Europe is using € as currency *mumble mumble* :)


I thought we where all part off the United Kingdom *hrhr*? Sure there are 500 million people that use € and only 55 million who use the pound. I guess it's like sub numbers, more doesn't equal better, lol.

  User Deleted
10/30/09 1:42:09 PM#14
Originally posted by a_name
Originally posted by colddog
Originally posted by a_name
Originally posted by colddog

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently be used on that subscription.

 

If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.

 

Ernt. From their text the game card counts as a sub.

World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee
or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft...

 

Those are the words from your post. The card must be active.

 

Aye, you can activate multiple cards because they aren't monthly they are hourly, well point driven that converts to hourly, now you are onto the tricky part.

 

Yeah, like I said, even if multiple cards are applied towards one sub, that sub is still 1 sub with 1 active card running at 1 time.

  User Deleted
 
10/30/09 1:46:38 PM#15
Originally posted by colddog
Originally posted by a_name
Originally posted by colddog
Originally posted by a_name
Originally posted by colddog

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently be used on that subscription.

 

If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.

 

Ernt. From their text the game card counts as a sub.

World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee
or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft...

 

Those are the words from your post. The card must be active.

 

Aye, you can activate multiple cards because they aren't monthly they are hourly, well point driven that converts to hourly, now you are onto the tricky part.

 

Yeah, like I said, even if multiple cards are applied towards one sub, that sub is still 1 sub with 1 active card running at 1 time.

Look at where the word "or" is... it doesn't mean they have to be  a single subscriber with one prepaid card. You are using logic for that.

In other words "or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft" translates to I have 3 cards I am 3 subscribers, this is what I'm getting at - the pricing scheme allows for the bloat which doesn't occur on single card system. It's not AND. Boolean logic if ya will.

  -aLpHa-

Novice Member

Joined: 12/27/03
Posts: 621

10/30/09 1:49:46 PM#16


Originally posted by a_name

Originally posted by colddog

Originally posted by a_name

Originally posted by colddog

Originally posted by a_name

Originally posted by colddog

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently be used on that subscription.
 
If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.



 
Ernt. From their text the game card counts as a sub.


World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee
or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft...
 
Those are the words from your post. The card must be active.
 


Aye, you can activate multiple cards because they aren't monthly they are hourly, well point driven that converts to hourly, now you are onto the tricky part.


 
Yeah, like I said, even if multiple cards are applied towards one sub, that sub is still 1 sub with 1 active card running at 1 time.


Look at where the word "or" is... it doesn't mean they have to be  a single subscriber with one prepaid card. You are using logic for that.

You just want to flip words don't ya? Just change the subscriber to subscriptions, which doesn't matter actually. The money they gain stays the same, the same goes for EVE actually, there are multiple people with more then 1 active account.

  User Deleted
 
10/30/09 2:08:21 PM#17
Originally posted by -aLpHa-

 


Originally posted by a_name

Originally posted by colddog

Originally posted by a_name

Originally posted by colddog

Originally posted by a_name

Originally posted by colddog

 

I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently be used on that subscription.
 
If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.



 
Ernt. From their text the game card counts as a sub.


World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee
or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft...
 
Those are the words from your post. The card must be active.
 


Aye, you can activate multiple cards because they aren't monthly they are hourly, well point driven that converts to hourly, now you are onto the tricky part.


 
Yeah, like I said, even if multiple cards are applied towards one sub, that sub is still 1 sub with 1 active card running at 1 time.


Look at where the word "or" is... it doesn't mean they have to be  a single subscriber with one prepaid card. You are using logic for that.

 

You just want to flip words don't ya? Just change the subscriber to subscriptions, which doesn't matter actually. The money they gain stays the same, the same goes for EVE actually, there are multiple people with more then 1 active account.

hehe you can't just change the words - that's not what it says. The words are there to be misleading - you already saw that doing a skim you would envision that it means one thing. Chunking it breaks it down - that's why I used the color in the post to communicate the phrase that is there - it's not hidden it's just marketed properly with the "or".

Where is that lawyer that posts, I think they would see the wordplay.

  Daffid011

Old School

Joined: 1/03/04
Posts: 7652

10/30/09 2:10:46 PM#18

Some of the bigger mmos right now have 100-250k players and have 10-25 servers respectively.

 

Wow is claiming somewhere around 5,000,000 subscribers in North America/Europe.   There are 512 game server combined for those 2 regions.

 

The claims look very believable. 

  -aLpHa-

Novice Member

Joined: 12/27/03
Posts: 621

10/30/09 2:16:07 PM#19


Originally posted by a_name

Originally posted by -aLpHa-

 



Originally posted by a_name


Originally posted by colddog


Originally posted by a_name


Originally posted by colddog


Originally posted by a_name


Originally posted by colddog
 
I tried to understand what you were getting at, but I'm not sure I do. A subscription keeps the same name no matter what timecard is currently be used on that subscription.
 
If a subscription has no time left on the card, it no longer counts as a subscription according to what Blizzard has stated.




 
Ernt. From their text the game card counts as a sub.



World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee
or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft...
 
Those are the words from your post. The card must be active.
 



Aye, you can activate multiple cards because they aren't monthly they are hourly, well point driven that converts to hourly, now you are onto the tricky part.



 
Yeah, like I said, even if multiple cards are applied towards one sub, that sub is still 1 sub with 1 active card running at 1 time.



Look at where the word "or" is... it doesn't mean they have to be  a single subscriber with one prepaid card. You are using logic for that.


 
You just want to flip words don't ya? Just change the subscriber to subscriptions, which doesn't matter actually. The money they gain stays the same, the same goes for EVE actually, there are multiple people with more then 1 active account.


hehe you can't just change the words - that's not what it says. The words are there to be misleading - you already saw that doing a skim you would envision that it means one thing. Chunking it breaks it down - that's why I used the color in the post to communicate the phrase that is there - it's not hidden it's just marketed properly with the "or".
Where is that lawyer that posts, I think they would see the wordplay.

Then every mmog chart out there is misleading, pretty much every mmo out there got people with multiple subs.

They always count 1 subscriber per person because they aren't allowed to investigate. They aren't allowed to sniff in your Account details. Or do you seriously want someone to go through your Credit Card details, to check if you got 2 active subscriptions?

  Torik

Hard Core Member

Joined: 1/02/09
Posts: 1979

10/30/09 2:16:47 PM#20

So is the point of this thread that a Chinese player would have to buy 3 of those cards to get the equivalent playtime as a NA player and thus should only count as 1/3 of a subscriber?

Or is your point that a Chinese player could have 3 of thise cards activa at the same time on the same account and Blizzard thus counts him as 3 players?

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