Originally posted by Ginaz
Part of the low initial sales might be due to the fact that you don't need the buy the expansion to play the new class and race.  If someone is concentrating on leveling up their kung fu panda, why bother buying the expac right away.  The lower sale numbers are also a result of lower overall sub numbers since Cata was released.

Really? I dont think so, not even close.

We all know that most fans of a MMO buys the expansion no matter what. And we also know that most sales is happening the first week, both can be said about any earlier Wow expansion and any other MMO expansion as well.

If Blizzard sold less and expected it probably mean that a higher percentage than we thought of the quitting players the last 2 years were western. And that Blizzard for some reason didnt get as much players back into the game for the expansion as they usually get, before numbers have always been a lot higher just when they release an expansion since many older players get the expansion and run a month or 2 to experience most of the new content.

I dont think it is the pandas that is the problem either, Blizzard needs to try something new with the game if they want to keep the players.

Half of my Wow playing friends love it, the other half hates it which is rather funny, before have most of them been in between with a slightly positive angle. Here everyone seems to have a extreme opinion one way or another.

Anyways, the real reason for the sales decline is probably just that the game is getting old, it happens to everything and everyone sooner or later. 8 years is pretty venerable for a computer game.

Originally posted by fixif

Originally posted by Sukiyaki

Successfull Blizzard PR spin.

Blizzard "Hey we only counted the first week when MOP was not released in China!!!!"

Fooled fanbois " OMG SEE NO CHINA IN THE NUMBERS!!!! ONLY WEST!!! WoW STRONG!!"

Reality: Blizzard always reported sales numbers before the Chinese release. They never released any other "sales" reports including China in first place. Its the same conditions as always, the same global Asian (inc. Russian), Oceanic, South-American, European and US release conditions as always

Except for subscriber. Which where likely already slightly inflated due to the fact the "first week" ended just two days before the rushed Chinese expansion release and user got active again shortly before, (as it happens with any games expansions or content pdates)  which are counted as full "subscriber" by Blizzard even if they leave the 25 cent MOP trial run after just a day of boredom.

Yes, you are right. Altho this is a spin (if you can even call that), it does not change the fact that MoP numbers are only West and prove that WoW after 8 years of ruling is still going strong.

And I don't know why are you pulling China numbers into this. They were not counted as sales nor as subscribers.

Its like you completely fail at reading comprehension and just read everything wrong you could.

Originally posted by Loke666

Originally posted by Ginaz
Part of the low initial sales might be due to the fact that you don't need the buy the expansion to play the new class and race.  If someone is concentrating on leveling up their kung fu panda, why bother buying the expac right away.  The lower sale numbers are also a result of lower overall sub numbers since Cata was released.

Really? I dont think so, not even close.

We all know that most fans of a MMO buys the expansion no matter what. And we also know that most sales is happening the first week, both can be said about any earlier Wow expansion and any other MMO expansion as well.

If Blizzard sold less and expected it probably mean that a higher percentage than we thought of the quitting players the last 2 years were western. And that Blizzard for some reason didnt get as much players back into the game for the expansion as they usually get, before numbers have always been a lot higher just when they release an expansion since many older players get the expansion and run a month or 2 to experience most of the new content.

I dont think it is the pandas that is the problem either, Blizzard needs to try something new with the game if they want to keep the players.

Half of my Wow playing friends love it, the other half hates it which is rather funny, before have most of them been in between with a slightly positive angle. Here everyone seems to have a extreme opinion one way or another.

Anyways, the real reason for the sales decline is probably just that the game is getting old, it happens to everything and everyone sooner or later. 8 years is pretty venerable for a computer game.

The fact that Cata initially sold around 3.5 million with a player base around 12 million disproves the highlighted portion of your post.  Selling 2.7 million of MoP with a player base thats now less, around 10 million, doesn't mean that there is all of a sudden some sort of massive decline.

Originally posted by Ausare
Thought for monk you had to buy?

Yes, sorry.  Monk requires MoP.  Playing as a panda doesn't.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/08/18/blizzard-is-making-every-world-of-warcraft-race-including-pandarens-playable-for-everyone/

Originally posted by Ausare
I am interested in seeing the second week sales.  How many heard reviews that were positive and decided they would give it a try that were waiting and not buying at first?

Many people are saying MoP is the best WoW expansion yet.  Some estimates say sales will be around 4.5 to 5 million for the 3rd quarter, meaning from now until the end of December.

If what these crazies are saying were true, the very first time Blizzard published "subscriber" numbers would be followed by a month of extreme decline, numbering in the millions, since all those Chinese folks only played for one hour that month and never again, right?

Do you not get how stupid that is? It wasn't true the first time you said it, it wasn't true last year and it's not true now. How current would Blizzard have to be with their playerbase info to satisfy you? If a month isn't enough, maybe a week? Day? Realtime updates? Enough already...

P.S.:

MoP is top quality for sure, WoW wasn't this good since I set foot in  Howling Fjord as far as questing / eyecandy goes, for example. Almost made me forget all about Cataclysm (although I did like Vashj'ir).

Originally posted by nsignific
Still amazed at how desperate people get with trying to figure China into these numbers in a negative way.

 

If what these crazies are saying were true, the very first time Blizzard published "subscriber" numbers would be followed by a month of extreme decline, numbering in the millions, since all those Chinese folks only played for one hour that month and never again, right?

Do you not get how stupid that is? It wasn't true the first time you said it, it wasn't true last year and it's not true now. How current would Blizzard have to be with their playerbase info to satisfy you? If a month isn't enough, maybe a week? Day? Realtime updates? Enough already...

 

P.S.:

MoP is top quality for sure, WoW wasn't this good since I set foot in  Howling Fjord as far as questing / eyecandy goes, for example. Almost made me forget all about Cataclysm (although I did like Vashj'ir).

 

These ae the same people who would rip you to peices if you try to down play success of GW2 and yet they are here on daily basis trying too hard to show that MOP is a failure.

Irony they don't know what it means.

Originally posted by Ginaz

Originally posted by Loke666

Originally posted by Ginaz
Part of the low initial sales might be due to the fact that you don't need the buy the expansion to play the new class and race.  If someone is concentrating on leveling up their kung fu panda, why bother buying the expac right away.  The lower sale numbers are also a result of lower overall sub numbers since Cata was released.

Really? I dont think so, not even close.

We all know that most fans of a MMO buys the expansion no matter what. And we also know that most sales is happening the first week, both can be said about any earlier Wow expansion and any other MMO expansion as well.

If Blizzard sold less and expected it probably mean that a higher percentage than we thought of the quitting players the last 2 years were western. And that Blizzard for some reason didnt get as much players back into the game for the expansion as they usually get, before numbers have always been a lot higher just when they release an expansion since many older players get the expansion and run a month or 2 to experience most of the new content.

I dont think it is the pandas that is the problem either, Blizzard needs to try something new with the game if they want to keep the players.

Half of my Wow playing friends love it, the other half hates it which is rather funny, before have most of them been in between with a slightly positive angle. Here everyone seems to have a extreme opinion one way or another.

Anyways, the real reason for the sales decline is probably just that the game is getting old, it happens to everything and everyone sooner or later. 8 years is pretty venerable for a computer game.

The fact that Cata initially sold around 3.5 million with a player base around 12 million disproves the highlighted portion of your post.  Selling 2.7 million of MoP with a player base thats now less, around 10 million, doesn't mean that there is all of a sudden some sort of massive decline.

 Not quite, cata sold around 4 million in total I forget how much, and in China they don't really pay for the retail just a by the hour. Which means probably most of western players (the ones that actually buy it) bought it.

Originally posted by Ginaz

Originally posted by Ausare
I am interested in seeing the second week sales.  How many heard reviews that were positive and decided they would give it a try that were waiting and not buying at first?

Many people are saying MoP is the best WoW expansion yet.  Some estimates say sales will be around 4.5 to 5 million for the 3rd quarter, meaning from now until the end of December.

You know... the 3rd quarter comes... before the 4th... and its already over since last month?

But good news! You guys can pull your head out of the sand now. Its already too late and these "crazy" people where right.

agree,   3rd quarter ended Sept 30th

will see 3rd quarter financial reports in early November

Originally posted by Nadia

agree,   3rd quarter ended Sept 30th

 

will see 3rd quarter financial reports in early November

Not always.  Some businesses, and governments, use a different system.  First quarter begins 1 April, 2nd 1 July, 3rd 1 Oct. and 4th on 1 Jan.

Originally posted by Ginaz

Originally posted by Nadia

agree,   3rd quarter ended Sept 30th

 

will see 3rd quarter financial reports in early November

Not always.  Some businesses, and governments, use a different system.  First quarter begins 1 April, 2nd 1 July, 3rd 1 Oct. and 4th on 1 Jan.

i know quarters vary depending on the company but Blizzards 3rd quarter does end Sept 30th

last year:

Activision Blizzard Announces Better-Than-Expected Third Quarter 2011 Net Revenues and Earnings

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/activision-blizzard-announces-better-than-expected-third-quarter-2011-net-revenues-and-earnings-133474498.html

For the quarter ended September 30, 2011

Originally posted by Atlan99
MoP has already outsold all it's competitor's. It only took a week to do so. I find it funny that some people are trying to paint this in a negative light.

Clinging on straws is a natural human reaction.

To be fair, there IS a decline in sales compared to previous expansions (only Blizzard is a real competitor to Blizzard).

But taking into account a smaller playerbase + the general decline in sales in the industry as a whole - the numbers are actually exceedingly good.

Not to mention WoW's age. It's been 8 years and no game can outsell it, still.