WoW is and will be a pillar in MMO history, one of those games that will be mentioned and remmembered through time. WoW is old. WoW will eventually diminish and the question to ask is when was WoW at its peak. I humbly think that after the isladnd of Q patch at the end of BC before Lich King was the peak of WoW, there could be a debate there and will love to hear it. 

I'd say during WotLK. While a lot will say Burning Crusade, I think WotLK was a very strong expansion at its release and had a bit of a roller coaster ride while slowly declining. But the first few months of WotLK were WoW's high point for me. 

 according to blizz - growth has stopped since late 2008 (LK launch)

http://www.vg247.com/2010/02/10/morhaime-confirms-the-unthinkable-wows-stopped-growing/

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/press/pressreleases.html?id=2847816

Of course perception plays a lot into this.  People have varied experiences.

The peak for me was BC., up to and including the Island of Q that you mentioned.  I have the most fond memories from that era.  I didn't care much for endgame, just kept rolling alts.  Good times.

Originally posted by Rusque

I'd say during WotLK. While a lot will say Burning Crusade, I think WotLK was a very strong expansion at its release and had a bit of a roller coaster ride while slowly declining. But the first few months of WotLK were WoW's high point for me. 

I think the opposite is true, Wrath in the end was hated by most people I know that played it, the only good thing to come out of wrath was phasing, but it was the beginning of the end because it introduced all of the ideas that led to the development of CAT and MOP.

I think the best time I personally had in WoW was right at the end of BC, when they began releasing the endless reputation grinds, began experimenting with badge gear, and brought down a lot of aritificial barriers to progression (most of the attunement-lockouts removed or modified). Rolling right into LK, where I could finally afford the time to raid-gear alts as well as the "main".

But that's the same period that signalled the end to a lot of people.  I'm atypical, didn't feel horrified at all when those "casuals" began polluting my raiding guilds with their arrival.  The end of BC raiding population was growing so small that we genuinely needed all of that new blood.

Its peek as far as subscribers was some time about a year ago I believe. 12 million subs or something. Its peak in hipsters refusing to play it was also around that time.

Its peek in content is...well...now. They even have a cool ass wardrobe system now.

Its peek for me personally was in the Burning Crusade, I just lost interest sometime during Wrath.

IDK. It is an old game...and the most succesful of all time. Quite an awesome game. Especially for me since I grew up with Warcraft RTS.

Originally posted by ActionMMORPG

Of course perception plays a lot into this.  People have varied experiences.

 

There's a difference in the games' success peaking, and our personal enjoyment.

Success wise it's risen steadily until WOTLK, with a few dips inbetween that all games experience (Normal subscription percentage fluctuation around end and begining of content eras.) Then nose dived hard with Cataclysm.

Personally, I had the most fun 1-60 the third time (Late '05) on a new Horde dominated server as a member of the only raid guild.

The second "peak" (and longest) period of play involved a great deal of time spent in Goldshire...

WoW peaked for me around the relase of BC.

I don't think I've ever seen the community as electric and excited as the one that was about to enter all new content together at once.

WoW is an old game, but for me, no other world created since has been as immersive as WoW was, even in vanilla.

It's not the biggest MMO in terms of landmass, but ever squre inch of that open world is interesting to explore.

Originally posted by Narcin1

Its peek as far as subscribers was some time about a year ago I believe. 12 million subs or something. Its peak in hipsters refusing to play it was also around that time.

Its peek in content is...well...now. They even have a cool ass wardrobe system now.

Its peek for me personally was in the Burning Crusade, I just lost interest sometime during Wrath.

IDK. It is an old game...and the most succesful of all time. Quite an awesome game. Especially for me since I grew up with Warcraft RTS.

With you on that, it is the msot succesful and prolific game to date.

Peaked for me in the first week of tbc.  Entering the gate and seeing the new zones after a couple of years of vanilla was glorious for everyone.  And then, the immense questline leading all the way from the initial rep grinds at level 70 through to  BT, amazing times.   Nax and full epic gear after 2 weeks was the first point in the game ever where I thought ugh something has changed in this game.

For me personally - TBC! I've no idea what happened when WOTLK released. I've had an active sub throughout vanilla and TBC then WOTLK released, played it for a month and quit.

If we go by box sales then it's Cata, Cata sold more in the first 48 hours than Wrath and Wrath sold more in 48 hours than BC... still showing an upwards trend using these figures - I guess Mists will show us what is realy going on.